how to make podcasts

[Chilihost]

all this talk about podcasts recently has got me thinking....how the hell do you make a podcast? What software do you use?

Can anyone help please?

cheers,
Luke

[DonMike]

Great question. I have actually thought about doing a weekly or bi-weekly podcast myself. But I have no idea how to begin.

[JustBryce]

A podcast is nothing more than an mp3 audio file. You just need a mic and something to record your voice. Once you have your file you create an XML file with the RSS tidbits so that people can subscribe. Once you have the XML file with the pointers to the MP3, you can submit that rss feed to places like iTunes.

[DonMike]

Oh, is that all?

[Chilihost]

what about video podcasts?

cheers,
Luke

[nicedreams]

what about video podcasts?

cheers,
Luke

All these people with these new ipods. my ipod is like gerneration 1. How good are these videos on these new ones??


Jimmy

[nickbaer]

I put up a PodCast in October and have had 300 hits... took over 2 months to get added to the directories.

Making the .mp3 file is easy... but then you need to get it onto a Host that does the RSS feed.

http://www.nickbaer.libsyn.com/rss

There are YAHOO Groups dedicated to making PodCasts.

I have not yet published a Video PodCast, although that is next for me.

Now that all of my video catalog is up on VOD, going Video PodCast with the tame stuff is next.

I would be interested in working with you, if you wanted to reply.

[Lee]

Zac,

A quick question for you to if i may..

Would we need to create one of those .xml files for each and every mp3 file?

For example, file1.xml, file2.xml or just the same one?

Im really interested in this as it has been something ive been looking at doing for a while now i just thought there was a lot more involved than what it actually looks like is involved.

Also, what is BW usage like for, say a 15 minute pod cast? I presume we'd have to host the audio file for each user or, does that get handled by iTunes or whoever downloading it and storing it on their end?

Regards,

Lee

[JustBryce]

Hello Lee,

You just keep adding to the same XML file.
You need one <item> container for each podcast episode

<item>
<title>Podcast 1</title>
<description>blah blah blah</description>
<enclosure url="http://www.YOURSITE.com/podcasts/test.mp3" length="9596342" type="audio/mp3"/>
<guid>http://www.YOURSITE.com/podcasts/test.mp3</guid>
<pubDate>Fri, 03 Jan 2006 13:45:00 GMT</pubDate>
<category>Podcasts</category>
</item>

<item>
<title>Podcast 2</title>
<description>blah blah blah</description>
<enclosure url="http://www.YOURSITE.com/podcasts/test.mp3" length="9596342" type="audio/mp3"/>
<guid>http://www.YOURSITE.com/podcasts/test.mp3</guid>
<pubDate>Fri, 03 Jan 2006 13:45:00 GMT</pubDate>
<category>Podcasts</category>
</item>

<item>
<title>Podcast 3</title>
<description>blah blah blah</description>
<enclosure url="http://www.YOURSITE.com/podcasts/test.mp3" length="9596342" type="audio/mp3"/>
<guid>http://www.YOURSITE.com/podcasts/test.mp3</guid>
<pubDate>Fri, 03 Jan 2006 13:45:00 GMT</pubDate>
<category>Podcasts</category>
</item>

[Lee]

Ah okay cool thanks bud

So that then gets updated along with all previous 'archives' in their system i presume?

Now for my next question..

http://forums.gaywidewebmasters.com/...ad.php?t=14967

LOL

I presume there must be some way to create a bunch of casts at once and have them update every day automatically.

Regards,

Lee

[JustBryce]

Be sure to check this page for a complete overview of podcasting. Pay special attention to the iTunes tags. They have some specific tags that you'll need to insert that aren't part of a normal XML feed. You have to have them to get listed in iTunes though.

http://www.apple.com/itunes/podcasts/techspecs.html

Also services like feedburner can help make things easier and check your syntax before you submit:

http://www.feedburner.com/fb/a/publi...1D35744B.app1#

[Lee]

Okay cool thanks for that additional info

Guess i have a lot of reading to do the next couple of weeks LOL

I appreciate all the info in this thread as im sure our other community members who are looking at podcasting as a branding option do

Regards,

Lee