How to Make a Podcast Part 1/2: Planning and Preparation-Recording and Editing-Videos

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How To Make A Podcast Part 1: Planning And Preparation

This film talks to Danny Kelly and Nigel Mitchell, two experienced podcast presenters and gives you essential information about what to put in your own podcast.


As tempting as it may be, just sitting down in front of your computer and pressing play and record will probably end in disaster - Podcasting and radio obviously share a lot of skills, and even the most casual and impromptu sounding radio show is planned rigorously. We spoke to Nigel Mitchell and Danny Kelly, two experienced radio and podcast presenters to find out how they make their shows sound so good...


The trick is to not do too much. They need to know that if this thing isn't floating their boat, there will something else along in a few minutes. that's something you learn from radio - a menu at the top so you know that something else will be along soon.


Sometimes hear people talking about nothing. Audiences are interested in what you've done & you can make a connection.


It also helps if you've got "furniture" - stabs of music, etc. These make the listening experience better.


Try and keep everything down to 45 seconds. This is the audience's attention span. Hit punch line at 45 seconds.


You should also pick topics that will be relevant in the future. They aren't live, so you've got to talk about things so they won't go out of date.


We have "Stuff to include in the show" (talks us through it). Not scripted but bullet-points to get "The ball rolling".


Podcasts tend not to have scripts as they're people talking about things that they're passionate about and that works best if it's unplanned.


Podcast should be your best stuff as you never know who's listening...


Podcasts tend not to have scripts as they're people talking about things that they're passionate about and that works best if it's unplanned.


In summary, then:


Don't waffle. Stick to subjects your audience will relate to.


Use strings and jingles to mark the end of one section and the start of another.


Keep jokes and stories to around 45 seconds, but don't end a discussion or argument prematurely.


Try and pick subjects that aren't too topical. Your podcast may not be listened to until some time after current events.


Plan your podcast and create a running order, but don't feel you have to stick to a script.


Put a menu that tells people what's coming up in in your podcast at the start.


Always give a podcast your all, as you never know who's listening.






How To Make A Podcast Part 2: Recording And Editing


VideoJug brings you a simple and easy guide to actually recording and editing your own podcast. Whether using a Mac or a PC, this film will show you how to make your own Podcast properly.





You will need



• Mac or PC.
• An internet connection.
• An External microphone (if needed).


Step 1: Process

Every Mac except the Mac Pro and Mac Mini feature a built in microphone, but the get the best sound quality you'll need to get an external mic. These come in two flavours - with a standard audio jack or a USB connector. Those with an audio jack will plug into audio line in on most Mac's and many PC's, while a USB microphone offers better compatibility across the board, although they can be harder to find the shops.


With your mic plugged in, you'll need to record your audio. Windows XP and Vista feature a simple program called Sound Recorder, which you'll find in the "Accessories" menu of the Programs section of the start bar. The program will let you choose your audio source and you'll see a level window to check the program is receiving sound. You can record your script by clicking the record button. Try and save each section of your script as a separate file and name them accordingly as this will make editing them easier later on. Mac users can use QuickTime to perform a similar function by selecting "New Audio Recording" from the "File" menu at the top of the screen, but as we're going to be editing the recordings in Garageband on the Mac, we may as well record into it too.


Open Garageband and select "New Podcast Episode". Once you've named it, the main program window will appear. Go to the "Track" menu at the top of the screen and select "New Track...". Choose "Real Instrument", and then in the effects menu at the bottom right of the screen, click on the "Details" option. Here you can use various effects to improve the quality of your recording. Selecting the "Gate" option will help cut out unwanted sounds when you're not speaking, while the Compressor will help balance out louder and quieter parts of your speech. When you're ready to record, make sure the correct track is selected, and hit the large red record button approximately halfway down the screen.


Whatever package you're using to record your voice, do a few test recordings to gauge the best place to sit in relation to the mic. Sitting closer will give a deeper sound, but is more likely to distort, while further away offers less distortion, but can leave you sounding literally distant. When you've picked your position, make sure you are always in roughly the same place for each take. While it's good to speak in your natural voice, bear in mind that we tend to talk in a faster and more careless way than is ideal for broadcast, so if you're doing a solo spoken piece, slow yourself down a little and pay a bit more attention to your pronunciation. The key here is that you're clear and easy to understand without sounding like your forcing yourself to be well spoken. Listen back to your test recordings to find a style you're happy with.


Don't worry about making a mistake while you're talking as this can be fixed in the edit. Just start that sentence again from a convenient point. If you're going to listen to your voice as you record it, do so through a pair of headphones as playing it back through the speakers will interfere with the recording.


When you've recorded your sections, Windows users will have a selection of files in the folder they selected to save them in, while Garageband users will have will have a series a purple blocks on the timeline of the track they selected. Each of these recorded blocks can be moved around on the timeline if you wish to re-order your recordings, and each block can be edited by dragging the start and end points of the clips around or you can cut parts out by dragging the playhead to the start of the point you want to edit out, selecting "Split" from the "Edit" menu, then doing the same at the end of the section you want to remove. This newly separated section can now be deleted. Don't forget you can add a variety of built-in effects to each track if you wish.


Windows users can perform a similar edit using Window's built in Movie Maker application, which you'll find in the Programs area of the Start bar. You can open your audio files in Movie Maker and drag them onto the audio section of the timeline and arrange them into any order you wish. You can also adjust the start and end points of the clips or use the "split" option in the "Clip" menu to cut out material as you would in Garageband.


Once you're happy with flow of your dialogue, you can add backing music and jingles to punctuate your podcast. Movie Maker users can drag jingles and stings to points between the dialogue, but will struggle to place audio behind their dialogue. Garageband users can drag songs from their iTunes library or use songs they've already composed in Garageband by clicking this button to view the Media Browser, then selecting the Audio button. Audio can be dragged onto any free track on the timeline that will accept it. The track can then be adjusted or have effects added to it in the usual way.