OLD POST ALERT! This is an older post and although you might find some useful tips, any technical or publishing information is likely to be out of date. Please click on Start Here on the menu bar above to find links to my most useful articles, videos and podcast. Thanks and happy writing! – Joanna Penn
** This is an old post from 2009 – for a more up-to-date version, check out How to Create a Podcast which is the process I use now.**
As more authors get their own blogs, it is becoming more desirable to have audio as well as text, and the technology is actually pretty easy. I believe authors should have a podcast (5 reasons here), and several people have asked me how I make mine.
Before you start, decide on what you will podcast about. I do interviews, information and inspiration for authors which fits with my blog. Authors who podcast their books often use a separate feed per book.
- Record your audio. I use Skype for my interviews and Pamela to record them. This gives me a .mp3 file ready for edit. I also use a handheld device for face-to-face, or a headset microphone with Audacity software.
- Edit the audio. I use Audacity software (free) which is very easy to use. Drag and drop the file in and then cut the bits out that you don't want.
- Add Intro and Outro to the file. Make sure you get ‘royalty-free' music for your podcast. You can add some of your own voiceover to make files you always add to the beginning and end of the track.
- Create your finished .mp3 file. I publish the file as a .wav from Audacity and then open it in iTunes. From there I right click to create a .mp3 file.
- Upload onto your blog and create show notes. I use Blubrry plugin for my wordpress blog and have a feed into iTunes. I create show notes as I edit the file which serves to give people an idea what the podcast is about, as well as provide text for Search Engine Optimisation (as Google can't search audio right now!)
If you don't want to host your own podcasts, you can use a service like BlogTalkRadio.
Have fun!
Sam Caldwell says
Your podcasts are always well done and sound great. So many don’t do a good job on post production and tarnish an otherwise good effort. By the way you can save the iTunes step to convert to MP3 by installing the Lame MP3 encoder. You can find instructions on installation at the audacity.sourceforge.net web.
Thanks for posting the info.
Sam
iNetSynch
admin says
Thanks so much for the tip Sam – that is great feedback!
Matt Bader says
You should check out BlogTalkRadio.com. Its an easy, free way to record podcasts with live interaction.
Joanna Penn says
I have looked at Podcast Radio but I like owning the podcast on my server and I like the quality I can produce. Amazon hosting is cents per month so it is not exactly an expensive option to self host and there is no danger of it ever being removed. Thanks!
Benjamin Straw says
I have to say thats some good info on podcasting. if you want to record an interviews Skype is a good choice, I wrote an article on my blog about how to record skype calls http://www.how2podcast.com/articles/software/recording-skype-useing-software/
Thanks, Benjamin Straw
Joanna Penn says
Yes I use Skype for all my interviews. Pamela is a fantastic add-on for it.
Victoria Dunckley says
Hi Joanna,
Can you tell us which handheld set and headset microphone you use? when I’ve gotten to this step of buying equipment, I get overwhelmed and am unsure how much $ I need to spend to get reasonable quality.
GREAT POST and very timely for me. Thanks!!
Victoria
Joanna Penn says
Hi Victoria, I just use a Logitech headset at the moment for my Skype interviews. It was just from the Officeworks shop around $100. Nothing too flash as I am still amateur!
But check out this interview with Seth Harwood and Scott Sigler who are real podcasting pros – they talk about equipment in there
http://www.thecreativepenn.com/2009/10/17/must-listen-audio-scott-sigler-and-seth-harwood-on-podcasting-to-publishing-success/
Thanks, Joanna
Tisha Morris says
Great information! Thank you!
JD says
Great info!! I always enjoy your articles and podcasts. One question I have though is where can one find royalty-free music?
Joanna Penn says
Thanks JD. You can google “royalty free music” to find a whole stack of options. I have used http://musicbakery.com/ before and also Soundsnap as well as http://www.300monks.com/ which is awesome!
Chris Lindsay says
Great article. And if there’s someone who’s interested in hosting a podcast, but is apprehensive about the technical side of it, then consider becoming an occasional guest host for my podcast, Critical Wit. It’s about science, literature, and the arts. If those topics are of interest to you, let me know. http://www.criticalwitpodcast.com/guest-hosting/