Basics of Podcasting

Content 1.What are podcasts 2.Things you need to know 3.Advantages of podcasts 4.Equipments necessary 5.Tips 6.Choosing software 7.Recording and editing podcasts 8.Examples of water related podcasts

1. What are Podcasts? A Podcast is a digital audio recording which can contain music or commentary. Podcasts are distributed through the internet as MP3* files. * An MP3 file is an audio format which can reduce the file size enormously without losing quality.

2. Things you need to know  Podcast were meant for consumers who listen to it on their Ipods*. Hence the name. But you can listen to a Podcast on any kind of MP3 player.  The term Podcasting is based on broadcasting  An Ipod refers to a class of portable digital audio players designed and marketed by Apple Computer

3. Advantages of Podcasts  You can listen to a podcast whenever you want. (You are not dependent on a radio broadcast)  You can move forward or backward whenever you want.  It is a powerful tool to share information. (Think for example about interviews with interesting people. This is much more effective to listen to instead of reading the whole interview).  Relatively low costs  Podcasts will keep attracting your audience if you create new ones regularly

4. Equipments necessary  A computer  A headset  A microphone  A voice recorder  Software to record audio/podcasts

5. Tips  Your Podcast should be audience oriented (speak in their ‘language’)  Make it entertaining  Avoid disturbing sound

6. Choosing software To create your Podcast you need software. There are 2 options:  You can buy “all in one packages”. These programs are especially made for creating Podcasts. These programs contain every feature from recording your Podcast to uploading your Podcast.  Use free software of which you need different programs for different steps during the process. With Audacity you can record your podcast, with LAME MP3 encoder you can save your files in an MP3 format.AudacityLAME MP3 encoder

6. Choosing software (2) In short:  If you are less experienced with computers and not familiar with uploading files it will be worth spending some money on a all in one program like: epodcastproducer or  If you do have experience working with audio and video on you computer you will manage free software.

7. Recording and editing Podcasts  Make sure that the sound you are recording is in a good range. For recording only a voice, HZ is enough.

8. Examples of Water related Podcasts  Bacteria and Arsenic in Groundwater Bacteria and Arsenic in Groundwater  Seminars from US EPA Technology Innovation Program Seminars from US EPA Technology Innovation Program  Significance of Groundwater Significance of Groundwater  Clean up contaminated groundwater Clean up contaminated groundwater