Hardware for podcasting

For audio podcasting, using a USB microphone or headset is recommended because the audio is converted to digital format outside the computer. This is a better arrangement than using a microphone plugged into an audio card, where noise can be picked up from other internal components.

How to prepare for recording a podcast

1. Get your show notes ready so you know what you will be talking about.
2. Turn off the computer screensaver so that it will not activate during podcast recording and interfere with the audio capture software.

How to record a user-friendly podcast

These are some good ideas of things to include in every podcast. Since they are just suggestions. The order can obviously be changed to fit your podcasting style and anything that doesn't actually fit your particular podcast can simply be omitted.

1. At the beginning of each podcast episode:
   • State the name of the podcast.
   • Summarize what the podcast is about.
   • Indicate who is your intended audience, especially whether it is kid-safe or not-safe-for-work.
   • State the episode number. If the podcast came from another source, such as a radio show, the original source should be cited.
   • Summarize what this particular show is about based on the show notes you have prepared. (If the podcast is a re-broadcast of a radio show, this could be included in the on-air content.)
   • Encourage users to sign up for your newsletter in order to get announcements and show notes.
   • This is a good place to put some bumper music, if you like.

   Some examples:

   "Hi, this is Leo Laporte and this is my KFI podcast. This show originally aired on KFI AM 640 in Los Angeles on Sunday October twenty-second, two thousand six. This is show number two hundred ninety four." "Time to talk high tech. This is where we talk about what's happening in the world of technology; anything to do with computers, the Internet, MP3 players, camcorders, cell phones, home theater, televisions (anything with a chip in it).". (Here's a shout out to Leo, if you happen to be ego-surfing.)

   "This is the TV Series dot com podcast, episode number one hundred and two for Tuesday, January 2nd, 2007. In this kid-safe show we'll be talking about the new television shows for the upcoming season and review some great vacation spots where the stars spent their summer." (The "this podcast is about television shows" was omitted since it should be fairly obvious from the name of the podcast.)

2. At the end of each podcast show:
   • Tell users how to leave voice comments and/or where to send comments via e-mail. Remind them to include what show number they are commenting on.
   • State the name of the podcast and the episode number again.
   • Remind users to sign up for your newsletter in order to get announcements and show notes.