Podcasting Hacks

Book description

Podcasting does for Internet audio listeners what TiVo does for television viewers--it puts you in charge of when you enjoy a program. Podcasting is a web-based broadcast medium that sends audio content (most commonly in the MP3 format) directly to an iPod or other digital audio player. You subscribe to audio feeds, receive new files automatically, and listen to them at your convenience.

As you can imagine, podcasting is taking the "blogsphere" by storm. A podcast is a professional-quality Internet radio broadcast, and like blogging and HTML before it, this revolutionary new way of publishing to the Internet has become the new outlet for personal expression.

If you've got Internet access and a copy of Podcasting Hacks, you can find out just how easy it is to listen to and create your own Internet audio programs. With Podcasting Hacks, Jack Herrington, a software engineer with 20 years of experience developing applications using a diverse set of languages and tools, delivers the ultimate how-to of podcasting for anyone looking to get the most out of this hot new medium.

Since August 2004 (the month that iPodder.com editor Adam Curry considers the start of podcasting), audio blogging has exploded. Podcasts cover every conceivable topic, including sex, relationships, technology, religion, home brewing, recreational drugs, rock 'n roll, food, entertainment, politics, and much more. There were podcasts from the Democratic National Convention in Fall 2004, and some programs on Air America and NPR are also podcasts.

Podcasting Hacks offers expert tips and tools for blogging out loud--for transmitting (and receiving) audio content worldwide with ease. This groundbreaking volume covers both entry-level and advanced topics perfect for aspiring and experienced podcasters. Herrington shows you how to get started, create quality sound, use the right software, develop a great show, distribute a podcast, and build an audience. More advanced topics include audio editing, podcasting on the go, and even videocasting.

Table of contents

  1. Podcasting Hacks
    1. Copyright
    2. Foreword
    3. Credits
      1. About the Author
      2. Contributors
      3. Acknowledgments
    4. Preface
      1. Why Podcasting Hacks?
      2. How This Book Is Organized
      3. Conventions
      4. Using Code Examples
      5. Safari Enabled
      6. How to Contact Us
      7. Got a Hack?
    5. 1. Tuning into Podcasts
      1. Hacks 1–9
      2. Listen to Podcasts on the Web
        1. Searching the Podcastosphere
        2. Podcatching with iTunes
        3. Get the Right Podcatcher
        4. Podcatching
        5. Use Your Current RSS Reader
        6. Blugg.com
        7. Using Podcast Directories
        8. Clean Up Podcasts from iTunes
        9. See Also
      3. Rebroadcast Your Favorite Feeds
        1. The Code
        2. Running the Hack
        3. Build a “Best of” Feed
        4. See Also
      4. Build Your Own Podcatcher
        1. The Code
        2. Running the Hack
        3. See Also
      5. Import Podcasts into iTunes
        1. The Code
        2. Running the Hack
        3. On a Macintosh
        4. See Also
      6. Tune into Videoblogs
        1. See Also
      7. Convert Text-Based Blogs into Podcasts
        1. The Code
        2. Running the Hack
        3. Hacking the Hack
        4. iSpeak It
        5. AutoCast
        6. See Also
      8. Install Perl Modules
        1. Perl Modules for Podcasting
        2. Installing Perl Modules on Linux and Mac OS X
          1. Installing web Perl scripts on Mac OS X.
          2. Installing Perl scripts on your server.
        3. Installing ActiveState Perl on Windows
          1. Installing Perl modules on Windows.
          2. Installing Perl scripts in IIS.
          3. Installing Perl scripts in Apache on Windows.
      9. Listen to Podcasts on Your PDA
        1. Podcatching with Your Pocket PC PDA
          1. Sneakernet or direct connect.
          2. A walk-through using FeederReader.
          3. The Pocket PC as an MP3 player.
          4. It’s all about the Net.
          5. Let’s play.
          6. Integrated file management.
        2. Podcatching with Your Palm-Powered PDA
        3. See Also
      10. Podcatching with Your PlayStation Portable
        1. See Also
    6. 2. Starting Out
      1. Hacks 10–11
      2. Make Your First Podcast
        1. Where to Go from Here
        2. Becoming a Critical Listener
        3. See Also
      3. Professional-Quality Podcasting
        1. The Producer
          1. After the interview.
        2. The Writer
        3. The Engineer
        4. The Host
          1. The physical component.
          2. The microphone.
          3. Vocal styles.
          4. Practice.
        5. The Editor
        6. Books
        7. See Also
    7. 3. Quality Sound
      1. Hacks 12–19
      2. Set Up a Basic Home Studio
        1. Headsets
        2. USB Microphones
        3. PCI Cards
        4. PC Card Adapters
        5. USB Devices
          1. iMic.
        6. FireWire
        7. Mini-Disc or Flash Recorders
        8. Sample Setups
        9. Stopping Pops and Plosives
      3. Pick the Right Microphone
        1. Dynamic or Condenser
        2. Pick-up Patterns
          1. Microphone diaphragms.
        3. Lavaliers
        4. Choosing the Right Mic
          1. Mono or stereo?
          2. Field recording microphones.
          3. Studio microphones.
        5. Purchasing Microphones
        6. See Also
      4. Mix Your Podcast in Hardware
        1. Mixers
        2. Microphone Preamps
        3. See Also
      5. Reduce Noise
        1. Find the Noise Floor
        2. Eliminate Environmental Noise
          1. Handling noise.
          2. Places to record at home.
          3. Places to record on the road.
        3. Eliminate Signal Path Noise
        4. Software Filtering Options
        5. Good Noise
        6. See Also
      6. Podcast in Surround Sound
        1. Binaural Tips
      7. Control Your Recorder with Your Mobile Phone
        1. ControlFreak
        2. Other Remote Controls
      8. Construct Your MP3s
        1. Variable Bit Rate Encoding
        2. ID3 Tags
        3. Encoding with LAME
        4. Combine Without Re-Encoding
          1. mpgtx.
          2. SoX.
        5. Other Encoding Formats
        6. See Also
      9. Train Your Voice
        1. Speaking Well for Podcasting
        2. Diction and Enunciation
        3. Pitch, Power, and Pace
          1. Pitch.
          2. Power.
          3. Pace.
          4. Punctuation.
        4. Speaking into the Microphone Correctly
        5. Other Resources
        6. Talking Naturally
          1. Imagine someone else.
          2. Warming up.
          3. Get yourself in order.
          4. Reading technique.
    8. 4. Formats
      1. Hacks 20–32
      2. Adopt a Format for Your Podcast
        1. Decide on a Duration
        2. Block Out the Show
        3. Create Great Content Segments
        4. Create Great Production Elements
        5. A Few Lessons Learned
      3. Build a Great News Podcast
        1. Types of News
        2. Newsgathering
        3. Sources
          1. Official sources.
          2. Unofficial sources.
          3. Publicity sources.
          4. Analysts.
          5. Other sources.
        4. Touchy Situations
          1. The public’s right to know.
          2. Anonymity.
          3. Slander.
        5. Resources
        6. See Also
      4. Build a Great Story Show
        1. Listen for Specifics
        2. Echo the Teller’s Emotions
        3. “Listen” to Your Own Reactions
        4. See Also
      5. Build a Great Personal Show
        1. The Listener Is Right Next to You
        2. Format Still Works
        3. Don’t Get Fired
        4. Don’t Expose Too Much
        5. Great Personal Shows
          1. BugCast.
          2. Obi Show.
          3. This and That with Jeff and Pat.
          4. Inside the Magic.
          5. Viking Youth Power Hour.
        6. See Also
      6. Build a Great Political Show
        1. Format
          1. Segment ideas.
        2. Using the Blog
        3. What Doesn’t Translate
        4. Great Political and Opinion Podcasts
          1. Two Rights.
          2. The Randi Rhodes Show.
          3. John Edwards’ podcast.
        5. See Also
      7. Make a Mystery Science Theater Podcast
        1. The Sound Setup
        2. Legal Issues
        3. More Ideas
        4. How MST3K Was Produced
        5. See Also
      8. Build a Great Music Podcast
        1. Choose a Show Theme
        2. Licensing: Not a Minor Detail
        3. Assemble the Pieces
        4. Speak Up!
        5. Know What You’re Playing
        6. Choosing the Recording Software
        7. Recording Your First Podcast
        8. Promoting Your Podcast
        9. Great Music Podcasts
          1. Caribbean Free Radio.
          2. Lime.
        10. See Also
      9. Build a Great Review Podcast
        1. Talk About What You Know and Enjoy
        2. Know Your Audience
        3. Have Clear Points to Convey
        4. Conclusion
        5. Great Review Podcasts
          1. (Cool) Shite on the Tube.
          2. Cinecast.
          3. Various and Sundry DVD podcast.
          4. TheForce.Net.
        6. See Also
      10. Build a Great Sports Podcast
        1. Podcast Your Passion
        2. Segment Ideas
        3. Sports News Resources
        4. Directories
        5. Great Sports Podcasts
          1. Triathlete’s Garage.
          2. Southern Sports Week.
          3. Fantasy Focus.
        6. See Also
      11. Build a Great Technology Podcast
        1. Raw Is Better
        2. Interview Experts
        3. Review Technology by Using It
        4. Try New Things
        5. Leave Politics Out
        6. Show Notes
        7. File Formats
        8. Feedback
        9. Sameness Kills
        10. Great Technology Podcasts
          1. TechNation.
          2. Zdot.
        11. See Also
      12. Build a Beercast
        1. How Does Beercasting Work?
        2. How Do I Organize a Beercast?
          1. Location, location, layout.
          2. Party people.
        3. What Do I Need to Do a Beercast?
          1. Topics.
        4. Publicize the Beercast
        5. Vancouver Beercast Squad
        6. See Also
      13. Build an MP3zine
        1. Structure
        2. Challenging Yourself
        3. Music
        4. Using the Web Site
        5. Be Unique
        6. See Also
      14. Produce Great Audio Theatre
        1. The Story
        2. The Script
        3. The Studio Setup
        4. The Performance
          1. Sound effects.
          2. Music.
        5. Mix-Down and Encoding
        6. More Resources
        7. Legal Issues
        8. Wrapping Up
        9. See Also
    9. 5. Interviewing
      1. Hacks 33–36
      2. Record Great Interviews
        1. Preparation
        2. Location and Hardware Setup
        3. Preparing the Interviewee
        4. Interviewing Technique
        5. Microphone Technique
        6. Equipment Issues
        7. Recording Ambience
        8. Be a Good Interviewee
        9. See Also
      3. Record Telephone Interviews HACK
        1. Handset Tap
        2. Coupler
          1. Uncle Doug’s hack.
        3. Telephone Hybrid
        4. Record Through a Modem
        5. Teleconferencing Systems
        6. Conference Calling Your Blog
        7. Cell Phones
        8. Recording the Speakerphone
        9. Skype
        10. Two-Enders
        11. ISDN
        12. See Also
      4. Record Interviews on Skypet
        1. Recording Skype on Macintosh
          1. Putting it together.
          2. Running the hack.
        2. Recording Skype on Windows
        3. Testing Out Your Recording
        4. See Also
      5. Edit Your Interviews
        1. Basic Editing
        2. Artful Editing
          1. Breath sounds.
          2. Cadence of speech.
          3. Contemplative silence.
        3. News Editing
          1. Ambience.
          2. Up cuts.
        4. Editing Ethics
        5. See Also
    10. 6. Blogging
      1. Hacks 37–43
      2. Podcast Without a Blog
        1. A Short Introduction to RSS 2.0
        2. Blogless Podcasting Alternatives
          1. Writing your own RSS file.
          2. Use Podcastamatic to write the RSS file for you.
          3. Use DirCaster to podcast a directory on the server.
        3. See Also
      3. Blog Your Podcast
        1. Podcast with Blogger
          1. FeedBurner.
          2. Audioblogger.
        2. Podcast with Radio UserLand
        3. Podcast with Movable Type
          1. Using the enclosure plug-in.
        4. Podcast with WordPress
        5. Podcast with Drupal
        6. Podcast with Libsyn, AudioBlog, or Odeo
          1. Liberated Syndication.
          2. Audioblog.
          3. Odeo.
        7. Podcast for Free with Ourmedia
        8. Categorize Your Podcast Feeds
        9. Hacking the Hack
        10. See Also
      4. Manage Bandwidth
        1. Free Content Service
        2. Hosted File Services
        3. Using Your ISP
          1. Staying under the limit.
          2. In an emergency, pull this lever.
          3. Find a hosting service.
        4. Hosting Your Own Servers
        5. BitTorrent
          1. Finding a tracker.
          2. Creating the torrent.
          3. Seeding the file.
          4. Is it worth the time?
          5. Trackerless BitTorrent.
        6. The Future
        7. See Also
      5. Tag Your MP3 Files
          1. Naming the podcast file.
        1. See Also
      6. Feed Your MP3s to Movable Type
        1. The Code
        2. Running the Hack
      7. Podcast by Email
        1. The Code
        2. Running the Hack
        3. See Also
      8. Syndicate Your Podcasts to the Radio
        1. Producing to Time
        2. Get in Touch with Your Local Station
    11. 7. Publicity
      1. Hacks 44–49
      2. Get Listed
        1. Mailing Lists and Bulletin Boards
        2. Open Podcast
        3. Daily Source Code
        4. Podcast Networks
        5. Regular Old RSS
        6. See Also
      3. Launch a New Category
        1. Proposing a New Category
        2. See Also
      4. Market Your Podcast
        1. Trading Plugs and Promos
        2. Trading Links
        3. Conference Presence
        4. Interviews
        5. Advertising
        6. Voting
        7. Pinging
      5. Make Money with Podcasts
        1. Google’s AdSense
        2. Amazon Associates
        3. Tip Jar
        4. Commercial Status
        5. See Also
      6. Connect with the Community
        1. Yahoo! Groups
        2. What You Can Offer
        3. Keeping Up-to-Date
      7. Join or Build a Podcast Network
        1. Informal Networks
        2. Commercial Networks
        3. Joining a Network
        4. Building a Network
        5. See Also
    12. 8. Basic Editing
      1. Hacks 50–60
      2. Choose the Right Audio Tools
        1. Audio Editors
          1. Audacity.
          2. Pro Tools free.
          3. Peak 4.
          4. DSP-Quattro 2.
          5. Audition.
          6. Sound Forge.
          7. n-Track Studio.
          8. GarageBand 2.
          9. Logic Express 7.
        2. Sound Recording Applications
          1. Audio Hijack Pro.
          2. Total Sound Recorder.
          3. Audio In.
        3. Podcasting Applications
          1. iPodcast Producer.
          2. Winpodcast.
          3. MixCast Live.
          4. Propaganda.
        4. Cart Applications
          1. JazlerShow.
          2. Sound Byte.
        5. Helper Applications
          1. Soundflower and Soundflowerbed.
          2. FuzzMeasure.
          3. Frequency.
        6. Demos
        7. See Also
      3. Juice Your Sound
        1. Vboxing with Audio Hijack Pro
        2. Plug-In Sites
        3. Recommended Plug-Ins
        4. Develop Your Own Plug-Ins
        5. See Also
      4. Automate Audio Hijack Pro
        1. Sample Scripts
          1. Start recording a session.
          2. Stop recording a session.
          3. Start and stop two sessions.
          4. Set the ID3 tags.
          5. Set the output directory.
          6. Set the output filename.
          7. Set the input or output device.
          8. Inspect the Recording Bin.
        2. See Also
      5. Timestamp Your Show Notes
        1. The Code
        2. Running the Hack
        3. Hacking the Hack
        4. See Also
      6. Build a Simple Sound Cart for Macintosh
        1. Going on from Here
        2. See Also
      7. Build a Simple Sound Cart for Windows
        1. The Code
        2. Running the Hack
        3. See Also
      8. Maintain the Gain
        1. Gain Enveloping
          1. Automation.
        2. Compression and Limiting
          1. Limiters.
          2. Expanders.
          3. Hardware.
        3. Maximizing and Normalization
        4. Noise Gate
        5. See Also
      9. Build a Sweet Sound
        1. Graphic Equalizers
        2. Parametric Equalizers
        3. Low-Pass Filter
        4. High-Pass Filter
        5. Band-Pass Filter
        6. Tunable Noise Filtering
        7. See Also
      10. Add Special Effects
        1. Reverb
        2. Flanger and Chorus
        3. Diffing
        4. Pitch Shifting
        5. Changing Speed
        6. Excitifiers
        7. Silence
        8. See Also
      11. Fix Common Audio Problems
        1. Reduce Wind Noise
        2. Give Your Voice a Phat Sound
        3. Obscure a Voice
        4. Fix a Muffled Voice
        5. Make Someone Sound Far Away
        6. Remove Hum
        7. Remove Hiss
        8. Simulate a Phone
        9. Simulate a Radio
        10. Simulate Rewind and Fast-Forward
        11. The Voice of God
        12. See Also
      12. Mix Multiple Tracks
        1. See Also
    13. 9. Advanced Audio
      1. Hacks 61–68
      2. Set Up a Home Studio
        1. Better Hardware and Software
          1. Build a Digital Audio Workstation.
          2. Better microphones.
          3. Better wiring.
          4. Microphone preamps.
          5. Hardware effects processors.
          6. Studio hybrids.
          7. ISDN audio.
          8. Recording systems.
          9. Rack systems.
          10. Monitoring systems.
        2. Upgrade Your Space
          1. Sound design.
          2. Room equalization.
          3. Sound treatments.
          4. Buy a booth.
          5. Building your own studio.
        3. Building Cedub Studio
        4. See Also
      3. Integrate Audio and Email Feedback
        1. Blog Comments and Bulletin Boards
        2. MP3 Email Feedback
        3. Phone Messaging
        4. See Also
      4. Add Top, Bottom, and Bumper Music
        1. Building Your Own Music
        2. Incorporating Effects
        3. Making Your Own Sound Effects
        4. See Also
      5. Record and Add Background Ambience
        1. Recording Ambience
        2. Editing the Sound
        3. See Also
      6. Speech Synthesize Your Podcast Introduction
        1. Speech Synthesis on Macintosh
        2. Speech Synthesis on Windows
          1. Speech synthesis from code.
          2. Windows voice synthesis programs.
        3. Speech Synthesis on the Web
        4. See Also
      7. Make a Mash-Up
        1. Good Mash-Ups
        2. Mash-Up Software
        3. Five Easy Steps
        4. Take Me to the Bridge
        5. Timing Problems
        6. Tuning and Pitch Shifting
        7. Hit That Perfect Beat(map)
        8. Finding or Making A Cappellas and Instrumentals
        9. Copyright and Copyleft
        10. Have Fun
        11. See Also
      8. Grab Audio Legally
        1. Caveat Emptor
        2. Copyright
          1. Damages.
          2. Permission.
        3. Creative Commons
        4. Unlicensed Material
        5. Avoid Libel and Slander
        6. See Also
      9. Use Copyrighted Music Legally
        1. Know Your Rights
        2. Composer Rights (ASCAP/BMI/SESAC)
        3. Performer Rights (RIAA/SoundExchange)
        4. What About Fair Use?
        5. The Alternatives
        6. The Bottom Line
        7. Protecting Your Podcasts
          1. Creative Commons licenses.
          2. License conditions.
          3. Taking and using a license.
          4. Tagging MP3s.
        8. Tagging RSS files.
        9. See Also
    14. 10. On the Go
      1. Hacks 69–72
      2. Assemble a Small Recording Rig
        1. Get a Good Recording
        2. Tips from the Pros
        3. See Also
      3. Podcast from Your Car
        1. Mounted Shotgun Microphone
        2. Mounted Lavalier
        3. Lavalier on Yourself
        4. Legal Matters
        5. On the Content
        6. See Also
      4. Podcast at an Event
        1. Getting Good Sound
        2. Interviews
      5. Create a Soundseeing Tour
        1. Getting Your Rig Together
          1. Preparing a lavalier microphone.
        2. Editing Your Soundseeing Tour
        3. Using the Blog
        4. The Las Vegas Soundseeing Tour
        5. See Also
    15. 11. Videoblogging
      1. Hacks 73–75
      2. Start a Videocast
        1. The Source Format
        2. The Destination Format
        3. The Portable Videocast
        4. Creating a Videocast
        5. Macintosh
        6. Final Thoughts
        7. See Also
      3. Make a Quick-and-Dirty Prompter
        1. The Code
        2. Running the Hack
        3. Hacking the Hack
        4. See Also
      4. Build a Teleprompter
        1. Do-It-Yourself Teleprompter
        2. Prompter Software
        3. Hacking the Hack
    16. Glossary
    17. Index
    18. Colophon

Product information

  • Title: Podcasting Hacks
  • Author(s):
  • Release date: August 2005
  • Publisher(s): O'Reilly Media, Inc.
  • ISBN: 9780596100667