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So What are the Basic Steps to Create Podcasts?
You may be surprised at how there are few steps to create podcasts from the time you start talking until your audience starts listening. Podcasting, especially in the absence of a lot of special effects, is a fairly straightforward business.
Install Your Software
The first step in "how to make podcasts" is to acquire software that will let you create and manipulate audio files. Many new podcasters choose to work with Audacity podcast software because it is a free product with a short learning curve but one that also includes advanced features. Also, Audacity comes in versions for Windows, Mac OS 9 or X, and Linux/Unix.
Download instructions for Audacity can be found at audacity.soundforge.net. Although Audacity saves files in .wav format, it will give you the option to export your finished recording as an MP3. Podcasts utilize MP3 because it is the format most compatible with software and hardware based audio players.
Check Your Mic Level
After downloading and installing your software the next step in creating podcasts is to check your microphone level. Make sure your microphone is plugged in. Assuming you are working in Windows, go to your Control Panel and double click "Sounds and Audio Devices."
In the box that opens, click the tab for "Voice" and under "Voice Recording" click "Volume." Make sure the "Select" box is checked. The slider will control your microphone's volume.
Open Audacity and make a test recording, adjusting your microphone levels as needed. The Audacity interface features easily recognizable play, record, pause, and stop buttons. Once your levels are sounding good, you're ready to record your content. As you become better acquainted with Audacity, you will be able to lay down multiple tracks for intro music, sound effects transitions, and the like.
Have a Script or Some Notes
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The greatest mistake most beginning beginners make in creating a podcast is to just start talking. That strategy rarely plays out well. If you have not written out a script, at least generate some kind of outline to give your podcast some direction. When you finished your recording and you are satisfied with it, export it to MP3 format.
ID Tags
Audacity will ask you to provide a title, name the artist, and name the album (your program title) when you export your recording to MP3 format. You can also select a genre and add a comment if you like. These items are your ID tags. Make note of the information you enter since you will need it later for your RSS feed. When you have exported your MP3, listen to it in some audio program (RealPlayer or iTunes, for example). You should see the ID tags you entered as the file plays.
FTP
If you are creating your own podcast, chances are good you have your own website and are familiar with file transfer protocol or FTP programs. To publish your podcast you will need to ftp the audio file into a directory on your server. Again, make note of the exact location of the file as you will also need this information for your RSS feed.
RSS Feed
An RSS feed is simply a text file with the extension .rss. You can name the file anything you like. The file itself must include several XML tags.
It is perfectly acceptable to find an RSS file on the Internet, copy the contents into a simple text editor like the Windows Notepad, and alter the content to the details of your podcast.
Your .rss file will need to be published on your server as well, most likely in the same folder where you uploaded your audio file. A quick and easy way to validate your RSS file is to go to rss.scripting.com, type in the address of your RSS file, and click Validate. The site will tell you if your RSS file works or not. (Another free validator can be found at validator.w3.org.)
Make your RSS Feed Available to Listeners
Once your RSS file is validated all you need to do is to provide the address of the RSS file to anyone who wants to subscribe to your podcast. You can do this with a simple descriptive link on your blog or personal website.
Subscribers use free podcast aggregators that utilize the RSS feed to determine when a new podcast is available and then to download the file.
Don't forget that each time you upload a new podcast you will need to update your RSS file as well.
Often people say that when they create podcasts for the first time they are immediately hooked. It's an intriguing and powerful idea to be able to produce and distribute your own audio program for little to no expense. Before you know it, you may have a wide listener base. But above all, remember, creating a podcast should be fun.
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