Sometimes you should just jump into a new project. Especially when the plan is to work on the project for the long term, as I’m doing with Farm Report, a daily video podcast I started this morning. The production values of the video aren’t worked out yet, the format isn’t solid yet, but the general idea is there. Improvements to come.

The goal with Farm Report is to generally inform people about local growing in Western Massachusetts. There’ll be interviews, commentary, nice photos. But, I’ll probably also include videos about weight loss and it’s relation to the food we grow.

I’ve been thinking about doing a daily video podcast for a while now, inspired by two different people: ZeFrank (very popular daily video before people were really doing such things) and David Lynch (his daily [kind of] weather report). Their idea is creating content and getting it out there.

If you have an idea for a podcast, begin it today. I’m sure there’s a video on YouTube a lot worse than you’ll ever produce, so step off the curb.

If you’re interested, 3 tools are being used to create Farm Report: a Kodak Zi8 HD Pocket Video Camera, a Sima video light, and an Audio Technica lavalier microphone.

I give you Farm Report

Begin a daily video podcast today is a post from: Netcast Blog

Tags:farm report, how to, production values, video, vlog, vlogging

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When video podcasting you need to look your best. Increasingly production values (how your video looks) are important. Picture quality is getting better even for the smallest video producer, which puts pressure on everybody to improve. Check out the lesson I learned from movie star Paul Newman on how to get rid of your puffy face before vlogging.

What Paul Newman taught me about reducing puffy face when vlogging [video] is a post from: Netcast Blog

Tags:how to, production values, video, vlogging

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We record the Photo Share Podcast using a Skype to Skype call; I make a Skype call to my podcast co-host Sandra and record the conversation, editing and mixing the audio file (.wav) later. We do this because it’s convenient and cheap (Skype to Skype calls are free), but there’s a bunch of problems that can crop up. Here are my top 5 potential screw-ups when recording these calls:

1. You forget to hit the record button on your software. Yup, I’ve done that, and it’s kind of easy with the software I use, Audio Hijack Pro from Rouge Amoeba. Recording the audio from a Skype call is a two step process: first you “hijack” then you record–two different buttons. For some reason I was distracted and forgot to hit the record button, only discovering it when I went to edit the file.
2. Forget to channel all the audio into Audio Hijack Pro. Using a Mac and Audio Hijack, an application called SoundSource is also needed to move the incoming audio from the Skype call into Audio Hijack, otherwise you’ll only record one side of the conversation. Yup, I’ve done this too. This one is even easier to do than forgetting to hit the record button.
3. Forget to turn your computer speakers off. I’ve found that leaving my speakers on results in a nasty hum on any recording, and because of this I turn off any electronic equipment I can. It’s probably overkill, but I rather prevent a problem than have to go back and re-record.
4. Make sure the person with the highest speed connection initiates the Skype call. The better your bandwidth, the less likely you’ll have dropped calls and the quality will be improved. I recently did an interview with someone that had a DSL connection (I have cable), and the quality suffered.
5. When recording a Skype call try to get the best headset or microphone you can. I have a good headset, but when talking with someone who has a quality microphone I noticed the difference.

My best recommendation is to keep a Skype recording checklist next to your computer, that way you don’t repeat the same mistakes that I do!

Tell me, what mistakes have you make when recording a Skype call?

5 screw-ups you can make recording a skype to skype call is a post from: Netcast Blog

Tags:audio hijack pro, headset, how to, interview, podcast, skype

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Would you like to encode your podcast file to mp3 and fill-in the ID3 tags with just one right mouse click? Then this tip is for you. To brand your podcast effectively, consistent ID3 tags and file encoding is important; you want your listeners or viewers to feel like you’re dependable, that your podcast will show up on the same day every week and that it’ll be in the same format every time. This tip will show you both how to get that consistency and speed up the time it takes you to prepare your podcast file for upload.

Unfortunately I’m only going to explain how to do this on Mac OS X, but I’m sure the same concepts probably apply to Windows. The program we’re going to use is called Automator, which can be found in your applications directory. This underrated, unused program is very powerful. Look at the screen shot on the right; on the left you can see all the programs Automator can control, and each has some pre-made actions so you don’t have to create any.

Let’s assume you’re starting with a lossless file like wav, which you would export from a program like Audacity or Garageband. You then want to import that file into iTunes for conversion to an mp3 file. Before you begin importing the wav file, open iTunes so you can set the default preferences for encoding an mp3. It’s these are default settings that your Automator action will use. Look at the screen capture to the left and you’ll see my default settings; notice that the setting is for 128 kbps stereo, but the file is encoded mono, therefore the file encoding is half of 128 (64 kbps). Always make the sample rate 44.100 kHz. Save those settings. You’re now ready to create your Automator action.

On this screen shot you can see all of the pre-made actions associated with the iTunes application. There’s quite a few there, but we’ll only be using two of the actions. If you’re interested, highlight each of the actions and read the help pane on the bottom left of the window.

I want to take a moment to reassure you that making a mistake with this program will not ruin your computer, that you should poke around and create some actions that might help automate repetitive tasks. If an action doesn’t work, open Automator and delete the action, then start over. It’s that simple to fix a problem.

On this screen shot you’ll notice that I added two actions by dragging and dropping them: “import audio file” and “set info of iTunes songs”. It’s important that you put these actions in the correct order; the ID3 tags (the mp3 file info) needs to be set after the file is created. With the import audio file action choose to import with the mp3 encoder (that will use the preferences you previously set). Setting the info for the mp3 file is a little more complicated. You can see how I use the various fields, which works for me. Also, notice that I leave the show number blank; I can’t fill that in until each file is encoded because I’ll use this same action again next week. When you’ve finished customizing your action you’ll want to save it. Go to the File menu and choose Save As Plug-in, then from there you want to save it as a plug-in for Finder. You’re done. Quit Automator.

Now, let’s find your wave file and apply the action you just created. Right mouse click on the wave file, on the bottom of the menu, you’ll find Automator; under that you’ll see the action you created (I named mine Import Podcast To iTunes). Release the mouse button after selecting the action, then watch the magic!

Don’t forget to finish numbering your podcast.

Applying this and other Automator work flows into your daily routine has the potential to save a lot of time in a week. Go on, create a new work flow and tell us about it!

If you found this article useful, please consider subscribing to the Netcast Blog Feed.

Tip on improving work flow when creating podcasts is a post from: Netcast Blog

Tags:automator, how to, mac os x, work flow

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One of the ways to cheaply record a podcast that has multiple hosts is to use Skype, the voice over internet protocol (voip). I’m using this technique when I record Photo Share Podcast with Sandra, my co-host. This post will try to steer you away from some of the mistakes we’ve made.

There’s really no point in me explaining the mechanics of recording a Skype call. Many others have done it, plus I could only tell you how to do it on a Mac. Also, I’ve found that the recording software I use, Audio Hijack Pro, is updated so often that the directions are constantly evolving (getting easier). If you want more information about recording a Skype call, you can look here, here, here and here.

One thing I haven’t found is advice on what mistakes to avoid. Here are our 5 mistakes to avoid, in no particular order:

1. Use a good headset. In general, I recommend spending about $50 for your headset. Remember, the better the headset, the better the quality of audio it will capture. I use a Plantronics headset, but I’m sure you can find other headsets with good “dynamic range”.
2. When recording your audio turn off speakers and any other electronic equipment that may interfere with the audio. When I forgot to turn the speakers off, a low hum was captured, which I didn’t hear until I tried to edit. Other possible interference sources could be dimmer switches, external hard drives, and other unshielded electric cords.
3. This is pretty basic, but remember to turn off any fans or other sources of “white noise”. When you try to edit the audio those noise sources will no longer be white; the smallest background noises can be captured.
4. When using a headset, keep the microphone adjusted slightly away from your mouth and control the cord so it doesn’t move around when you’re talking. I had to re-record an entire podcast when I made the mistake of thinking that standing would improve my vocal quality, but didn’t remember the headset cord knocking around on the desk.
5. Before sitting down to record your first podcast using Skype, make time to create at least one demo show, from soup to nuts. I found putting together a complete podcast for only demo purposes to be valuable in identifying problems and elements that I want to improve in the future.

I hope you find this useful in your podcasting endeavors. And if you did, please consider subscribing to the Netcast Blog Feed.

5 Mistakes To Avoid When Recording A Skype To Skype Podcast is a post from: Netcast Blog

Tags:how to, photo share podcast, podcasting, skype

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Robin Good makes some interesting observations about the future of radio in a world with podcasting, though it seems to me that he glosses over how talk radio will be changed by podcasting/netcasting.

Music radio as we have known it is probably dead, and not because of satellite radio or netcasting. Radio has killed radio as an entertainment medium; they have advertised and marketed to us until our ears started to bleed, and now people are giving up. In addition, the nature of the technology makes audiences very hard to measure, meaning either the technology has to get better or advertising rates will drop (to keep advertisers with radio). As the television and Internet audience measurement technology improves this will probably negatively influence the world of commercial radio. There are too many other alternatives, including netcasting, to be annoyed by the commercial pitches. After all, the content of music radio is not original.

Hold on! There is some radio programming that is original: news (from public radio, mostly), sports, and talk radio. Live sporting events probably don’t have a strong future in the netcasting world, and public radio has done a great job with exploiting podcasting, but talk radio still can be developed further.

One of my favorite podcasts is the radio show done by T.D. Mischke. In fact, I listen to a bootleg podcast of his two hour weekday show. Someone I don’t even know records the show, taking out all advertising other than the live commercials that Mischke himself reads (which can be very entertaining themselves). This is a great service to Mischke fans, and maybe some view of the future of talk radio in a netcasting world?

Comments on radio and podcasting is a post from: Netcast Blog

Tags:radio, radio

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The European Union, 34 countries in all, voted to work towards making the Internet accessible to all. The press release states:

A pan-European drive to use information and communication technologies to help people to overcome economic, social, educational, territorial or disability-related disadvantages was endorsed by ministers of 34 European countries in Riga (Latvia) today. “e-Inclusion” targets include halving the gap in Internet usage by groups at risk of exclusion, boosting broadband coverage in Europe to at least 90%, and making all public web sites accessible by 2010.

As this is a netcast blog, this news inspired some thinking about podcasting and accessibility, namely, does podcasting make the Web a more accessible place? I would like to hear from people that have accessibility issues and listen to podcasts. Please describe your experiences using podcasts.

I wonder, in what ways are podcasts not accessible, and in what ways can we make them more accessible?

In a couple of weeks I will review the Web Axe podcast, a show about Web accessibility issues. It looks interesting, and I am actually surprised that the creator, Dennis Lembree, has been so consistent with creating new programs. Right now he is 37 shows strong. Hey, it’s not too sexy of a topic (important, not sexy)! Hopefully it’s something worth listening to.

European Union Votes For An Accessible Web is a post from: Netcast Blog

Tags:accessibility, accessibility, news, news, web, web

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You would think that educational institutions would be all-over the podcasting technology, but they’re not. At least they haven’t been in 2006. There are exceptions, but as a rule educators are missing the podcasting wave. I think there are great opportunities: marketing colleges and universities, disseminating news to a campus community, podcasts by college newspapers . . . and I haven’t even mentioned teachers and professors themselves!

Though, it’s my experience that teachers should not podcast their lectures. Going to a lecture can not be replaced by listening to a podcast; it’s a version of the lecture, not the experience. I have read about one professor, I forget where, that is using podcasting technology in a useful way: providing extra information to his students, things that occur to him after a class, or other comments about the readings. He takes about 15 minutes after the lecture, makes his comments, then posts the audio. That gives students the incentive (maybe) to attend lectures, plus gives them more information they otherwise wouldn’t learn.

Here is one directory with a listing of college and university podcasts, brought to you by openculture.com

Educational podcasts: where are they? is a post from: Netcast Blog

Tags:colleges_and_universities, directories, directories, education, education, marketing

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According to MacWorld News, Queen Elizabeth II’s Christmas speech is being podcast. The Royal podcast is going to be posted on the BBC’s Web site, available when the speech is broadcasted.

Westminster Digital, a company that provides the U.K. governement with other media streaming services, is hosting the podcast.

On the one hand this isn’t really a big deal. Do you think the Queen even knows that her speech is being podcast? Probably not. I don’t picture the ol’ girl listening to herself on an iPod; and I don’t think she is going to down mix or sweeten her own audio. But, this does indicate how podcasting is becoming ubiquitious. Another note in podcasting history.

The Queen does a podcast is a post from: Netcast Blog

Tags:bbc, news, news, podcast, queen_elizabeth_ii

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