Annotated List of Resources: Podcasting & Digital Audio (Brent A. Jones)
PODCASTING BASICS
Wikipedia - Podcasting
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Podcast
The current entry (updated February 23, 2006) for podcasting provides a good
introduction to the topic, including a straightforward definition, description and history.
The history section provides a good overview of the development of this technology but
readers are warned against getting bogged down here. The section titled Mechanics is a
good introduction to how podcasting works.
Quick & Dirty Podcasting Primer . . . by Gary S. Stager
http://www.stager.org/podcasting/guide.html
This site provides a fairly simple outline of the podcast process, and includes the
enclosure script (necessary for creating RSS feeds so listeners can subscribe to your
podcast) with a short description of the html tags you will need for the xml page
supporting your podcast feed. The step by step description is straightforward and includes
links to directory sites where you can direct listeners to the xml page with your podcast
feed.
Podcast Free America
http://www.podcastfreeamerica.com/the-real-beginners-guide-to-podcasting
This site is a type of information clearinghouse on the topic of podcasting. The
authors sell the site as offering information and advice for people of “all technical
levels.” The process of creating podcasts is described in better detail than the other sites I
found, with links to resources for recording, hosting, announcing, etc. There are also
hardware and software reviews.
ILK’s Simple Podcasting Guide?
http://www.gotilk.com/howto_podcast.html
The title says it all. This is a bare bones introduction to podcasting with most of
the basic steps covered. This page includes links to resources such as Audacity (digital
recording software described below) and the enclosure scripts mentioned above.
Podcasting Guide for Beginners . . . by James Chung Loong
http://allaboutpodcasting.blogspot.com/2005/11/podcasting-guide-for-beginners.html
The author of this weblog gives a good overview of podcasting, including a
couple of definitions, information for both listeners (podcatchers) and would-be
podcasters. The short tutorials also seem worthwhile.
MyPods.Net: What is Podcasting
http://www.mypods.net/
This page provides yet another overview of podcasting with links to more detailed
information.
Podcasting part 1
http://www.mrbelshaw.co.uk/teaching/2006/01/08/podcasting-part1/
This is the first of five guides dedicated to introducing podcasting to educators.
This page is also a weblog for teachers to share ideas, concerns, problems, etc. Past
discussions are archived.
Podcasting for Dummies … by Tee Morris & Evo Terra (book)
http://www.peachpit.com/bookstore/product.asp?isbn=0201782634&rl=1
http://www.bookpool.com/sm/0938151495
This is the resource that that has been most useful for me. As with other titles in
the Dummies series, the writing style is very accessible and information is well organized
to get you started right away. I am still working my way through this book but have
found the sections on planning and recording extremely useful as I prepare Project 3.
DIGITAL AUDIO BASICS (and beyond)
Wikipedia – Digital Recording
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Digital_recording
A simple but effective introduction to digital recording. Includes some
information on equipment and improving quality. Also has a description of converting
analog to digital.
Recording.org by Francisco Burzi
http://www.recording.org/
This site has way too much information for the casual reader, but might be useful
when troubleshooting specific problems. Most of the information is related to industry
news and product information, but the audio forum seems active (looking at the number
of posts and dates) and might be of help.
DIGITAL AUDIO SOFTWARE
Audacity
http://audacity.sourceforge.net/
http://audacity.sourceforge.net/onlinehelp-1.2/reference.html
This software is referenced on many of the sites listed above and includes
extensive documentation (online users manual, etc.) and tutorials, as well as the free
download. The software is also available for most computer operating systems.
Audacity Wiki Homepage
http://audacityteam.org/wiki/index.php?title=Main_Page
This page includes loads of information and a great section on recording tips.
There is also some useful information in a section titled Identifying Problems.
Garageband
http://www.apple.com/support/garageband/podcasts/
http://www.apple.com/support/garageband/gettingstarted/
I believe this software is only available for Macintosh. It is part of the iLife suite
of digital software. These pages introduce the software and how it can be used for
podcasting. One important feature seems to be the ability to change a variety of sound file
formats to mp3 or other formats that can be used in podcasts.