Using Blogger to create a podcast - is it possible?

[Up The Octave]

I am comfortable with the concept of syndication, and I think I understand podcasting - its just audio files embedded in the feed, right?

So, if I insert links to MP3 files in my blog and have blogger automatically create an atom feed (which it does anyway), what is the next step?

I suppose I could use feedburner to convert the atom feed into a rss feed, or do I need to construct the xml myself?

Thanks

[Cookiepuss]

It's easiest to use FeedBurner to make the RSS feed. Just be sure to select "SmartCast" so it will add the enclosures for the mp3 files.

The only other thing you need is a place to host your mp3 files. You can buy hosting or I wrote a little howto on using the Indy Media hosting free:

http://undergroundmedia.org/free-podcast-hosting-via-imc

Or just buy hosting for as little as $5-10 a month. . .

You might also have a look at EasyPodcast (http://easypodcast.com) and WinPodcast (http://podcast.scon.de/).

Good Luck! ;)

[Up The Octave]

Thanks. I have hosting so that bit is easy. I just wanted to incorporate audio into my current feed so that a regular news aggregator would get the text and a podcaster aggregator would just download the audio.

That way I could put something together with the minimum of effort, from within the blogger panel.

Would feedburner take the atom feed, see the mp3 links, and then add enclosures to them that it would put in the rss feed it would produce?

Or have I misunderstood something?!

[Cookiepuss]

Would feedburner take the atom feed, see the mp3 links, and then add enclosures to them that it would put in the rss feed it would produce?

Or have I misunderstood something?!

Yes just use the Atom feed and "Smartcast" option in FeedBurner and you'll be set. . .

[Up The Octave]

Great! I've been reading this forum for a while and thinking "it can't be that easy, surely" - but it is!

Thanks for your help.

[Cookiepuss]

My pleasure. Be sure to post back when you have it up. ;)

[rorowe]

I've been using AudioBlogger (Blogger's free phone-in posting service) to create 5 minute podcasts, and they've been showing up like they should...
Here's my question: I am forced to deal with the filenames AudioBlogger gives them (They host all of them!) Is there anyway around this?

I've been using Blogger for almost 5 years now, and would love this to work the way I want it to.
Currently using Blogger, Feedburner w/ Smartcast, and Ipodder to get podcasts.

[Cookiepuss]

I have never used AudioBlogger so I am not sure. But from playing with it a little it seems you would not be able to stipulate a file name. But with so many free ways of hosting the mp3 files (refer above and also see http://ourmedia.org) you could always just go that route and name them what you want. Plus have the option of editing more with Audacity (see http://audacity.sf.net). You can get a good Sony mic from BestBuy or similar place for $10. So for that amount you'd be up and running since Audacity is free. ;)

[rorowe]

I do have Audacity, and have used my iRiver 780 for some recorded voice posts, but using AudioBlogger gives me the option of publishing immediately.
Being able to do that is important to me because I am often away from my computer for long periods of time and haven't dropped the cash for a nice laptop yet.

[Langstona]

Tom Higgins (http://blogcasting.blogspot.com/) gives step by step instruction and HTML code to put in the blogger template so that you can turn the RSS feed on blogger setting off. With his instructions your podcasts are tagged by the information in your blog post. I tried this last night and it ALMOST worked.
In the LINK field of your blog post you are suppose to put the URL pointing to your podcast MP3 file. My test MP3 file is on my Yahoo briefcase.

When I entered my blog address into Ipodder, it scanned for new episodes and sure enough, my blog post/podcast was listed as an episode to download. The problem is, it never downloaded. It just sat there in the Ipodder download dialogue box saying "downloading" but not actually downloading.

I'm totally new at this and I do not have a ton of computer programming or code writing savvy. Is there anyone out there who has tried Tom Higgins method and can tell me what's what?