Quick Tips for creating a podcast

A QUICK GUIDE TO creating a PODCAST

MP3 Player Principles

a.       MP3 players always work with or without batteries.

b.      In the latter instance players need to be fully charged via USB connection prior to use.

c.       They come in a wide range from 256 MSI to 80Gig iPods

d.      Moving or deleting OS software from the player may cause it to malfuntion.

e.      Players can be reformatted.

f.        Playing audio at low volumes will prolong battery life as will cutting out backlighting on the screen should your player have one. The converse is also true.

Signage such as M almost always refers to Menu which will inform the user (you ) what is available.

The sign R/V may refer to record/ Volume ; >>/<< usually indicates directional or navigation keys

-/+ is used with reference to volume control; the lock key makes all features inaccessible.

Should you have a FILE folder under the MENU section it is normally used to manage your files on the player.

recording Guidelines using MP3 Players

1.       Know your equipment/tool to get the most out of it.

2.       Practice before conducting your interview on a friend or family member.

3.       find a suitable venue to conduct the interview: Avoid the following

Buzzing lights

Air-conditioning or ventilation

Ringing telephones

Doors are closed and corridors are kept quiet

4.       If you are using a battery operated MP3 player make sure that the batteries are fully charged before your interview.

5.       Record a few seconds of the room ambience (this refers to the naturally occuring sounds in the room/environment)

6.       If possible do a  test recording to check that your recordng device is at a suitable distance from the subject.

7.       If using a device with an in-built microphone place it as close to the subject as possible.

8.       Double check that the device is actually recording.

9.       Back up your recording as soon as possible.

NB.: THE FILE TO UPLOAD SHOULD BE AN MP3 FILE FORMAT. THE ICON MAY DIFFER DEPENDING ON THE default MEDIA PLAYER YOU HAVE ON YOUR COMPUTER ie. Media player/ VLC player/ Quicktime player etc.

WHEN USING AUDACITY NOTE THE FOLLOWING:

a.       Audacity software only directs or points to where the original file is located on your computer. If you move the file the link will be broken and you will have to reconnect or re-import the audio clip.

b.      Audacity 1.2.6 does not support WMA  (microsoft) or AMR (cellphone audio). AMR files will need to be converted using an AMRtoMP3 converter software. The latter is OPENSOURCE and therefore freely available.

c.       Do not import audiofiles directly off your MP3 player into Audacity but create a folder on your desktop to copy you audiofiles to and import audiofiles from this folder.

d.      Select/highlight the area in your audio track you wish to change/affect before selecting EFFECTS from the drop-down menu.

e.      Save your projects  (*.aup) if you do not complete your assignment in one sitting.

f.        Move all associated files with the project file when changing computers.

g.       NORMALIZE all audio prior to exporting as MP3.

h.      The LAME plug-in  (LAME.dll) is required for exporting to MP3 (available from the sourceforge.net site). The software will require you to show it where you’ve placed it only upon the first time you export to MP3.

i.         Use the Project option on the menu bar to import multiple audio tracks into the same project.

j.        Give you audiofile a title, EXPORT TO MP3,  and above all have FUN.