Hey everyone

[Thom W]

Hi, just signed up to the forum today. I'm gonna be doing a podcast series for a project at University and thought signing up to some forums would be a really good way of getting a handle on things.

I'm subscribed to several podcasts and have done radio for a year now but what would you say to people starting out? Has anyone got any advice for the inexperienced :lol:

So any good tips for beginners would be much appreciated. I'll probably be spending quite a bit of time on here in the coming year, so hello to everyone!

[EclecticMix]

Hi, just signed up to the forum today. I'm gonna be doing a podcast series for a project at University and thought signing up to some forums would be a really good way of getting a handle on things.

I'm subscribed to several podcasts and have done radio for a year now but what would you say to people starting out? Has anyone got any advice for the inexperienced :lol:

So any good tips for beginners would be much appreciated. I'll probably be spending quite a bit of time on here in the coming year, so hello to everyone!

* Do what you love
* Work for the best quality you can
* Listen to Eclectic Mix and One Minute How-To <g>

Cheers -

george

[WyethDigital]

Welcome aboard. You'll find a lot of useful information here, as well as see some lively discussions. There may be some amongst us that you might be morally or ethically opposed to. Deal with them as you see fit, but try not to let it turn you off from the whole community. We're usually pretty fun.

As for resources, you really should check out Podcast411. (http://www.podcast411.com/) It's probably the best place to start for someone jumping in.

I would also point out another great podcast resource that you should make use of, which is Podcast Pickle. (http://www.podcastpickle.com) They're a pretty friendly bunch, and some of us cross-pollinate (if you will). Though the Pickle folk are really nice, there is a touch of Pickle-Evangelism over there that occasionally tends to color the discussions -- in other words, I'd hardly call them a truly neutral party on some topics.

Good luck!

Eric

[BSquared]

So any good tips for beginners would be much appreciated.

I am not a podcaser but I've listened to gazillions of them (and no I don't exaggerate)(ever). On that basis my advice would be

a) plan your episodes - you don't need a detailed script necessarily but a list of topics that you want to cover will help you do a good show...listeners don't really like hearing "um....errr....i forgot what i was gonna say but it was really....errrr.....ummmm.....good"
b) use the edit function of your software liberally
c) put out something you're proud of
d) Enjoy yourself

[X Pat Radio]

I'm subscribed to several podcasts and have done radio for a year now but what would you say to people starting out? Has anyone got any advice for the inexperienced :lol:



Subscribe to your own feed, it makes sure it actualy works.

Ask lots of questions if you have problems or idea, heck thats why these forums are here.

Don't worry about lots of post editing, the free flow of a podcast is why lots of people listen.

Have fun! Since its a podcast, you aren't on a schedual. So if you don't feel like doing it one day, don't.

[Hittman]

Don't worry about lots of post editing, the free flow of a podcast is why lots of people listen.

I have to disagree with this one, very strongly disagree.

Although there are always exceptions, most shows require editing. Some require a little, some need a lot. Editing can raise the quality of a show by a notch, and sometimes several notches. Poor becomes passable, passable becomes OK, OK becomes good, good becomes great.

And that’s just editing. There’s also plenty of other post production issues you’ll need to learn about and deal with – compression, noise reduction, etc.

Don’t let that stop you – most of us learned this a little at a time, and listeners are far more forgiving of a new podcast than one that has been around for a while. But learn post production.

[X Pat Radio]

Don't worry about lots of post editing, the free flow of a podcast is why lots of people listen.

I have to disagree with this one, very strongly disagree.

Although there are always exceptions, most shows require editing. Some require a little, some need a lot. Editing can raise the quality of a show by a notch, and sometimes several notches. Poor becomes passable, passable becomes OK, OK becomes good, good becomes great.

And that’s just editing. There’s also plenty of other post production issues you’ll need to learn about and deal with – compression, noise reduction, etc.

Don’t let that stop you – most of us learned this a little at a time, and listeners are far more forgiving of a new podcast than one that has been around for a while. But learn post production.

If you do it right, very few shows need any post editing. If its poor, you did something wrong.

Compression is best done in real time, not post. I don't do any post noise reduction, I try to get it done before I hit record.

Does that mean you can't do editing in post? No, but it means you dont need to to get started. Get good at the basics first. If you record it right, you shouldn't need to do much more to it. I get annoyed at people that don't seem to care about quality when the record, using the excuse, oh I can fix that in post.

Just do it, and you'll get better.

The only post editing I do is finalizing. Not sure if that counts as editing or not.

[EclecticMix]

I think that this also has to do with the way you record your show. I decided not to buy a mixer, compressor, and all of the other hardware necessary, and got a nice digital recorder to record things. That means that I rely on software to do post processing. Timewise, it's really no big deal because compression only takes about 15 seconds.

Cheers -

george

[agile]

I would also point out another great podcast resource that you should make use of, which is Podcast Pickle. (http://www.podcastpickle.com) They're a pretty friendly bunch, and some of us cross-pollinate (if you will). Though the Pickle folk are really nice, there is a touch of Pickle-Evangelism over there that occasionally tends to color the discussions -- in other words, I'd hardly call them a truly neutral party on some topics.
Eric

Ain't that the truth.

[WyethDigital]

I would also point out another great podcast resource that you should make use of, which is Podcast Pickle. (http://www.podcastpickle.com) They're a pretty friendly bunch, and some of us cross-pollinate (if you will). Though the Pickle folk are really nice, there is a touch of Pickle-Evangelism over there that occasionally tends to color the discussions -- in other words, I'd hardly call them a truly neutral party on some topics.
Eric

Ain't that the truth.
Like Podcast reviews, eh, Tim? :D

I haven't stopped by the blog in a couple of weeks -- Madeline and I have been busy expanding our options! (http://www.podcastalley.com/forum/viewtopic.php?p=67654#67654) How are the reviews going?

Eric

[agile]

I would also point out another great podcast resource that you should make use of, which is Podcast Pickle. (http://www.podcastpickle.com) They're a pretty friendly bunch, and some of us cross-pollinate (if you will). Though the Pickle folk are really nice, there is a touch of Pickle-Evangelism over there that occasionally tends to color the discussions -- in other words, I'd hardly call them a truly neutral party on some topics.
Eric

Ain't that the truth.
Like Podcast reviews, eh, Tim? :D

I haven't stopped by the blog in a couple of weeks -- Madeline and I have been busy expanding our options! (http://www.podcastalley.com/forum/viewtopic.php?p=67654#67654) How are the reviews going?

Eric

Thanks for asking Eric. The blog is going well. I am up to 24 reviews now and am very happy with the wordpress format (but I'm still trying to iron out a few bugs).

Time is the biggest issue but I will still aim to get out 5 reviews a month.

So far the new site is being well received. Feel free to pop over and leave a comment.

Regards,
Tim

[BSquared]

[quote=Thom W]
Don't worry about lots of post editing, the free flow of a podcast is why lots of people listen.



it is also why lots of people don't. listen that is.