PODCASTING FOR ACADEMICS January 25, 2017 Yelena Kalinsky Associate Director for Research & Publications H-Net: Humanities & Social Sciences Online https://networks.h-net.org | @H-Net_Humanities yelena@mail.h-net.msu.edu | @kyelenak Old Horticulture, Suite 141H (517) 353-5223
What podcasts do you listen to the most? What do you like about them? Do you listen to any academic podcasts? What brings you to listen to them? If you were to start a podcast, what would it be about and what format would it be?
What is a podcast?
What is a podcast? Digital audio delivered to listeners via RSS
What makes a good podcast?
What makes a good podcast? Audio quality Idea Host personality Production quality Consistency ???
Trade-offs In-depth topics Experimentation Ease of distribution Too niche to sustain an audience Market saturation vs
Podcasting is not a casual activity...
Collaborate The Kitchen Sisters
Start or join a podcasting collective! New Books Network H-Net’s Academic Hustle ??? ?
How to launch a podcast Idea Recording Editing Distribution Publicity
Recording
Recording Microphone: USB (ex. Yeti) or analog
Recording Microphone: USB (ex. Yeti) or analog Portable XLR recorder (optional, for field recordings and/or use with analog mic)
Recording Microphone: USB (ex. Yeti) or analog Portable XLR recorder (optional, for field recordings and/or use with analog mic) Audio interface (optional, for use with analog mics)
Recording Microphone: USB (ex. Yeti) or analog Portable XLR recorder (optional, for field recordings and/or use with analog mic) Audio interface (optional, for use with analog mics) Computer with USB and audio-in jack
Recording Microphone: USB (ex. Yeti) or analog Portable XLR recorder (optional, for field recordings and/or use with analog mic) Audio interface (optional, for use with analog mics) Computer with USB and audio-in jack Headphones (“studio” or “monitor”)
Recording Best Practices
Recording Best Practices Record in a quiet, insulated room to avoid echo, noise bleed
Recording Best Practices Record in a quiet, insulated room to avoid echo, noise bleed Check/adjust levels before you start
Recording Best Practices Record in a quiet, insulated room to avoid echo, noise bleed Check/adjust levels before you start Record 5 seconds of neutral silence
Recording Best Practices Record in a quiet, insulated room to avoid echo, noise bleed Check/adjust levels before you start Record 5 seconds of neutral silence Use a pop guard
Recording Best Practices Record in a quiet, insulated room to avoid echo, noise bleed Check/adjust levels before you start Record 5 seconds of neutral silence Use a pop guard Record in uncompressed WAV format
Recording Best Practices Record in a quiet, insulated room to avoid echo, noise bleed Check/adjust levels before you start Record 5 seconds of neutral silence Use a pop guard Record in uncompressed WAV format Don’t let sound concerns keep you from starting!
transom.org
Technical Best Practices
Technical Best Practices
What are some academic podcasts? What makes something an academic podcast?
How do people listen to podcasts? How do podcasts get to listeners?
Hosting + Audience development
3. What can academics bring to podcasting?
Podcasting resources: Resources, community, hosting H-Podcast network (networks.h-net.org/h-podcast) Tools & Tutorials www.transom.org - reporting, storytelling, tools Transom’s Podcasting Basics series Knight Center Introduction to Podcasting MOOC (journalismcourses.org) Lifehacker “How to Start Your Own Podcast” This American Life Make Radio page
Podcasting resources: Music Free Music Archive Hosting H-Net Soundcloud Libsyn News Nieman Lab at Harvard Poynter Institute HotPod Newsletter