Listen Up: Podcast Basics for Bloggers

Podcasting is a new audio technology that can be connected

to RSS for easy delivery of audio files. Bloggers or editors

can post these ‘audio’ or ‘radio’ files that subscribers

you can automatically download and enjoy.

The free encyclopedia Wikipedia defines “Podcasting” as

“make audio files (most commonly in MP3 format) available

online in a way that allows the software to automatically

detect the availability of new files (usually via RSS),

and download the files to listen at the user’s convenience”.

RSS pioneer and innovator Dave Winer states “… Podcasting

works the same way (as RSS feeds), with one exception. Instead of

reading the new content on a computer screen, you listen to the

new content on any compatible mp3 player on computer or hardware

player like iPod. Think of your Podcasting player as

have a set of subscriptions that are periodically checked for updates.

Podcasting comes from the two words: iPod and streaming.

In a nutshell, Podcasting is basically adding audio files to your

RSS feed or Blog. It also turns your RSS feed into a radio

broadcast, the only difference between it and regular radio

it is distribution. Regular radio ‘pushes’ the signal; in

Podcasting: the listener initiates or “pulls” the cast with

your subscription and automatically download the audio file

or radio show.

Making a Podcast is also relatively simple.

First, you have to record your audio file, you can use any platform

or application to make your recording. A good option would be

Audacity, (http://audacity.sourceforge.net/) because it’s free,

cross-platform and you can mix various audio files with it.

If you’re using Mac, GarageBand may work for you, it’s also free.

(http://www.apple.com/ilife/)

Create your audio file and convert it to MP3 format, i.e. save it with

a .mp3 file extension. Upload it to your web server.

Next, create your Podcast RSS news feed; simply describe your Podcast in

your RSS file and place a link in this file to your MP3 file.

Each ‘item’ contains an ‘enclosure’ tag as in this example of an

Podcast of a Grateful Dead song.

Remove asterisks live

encoded

You can also publish and advertise your Podcasts on your website by

using the familiar orange xml with a speaker logo added.

Your subscribers can download and listen to your Podcasts on their

computer or through their iPods. It is also worth noting UndergroundMedia

has released Podcasting search plugins for the increasingly popular and

Firefox browser compatible with RSS.

For more interest and investigation, you may want to try some of these

Helpful Links:

– Yahoo Mailing List for Podcasters: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/podcasters

– The official iPodder website: http://www.ipodder.org/

– Podcast Alley, a great Podcast directory: http://www.podcastalley.com

– Podcasting News, Podcasting news site: http://www.podcastingnews.com

– Podcast.net, very complete search list of Podcasts: [http://www.podcast.net/]

– Check out Dave Winer and Adam Curry; founders/facilitators of Podcasting http://radio.weblogs.com/

For Bloggers and RSS users, Podcasting adds an exciting new way to

connect with your subscribers and audience. Since it combines the MP3 format

and iPods; Podcasting will certainly add an explosive element to your

blogs and RSS feeds. Early innovators or users of Podcasts can extend the

reach and reach of your blogs and/or RSS feeds attracting more subscribers

and listeners.

Don’t miss out on this new innovation: give your blog or site the

competitive advantage of audio. Start podcasting…