So, you have just listened to your favorite podcast and you have decided that you would like to try to record one yourself. The good news: it's easy to do and doesn't cost much to start.

Things you will need:

An idea
A computer
A microphone
Recording software
An MP3 encoder
Web hosting
An audience

An idea What will you talk about? That's what you'll need to decide. You can talk about antiques, books, or cats whatever floats your boat. The key thing to keep in mind is that you should enjoy what you are talking about. Your podcast will be more informative and entertaining because your listeners will feel your passion about the topic.

A computer Your computer is like your workbench for your podcast. It is where you will do your recordings. It doesn't matter if it's a desktop or a laptop, a PC or a Mac. Any computer made in the past couple of years will be perfectly suitable. You just need to be able to install the necessary software and attach a microphone.

A microphone Better microphones provide for better recordings. However, any microphone will do. A cheap desktop microphone or a USB headset are perfectly suitable. If you have a laptop with a built-in mic, that will do just fine, too. You just need a working mic that your computer will recognize.

Recording software Recording software allows your spoken words to be captured and stored for distribution. A number of options are available. For PC's, there's Windows Sound Recorder (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ Windows_Sound_Recorder). For Mac users, there's Apple's GarageBand (http://www.apple.com/ilife/ga rageband/). Audacity (http://audacity.sourceforge.n et/), an open source program, is available for Windows, Mac OS X, and Linux. Any of these programs will do for those just starting out. If you are familiar with any of these programs, it is recommended that you choose that one to start out.

An MP3 encoder MP3 files are the de facto standard for podcasts. MP3 files are popular because they are generally small in size compared to other file formats, yet have superior sound quality. An MP3 encoder converts your recorded audio into a MP3 file.
Some popular encoders for Windows include CDex (http://cdexos.sourceforge.net /) and Helix (http://www.rarewares.org/mp3- others.php#helix_enc). Garageband users can export their files to iTunes (http://www.apple.com/itunes/d ownload/), where they can convert them into MP3s. Audacity users can utilize the LAME plugin (http://audacity.sourceforge.n et/help/faq?s=install&item=lam e-mp3).

• 1
• 2
• next page >>

---

Add your voice

Know something about Getting started with podcasting?
We want to hear your view. Write now!