Podcasting 101 – How To Get Started

If you want to start doing a podcast but have no idea where to start, this article is for you.  It will give you the basics of what equipment that you need and tell you how to get your show up on the Internet.

AUDIO OR VIDEO?

The first choice you really should make is whether you want to produce an audio-only program or a video program.  Audio-only podcasts are easier to produce but video brings you a wider audience.   Most people will probably feel less self-conscious doing an audio podcast so that may be a better place to start unless you already feel comfortable speaking in front of a camera.

GEAR NEEDED

The gear needed for a basic audio podcast are a microphone and a recording device.  Most people use their PC, tablet or phone to record their shows when they start out.  If you’re using a PC the open-source program Audacity is a great place to start.

A lot of people have a microphone already that they can use, whether it be stand-alone or in a headset.  It is perfectly fine to start with these devices to give podcasting a try before you start spending money.

IF you need a quality USB microphone at a great price check out the LyxPro HHMU-10 Dynamic USB Microphone over at Amazon.

PROCESS

A basic podcast is just a simple audio or video recording that you will upload to the Internet.  Once you record your content you will need a way to edit it.  For audio, Audacity works well, for video you can try the open-source Jahshaka.

Once you have your content ready you have to have somewhere to upload it.  Video is easier in this one regard as it’s easy to upload your show to YouTube and share it with the world.  For audio, you will most likely want to have a paid web hosting service.

HOSTING YOUR SHOW / WEBSITE

There are a bunch of ways to host a website, but for podcasting WordPress is one of the easiest and best platforms to use.  The blubrry PowerPress plugin makes it super easy to get your podcasts up and running quickly.

While there are many really cheap hosts out there, the only one I can truly recommend is MDD Hosting.  They have rock-solid hosting and amazing customer service.  You will pay a few dollars a month more than you will at some of the bigger hosts but I’ve found it worth the money for the piece of mind and service I get with MDD Hosting  * Full Disclosure – The MDD links are my affiliate link.  I will be compensated if you decide to host your site with them.

HAVE FUN

The main thing I tell anyone embarking on the podcasting journey is to have fun.  You will make mistakes at the beginning but you will learn along the way.  I can tell you that the quality of my podcasts is vastly better now than when I started a decade ago.  With this blog I hope to be able to give you some tips and tricks that will get you where you want to be faster.

 

Adam Curry’s Podcaster Pro Device

I have been podcasting on and off for over a decade and did my first live broadcast just over 8 years ago.  Like Adam Curry, I’m an audio nut and have been collecting microphones and mixers since I was about 10 years old.  I share Adam’s quest for the best possible audio quality and was very excited when he announced his new podcasting device, the Podcaster Pro.

Podcaster Pro

The device, which is currently in the funding stage on Indiegogo, attempts to be a replacement for the multitude of gear that a lot of podcasters use today.  Instead of going out and buying a separate mixer, compressor/noise gate, vocal processor and other gadgets to get professional sound you can pick up a Podcaster Pro instead. Continue reading “Adam Curry’s Podcaster Pro Device”