How to Produce a Podcast
Want to share your voice with the world? Produce an online podcast!
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You Will Need
- Topic and format
- Quiet location
- Computer with soundcard and input/output jacks
- Microphone
- Headphones
- Audio editing software
- Digital media player
- File-sharing site
- Distribution method
- Headset microphone (optional)
- Pop filter (optional)
Steps
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Step 1
Find a topic
Choose a topic for your podcast. Pick a subject you can discuss in detail. Remember: listeners tend to gravitate to unique perspectives and original presentations. Outline the podcast ahead of time to ensure you produce a coherent program.
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Step 2
Check your computer
Find a location where you can record your podcast on your computer without a lot of background noise. Then, plug a microphone in the input jack and headphones into the output jack.
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Use a headset microphone to cut down on the number of external devices.
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Step 3
Install editing software
Install audio-editing software on your computer -- a number of different versions are available online for free. Once installed, open the software and create a new file. Adjust the software's controls to ensure your microphone volume allows you to record cleanly.
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Place a pop filter on the microphone to eliminate unwanted sounds caused by your breathing into the mic.
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Step 4
Create the podcast
Click Record in the editing program and record your podcast. When you finish, press Stop. Use the software to add music files to your podcast, remove excess background noise, and edit. When finished, save the completed podcast file to your computer.
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Step 5
Create an mp3
Open your file in a digital media player and use its controls to convert the audio to an mp3 file. Then, edit the ID tags to include information like the podcast's title, creator, episode description, and artwork, making it easy for anyone who opens it to identify its contents.
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Step 6
Put it online
Upload your mp3 to a file-sharing website or hosting server that provides an RSS feed for your podcast, so people can subscribe to your program and receive regular updates from web aggregators when you upload new episodes.
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Step 7
Get it out there
Disseminate your podcast. Post the link to the feed on a blog or social networks, upload it to a podcast directory, or share it on the iTunes Store -- any method that helps you distribute your finely produced program to the world.
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As of 2010, Apple's iTunes Store provided access to over 150,000 podcasts.
