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Podcasting for developers

How to plan, record, mix, and host your first podcast

Benoit Marchal (bmarchal@pineapplesoft.com), Consultant, Pineapplesoft
Benoît Marchal is a consultant and writer based in Namur, Belgium. He is the author of XML by Example, Applied XML Solutions, and XML and the Enterprise. He produces the Declencheur podcast on photography.

Summary:  Many articles and books on podcasting assume that you have experience with sound recording, you can recognize XLR cables, and you understand decibels. Consequently, they spend a lot of time discussing the computer-specific aspects, such as MP3 encoding and hosting Really Simple Syndication (RSS) files, and comparatively little on the audio aspects. If you search on audio, you find plenty of articles on audio recording for musicians and home studio. Some of that material is useful but, again, the tendency is to assume that computers are the difficult bit. What makes this tutorial unique is that it is written by a developer, for developers. So it assumes that you can handle the developer's tasks (such as writing the RSS feed) and concentrates on the novelty: the use of audio.

Date:  27 Jun 2006
Level:  Introductory PDF:  A4 and Letter (103 KB | 26 pages)Get Adobe® Reader®

Activity:  12484 views
Comments:  

Before you start

About this tutorial

This tutorial walks you through the creation of your first podcast. It begins with the planning phase and ends with the hosting. In between, you'll find reviews of audio hardware, recording, and mixing.

I have been working with XML since the very early days. In fact, I first discussed XML in 1997 when it was still in draft status. Throughout the years I have seen many incredible applications of XML. Some developments (such as Web services) have been very exciting for me because they enable me to solve thorny technical issues.

And yet if I had to vote for the best application of XML, I might vote for podcasting. Podcasting has brought back a lot of the fun and enthusiasm of the early days of XML. So thank you, Adam Curry, for offering podcasting to the world.

As this tutorial demonstrates, podcasting is not just XML, it's XML and audio (or video), and it's the combination of the two that opens incredible opportunities.

I hope that, as you learn about podcasting, you'll share my enthusiasm. Let's get started.


Objectives

After completing this tutorial you will be able to record, mix, and host your first podcast.


Prerequisites

This tutorial assumes that you know how to write an XML file, host a file and register a domain name. It concentrates on the novelty (in podcasting) for IT people, that is, the recording of the audio file to insert in the XML document.


System requirements

Audio applications use a lot of RAM and require fast hard disks. One Gb is the minimum to record comfortably, and a 7200 RPM disk is recommended. Obviously, you need a microphone and a sound card. The built-in microphone in your computer can get you started, and the tutorial includes a section on selecting audio gear.

In addition you need recording software, such as Audacity (see Resources), an open source product.

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