Podcasting Basics

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Podcasting Basics

• Mike Ho
• Program Advisor, Student Life
• Paradise Valley Community College
• February 3, 2006

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Student Life At PVCC

• Student Life is the hub of campus involvement.
• Students actively dis-engage.
• The Challenge How to reach out to students so
  they can participate in all aspects of campus
  life, including activities, clubs, and support
  services.

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What is Podcasting?

• A method of publishing audio broadcasts via the
  Internet, allowing users to subscribe to a feed
  of new files (usually MP3s). It became popular in
  late 2004, largely due to automatic downloading
  of audio onto portable players or personal
  computers.

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What is Podcasting?

• Podcasting enables independent producers to
  create self-published, syndicated "radio shows.
• Listeners may subscribe to feeds using
  "podcatching" software, which periodically checks
  for and downloads new content automatically. Some
  podcatching software is also able to synchronize
  (copy) podcasts to portable music players.
• Any digital audio player or computer with
  audio-playing software can play podcasts.

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College Radio Vs. Podcasting

• Radio
• Mostly Music
• Requires studio from which to broadcast
• Live Broadcast
• Accessible by radio or desktop computer

• Podcasting
• Mostly Talk
• Requires webserver to store audio files
• Pre-recorded Content
• Accessible by computer but usable by PC, MAC,
  iPod, Mp3 Players, or PDA

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5 Things Every Podcaster Needs to Get Started
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5 Things Every Podcaster Needs to Get Started

• A Concept
• Desktop Microphones
• Recording and Editing Software
• Content
• Hosting Space

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Item 1 A Concept

• Who is the target audience? Students? Faculty?
  Staff? The Community?
• What is the purpose?
• Who will be involved?
• How often will these be produced?
• What types of items will be featured?

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Item 2 Desktop Microphone

• Plugs directly into the microphone port.
• Surprisingly Effective
• 10.00 at Office Max

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Item 2 Desktop Microphone

• Consider a Y Audio Splitter
• Connect two microphones to the same port
• 3.00 at Radio Shack

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Item 3 Recording and Editing Software

• Freeware Audacity
• http//audacity.sourceforge.net/
• How-To Guide in mcli Forum Newsletter Volume 9,
  Spring 2005
• http//www.mcli.dist.maricopa.edu/forum/

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Item 3 Recording and Editing Software

• Creating an Mp3 file
• Keep bit rate small for faster downloads
• Typical Mp3 is 128kb/second
• Reduce to 80kb/s or less for voice recordings

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Item 4 Content

• Interviews with faculty, staff, student leaders
• Public service announcements
• Upcoming campus events
• Sound clips from visiting performers

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Item 4 Content Tips

• Interviews Provide questions to interviewees in
  advance ESPECIALLY STUDENTS.
• Music Use Royalty Free Music
• Royalty Free Music.comhttp//www.royaltyfreemusic
  .com/free-music-loops.html
• Opuzzhttp//www.opuzz.com

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Item 5 Hosting Space

• At PVCC, our podcasts can be found on our
• Student Life Weblog.

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Item 5 Hosting Space

• Skagit Valley College posts to Blogger.com
• http//svcpodcasts.blogspot.com/

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Item 5 Hosting Space

• iTunes University http//www.apple.com/education/
  solutions/itunes_u/
• FREE Hosting Service

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Youve Created a Podcast. Now What?

• How will your audience know your podcast exists?
• Advertising on the college website
• Welcome Week Information Cards
• Word of Mouth
• Thomson-Petersons College and University Feed
  Directory
• http//directory.edufeeds.com/

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RSS

• Really Simple Syndication
• The technology of RSS allows Internet users to
  subscribe to websites that have provided RSS
  feeds these are typically sites that change or
  add content regularly.
• Podcatchers Programs to download RSS Feeds
• iTunes
• iPodder
• Mozilla or Netscape 8.0 Browsers

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Opportunities Student Recruitment

• Target Populations
• Online Students
• English Language Learners
• Athletes
• Performing Arts Students
• Orientation Sessions
• For Students Unable to Attend Traditional
  Orientation
• Senior Night

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Opportunities Student Engagement

• Inform Students About Campus Events
• Help Students Meet Faculty and Staff Members as
  well as other students
• Supplemental Education for Classrooms

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Why Podcast?

• Easy and Fun
• Cost Effective
• Excitement of Experimentation
• Video Podcasting
• i Tunes University

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For A Copy of This Presentation

• http//eport.maricopa.edu/