Websites for Schools: Podcasting

Hype or hip?

Thu, 23 Nov 2006 16:44:04 GMT

Podcast numbers show 'few hooked': "Last year, a forecast by research firm The Diffusion Group suggested that podcasts could have a US audience of 56 million by 2010.

Conversely a report by Forrester Research in May forecast an audience of just 12 million.

The difference in the two figures shows the difficulty of measuring and forecasting podcast numbers."

I've subscribed to a blues music feed. Seemed like a good idea at the time. Automatically, iTunes downloads the music. But I don't subscribe to any 'radio-type' podcasts. I think, were I a commuter, I may do. I occasionally download a podcast, but it's straight off a website, so it's not 'cast' as such. More like downloading a sound file.

I've created one or two feeble attempts at my own 'radio show' but they're not worth sharing.

This said, I know there is mileage in the enclosure element in RSS feeds, which is where the sound file resides in a proper, automatically, downloaded podcast. If you've more time commuting, or walking the dog, sound is more useful to you. However, I think there is going to be a big, big rise in videocasting. Same feed element, but it's a video instead of a sound file. Though, it will need to be tied in with a torrent server, so that the bandwidth involved in sending out, say a feature film to 100,000 users is feasible.

Imagine watching Eastenders on your computer. I know, I know, you can do that on the telly. But what about the long tail of all those old episodes of Eastenders. Or, the millions of other programmes that aren't on broadcast TV. These are coming.

Cheap portable podcasting gear?

Wed, 04 Oct 2006 10:12:33 GMT

Engadget: Cheap portable podcasting gear? "I'd like to be able to get away with under $200, mic included. Tips on selecting podcasting hardware would be SO welcome."

I've read this thread, and it seems that the Sony Minidisc is the way to go. The Minidisc is cheap on eBay at less than £30. But I don't know about getting it off and converted to MP3. {Later: I find out that there's too, too, too many steps with the Sony format of ATRAC. You need to use SonicStage to convert to WAV, then something else to MP3.]

The iRiver also came out well in the Edgadet thread, but it's interface was hard — apparently. Though the iRiver looking good in this 2005 PodcastPickle thread. The 799 and 890 look good. [I'll have to come back to the eBay search]

Whichever, it's down to the best mic that is affordable.

However, this thread was from 2005. So, there may still be a better, more current answer out there.

Or, with a computer and a mic

Wed, 04 Oct 2006 09:13:52 GMT

About.com: How to Create Your Own Podcast - A Step-by-Step Tutorial on Podcasting: "If, after you have downloaded and tried Audacity you think it is still too complicated for your situation, there is another alternative. Windows has its own recording utility called Sound Recorder which is just about the easiest way I know to record just voice."

I tried Audacity for my very first podcasts, years ago. It was complex, for me, who knew nothing about sound. I want completely easy, zero learning curve for my lovely, non-geek Heads. Otherwise it just won't happen. Even with the above method, they'd need a long, long extension from computer to assembly hall. They'd have to convert from WAV to MP3 too. Too, too, too many steps. (Though there is an app that's better than the default Windows recorder, but not so complex as Audacity, but it's $27.)

But this a cheap way.

And this is a good (USB) microphone at $79. So, with this method, we're looking at about £40 total.

Samson Zoom H4

Wed, 04 Oct 2006 08:27:46 GMT

Another new product: Samson Zoom H4: "The Zoom H4 Handy Digital Recorder fits in your palm and is ideal for recording live musical performances, interviews, podcasts, meetings, classes and seminars. The H4 features two studio-quality electret condenser microphones configured in an X/Y pattern for true stereo recording. It also includes 2 combination XLR-1/4-inch input jacks with phantom power for use with any external microphones of your choice. And the H4 is loaded with onboard studio effects such as compression, limiting and mic modeling. An 1/8-inch headphone jack is also provided for monitoring.

The H4 records on to Secure Digital (SD) media, a 128MB SD card is included with the unit. With a 2GB SD memory card, the H4 provides up to 380 minutes of recording in 16-bit mode (CD Quality), and 34 hours in MP3 stereo mode. And to move your recordings to a PC or Mac, the H4 includes a USB mass-storage interface.

The H4 provides four hours of continuous recording operation from 2 AA batteries."

Another expensive beast, still, it's less than the Sony, at $299 — don't know if this price is available in Blighty, as I see it at £240.

What I like about both of these is, you can create your MP3 then put it straight onto your computer (loaded as a mass storage device) and you're done. No editing, balancing or any other software required. Just uploaded straight from there.

Expensive recording device

Wed, 04 Oct 2006 08:05:10 GMT

I've decided to look into recording devices. Since I know zip about them, since I want Bodnat and Craig y Don to do podcasts of their morning assemblies. So I've started a new news department, called Podcasting. I may start my own podcasting too. We'll see.

Wired: Listening Post: "The HHB FlashMic DRM85 saves up to 1GB of audio as 16-bit WAV files (32 kHz, 44.1 kHz or 48 kHz) or in the MP3 format (128, 160, or 192 Kbps). It has an omnidirectional mic with an Automatic Gain Control option, solid sound fidelity specs, a headphone output, an LCD, and large, simple to use buttons. Each recording gets a timestamp in its file name, and the whole shebang mounts as a USB mass storage device on Macs and PCs."

At $1300 or £689 It is very expensive, still, it's just the job to record morning assemblies.

Endgaget thinks that the amount of compression you'd use to make a small MP3 would negate the quality of this mic's recording. (They also have it at $1,200.)

DJing the school assembly

Tue, 03 Oct 2006 14:16:26 GMT

Bodnant had their harvest festival. But they didn't sing We plough the fields and scatter. That's my favourite Autumn hymn, takes me back to when I was a nipper. They promised to sing it next year (and I hope invite me). But that's too far off. So I suggested to them that they start podcasting their morning assembly (as I suggested to Craig y Don).

Taking this to it's logical conclusion, I could then email in my morning's request (as could others) and the Head could announce to the morning's assembly, "this one's for Steve, who emailed in to say, he hasn't heard it since he was six, and it'll bring tears to his eyes... All together now...

We plough the fields and scatter..."

Wouldn't that be ace? Me thinks I'll nag them to death till this happens :-)