How to podcast like a pro? What mics,programs,equipment?
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M$2 Answers
As for microphones/headphones, if you have one with acceptable sound quality then that's set to go. You should look at Logitech ones, if you don't. I had really good experiences with Logitech. Other brands to look at are Bose and Genius.
As for programs, it really depends what OS you are running. In Windows Adobe Audition is the best but you don't really need it. It's what the pros use at radio stations etc but for everyday podcasting Audacity ( http://audacity.sourceforge.net/ ) does the job very well. It has great editing tools and works on both PC and Mac.
If you are on a Mac though, use Garageband that comes with the Mac. It is a part of iLife and the one that comes in iLife '06 should suffice.
And that, is all you need my friend.
As for hosting, it depends on how many listeners you have. If you have quality content and promote it enough then you should be rocking. To start off though, you might want to see
http://www.podbean.com/
http://www.mypodcast.com/
and
http://lifehacker.com/software/podcasting/free-podcast-hosting-131227.php
Those are great starters.
If you later do expand and get a bunch of listeners then you might try and expand to Libsyn ( http://www.libsyn.com/index.php?&mode=logout&message= ) hosts podcast based not on bandwidth, which is a great advatage. Libsyn is a paid service. You might want to try and get some sponsors on the show to fund this.
Also, you GOT TO HAVE A WEBSITE. I believe it's essential to a podcast and helps a lot with the promotion.
And finally, make sure you have quality content so that people always come back, have variety and make the show fun!
You can leave an optional "tip" with Mahalo's virtual currency, Mahalo Dollars. If you are asking a difficult question that might require some research, or if you'd like a wide variety of feedback, a higher tip often leads to more answers to your question.
M$
Don't use the mic built into a laptop. They will not only be lower quality, but they will pick up noise from the keyboard as you control recording. A separate USB mic, like the Snowball or Snowflake, is not very expensive and works well.
What I actually use is the Zppm H2, which can not only be used as a USB mic, but also as a standalone audio recorder. It has mics on both sides so you can record an interview without handing the mic back and forth (or to capture a full band rehearsal), It connects to the computer by USB cable or SD card.
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M$
