Create & Deliver
a Podcast Ready to do your own audio podcast? These are the basic steps and equipment you will need to create one.
It’s best to go into podcasting with a plan. Before you begin recording, you will want to determine the scope of your podcast. This will help you deliver a clear message. Some people like their recordings tightly scripted, while others prefer to improvise. It’s your podcast — you can define it any way you like!
You can use your computer and an audio recording program or a mobile recording
device to make your recording.
Recording Equipment: Selecting equipment depends on how much sound quality matters to your podcast and whether you need to record in a location away from your computer. Some suggested combinations of recording equipment:
New “Handheld Recording Devices” are being released all the time, and we can’t possibly review them all. The most important thing is that you are comfortable using the recorder that you buy. After doing side-by-side testing of the three devices listed below, we found that the M-Audio Microtrack 24/96 stands out as the clear leader due to its increased functionality and sturdy design. It is, however, the most expensive handheld recording device that we tested.
| M-Audio | Olympus | Sony | |
|---|---|---|---|
| PC Compatible | x | x | x |
| Macintosh Compatible | x | ||
| Built-in Microphone | x | x | |
| Removable Storage | x | ||
| File Formats | wav/mp3 | wma | Sony |
| Power | Rechargeable | 1 AA battery | 2 AAA batteries |
M-Audio
Microtrack 24/96 (Preferred Handheld Recorder)
Pros:
Records as .WAV or .MP3 and works with both Mac- and PC- compatible computers.
Flexible recording options, 1 or 2 microphones.
Rechargeable battery.
Uses “CompactFlash” cards, making it easy to upgrade.
If you would like to try one, we have M-Audio Microtrack 24/96
available for checkout at the library Circulation Desk, circulation@stcloudstate.edu or
(320) 308-3083.
Cons:
Does not include a “built-in” microphone (ships with an 1/8 inch
stereo mic).
Larger form factor.
Higher price (higher-quality recordings).
Olympus
Digital Voice Recorder
Pros:
“Built-in” stereo microphone.
Small, light, unobtrusive design.
Cons:
Records .WMA, making it PC only (With additional software, it can be used on
a Mac, but not “out of the box”).
Uses 1 AA battery for power.
Pros:
Designed to fit in a breast pocket or clip onto clothing — compact and
light.
Available for checkout at SCSU.
Cons:
PC-compatible computers only.
Records in Sony’s proprietary format. You must install their drivers
for it to work.
Uses 2 AAA batteries for power.
Once your content is recorded, you should give it a listen. Tighten up the content by cutting out the parts that you feel are unclear or unnecessary. You may also want to edit it to fit within a certain time frame, such as 15 or 30 minutes.
Audio software: There are a lot of sound editing applications, and they vary in quality and features. You might have to try a few before you are satisfied with your results. These are two suggestions:
Now that you have finished creating your audio (or video) content, you need to publish it so that your audience can access it.
Give your podcast a listen. It’s best to download it using iTunes or another RSS aggregator rather than just listening to it on your computer. By going through the process your subscribers will use, you can be sure everything will work properly for them.
Make sure your audience knows how to access your podcast.
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