Frugal Podcasting

Podcasting has become a staple in the portable media industry. Even if you don’t own the infamous iPod, you can still take advantage of podcasting in many different ways. A podcast is an audio or video recording distributed through means of an RSS (Real Simple Syndication) feed which automatically updates subscribers with the latest edition of your show. This growing trend can be quite costly in equipment and software, however it can also be done on the cheap with near-professional results.

First, let’s take a look at software. In order to edit a podcast, you’ll need a program that allows you to equalize, normalize, and reduce background noise. Currently, the best program for the job is Adobe Audition. This program has been an industry standard for editing audio for some time, and has some amazing tools and functions. The only problem with Audition is the enormous price tag. For the podcaster on a budget, Audacity is an extremely viable alternative. Audacity is open source, which means that you can download the program at no cost to you. Open source programs are also regularly updated thanks to the massive open source community that constantly tinkers away at these programs in an effort to improve on them. Audacity has a few draw backs when you compare it to Adobe Audition, such as a difficult multi-track simultaneous recording scheme, though this is minor.

The microphone you use can be one of the most important purchases for your podcast. Some podcasters get by with a simple desktop microphone, however many of the budget models out there are not broadcast quality and therefore should be avoided at all costs. There are two microphones that I have personally used, and recommend without hesitation. The first is an $80.00 microphone from Samson called the C01u. This microphone is a studio-quality condenser with stand mounts and a USB interface. The sound coming out of the C01u is clear and background noise is easily reduced by adjusting the gain. Samson provides software that allows you to control the gain of the microphone on Windows XP and Macintosh. Windows Vista comes with built in support for the C01u.

The other microphone I recommend is the Logitech USB Headset 350. This headset connects through USB and both delivers and sends amazing sound. The current recommended price on this model is $49.99USD and can be found at a variety of stores for a significant discount. You’ll find that using a headset not only allows you to save on buying quality speakers or a separate set of headphones, but also cuts down on background noise. With the C01u, it is still somewhat important to record in an area with a low amount of echo and background noise, while the Logitech headset gives you a fair amount of reduction in echo and background activity.

Podcasts often incorporate the use of multiple panelists to add to the discussion and energy level of the recording. Many podcasts that feature multiple speakers use a program called Skype to connect users from various parts of the world without sacrificing sound quality. Skype is a free program which allows the host the ability to control the quality of a call, making studio-quality conferences possible. One such podcasts that uses Skype to connect guests is This Week in Tech by Leo Laporte.

These are just a few tips to allow you to enjoy the experience of podcasting without breaking the bank. There are a lot of great resources out there for podcasters, and no one source will give you everything you need to know about putting together a quality show. Ultimately, listeners will forgive some minor flaws in quality if the content is interesting and informative. Experiment with the many open source utilities out there, and find out what works best for you.

I have a podcast of my own, in which I utilize Audacity, the Samson C01u, and the Logitech Headset 350. If you’d like to hear an example of a podcast using these products head over to The Daily PWN and give a listen.

Matt Ryan of MattRyan.TV

[tags]Frugal, Geek, Podcast, Podcasting, Software, Cheap, Value[/tags]