Session+2

Session #2

Your first podcast should be simple. You're learning new workflows and new software so concentrate on those things. Of course, the content is important so don't completely forget about it either. The catch is this: the first podcast isn't the trickiest to do. It's the //second// one! Try to create something you can sustain!
 * Creating your first podcast.**

One key to remember is: bad sound is difficult to improve. Try to make your original sound be as high-quality as you can manage. Sometimes, it's not possible to sound like a pro but as long as the audio is clear enough to understand, people will forgive you. Just remember that audio that is of lesser quality is more demanding on your listeners, so your content needs to be really good or else they may give up on your show.
 * Recording techniques**

When recording, first know your microphone. In very general terms, the more expensive the microphone, the better you will sound recording into it. A $5 headset mic will sound exactly like a $5 mic! You don't have to spend $500 on a microphone to sound good if you know how to use it properly.

There are three styles of microphone recording patterns and each has their use. Cardioid microphones have a recording pattern that is shaped like a heart. An omni-directional pattern is round and the bi-directional mic looks like a figure-8. The patterns represent the strongest signal pickup. The cardioid mic (like your Blue Snowball) will record excellent audio directly in front of it but less so from the "off-axis" position (i.e., to the side). This makes it a good choice in a noisy environment such as a classroom. The omni-directional mic is good when you want to capture all of the audio in a particular setting. This isn't ideal for a one-person podcast but, on a field trip or in a classroom setting where you wish to capture all that's going on around you, the omni-directional microphone (or setting, on an adjustable mic) is the way to go. The bi-directional mic is perfect for interviews but is less common than the other two.

Try not to speak too closely into the microphone, or directly into it. This will cause //plosives//, or the "popping P's," as they're sometimes called. These sounds, which you hear all too frequently when people use a microphone improperly, can be quite distracting and they can actually damage the sensitive microphone equipment! Speak across the microphone instead of directly into it, especially with a cardioid mic. You'll get much better results.


 * Equipment and room set-up

Using Audacity** There is a separate page on this wiki, specifically about Audacity.

On the web, there are some additional tutorials, created by others, that might have more detail and specifics.

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Consider the use of sound effects and music. Think of a radio program. They use sound effects to enhance and increase the impact of the audio. They play tricks with the vocal recording to make the announcers sound different. They use music to separate ideas and enhance the drama of a work. Back in the 1920's and '30's, radio was the only means of entertainmet and entire programs were created that were audio soundscapes and they remain quite effective means of dramatizing concepts and situations.
 * Ways to make your podcast sound more interesting.**

Some effects come installed with Audacity. Others can be downloaded and purchased. Most of these are quite specific and require serious knowledge of the audio world. Most of the simple ones, however, can be mastered by elementary students.

Copyright is a serious issue when podcasting, as it is with any other content you publish to the Internet. Fair use does not always apply to teachers either, so be aware of your liability when using other peoples' work. In general, if you create something, it's yours and the same goes with work created by your students.
 * Copyright in podcasting**

Using music and material from other sites, however, opens the door. Unless you have specific authorization to use the copyrighted work, you are limited to the "fair use guidelines." Several sites will be linked here for your information. You should also consult your librarian, as they are usually quite versed in educator fair use.

A large body of content is also available for your use with an entirely different licensing scheme. Known as [|Creative Commons], this license does not replace copyright but specifies certain authorized uses of CC-licensed work so long as the conditions are met, which are contained in the license. Usually, these include attribution, non-commercial use and share-alike. Attribution means that the creator's name remains in the material, though you are free to use it in your work. Non-commercial means you can use the work except in a manner that derives you income from the work and share-alike means that if you create something based on this work, that it be shared with an identical license. More information is found at the Creative Commons website.