Post by 0 on Feb 8, 2007 12:39:13 GMT
So you want to be a Podcaster? You will soon find out that there are plenty of folks out there who would like to sell you software designed to help you create your Podcast.
The range of cost spans from free to software/hardware combinations that go into the hundreds of dollars.
Of course, one doesn’t necessarily need software specifically created for Podcasts when there are dozens of free audio editors for the choosing. (Such as Audacity)
But, Podcast software is designed for non-technical users who have little experiencing in recording audio yet want the ability to create and possibly mix various audio sources into a radio program. And it is for that reason Podcast software is especially useful.
PodProducer is a handy little application which is very easy to use and surprisingly robust.
It employs various features which allow for easy recording and audio mixing along with some nice enhancements which can make a Podcast sound pretty professional.
Five Main Areas
The PodProducer screen is comprised of five main areas: configurable playing decks, configurable instant-play buttons, recording parameters, recording controls, and mixer.
The playing decks allow you to open up to 10 different audio tracks and control their volume and mix. If you were doing a music Podcast, this means you could line up your first 10 tracks and have them right in front of you. The user can also automatically cross fade between either track or while all are playing, fade all at once.
Personally I use 5 decks but it's up to you what you use
The instant-play buttons operate like similar applications in a radio studio allowing you to load in various sounds, music clips, voice tracks, etc for instant playback at the click of a mouse. You can configure up to 100! This is very helpful if you’re recording a program and have audio you need to insert on-the-fly like sound bites, drop-ins, sound effects, etc.
Again I only use between 10-15 depending what show I'm recording and how many jingles I have.
The program’s recording parameters are quite robust. The recording controls feature the expected record, pause, stop, and save functions. But, there are advanced features which allow you can also make adjustments to your microphones recording properties including a built-in compressor that controls threshold, attack, release, and gain. You can also select Automatic Gain for your microphone or Voice Operated Recording.
I set my bite rate at 128kbps for music podcast but lower it (smaller file size) down as far as 60kbps for spoken word casts. You can play around with the automatic gain and compression to find the settings that suit you, there's no hard and fast rule.
PodProducer’s Mixer function lets you easily mix your voice, recorded audio, line, and monitor.
There is even an area where you can open your show notes for reference.
PodProducer is one of the best applications I’ve seen yet that not only provides all the tools you need to create your Podcast but the interface is intuitive, easy to use, and it’s free at the moment.
That's the basics, once you've got to grips with the interface and set up you're ready to record. I'll cover that next time.
You can download a copy of PodProducer at: www.podproducer.net
The range of cost spans from free to software/hardware combinations that go into the hundreds of dollars.
Of course, one doesn’t necessarily need software specifically created for Podcasts when there are dozens of free audio editors for the choosing. (Such as Audacity)
But, Podcast software is designed for non-technical users who have little experiencing in recording audio yet want the ability to create and possibly mix various audio sources into a radio program. And it is for that reason Podcast software is especially useful.
PodProducer is a handy little application which is very easy to use and surprisingly robust.
It employs various features which allow for easy recording and audio mixing along with some nice enhancements which can make a Podcast sound pretty professional.
Five Main Areas
The PodProducer screen is comprised of five main areas: configurable playing decks, configurable instant-play buttons, recording parameters, recording controls, and mixer.
The playing decks allow you to open up to 10 different audio tracks and control their volume and mix. If you were doing a music Podcast, this means you could line up your first 10 tracks and have them right in front of you. The user can also automatically cross fade between either track or while all are playing, fade all at once.
Personally I use 5 decks but it's up to you what you use
The instant-play buttons operate like similar applications in a radio studio allowing you to load in various sounds, music clips, voice tracks, etc for instant playback at the click of a mouse. You can configure up to 100! This is very helpful if you’re recording a program and have audio you need to insert on-the-fly like sound bites, drop-ins, sound effects, etc.
Again I only use between 10-15 depending what show I'm recording and how many jingles I have.
The program’s recording parameters are quite robust. The recording controls feature the expected record, pause, stop, and save functions. But, there are advanced features which allow you can also make adjustments to your microphones recording properties including a built-in compressor that controls threshold, attack, release, and gain. You can also select Automatic Gain for your microphone or Voice Operated Recording.
I set my bite rate at 128kbps for music podcast but lower it (smaller file size) down as far as 60kbps for spoken word casts. You can play around with the automatic gain and compression to find the settings that suit you, there's no hard and fast rule.
PodProducer’s Mixer function lets you easily mix your voice, recorded audio, line, and monitor.
There is even an area where you can open your show notes for reference.
PodProducer is one of the best applications I’ve seen yet that not only provides all the tools you need to create your Podcast but the interface is intuitive, easy to use, and it’s free at the moment.
That's the basics, once you've got to grips with the interface and set up you're ready to record. I'll cover that next time.
You can download a copy of PodProducer at: www.podproducer.net