Podcasting 101

Tools you will need to create a quality podcast.

 1. A decent microphone(usually not the mic on your laptop)

 2. A computer with audio recording software

 3. Creative Commons or purchased stock background music and sound effects.

 4. A web host for your audio

Image Source:Yagraph(Own work) [GFDL or CC BY-SA 3.0],  via Wikimedia Commons

Suggested Software

Audacity
Garage Band
Adobe Audition

Steps to Creating a Quality Podcast

 1. Write quality and conversational script (not a rambling, unrehearsed discourse or a script read in your best "reading-scriptures-in-Sunday-School" voice).

Here are some examples of radio commercials and properly-formatted radio scripts.

 

Here is an example of a podcast outline. 

  2. Find some good intro or background music for which you have the rights. 

  3. Record your voice track. This is not live, so re-record as needed to make it sound professional. There is no excuse for stumbles or misreads. The voice track should average between -12 and -6db.

  4. Add your intro or background music. Adjust the levels so it is easy to hear the voice track over the music. Don't forget to fade in and out if needed. Abrupt beginnings and endings don't sound professional.

  5. Save your finished podcast as an mp3 or wav file.

  6. Upload your audio to a web host.

  7. Share your outstanding podcast via social media or email!

Some Additional Tips

 *How to Start A Podcast Step-By-Step

Audio Editing Software:

Audacity® is free, open source, cross-platform software for recording and editing sounds:https://www.audacityteam.org/

http://audacity.sourceforge.net/

Free or Low-cost music sources:
 

 



*http://dig.ccmixter.org/

 *http://www.bensound.com/
 *https://www.youtube.com/audiolibrary/music

 *http://www.danosongs.com/#music

 *http://www.audionautix.com

 *www.jamendo.com

 *http://www.freesound.org/browse/

 *http://www.pacdv.com/sounds/

 *http://incompetech.com/music/royalty-free/

 *http://freeplaymusic.com/

 *http://soundbible.com/

Blog Hosts that host audio files for free:

 Podbean: http://www.podbean.com

 Tumblr: http://www.tumblr.com

Audio Hosting

Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/

Mixcloud: http://www.mixcloud.com/
Anchor.FM:https://anchor.fm/

Online Audio Editors

http://soundation.com/

https://beautifulaudioeditor.appspot.com/

Audacity Tutorials:

 *https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fshLRl3GWqE

 *http://vimeo.com/34960247

 

Adobe Audition Tutorials:

*https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DWaQflMW9yw&list=PL6wGbZVVzENk51o8pUNnH1miOSxOPCr1G