Podcasting 101 - Technical Questions [Archive]

Dave Accampo

11-25-2007, 09:14 PM

So, I've got a technical issue, and I know there are obviously a few podcasters on this forum. So I thought I'd ask my question, but also open it up to other questions., issues, concerns about the technical side of podcasting.

Here's my issue:

During episodes 10-12 of Wormwood, we temporarily switched servers (well, it wasn't supposed to be temporary, but that's another story).

We were then forced to change the links in 10-12 when we switched BACK to our original server. We updated all of this in our feed, which subsequently updated the feedburner feed that we send to iTunes.

However, iTunes apparently doesn't update older episodes when the feed changes. I say this because episodes 10-12 were recently deleted from the other (temporary) server, and now you cannot get them through iTunes. Obviously, it still shows the older links.

Any ideas?

My one thought was to delete the original posts altogether, and then re-post them...but that either sets them out of order, or I have to manually change the date, and then...will iTunes even pick them up?

fred

11-25-2007, 09:45 PM

I'm not quite sure what the answer to this is, but I've got an idea of how to test it. Do you know how to ping your podcast for iTunes? You could make changes and then ping it and view the results much quicker. You can ping it by going to this url: https://phobos.apple.com/WebObjects/MZFinance.woa/wa/pingPodcast?id=261579535 but using your own Apple store id in the id= spot at the end.

Dave Accampo

11-25-2007, 10:13 PM

Thanks, Fred! I'll try that out. I know that it IS updating, just not that far back. For example, I recently deleted and re-entered episode 18 (the most recent episode), and THAT has already updated in iTunes. But the older episodes, in which the links were changed at least a month ago, have not updated.

But I'll ping it and see what I can see.

fred

11-25-2007, 10:46 PM

glad to help. iTunes can be really frustrating. I post now and then immediately ping and I've found that most of the irritating crap goes away. I post a new episode every Wednesday night and sometimes it would be Friday or Saturday before it would show up on the feed. Copies would come down in the auto-download for subscribers but it wouldn't show on the page.

kahunablair

11-26-2007, 05:05 PM

Well I have ... a friend.. that is contemplating putting together a podcast. So I have a question, what program(s) do you use to edit/record your podcasts?

fred

11-26-2007, 05:07 PM

Well I have ... a friend.. that is contemplating putting together a podcast. So I have a question, what program(s) do you use to edit/record your podcasts?

I use Audacity. I'm finally beginning to figure out how to use it properly. A month ago, I would've said that it sucked. Now, I like it well enough and it's free.

Dave Accampo

11-26-2007, 06:13 PM

I use Audacity to record, mostly because I heard the iFanboys mention it. Then I did some research, and it seemed like totally decent freeware.

However, for editing we use different software. We had been doing some video editing for several years, using Adobe Premiere, Final Cut, and finally ending up with Sony Vegas (the first two were part of my job at the time, the last one is what we ended up getting to edit our own films).

So now we use Vegas to edit all the tracks (since we have music, SFX, and voices on multiple tracks), while pulling stuff into SoundForge to alter and/or clean up.

I can't say this is the system I'd recommend. It's just what was convenient for us, and it's what we knew best. And it's worked fairly well for us so far.

Are you on a Mac or PC?

paper

11-26-2007, 09:37 PM

Me and Kwok both use Garageband. Multiple tracks, clean interface, decent loop and sfx library. I don't really need anything beyond that.

kwok_talk

11-26-2007, 09:56 PM

Me and Kwok both use Garageband. Multiple tracks, clean interface, decent loop and sfx library. I don't really need anything beyond that.
Correct. I used audacity for nearly 50 some episodes and it was great. Started using Garageband and while it was nasty learning curve for me, I like it a lot

kahunablair

11-26-2007, 10:07 PM

Thanks for the suggestions, guys. I've taken a look at a few programs today, and I'll be messing around with them over the next few days, just to see what I feel comfortable with.

Are you on a Mac or PC?
At the moment, I'm a PC guy.

Dave Accampo

11-26-2007, 11:02 PM

Dave Accampo

11-26-2007, 11:06 PM

At the moment, I'm a PC guy.

Probably Audacity then, depending on what kind of show you're putting together.

But I think you could probably use most video editing software, so if you've used anything in the past that you're comfortable with, I'd start there.

paper

11-27-2007, 02:08 AM

I'd love to use Garageband, but that's only for Mac.

I know paper's used it on Fuzzy Typewriter, but I love the ability to put multiple images into a podcast. I need to figure out if there are any PC programs that let you do that.

I try to use that where I can. It's time consuming though. I also add links to it in case you're listening on your computer. Kwok's better with that stuff. Chapters too. Usually I'm working right up to the show deadline (or days or weeks past it in many cases) so I neglect to set chapters and album art changes.

Dave Accampo

11-27-2007, 02:41 AM

But you can see how that might be perfect for my show. Wormwood with what essentially amounts to spot illustrations at certain points? Could be awesome.

Argh, I wish I could afford a Mac -- but it's a whole lifestyle change isn't it? It's not just the computer and the software. I'll have to get hip new friends and everything. :cool:

paper

11-27-2007, 02:45 AM

I'm hip.....

I guess it's a lifestyle change. If happiness is a lifestyle.

Dave Accampo

11-27-2007, 02:54 AM

I'm hip.....

I guess it's a lifestyle change. If happiness is a lifestyle.

My puritanical roots refuse to let me acknowledge happiness as a lifestyle. Using a PC is my 21st century equivalent to self-flagellation.

(seriously, though, I've alway been around PCs for work, so it's been easier to use/buy them. I have a PC laptop that my work gave me, for example. Switching to Mac is a bit disruptive in that sense, as I have to worry about a lot of cross-platform applications and such. Still, I'd like to move to a Mac at some point.)

TimmyWood!

12-15-2007, 08:23 PM

kahunablair

12-15-2007, 10:38 PM

Hey everyone. I am looking to start a podcast (don't worry it's not about comics) and I need some help on how to get started. I know absolutley nothing about podcasting so any information or advice at all would be helpful even if it's pointing me to a website or something that has this sort of info handy. Thanks.
Timmy

This thread is a good start, but I've also gotten a good bit of info from HowStuffWorks. (http://computer.howstuffworks.com/podcasting.htm)

TimmyWood!

12-19-2007, 12:00 AM

Thanks. That was quite helpful.
Timmy

Dave Accampo

12-19-2007, 12:09 AM

This thread is a good start, but I've also gotten a good bit of info from HowStuffWorks. (http://computer.howstuffworks.com/podcasting.htm)

Damn, I wish I had started with that.

I think for me, it was all piecemeal. I heard the iFanboy guys talk about using Audacity. Then I read up one what equipment I should buy. Mine is an audio drama, so I need to make sure I had good mics for all the actors. For that, I ended up getting a couple package deals from BSW (http://www.bswusa.com/main.asp). They've got packages set up for podcasters. Then I actually found a book (can't remember the title) that helped me figure out about encoding the mp3s and also running stuff through blogs, etc. That plus a lot of googling...and I still feel like I know so little...

But @Timmy: if you run into questions as you go, keep asking 'em here. Cuz I might even like to hear the answers! :D

kahunablair

12-19-2007, 12:22 AM

Thanks. That was quite helpful.
Timmy

No problem, but like Dave said, hang around here and ask away!

Valoharth

12-30-2007, 01:56 AM

So I know that there are quiet a few people on this here forum are in on the podcasting bandwagon... and I'm really feeling left out so heres the thing. I have this idea for a video podcast and I'm in the market for a new computer to do it with.

So I have been looking at two options here

The first is go with a Mac, Desktop or Mac book Pro and get Final Cut pro with it.

Or the second option is do I bite the horse and just make my own damn machine? If I do make my own what would I look for? What would be your recommendations for it?

Any help would be appreciated

itsbecca

12-30-2007, 02:01 AM

Mac or PC there are the tools to do what you want. The question you want to ask yourself is Do I want to pay more money to save myself work. You can buy a mac, use garage band... boom! There you go.

Now I say that as a lifetime PC user. But I'm a computer kid. I like video games. Upgrading for me means sticking my hands in the tower and putting in new parts myself, not going and buying an entirely new machine. It's just kind of what you're into. You seem reluctant to get a mac? As if building a PC would be real way to do it. Why is that?

Valoharth

12-30-2007, 02:15 AM

Well I'm thinking that there might be more power I can get out of building my own or I might be able to build a PC that is only for video editing and save myself the money or frustration that buying a mac might have with it. I've never really tried Garage Band though so I don't know how well that works. Macs are made to be general all purpose use much like a Dell and Gateway and I really want to get into a more targeted use for the Machine. I was also going to produce some Pilots or short films with the thing too. The PC sounds pretty much like the option for me because I can upgrade parts and do a bunch of stuff with it that I cant do with a Mac however a PC doesn't have Final Cut pro (unless thats changed since the last time I looked) and I hear so many good thing about FC and I have tried other PC video editing software and well I'm not too impressed with most of them I've tried (Elements and Vegas to name the two big ones I tired).

I'm just a scale here just looking for a good opinion or advice that will tip me one way or the other.

itsbecca

12-30-2007, 02:32 AM

Have you played with Avid at all?

Valoharth

12-30-2007, 02:33 AM

No I haven't tried that one yet, I'm assuming its good since you mentioned it

itsbecca

12-30-2007, 02:43 AM

Ahh, I don't want to give the wrong impression, I'm not huge into that world. I just mention it because it seems to be a big name that's hotly debated vs. FCP. It seems the general impression is (once you cut out the fanboy ravings) you're going to be able to get your stuff done with either, it's largely a matter of interface and some of those little details that are important to you. I would play around with the videos on their site to get a feel for it. Aaand then you can also wait for someone more knowledgeable than myself to throw down their opinion here hopefully.

paper

12-30-2007, 02:56 AM

The Mac is gonna be easier to configure out of the box. No need for third party apps. I'm a fanboy though.

I agree with Becca though. The videos are out there. Do a search on the Apple site and you'll find tutorials on how to create a podcast with their software.

Don't go overboard and buy the biggest and best software though. Depending on what you want to do there's no reason iMovie or Final Cut Express wouldn't be enough. Seek out those tutorials.

Valoharth

12-30-2007, 03:17 AM

ConorKilpatrick

12-30-2007, 03:39 AM

We use Adobe Premiere Pro to edit iFanboy. It's fairly easy and we picked it up in about a day. Every other show on Revision3 uses Final Cut Pro.

Valoharth

12-30-2007, 03:51 AM

We use Adobe Premiere Pro to edit iFanboy. It's fairly easy and we picked it up in about a day. Every other show on Revision3 uses Final Cut Pro.

Did it have any restrictions to format or what not? I know that really comes from the Camera's end (especially the new HD camcorders). How hardware intensive is it, do you need a lot of horse power in your computer to run it well or does it scale nicely to a simpler computer? I've done research on some of the stuff out there but I really do need more testimonial impute before I jump in and do something.

Dave Accampo

12-30-2007, 08:45 PM

I think the basic consensus you're getting here is right on. Avid is/was sort of the industry standard...however, I honestly don't know if that's changed (I deal mostly with indie editors who do everything on FC now). But I started back in '99 using Adobe Premiere, and I thought it was pretty cool. At the time, we had to bring it into another app for some FX and another app for encoding, but now I assume everything's all-in-one like I have with Sony Vegas, which I used for my last couple of films. I think there are various "pro" and "consumer" versions of each editing suite.

Paper's prolly right that Mac is easier out of the box, but it's definitely whatever floats your boat. I wouldn't break the bank on it, like he said. No matter what you're going to be compressing/encoding these files, and I doubt you're going to spend hours and hours color correcting, adding film grain, etc. Probably just a few titles, a couple cuts, maybe some simple motion graphics, right? Just about anything is gonna get you there.