Quick Start Podcasting

Joan Vinall-Cox, Ph.D.2014

Creating a Podcast• History - Rhetoric• Preparation – 5 Steps• Recording – Tools and Tips• Editing – Audacity & Tutorials• Posting – Blog + SoundCloud =

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Rhetoric• First record of codified human

communication skills– oral / aural

• Impact of voice and words in art of persuasion

• Aristotle recorded techniques in text – for live speaking

• Context known – place and audience - so speaker could adjust while speaking

Recorded Rhetoric• Audience, place, and time heard unknown– Speaker’s knowledge of audience context

limited or non-existent• Audience needs must be built-in prior to

recording, editing and posting– Increases planning requirements

• Compensations for sound not being live–Music, sound effects, the mix

Aristotle’s Canon (for Podcasting)

1. Invention – Choose your topic– Think about your potential audience– Research for information, approaches

2. Arrangement– Structure for the ear; short, simple

sentences; clear, coherent, focussed– Use a “hook” to start; grab the audience

Planning Your Podcast

Donna Papacosta Says:http://news.trafcom.com/2008/09/how-to-read-a-podcast-script-and-not-sound-like-youre-reading/

Recording Tools – Mics

Recording Tool - MicsMics• Smart phones - recording apps• Earbuds’ mic• iRig Mic – around $60.00–Works with recording apps and has its

dedicated app• Many laptops will record but can have

poor sound without an attachable mic

More Recording Toolshttp://podcast.trafcom.com/podcasts/2008/11/trafcom-news-podcast-79-the-podcasters-toolkit

Interview Tools• F2f – Face-to-Face interviews –Mic handheld couple of inches below

and in front of mouth - best• Interview via Skype

– http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/the-quickest-easiest-way-to-record-skype-calls-for-mac-and-windows/

Audio Editing Tool

Audio Editing - Audacity

• Any audio editing tool, ex. GarageBand

OR• Audacity – free audio editing

software– http://audacity.sourceforge.net– Google for tutorials – many available

Editing Podcasts• Plan ahead• Outline, but avoid scripting– Helps later with shownotes

• Cut redundancies and stumbling• Cut most fillers - “um”, “uh”, “like”,

etc.• From Trafcom News -

http://podcast.trafcom.com/podcasts/2007/08/show-61-trimmin

Safe Copyright• Find and use ONLY material – music,

sound effects, etc. – that is copyright safe or free

• Copyright-safe sounds and music – – https://creativecommons.org/

legalmusicforvideos – http://creativecommons.org/music-

communities • Research for more or create it

IntrosWhat introductions need -• Immediately aurally recognizable• Sounds - consistent for whole series• Introduce current episode’s topic(s)• Podcaster introduces self

Exits• Thank interviewees if any –Mention their promotions

• Briefly mention podcaster’s promotions – Refer to links in shownotes

• Invite responses– Include how to respond and where

• Thank audience and repeat your name

Saving Your Podcast

Exporting -> mp3http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/how-to-create-valid-mp3-files-with-audacity/

Hosting Your Podcast• Professional hosting – Libsyn - $5 a month

• Free hosting– SoundCloud - https://soundcloud.com – YouTube – You can include image(s) as

well as audio

Posting Your Podcast• Set up a blog– Blogger–WordPress.com– Even Tumblr

• Embed your SoundCloud or YouTube hosted podcast!

• Share your link!!

A WordPress.com Example

A Tumblr Example

Shownotes• If you want your podcast(s) heard,– write up shownotes on your blog–Why? - • Google searches can find words

–More reasons and how• http://news.trafcom.com/2007/01/

podcasting_secr_1-2/

Crafting a Podcast• History – Rhetoric – oral / aural communication

• Preparation – Aristotle’s 5 Canons• Recording – Tools and Tips• Audio Editing and Mixing – Audacity – Google for Tutorials

• Posting – Blog + SoundCloud => Embed– Include shownotes for SEO

Donna Papacosta:Expert Podcaster

• Much of what I cover comes from Donna Papacosta’s podcasts:– http://podcast.trafcom.com/topics/podcasting-news-and-

notes

• And her eBook on Podcasting –– “The Podcast Scripting Book”

• http://www.amazon.ca/Podcast-Scripting-Book-Donna-Papacosta-ebook/dp/B00HKN9CV8/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1391014684&sr=8-1&keywords=Donna+Papacosta

Stuck / Confused?• Do what I do –

Google it!

Joan Vinall-Cox, Ph.D.

Good Luck with Your

Podcasting!