Podcasting Presentation

From Acorn

Contents

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Pre-workshop homework (day before)

Frank to do this during lunch on Mon., so users should not log off.

  1. Plug the Plantronics headset into the computer to preconfigure the drivers.
  2. Set the Plantronics as the input and output audio device in Control Panels.
  3. Open Audacity on the computer, link to the LAME mp3 library
  4. Set the Plantronics headset as the input device in Audacity (may not be necessary, may use the default set in CP)
  5. Open QuickTime Player Pro on the computer
  6. Open iTunes on the computer
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What is podcasting?

  1. Brief technical description.
  2. Differences between podcasts and on-line audio and video files. Sample
  3. How to find podcasts.
    1. Open Culture, many links on sidebars
  4. How to subscribe to one
    1. Direct link in web page opens up iTunes, and automatically subscribes. This uses the itpc URL link.
    2. In iTunes, use Advanced>Subscribe to Podcast. Each podcast has a unique URL (web address) For example, subscribe to http://video.conncoll.edu/podcast/podcast.xml, in iTunes
    3. In iTunes U
    4. in the iTunes Store, under Podcasts
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Preparing to record

We will use Audacity (a free PC/Mac/Linux audio recorder and editor)

A. Connecting the Plantronics headset (microphone and headphone) to a PC

  1. Connect the headset to the USB connection in the front of the PC
  2. The PC should automatically recognize the headset. Wait until all the dialog boxes in the lower right go away.
  3. Push the Mute button on the headset control so the red light goes off, this unmutes the mic. Note the volume control for the earphones. For now, leave it alone.
  4. Right-click the speaker icon in the lower right of the screen, and select "Adjust Audio Properties". This control can also be found in Control Panels>Sounds and Audio Devices.
  5. In the Audio tab, make sure the Plantronics Headset is selected in both Sound playback and Sound recording as the default device.
  6. In the Voice tab, make sure the Plantronics Headset is selected in both Voice playback and Voice recording as the default device. The other default settings should be fine. The "Test hardware" button may help resolve technical problems.
  7. Open Audacity. In Edit>Preferences>Audio I/O, select Plantronics Headset for Playback and Recording Device. Select Channels: 1 (Mono).
  8. In Audacity Preferences, File Formats Tab, MP3 Export Setup, select Bit Rate 32 (kbs). This will be adequate for monophonic voice quality.

Your PC screen should now look like this:



B. Connecting the Plantronics headset (microphone and headphone) to a Mac

  1. Connect Plantronics headset to the USB connection in the front of the Mac
  2. Push the Mute button on the headset control so the red light goes off, this unmutes the mic. Note the volume control for the earphones. For now, leave it alone.
  3. Go to the Apple Menu (upper left) > System Preferences. Select the Sound preference.
  4. In the Output tab, select the Plantronics Headset. Drag the Output Volume slider to ensure you hear a tone.
  5. In the Input tab, select the Plantronics Headset. Drag the Input Volume control to the 3/4 leve. Speak and ensure you see the volume meter move.
  6. Open Audacity. In Audacity>Preferences, Audio I/O, select Plantronics Headset for Playback and Recording Device. Select Channels: 1 (Mono).
  7. In Audacity Preferences, File Formats Tab, MP3 Export Setup, select Bit Rate 32 (kbs). This will be adequate for monophonic voice quality.

Your Mac screen should now look like this:


C. NOTES

  1. The Audacity windows look the same on the PC and the Mac.
  2. The Audacity Microphone volume control works on the Mac, but not on the PC. You must control the recording volume on the PC through the Control Panel.
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Recording in Audacity

1. Keep the mic element about an inch from your mouth, and off to one side.

2. Above the Mic icon in the upper right is the audio input level meter. In the drop-down arrow, select "Monitor Input". Start speaking, the level meter should be close to the Zero point, without tapping it too often.

3. To start recording, push the red button. A new audio track will be automatically created. When the cursor starts to move, start speaking.

4. You will see the waveform of your recording. Ideally, it should be between half and full height on the 0 to 1 vertical volume scale on the left.

5. Here is an example of adequate recording levels:



6. To pause the recording, press the Pause (blue vertical bars) button. To start recording again, on the same track, press the Pause button again. To end the recording on this track, press the Stop button (yellow square).

7. If you stop a recording, and start a new one, a new audio track will be automatically created under the first one. Audio tracks can be deleted by clicking on the close box (X) in each track's upper left.

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Basic Editing and Exporting in Audacity

Audacity is a powerful audio editor, extensive documentation can be found here.

The Basic Tools are:

You can drag back and forth in the timeline using the windowing tools.

Excercises:

1. Select a region of silence before and after the recording with the Selection Tool. Delete it with the Delete key.

2. Select a pause or audio you don't want in the middle of the recording with the Selection Tool. Delete it.

3. If you have two recordings on two different audio tracks, copy and paste one selection from another. Then delete the track that is not needed. When you are done, you should have only one audio track.

4. To export your compressed file, go to File>Export as MP3. Give your file a short name, unix friendly (only letters, numbers, underlines, dashes), with the mp3 extension. Make sure you know where you are saving the file!

OPTIONAL-If the audio track is too low, before exporting, select the low portions and go to Effect>Amplify. Set the New Peak Amplitude at -2 dB.

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Uploading the recording to a podcast

These instructions are found elsewhere in this wiki, Uploading_to_your_Podcast

You should find an empty podcast with your course name on the podcast server.

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