Creating a Podcast Podcasting is a form of audio broadcasting on the Internet. The reason it became linked with the iPod in name was because people download podcasts (audio shows) to listen to on their iPods. However, you don't have to listen to podcasts only on iPods; you can use your computer with some music software such as Windows built-in Media Player or Winamp, or other portable music players (iPod competitors) such as Creative Zen or iRiver. As long as you have some way to play music on your computer, you will be able to listen to podcasts.
a. Download Audacity from audacity.sourceforge.net . It is open source, is cross-platform, is free, and lets you mix multiple audio files. Windows, Mac OS, and Linux/Unix versions are available. You will also have to download the LAME MP3 encoder, which allows Audacity to export MP3 files. You will see the download link for that on the same page as the Audacity download. Once you download the LAME MP3 encoder, place it in the Audacity program folder (C:Program\ Files\Audacity\Plug-Ins\). Then, open a .WAV file in Audacity, and select the menu option "File" then choose "Export As MP3." When you do, you will see this message: At this Point, browse to where you placed the " lame_enc.dll " file (such as C:Program\Files\Audacity\Plug-Ins). Click on the " lame_enc.dll " file. Once finished, you can now effectively use the Export As MP3 menu option to create MP3 files.
b. Open Audacity and check the preferences. Make sure your playback and recording device are set. If you are going to record a stereo signal, set the number of channels to record to 2 (Stereo) on the Audio I/O preferences. When picking a device to record from, make sure you have set up all the connections properly, such as plugging a microphone into the Mic Input, and any other device into the Line In of your sound card.
c. Click on the red "Record" button to begin recording. You can also click on the blue "Pause" button to pause the recording. Press it again to continue. Click on the yellow "Stop" button to cease recording. The cursor will return to its previous position, before the recording was started.
d. MP3 is the standard format for podcasts. When saving, use the minimum bit rate that provides good results. Here are some suggested settings:
• 48-56k Mono-sermons, audio books, talk radio.
• 64k Stereo-music, music and talk combinations.
• 128k Stereo-good-quality music.
e. Create a two-to-three-minute podcast that you can share with your class about a successful Business 2.0 entrepreneurial company. A few examples include Digg.com, karmaloop. com, Foursquare.com, Flickr.com. Figure out what will be said (or not said) during the show. There are almost no limits to what content can be included in podcasts. Podcasting allows you to create shows, dramatizations, vignettes, commentaries, documentaries, and any other content imaginable. However, you need to script out your content before you start to record.