Learn about Podcasts

Podcasting in Plain English

What Is a Podcast?

• Podcasting allows audio producers to syndicate the content they post online. It uses RSS to allow people to subscribe to audio shows.
• A user can subscribe to a podcast using an aggregator, sometimes knowns as a podcatcher. Your RSS reader can be used to subscribe to podcasts.
  
• Depending on the podcatcher used, this software may automatically download the audio file to your computer or device.
• The next time your digital device is connected to the computer, you can choose to transfer the podcast.
• Producers can also create video podcasts, which are sometimes referred to as vodcasts.
  

For a fuller explantion of the history and the concept, see the Wikipedia article on podcasting.

Quick FAQ

• Do you need an iPod to listen to podcasts?
  • No – although the word “podcast” comes from the popularity of Apple’s iPod, you do not need an iPod to enjoy podcasts.
• Do you need a digital device to listen to podcasts?
  • No – you can download and listen to a podcast on your computer. Or you can stream them through an online RSS Reader.
    
• My library is already uploading audio files that patrons can download/stream. Are we podcasting?
  • No. Making audio or video files available via the Web is just one piece of podcasting. The other piece is to make it available for syndication using RSS, essentially pushing it out to your users so that they don't need to return to your Web site to get the next episode.
    

Aggregators for downloading podcasts (free!)

• iTunes - This is the best choice if you plan to listen to your podcast on an iPod. You can set up your iTunes account to automatically download the podcast to your iPod every time it is connected to your computer. It's also an easy-to-use choice if you plan on listening to your podcast on your computer.
  
• Juice - This is a good choice if you plan to listen to your podcast on an MP3 player that is not an iPod. It doesn't automatically sync with your MP3 player like iTunes does, but it works with Windows Media Player so that you can download the podcast to your MP3 player. Juice does not work on Windows Vista.
  
• Find more through the Podcast Matrix.
  

What Do You Need to Create a Podcast?

• Microphone – many MP3 players have microphones or you can buy an inexpensive USB microphone to plug into your laptop. SEMLS also has some digital recorders available for libraries to borrow.
  
• Recording and editing software - Audacity (http://www.audacity.com) is free software to record and edit your software. (See Audacity Tutorials) Garage Band is great audio-editing software that comes with a Mac. Some online podcasting hosts also provide a service where you can record directly online. While editing your software, you can add some sound samples from http://www.squidoo.com/freesounds/
  
• Software or service to create an RSS file (this is what syndicates your podcast.)
  • Podifier – software
  • Feedburner - an online service (must be used in conjunction with a blog).
  • If you are using an online podcasting host (e.g. Gcast, OurMedia, podOmatic,) you will automatically have an RSS file.
    
• Web server where your audio files and RSS file will reside.
• Be sure to promote your feed by adding it to popular directories, including iTunes.