Podcasting | Social Media University, Global (SMUG)

Podcasting 201: Flip Camera as Alternate Audio Source

In the 100-level podcasting courses, we used the built-in MacBook Pro microphone and Audacity as the source for audio files. (See Podcasting 103).

Here’s an example of one of those files, from Podcasting 109. You’ll note some hum and a bunch of background noise.

This course, Podcasting 201, is about a MacGyveresque hack that enables you to get much better sound quality.

One of the limitations of the Flip as a video camera is that it doesn’t have an audio input jack, so you’re stuck with its built-in microphone. That means that in a noisy environment, such as I experienced at the U.S. Transplant Games, background noise can be bothersome.

But if you’re not concerned about the video you’re getting, the Flip can actually be a pretty nifty audio recording device.

Here, for example is the audio from Podcasting 110, which I recorded using a Flip Ultra.

So how do you do that?

First, because you aren’t concerned about the picture, you can hold the Flip right next to your mouth to get maximum pick-up of your voice. Here is a frame grab from when I recorded Podcasting 110.

Using the Flip for close-range audio recording

Nice angle, huh?

At any rate, once you’ve captured the audio by holding the camera nice and close to your mouth, all you need to do is open the .AVI file from the Flip in QuickTime Pro (for Mac) or a similar Windows program, and export the audio as a .WAV file.

Then you can open the file in Audacity and edit in the same way as you would in Podcasting 103, saving your edited file as an mp3.

It’s that simple. It does require the purchase of a Flip, but you really should get one of those anyway. But because this method does involve some expenditure (a Flip costs about $150), this is a 200-level course instead of 100-level.

If you have another kind of video camera, such as a mini-DV, that also could be used to capture audio, but the steps involved would be much more complicated. With the Flip, it’s just about as easy as using the built-in computer microphone, but with much better quality.

Don’t get me wrong: I’m still going to be mostly putting the Flip to its intended use. But until I get another source for audio in my personal podcasts, it will be my digital audio recorder too.

For more fun with podcasting, check out 10 Steps to Your Own Free Podcast.

iTunes Store Podcast Directory Accepts Chancellor Conversations

I received notice yesterday that my listing of Chancellor Conversations in the iTunes Store Podcast Directory, which I submitted as part of the Podcasting 110 course, was approved.

So now, it’s even easier: just click this link to subscribe to Chancellor Conversations in iTunes.

I had always wondered how those links worked, in which podcasters put little “Subscribe in iTunes” icons on their pages. Now I know. Apple sends the code, and you just hyperlink from your page.

Here’s what the Chancellor Conversations page looks like in the iTunes directory (click the image to enlarge):

I hope you’ll subscribe in iTunes and continue to learn about social media with me.

10 Steps to Your Own FREE Podcast

A podcast is the perfect vehicle for providing in-depth audio and video information to an interested audience. And not just an “audience,” but a community: if you use a blog to distribute your podcast, listeners can provide feedback through their comments. This post is a recap of Social Media University, Global’s 100-level Podcasting courses, and will take you step-by-step through everything you need to create your own podcast

Best of all, the education is completely FREE. SMUG has no tuition, and all of the tools to create and distribute your podcast used and recommended in these courses are free.

You’ll learn how to:

Subscribe to podcasts for FREE using iTunes
Record your audio files for FREE using Audacity
Use WordPress.com as your FREE server for delivering podcasts (a $20 savings over typical costs, exclusively for SMUG students)
Enhance your podcast feed through Feedburner so you can get traffic and usage data, and so your users can more easily subscribe, and
Get your podcast listed in the major podcast directories like the iTunes Store and Podcast Alley.

You’ll do all of this without spending a penny, but just investing your time, assuming you have access to a computer with a built-in microphone. Then, after you’ve experimented with your own personal podcast, you will have the confidence born of first-hand knowledge and hands-on experience that will enable you to make decisions on how and whether to use podcasting in your work or volunteer organizations. Here are the 10 steps to your free podcast:

Upon completion of these 10 steps, you will receive your non-accredited Associate of Arts in Podcastology and will be added to the SMUG Dean’s List. Then you’ll be ready to explore advanced courses at the 200-level and above, learning about production enhancements like better recording devices, adding music to your podcast without going to jail, conducting interviews remotely through Skype, mixing tracks and adjusting recording levels, and otherwise making your podcast more professional.

Please give your feedback on this 10-step free podcast program, either in the comments below or on the individual courses. We’re always open to suggestions on how we can improve the educational experience.

And if you find the program helpful, please use your blog, Twitter, Facebook — or the buttons below — to share it with your friends and colleagues.

Podcasting 110: Listing Your Podcast in iTunes and Other Directories

iTunes, Podcast Alley and Yahoo are among the major directories that people use to search for podcasts that interest them. If you’ve created a podcast and want it to be widely heard, getting listed in these directories is important.

So just how do you go about doing this? Glad you asked! Podcasting 110 takes you step-by-step through the process of getting your podcast listed, and reviews how you can guarantee that your podcast can be found through Google.

Here’s where Chancellor Conversations is listed on Podcast Alley.

Assignments

Go through the earlier courses in the Podcasting curriculum so that you will have a podcast of your own
Submit your podcast feed in iTunes
Submit your podcast feed in Podcast Alley
Submit your podcast feed in Yahoo Search
Put your podcast feed in a widget on your own WordPress.com blog
Post links to the directory listings of your podcast in the comments below

Extra Credit

If you really want to impress the Chancellor with your thirst for knowledge, subscribe to Chancellor Conversations.