So what's the difference . . .

[stevevaus]

I'm a regular radio guy (from the dark side) trying to catch on to this podcast phenomenum. And the learning curve is making me nuts.

So, a couple basic questions - we've posted an mp3 of the show on our main website http://www.BuckHowdy.com/cpr.mp3 Of course someone could just go there and listen to it

But we also went through radio.userland or some such thing at:

http://radio.weblogs.com/0144221/

So, the big question - are we podcasting? And if so, how do people find out about it? If we're not podcasting what the heck else do we do? And what's the advantage of "podcasting" versus just putting the mp3 file on the web?

Sorry for the newbie questions - we're realy good at radio and music production - but when it comes to propeller head stuff, we're lost.

Thanks

[camilian]

Just listened to your show, very fun stuff.

I think what you might not understand is the reason for podcasting. Podcasting is using RSS enclosures to send your show to the end user automatically. So when you up load your show to your site, people that have subscribed to your show will have it downloaded to their computer/mp3 player without having to go to your site and check for the latest show.

Right now you are not podcasting. There are a bunch of how-tos on this site check those out, if you are still having problems email me at chris@apeboymonkeygirl.com and I can help.

[camilian]

Duh, sorry I missed your radio userland link. Yes you are podcasting, your feed is http://radio.weblogs.com/0144221/rss.xml Just tell people to get a podcast "catcher" and use that link.

It is your job to make people find out about it. Mention it on your show, send your link to all the podcast link sites (like this one). And start self-promoting, send press releases etc.

[dragonone]

Duh, I tried radio land's free 30 day. Did not move squat. Did not join, did discover libsyn.com yep now there's the way to go.

Stay the course
Peace
:shock:

[PaulCasting]

First of all... from the looks of it, I would agree, use the Libsyn service. Seems like the best bet. Click on the link in the post above mine.

Ok, so, being a "radio guy" myself, let me tell you what happens and why it's MUCH better than just uploading an MP3 to a website.

RSS used to be called "Push Technology". This is different from a website, which is a "Pull Technology". What's the difference? A push technology is when information is sent to you automatically. A pull technology requires you to go out and get the information.

Think of it this way... PodCasting or RSS (It stands for Really Simple Syndication) is like having a subscription to the local paper. Every morning, you wake up and viola, there's a newspaper on your porch (or more likely, sitting somewhere under your car or in the gutter or anyway but the front step). Posting an MP3 to a website is more like a Newspaper Rack at the local Quicki-Mart. You have to remember each morning to drive out to the store and get it.

So, how do you subcribe? iPodder or Doppler are called RSS Aggregators, meaning they subscribe to and manage your RSS subscriptions. Think of it as something like an email. Every day (or whenever you set it to do so) Doppler or iPodder will go out and check to see if any of your subscriptions have new content. When they do, they automatically download that content and put it in a specific folder for you.

Now, here's the cool part... when you plug in your MP3 player to charge for the night, it will automatically syncronize it's content with the content in that folder.

So, check out this scenerio... You dock your iPod for the night so it can charge and then you go to bed. While it's charging, iPodder is heading out and downloading all the new content (only from the feeds or shows you've subscribed to). Your iPod is syncing with that folder and when you wake up, you pick up your iPod and schlepp off to work. On your way to work, you listen in to the local news (WSU has news available as a PodCast in my neck of the woods), you listen to your favorite morning show and get to work all happy. No commercials (well, not yet), and just the content you want. Nothing else. After work, you drive home and check out some of the new independent music out there and jot down a few new bands you want to check out. At the end of the night, you dock your iPod again and the whole cycle starts over again.

As a former radio guy, I understand how powerful this is going to be. Will it be in it's same format in the future? Probably not. My bet is, Microsoft will integrate it with Windows Media Player and you'll have it all in one package (this will only help us in the PodCasting community).

If mainstream broadcasters jump on board, PodCasting will do to Radio, what TiVo did to television. This is a good thing! I think.

HOpe this helps.

Paul
www.EastpointRadio.com

[WyethDigital]

As a former radio guy, I understand how powerful this is going to be. Will it be in it's same format in the future? Probably not. My bet is, Microsoft will integrate it with Windows Media Player and you'll have it all in one package (this will only help us in the PodCasting community).
...Uhhhg!

Paul,

A little bit off topic here... Of the posts of yours that I've read, I have to say I find them interesting and usually pretty balanced... with a good "insiders" perspective, but I have to say that you're way off base here.

If the mega media-ware companies (Microsoft with Windows Media Player, Apple with Quicktime or iTunes, or Real Networks) drive us to all-in-one solutions, then Podcasters and Podcast listeners will be at the mercy of what ever a large conglomerate wants to force down our throats. Haven't we all cringed and rolled our eyes as our media player of choice spews ads at us prior to launching our content (Real is good for this), or sends personal info back to HQ about our listening habits (Microsoft)? I'd personally rather stick with catchers like iPodderX (integrated with - without being controlled by - iTunes)!

The popularity of Podcasting is all about the people... the podcasters, the listeners and the developers. When a big company takes too much of a bite, then some people are going to lose out. And it'll probably be us...


Eric

[PaulCasting]

As we all know, most people are lazy. They're willing to give up some privacy or independence if someone else is willing to do some of the work for them.

What you say is exactly right. I didn't say I WANTED those things to happen, I speculate they will. For you and me, it's no big deal to download iPodder and set a folder to put the podcasts in, or even to create a playlist in Media Player, but for MOST people, they're going to want to have a directory where they can click and subscribe, click and subscribe.

However it's done, managing your podcasts (the ones you recieve) is going to become much more intuitive. Remember, most people in this world still have a VCR somewhere that's blinkin 12:00

Part of the attraction with TiVo is the "Pick and Click" way to program it. Look at TiVo today and I think you're going to be taking a glimpse at what Podcasting is going to look like 2 years from now.

Thanks for the kind words, by the way. Radio is a passion of mine. But, I couldn't afford to raise my family on the money they pay, so I left it. I've been tempted to do some part time work in the industry, but Podcasting is a much better option. Plus, we're all pioneers as the future of TV (have you seen any podcasts with video enclosures?) and Radio unfolds before us.

[WyethDigital]

What you say is exactly right. I didn't say I WANTED those things to happen, I speculate they will. For you and me, it's no big deal to download iPodder and set a folder to put the podcasts in, or even to create a playlist in Media Player, but for MOST people, they're going to want to have a directory where they can click and subscribe, click and subscribe..

Gotcha. My misunderstanding. Too tired when I posted, I guess. Had a important shoot today that I was nervous about last night, so I couldn't sleep (or filter information, apparently).

I do agree with you. I just hope that the makers of iPodder, iPodderX, Dopplar, et al, have enough of a jump (and a large enough finger on the pulse of Podcasting) that they will become the defacto goto clients! Unfortunately, deep pockets usually win over good intentions (but not always)!

Eric