ENC 1102 @ BBC - Research & Content Creation

Creating a podcast can be as easy as recording a voice memo on your phone and publishing it to a podcast host. If you're looking for quality, here are some tips to consider:

• Learn to use your equipment in advance - whether you're using your phone, tablet, recorder, or a mic and laptop, you want to know how it works before you record.
• Record a few test tracks to determine the audio quality. You might have to make adjustments to your volume, distance to the recording devise, or speed of dialog.
• Draft a script.
• Save! Save! Save! - Recording takes time and you don't want to lose your work.
• Audio files are large; backup to a USB if you're using a library device (see Save! Save! Save!).
• Same goes for sharing - these files are BIG. You won't be able to email them before they're converted to MP3.
• There will be cuts. Leave a 5-10 seconds of silence so you can edit. (it makes it easier to find what you need to cut in the audio track).
• It always feels weird to hear your own voice; you'll get over it.

You can start a podcast with just about any recording device, but you can also find dedicated recording equipment at the Hubert Library (BBC) or the Digital Scholars Studio @ GL (MMC).

A list of devices currently available at the Hubert Library can be found here.

(Devices are subject to availability. A guide to devices available at HL is currently under construction).

• Audacity: A free, open-source, multi-platform recording tool.
• GarageBand for Mac users.
• Voice Memo app for Apple.
• ASR Voice Recorder app for Android.
• Some podcast hosts (such as Anchor) provide tools to record, edit, and upload via a dedicated app or site.

(recording on a computer produces the best quality - the more powerful the better)

Tip: For guides on these tools, search YouTube for "How to record podcast on NAME".

To make your podcast live, you need to publish to a hosting site.

FIU has hosting options available via the Digital Scholars Studio, or you can publish to a host of your choice.

The services listed below offer free hosting (limited and unlimited), check their terms to make sure they align with what you need.

• Anchor
• Podbean
• Podomatic
• Buzzsprout
• Spreaker
• Podiant

Tip: New hosts pop up all the time - Google "free podcast host" for more options.

You can also publish a podcast on YouTube, but you will have to convert the audio to a video file.

Finding sounds royalty-free music for your videos:

• Audio Library
• YouTube Audio Library
• Ben Sound
• Free Sound
• Free Music Archive