How to Start Your Own Podcast
Determine the nature of your podcast., Choose the products you'll use to Podcast., Pick your software.
Step-by-Step Guide
-
Step 1: Determine the nature of your podcast.
What will the content be? Write it down so you don't forget.
Come up with an outline or some sort of organizer to keep track of what you will discuss and/or promote.
There are countless examples among the podcasts already in existence.
Podcast.com lists podcasts by categories, which include comedy, news, health, sports, music and politics.
Some examples include Mugglecast, which covers "Harry Potter" novels and films; The Word Nerds, who discuss the etymologies of words and other linguistic matters; Fantasy Football Minute, a podcast to help all fantasy football coaches and general managers; and NPR Science Friday, a podcast version of the weekly show broadcast on local public radio affiliates, just to get your mind rolling.Listen to some of the more popular podcasts to get a feel for style and content.
Draft up an outline to keep the awkward pauses at a minimum.
If you're going to be doing interviews with your pets, this will be something you probably want scripted. -
Step 2: Choose the products you'll use to Podcast.
Most podcasts include a microphone (USB or analog), mixer (for analog mic) or even a new computer.
There are different podcast starter packages out there you can buy for around $100.
Don't rely on the standard (and iffy at best) microphone your PC came with if you want to sound as professional as possible.
You'll want a full headset with a noise-canceling mic to be positive your listeners aren't getting distracted by the sound of your air conditioner in the corner.For affordable voice recording, a unidirectional, dynamic-type microphone is good.
Radioshack sells inexpensive ones and you’ll also find a good selection of higher quality mikes at most music stores.Is your podcast going to be portable or will you record at home? Maybe you want to podcast using your smartphone or tablet (Android, iOS).
But the basics you'll need are a microphone and voice recording podcast software.
You'll only need a mixer if you have multiple inputs.
Smaller units with around four inputs will suit all but the most ambitious podcasts. , If you have a Mac, you can record using Garageband (it comes free with every Mac as part of the iLife suite).
There are free software packages (like Audacity) and expensive software (Adobe Audition).
There are also tiered versions of software, like Sony Acid (music studio is only $50 whereas Acid Pro is $200).
Some mixers and microphones come with free software to use.
Industrial Audio Software's aptly named iPodcast Producer is super podcast friendly.
It takes care of the whole process from recording to uploading the finished product via a built-in FTP client.
However, it's just about the opposite of free.Audacity (is free!) has an easy learning curve and there are Windows, Mac, and Linux versions available.
It has a number of useful features and plug-ins.If this is more than you bargained for, Sound Recorder (on Windows) does everything you need it to do, but only saves files in .wav format; you will still have to convert your final recording into an .mp3 file.
MusicMatch Jukebox can also do this for you.
If you go with Adobe Audition, you can get a monthly subscription through the Adobe Cloud that offers the entire Adobe site (with lower costs for students).
Additionally, Lynda.com has an excellent video tutorial (about 5 hours or so worth) on everything Adobe (and lots of other technologies, too) that you can access with a month to month subscription that you can terminate at anytime. -
Step 3: Pick your software.
Detailed Guide
What will the content be? Write it down so you don't forget.
Come up with an outline or some sort of organizer to keep track of what you will discuss and/or promote.
There are countless examples among the podcasts already in existence.
Podcast.com lists podcasts by categories, which include comedy, news, health, sports, music and politics.
Some examples include Mugglecast, which covers "Harry Potter" novels and films; The Word Nerds, who discuss the etymologies of words and other linguistic matters; Fantasy Football Minute, a podcast to help all fantasy football coaches and general managers; and NPR Science Friday, a podcast version of the weekly show broadcast on local public radio affiliates, just to get your mind rolling.Listen to some of the more popular podcasts to get a feel for style and content.
Draft up an outline to keep the awkward pauses at a minimum.
If you're going to be doing interviews with your pets, this will be something you probably want scripted.
Most podcasts include a microphone (USB or analog), mixer (for analog mic) or even a new computer.
There are different podcast starter packages out there you can buy for around $100.
Don't rely on the standard (and iffy at best) microphone your PC came with if you want to sound as professional as possible.
You'll want a full headset with a noise-canceling mic to be positive your listeners aren't getting distracted by the sound of your air conditioner in the corner.For affordable voice recording, a unidirectional, dynamic-type microphone is good.
Radioshack sells inexpensive ones and you’ll also find a good selection of higher quality mikes at most music stores.Is your podcast going to be portable or will you record at home? Maybe you want to podcast using your smartphone or tablet (Android, iOS).
But the basics you'll need are a microphone and voice recording podcast software.
You'll only need a mixer if you have multiple inputs.
Smaller units with around four inputs will suit all but the most ambitious podcasts. , If you have a Mac, you can record using Garageband (it comes free with every Mac as part of the iLife suite).
There are free software packages (like Audacity) and expensive software (Adobe Audition).
There are also tiered versions of software, like Sony Acid (music studio is only $50 whereas Acid Pro is $200).
Some mixers and microphones come with free software to use.
Industrial Audio Software's aptly named iPodcast Producer is super podcast friendly.
It takes care of the whole process from recording to uploading the finished product via a built-in FTP client.
However, it's just about the opposite of free.Audacity (is free!) has an easy learning curve and there are Windows, Mac, and Linux versions available.
It has a number of useful features and plug-ins.If this is more than you bargained for, Sound Recorder (on Windows) does everything you need it to do, but only saves files in .wav format; you will still have to convert your final recording into an .mp3 file.
MusicMatch Jukebox can also do this for you.
If you go with Adobe Audition, you can get a monthly subscription through the Adobe Cloud that offers the entire Adobe site (with lower costs for students).
Additionally, Lynda.com has an excellent video tutorial (about 5 hours or so worth) on everything Adobe (and lots of other technologies, too) that you can access with a month to month subscription that you can terminate at anytime.
About the Author
Victoria Gomez
Committed to making organization accessible and understandable for everyone.
Rate This Guide
How helpful was this guide? Click to rate: