Now let’s get practical.

How To Podcast?

Today, we are going to try 2 types of podcasting:

1. Text to Speech (TTS) Podcast from RSS feed
- literally from your article. Downloadable / Subscribable for iPod, iPhone etc.

2. Audio Speech from the author to the audiences
- embed within your blog post after edit & personalizing the content.

Text-To-Speech (TTS) Podcast:

We are going to use a very basic, FREE service named Odiogo. Reason?

- Allows podcasting with easy control panels (On/Off at will)
- Provides MP3 download for your podcasts.
- Blog Widgets available: convenient subscription for listeners
- Statistics on podcasts downloads (on a periodical basis)
- Hosting provided for audio files

How to Activate Odiogo Service?

1. Sign up at Odiogo for FREE by providing your blog URL/Feed and email address.

* Odiogo will send you a confirmation email with user ID, although it may take awhile to reach your inbox. I had waited for almost 20 minutes for it. If you have troubles getting your blog URL confirmed, do contact Odiogo using the form provided. *

2. Upon submitting your blog, you will be given the code for Podcast Subscription widget for your blog. Here are the step-by-step setup for different platforms: WordPress, Blogger, TypePad, BlogEngine.NET and Terapad

* Subscription will only be activated after you click on the link as instructed in the confirmation email*

3. Now you’ll find beneath each blog post a podcast marked with ‘Listen Now’.

Audio Recorder/Editor:

This is slightly complicated, but it gives the author flexibility to record and edit the speech content at will. A PC microphone is needed. Be
fore we proceed to the How-To’s, let’s check out the example of self-customized podcasting by yours truly. Forgive my silly tones and me being nervous and spontaneous:

My First Podcasting

1. Download the Audacity setup file here. I’m using Audacity 1.3.7 (Beta)

2. Run the setup file and adjust the settings before commencing your first recording.

* Here’s a thorough post about the settings for microphones, volumes and file formats at Create Podcasts Using Your PC by Jake Ludington.*

3. Now, it’s time for the recording. You may need to know some basic control buttons:

a. To Record Audio (only) Clip:
Make sure your microphone is intact; then hit the ‘Record’ button. ‘Stop’ when you’re done > Save Project As raw data so you could modify/edit/combine with other audio files later on.

b. To Save your Recordings in:
- WAV format:
File > Export > Edit Metadata > OK > File Name & Format (.Wav) > Save

- MP3 format:
File > Export > Edit Metadata > OK > File Name & Format (.MP3) > optional: Specify MP3 options > Make sure you’ve downloaded LAME to enable MP3s be created in Audacity.

c. To Include Background Music in your Audio Clip:
- Firstly, import the music file via: File> Import > Audio (or other related files)
- Then proceed as in (a) or (b).

d. Upload your Audio File to Self- or Third Party Hosting Sites:
Audacity does not provide hosting service. Here are some third party audio hosting sites you could choose from: Snapdrive , Archieve, Fileden etc.

* for self-hosting via WP platform, kindly refer to the Podcasting – WordPress Codex for details on the setup

Audacity requires self / third party podcasts hosting. Slightly complicated but flexible in adding multiple audio effects; personalized contents and comes in various file formats.

Now It’s Up To You…

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Copyright © 2009 by Wong Ching Ya, All Rights Reserved, “How To Create Podcast For Your Blog?“