How to create a podcast using Audacity
I want to know how to create a podcast. Here’s my first attempt at using Audacity to create the audio file. It’s a two minute explanation of the objects in the top image of my blog.
This is not technically a podcast, as it is not part of a series delivered via a feed. To quote Wikipedia, “a podcast is a collection of files (usually audio and video) residing at a unique web feed address”.
Click here to hear it:
Here’s what I learned:
1. Here’s where you can download Audacity .
2. You’ll find very detailed step-by-step instructions in how to use Audacity in this podcast from Sue Waters: Tips for creating audio podcasts using Audacity
3. Here’s an image showing the basic functions.
4. Style. Decide whether you want:
- To write a tight script and pleasantly read it like a newsreader
- Talk with another person “interview style”. This tends to be the most engaging way.
- To decide the key points you want to get across and then just talk. This is what I did above and with the screencast I did for Five Weeks to a Social Library. You can always cut out the rabbitting-on bits, so I just pause when I make an error and repeat what I should have said. Editing magic does the rest.
5. Background music.
- I used jamendo which has downloadable music released under Creative Commons license. Often you will only have to attribute the author and agree to release your work under the same license - which may mean giving others permission re-use and alter your audio file.
- At the site, it looks like you have to download the entire album, but you can import the track straight into Audacity. Drop down the “Stereo mix” button (see image above), then press record and start the track playing in the other window.
6. Export it as an MP3 when you are done.
My next step is to add images using Windows Movie Maker…to make it ready as an enhanced podcast…then work out where I’d upload it and how I’d make a feed for a series of them….manyana…
Though I think...
I find that GarageBand is also really handy for creating audio tracks, plus it comes with a heap of public domain audio files, from music to beats to sound effects, and you can cue in images as well.
Learning to podcast is next on my list of things to do once I’ve got some more time on my hands.
Well done Kathryn. Congratulations on creating your first audio (much better than my first attempt - which is still very popular but the audio quality is terrible).
Putting together “how to use Audacity” is on my to-do-list (which is really long) however I recommend that if people are interesting in creating audio podcasts using Audacity they check out Michael Coghlan’s Podcasting workshop.
I agree with Andrew - GarageBand and using a Mac is definitely a great way to go with audio and video podcasting. If you are planning to use MovieMaker you might like to check out Using MovieMaker 2. There is quite a bit of information on this site, in different locations, about making video podcasts.
At the moment, I would recommend Podomatic as a site to host your podcasts because it relatively easy to use and gives you a podcast page. Note for audio podcasts I would strongly recommend that you make sure you always record at 44,100 hz.
Very nice, Kathryn! All the elements are blended together so well that my non-podcasting (yet) self wouldn’t have guessed this was your first effort.
Hi from Luxembourg !
Thanks for quoting Jamendo from your lengthy and interesting blog entry.
There’s another entry to Jamendo to find out albums ordered by license.
http://www.jamendo.com/en/creativecommons/
Hope this helps
–
Laurent
Thanks for your kind words. My problem with GarageBand is not having the Mac to go underneath. I’ll be following up your links, Sue…the guide to podcasting one is great. Laurent…thanks for the site and thanks for the tip about searching by license type. I’ll definitly make use of that in the future. Cheers all.