The more I hear about podcasting the more I like it. What it amounts to is radio that you can listen to at any time, almost anywhere, with no commercials. That's amazing! I'd love to try that on this site, maybe a 10 or 15 minute podcast once a week in addition to everything else that's here.What kind of format? Not theories, they come off better in print. I'm dying to tell original stories: horror, sci-fi, comedy, kids'show etc. The first one I want to do would be a romance serial. Man, I can't wait!
I have no idea how to go about this. I got a book from the library, "Podcasting for Dummies" that mentions one way so I'll describe that here and see if anyone knows how to do it better. The method: 1) buy an iRiver T-10 portable mp3 player. It contains a microphone and converts voice recordings to digital mp3 files, 2) use Audacity software (for PCs, free off the internet) to edit, and 3) get an audio card installed in the computer. The book recommends the Audiophile2496 PCI digital Audio Card for Windows XP users. According to the book If you have this stuff you're ready to go.I'll add that Kali told me about another possibility: use the microphone on any digital camera. I know that Windows XP contains some kind of sound editing program. Maybe that can do what Audacity does. Maybe it's not necessary to buy anything!
BTW, the pictures above are of radio personalities Orson Welles (topmost) and Jean Shepherd (below Welles).
33 comments:
Yay!
I want to listen to your podcasts while I draw.
At the moment I have to make do with getting a robot called Audrey to read me the text from your blog.
I love to listen to old time radio (archived on the internet) too. Anything with Orson Welles in it makes be happy to be a human.
Oh, and Suspense, I love Suspense. And Jack Benny.
Great idea, I want to hear you.
Whatever you do don't use the microphone of a camera.
I've tried it and it sounds horrible.
By the way an audio card serves the purpose of importing analogue sound into the computer, I think that if you have an Mp3 recorder you shouldn't need an audio card too.
But if you have a card you are more flexible and you can record with pretty much everything. You can for example use a Mini disc if you already have one, that gives you great quality and you can still carry it around easily.
*thrill!!!* YEEEESSSS!!! Do ieeet!
You also have to find someplace to "host" your podcast mp3 file so folks can download it. Or does the new version of blogger offer that option?
"Can you judge a man / By the stories that he tells? / Is this more important / Than the way he writes and spells?" - The Yardbirds (or something like that!)
I would just get a cheap microphone and plug in into the sound card's input and use Audacity. It's actually pretty good for freeware. You can save the files as .WAVs, MP3s and even .OGGs, as long as you have the plugins. It also has some effects that you can use plus there's even more plugins to get effects. Cheap and easy.
Your computer probably already has a sound card with a mic jack. I guess from the comments above that Audacity is free software, so all you really need to buy is some kind of microphone. If it's not already built into your computer, of course. Try just opening sound recorder, hitting record, and saying a few words. If it works, your mic is already in your computer, probably on the monitor/display somewhere.
If you don't have a mic, go to your local computer or electronics store (Best Buy, Circuit City, etc.) and browse computer microphones. Look for something cheap but sturdy. I'm not too familiar with what's on the market these days, but try to get something like a lapel or headset mic--this will help you sound better and clearer for a "radio" type performance. That should be all you need to get started.
Many microphones need amplification before being plugged into a computer though some are amplified. Normally a mic goes into a mixer, voicemaster or other similar device that is then plugged into a computer.
Unless you first record in an Mp3 or Minidisc first and then import the product.
This also frees you from having to be in front of the computer when you want to record.
Eddie -- You've got one listener right here, should you take this leap into Podcastland!
Buy a decent computer mic (I hate podcasts where you can't hear the person.)Plug it in and press record in audacity. Edit out the bad stuff, add some music and save out an mp3! No need for fancy cards/mixers/amps/minidiscs/mp3 players. I'd love to hear the podcast too!
You can use the iSight camera on my laptop if you want. That'll let you do a video podcast (with the crazy funhouse mirrors!)
Come see me at the archive
your pal
Steve
P.S. The trick is going to be hosting the audio file. Blogger won't do it. I'll host them for you if you want.
See ya
Steve
Uncle Eddie, that's a FANTASTIC idea! I think that radio programs (the old time stories on the radio, not necessarily talk radio) are a great tool to help a person work on their imagination.
Audacity is a really good tool - I use it myself. Macs has some really good built-in tools.
Really, all you need for a podcast is:
1) A good microphone for your computer
2) An REALLY GOOD application that allows you to record and edit your audio files, and save them as an MP3 format.
3) An RSS feed that describes the podcast and links to your MP3 file.
Don't quote me on this, but I think that Blogger will be supporting podcast publication soon. I know that Raketu will have radio show hosting soon, and Talk Shoe has radio show hosting. From what I read, Talk Shoe will pay you to host the show if you get so many listeners.
This is insanely great, Eddie!
You are a natural-born storyteller. All you need is a microphone, and listeners around the globe will be riveted.
Maybe you can get a sponsor and sell Cream of Wheat or Split Pea Soup!
I think this is a fantastic idea. I love hearing what you have to say despite the fact I never post on here.
Podcasts are great for a multitude for different things. As strange as it sounds Audio commentary works fantastic in this format.
If you post them I will listen! :)
I would love to hear your ribald storytelling in a podcast.
I've never been a fan of Podcasts (reading the same information written down is easier and faster,) but I know a lot of people would love just to hear your voice.
Not to say you're not interesting on your own, but my suggestion would be to make sure you always have at least one other person on the Podcast cast. All the great Podcasts I can think of tend to involve two people, I assume for the reasons of (1) keeping the speakers natural and (2) simply because a conversation is more interesting than a dialogue.
Plus, my friend loves the sound of your laugh, and it'd be weird if you were just laughing by yourself!
.wav is not outdated it's just too big for transport. They are easy to edit, though.
.ogg is not outdated, it's open source, and worthy of consideration on that basis, but for reasons of instant recognition .mp3 is probably best.
Probably the PC you have now, with the addition of a decent mic and cheap/free software is all you need to get started.
i'd like a podcast of you just laughing, Eddie. best laugh EVER!
If you have Flash. Try it. I can export sound in a .swf file. All you would have to do is make a button to play the file.
Yes!!! I can't wait for the uncle eddie show!
I highly recommend Audacity--you can't get cheaper than free, and it gives you way more options and control over the sound than anything that comes bundled with other software (i.e. Windows).
Everybody: wow! Many, many, thanks for the great comments and advice! I won't be able to try a podcast for another week so that'll give me plenty of time to reread and absorb what you've written here! I have a good feeling about this!
Steve: Thanks for the offer to host!
I want a whole series of podcasts containing nothing but your laughter, Eddie!
Podcasts good. Eddie, I'm guessing you've uncled upstart cartoonists for years, but now you've got tons more of us via this blog, your DVD commentaries, etc. Looking forward to hearing more eclectic horse-sense and general Renaissance Mannery.
This is the best idea yet! Maybe you could set everything up so that you do the Blog most days, maybe a Web Comic once a week, and the Podcast on the Weekend!
Then no one would have to even bother with any other sites... You would have it all right here!
You've got to do this Eddie!
The hosting is the main thing. Aside from that, all you really need is a microphone and a basic editing program to cut it up.
A podcast would be great, and if you wanted to commit to it, you could get a subscription type thing so iTunes users can get them as they come out.
GarageBand 3 is the single greatest thing done for podcasting since the invention of the iPod. Trying to put together a podcast on a PC is like trying to drive nails with your head. It doesn't do a good job, and it feels so good when you stop.
Stop by The Cartoon Geeks podcast site sometime, Eddie. The "LA Special" podcast was done almost entirely in GarageBand 3. The interview with Chris Noxon was done with my trusty MiniDisc and digitized in GarageBand 3. This is the wave of the future for us.
http://cartoongeeks.blogspot.com/
Michelle, in that case, I thin someone might have to buy Uncle Eddie a Mac, else he woulod have to go over to Steves or some other Mac using buddies place to "Perform".
Eddie, I think you could have passed off the photo of Jean Shepard as yourself, had you really wanted to.
Michelle: Thanks for the info. As anonymous said I have a PC but I might still be able to do it your way in the not too distant future when I get a Mac.
BTW, I liked the review of the penguin film on your site.
Eddie, If you liked the review of the hideous meat puppet penguin movie, you'll love my newest screed, where I tell the world exactly why the Annies are going to have to do without my vote this year. I'm on a roll, baby!!!
I like podcasting. It's fun.
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