 |
Digital Media > Build Your Own Podcast on Mac or PC |
| What is Podcasting? Podcasting on a Mac Audio Enhanced Video Podcasting on a PC Audio Enhanced Video Add Your Podcast to iTunes Resources |
| Building an Audio Podcast | <-- previous | next --> |
In this tutorial, we will show you how to create an audio podcast using a Mac computer and iLife ‘06. To learn more about the various podcasting software available, check out our Resources page.
Technology Requirements
(most items available for sale at UC Computer Store and possibly on loan from ITC -- call 974-9670 tofind out more)
- A Mac with the latest version of Mac OS X and iTunes
- Recording Equipment (laptop-embedded microphone, small
desktop
microphone, etc.) - iLife ’06 (GarageBand, iMovie, iPhoto, iDVD, iWeb) - bundled with OS X
GarageBand
What is GarageBand? It's an audio editing program that allows you to record your voice, add sound effects and music, and import images or video to accompany your recordings. It's fairly comprehensive, and among the easiest-to-use software on the market. You'll use GarageBand to blend all of your podcasting elements and compress them into a web-ready format.Exploring the Tracks
Open Garageband and explore the interface. Select New Podcast Episode. When prompted, type in a project name and click "Create". When the project opens, you will see five tracks: Podcast Track, Male Voice, Female Voice, Jingles, and Radio Sounds. The Podcast Track holds images and other media. The voice tracks are designed to optimize pitch and other vocal characteristics. Jingles provides opening, closing, and transitional music for your podcast, and Radio Sounds offers traditional audio fare such as creaking doors or ambient crowd noises.
Watch a Video Demonstration
Recording the Audio
Prepare your recording device. If you're using an external microphone, plug it in. Check your computer’s audio settings by going to System Preferences > Sound > Input. Set the Garageband settings by going to Garageband > Preferences. Choose Audio/MIDI and select the name of your microphone. Select the track you wish to record to ("Female Voice," for instance) and click the track's red record button to enable recording for that track.
If necessary, drag the Playhead (the vertical red line) to the beginning of the timeline (remember that the location of the Playhead indicates where the new microphone audio will be inserted). Click the main Record button and begin speaking. When you’re done, click the Record button again to stop recording. Drag the Playhead back to the beginning and click Play to listen. Bravo!
Watch a Video Demonstration
Editing Clips
Click and drag the beginning or end of a clip to change its length.
Click and drag in the center to move the entire clip. To delete, select a clip and press Delete on your keyboard.
Adding Music and Sound Effects
Add a jingle. Click the Loop Browser icon directly below the track names.
When the menu appears below, select Jingles.
Choose a style...
...then drag a specific jingle up to the Jingles track and drop it into the timeline.
Voila! Drag and edit it in the same way you edited the voice tracks.
To add sounds, select Sound Effects in the same menu. Choose a style and specific sound, then drag it up to the timeline.
Mixing the Tracks
 |
Set the Ducking |
 |
Track Info Icon |
Adding the Description
Remember that the podcasts you saw in iTunes had titles and descriptions. You’ll want to create these for your podcast as well.With the Podcast Track selected, click the Track Info icon (next to the Media Browser icon).
Fill in Title, Artist, and Description.
Exporting the File
In the menu, choose Share > Send Podcast to iTunes. GarageBand will prepare and save the file, and iTunes will open. Find your file in iTunes by typing the title into the Search box on the upper right. Once you've found it, control-click or option-click the file and choose Show in Finder. While pressing the Option key, drag the file to the desktop. (iTunes has a dense internal file structure. Placing a copy of the file on the desktop will make life easier when you upload the file. After you've uploaded, you can delete this extra copy on the desktop.)You’re almost done.
Posting to the Web
Now you’re ready to place your files online for public or student viewing. You have two main options:Volcasting@UT
Visit Volcasting@UT. If you don't have an instructor account, choose Request Volcasting Course and follow the instructions. When you receive a confirmation email (within the next day or so), go to Upload your Podcast. You will be asked to enter information about the podcast. To attach the file, navigate to the file you placed on your desktop and select it. The file appears, with description and RSS feed, under View Courses.
Volcasting@UT can be viewed by the public. UT instructors and their students can upload to the site.
Blackboard (Online@UT)
Post your file to the web. You can upload it to Volcasting@UT, UT's Digital Media Services, or your own site or blog. When done, make a note of the URL.
Log in to Online@UT, choose your course, and navigate to a Content Area. In Edit View, click Add External Link. Give your file a short but descriptive name and add the URL. Under Text, add any necessary details.
Your podcast is online!
Posting Your Podcast in iTunes
Interested in adding your educational podcast to the iTunes directory? Visit our Add Your Podcast to iTunes page.| <-- previous | next --> |
