Pagan Podcasting

Quite a while ago, my friend Mary Robinette Kowal posted some useful info on narrating into a microphone. You can find it here.

Mary is a professional puppeteer, a novelist and short story writer, and all-around original.

If you are interested in doing your own podcasting, here’s what I use:

• Operating System: Windows 7 (ugh! but I have to use it)
• Audio recording/editing/mixing software: Audacity
• Supporting software: LAME, Behringer drivers
• Audio recording hardware: Behringer XENYX 502 Podcasting Kit w/ UCA-200 USB interface – http://tinyurl.com/28okx64

But here’s what I recommend:

• Audio recording/editing/mixing software: Audacity – free – download from http://audacity.sourceforge.net/download/
• Supporting software: LAME- free – download from http://audacity.sourceforge.net/download/
• Audio recording hardware: Soundcard – http://tinyurl.com/24kvtdt
• Headphone Mic – http://tinyurl.com/27dw82w

Audacity and LAME are also available for Mac and Linux. In fact, the
USB soundcard I recommend above also works in Mac and Linux.

Here’s why I do not recommend the Behringer Podcasting Kit for beginners:

1. You can get good quality using my recommendations for about $90 less.
2. I tested the Behringer Kit against my recommendation, and the results were stunningly similar. Certainly better than some podcasts I have heard (none here).

Yes, if you use a Behringer Kit or other dedicated podcasting kit you will have more flexibility and control, but it might be wise to start by spending less and saving your money for when you are more experienced.

Most of y’all are more advanced than I, so this is more for folks just getting started…

While I’m researching the subjects of the ‘casts on the web, I use Evernote to clip the information I think I’ll use later.  Then, once I’m ready to start brainstorming the essays, I use MindManager to play with the ideas and create a logical order to the ideas and information floating around my all-too-chaotic mind.  Although MindManager isn’t free , Freeplane is, and I recommend it if you wish to use a mind mapping program.

I’m using Audacity and Celtx as my audio editor and scriptwriting tools, respectively.  They both take a bit of learning, but are far easier than high-end software, and they’re both FREE!