School of Podcasting: Expert Tips for Launching and Growing Your Podcast

Call the Show 888-563-3228 Because of my Podcast Cale Nelson

Last week, a listener contacted me via email. He is one of my Pateron Supporters. He said he noticed on my Pateron page the goal for buying a new Mixer.

He went on to inquire about which mixer I was interested in. I sent him a note back telling him about the 12 ch Behringer mixer I had been saving for (which was the lowest cost mixer with Faders I could find on Amazon-I'm a FM Radio Throw-back and prefer faders).

In his subsequent email, he stated he wanted to purchase a Mixer for me-and he'd buy the Behringer if that is what I had to have, otherwise he preferred to buy me a Yamaha MG12.

After picking myself up from the floor, and maybe or maybe not drying one or both of my eyes; I said the Yamaha would be a fine choice.

The board arrived today, I'm still flabbergasted, and completely humbled. I have the best listener(s) on the planet!

Cale Nelson www.hamradio360.com

Be the Best Podcast Guest Be the Best Podcast Host

Maybe it's Friday and I am just tired after so many hours of programming this week but if you send me an interview request that includes the following I will not even respond to you.

1: you must have a hour for the interview

2: you must have headphones

3: you must have a quiet space

4: We request all guest to share our podcast on social media

I must? I must? You are asking me for an interview and you say I must? Plus, if in your initial email request you say I should share it to my social media, I will never respond to you. I will share it to my social media if I think it is valuable to my friends, family and audience. Show some respect when you are asking for interviews. Wow. Whew, ok now I am going take a break this weekend! Have a good one everybody!

Stop Chasing Influencers

Jared Easley is one of my My Favorite People on the Planet. I do't interact with him much, but when I do, I'm always glad I did. His Book Stop Chasing Influencers: The True Path to Building Your Business and Living Your Dream had a TON of useful advice that came from the real world. Here is a quick excerpt.

A majority of the influencers and A-listers on his guest wish-list did not have time or interest in being on his new show, which had zero listeners. The guests who were gracious enough to give him the time for an interview were not inclined to share it with their audiences. Finally, the guests who did give him their time, and who also shared the show with their networks on social media, did not translate into a large Starve the Doubts audience that listened to the guest interviews and subscribed or stuck around as well.

So if you're looking for GIANT numbers by having GIANT names, that is not going to happen.

 

Host Tips

If you of alot of interviews, you're going to lose your mind without a scheduling tool I love Acuity Scheduling. If you're looking for a free (scaled down) tool I've heard good things about Calendly.com

Let the guest know WHY they are there. WHO they are talking to, WHAT they will be talking about and HOW long the interview will be.

Go to their website and get the bio, headshot, etc. Then ask for what is missing.

Do some research (if you want, listen to other interviews, check out their Facebook page, twitter), and come up with some questions. This list of questions (for me) will be used as "game plan" but not as an interrogation

Email the day off (if not before, or better BOTH) the interview to remind them of your appointment.

Make sure they know to get the best microphone available, and to have headphones on.

Find out what website your want to promote. Where are we sending people?

If they don't sound good (meaning their sound is distracting from the content), stop and ask them to get a different microphone, different position, etc. TRUST ME, you will not want to release this to you audience. Who do you want to upset, your legions of followers or ONE guest. You will spend a lot of time trying to clean up bad audio, and some times you just can't.

When the guest arrives let them know its not live (unless it is) and that if they mess up you can do it over. Let them know that if you pause, you may be looking for the next question (and you're not looking for a longer answer).

Erik K Johnson has a great tip and says to come up with a great first question to get the interview pointed in the right direction.

Make sure you know how to say their name (sometimes you find them on YouTube and learn how to pronounce their name)

Michael O'Neal has a great tip in his Art of the Interview Course. If you know a guest loves to tell the same story over and over, use it in the intro, and now they can't repeat it.

Don't make them sit through the whole show if it's done live. If it's a live call, then bring them on 5 minutes before they go on the air.

Michael O'Neal said (when he was on this show) to promote the guests stuff first, then they are happier to be on the show, promote the episode, and they aren't looking for opportunities to promote because you already did.

After the interview is over -before you it stop - ask them if there is anything they'd like to change.

When the interview goes live, make it INSANELY Easy to share your stuff. Give them links to the mp3 file, to your episode on your website, and a graphic. Realize they may not share it at all, and that's OK. They did their job, they provided content. You can use tools like Click to Tweet so you give them one link and it sends the tweet.

Podcast Guest Tips

Don't give one word answers.

Listen to an episode to understand a bit about the show, the vibe, the audience.

Get the best microphone available in your house (I suggest the Audio Technica atr2100) and wear headphones (even if it's earbuds)

Email the host the day of the show

Show up on time.

Have one sheet that explains you, your bio, websites, social media, and attache a headshot.

If you're promoting something, see if you can give people access to your product before the interview.

Try to customize your answers to their audience.

Don't go crazy with the hosts name, and compliments on "That's a good question" (unless it was an actual good question).

Nobody tunes into an infomercial on purpose. Bring Value.

If the episode would bring value to your audience, promote it on twitter, and any other venues you feel comfortable.

Podcast Glossary "H"

htaccess file

A file on your website that dictates how your website functions, and what files are accessible

Hindenburg Journalist

This is one of my favorite tools to edit audio with. It doesn’t have all the bells and whistle of Adobe Audition, but it also has much less confusion.

Mentioned In This Episode

Erik K Johnson

Jessica Rhodes

Michael O'Neal

Start Podcasting Today

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Branding and Marketing Your Podcast: Lauren Nelson Interview

Today on episode 543 we talk with fellow podcast Lauren Nelson who is the Marketing Manager for Crowdspring.com She produce the audio drama podcast "The Box" and share her insights on how podcasts ban boost their marketing efforts to stand out.

Realize there are no rules to podcast. For Lauren she takes as much as she needs to tell her story, and that's it.

Your iTunes artwork is your first impression, have someone who is a graphic person create yours.

Consistency can boost your brand by never missing an episode, or by announcing (if you take a break) your planned absence.

People may want t-shirts, mugs and other "Swag" items, so keep this in mind when making your artwork.

The Apple company broke the rules in their advertisements (so have companies like All Spice)

Don't be afraid to think outside the box. Thin about how "a show about nothing" is one of the top televisions shows of all time.

Lauren's Favorite Marketing Podcasts Startup Smart Passive Income Marketing Over Coffee Duct Tape Marketing

Special Podcast Marketing Guide

Go to  www.crowdspring.com/sop free guide promoting your show, and your design needs.

Blue Yeti - A Hands On Review

The Blue Yeti is quoted WAY TOO MUCH as a great podcast microphone. It is a condensor microphone, and if not used properly can make really bad sounding recordings. It can pick up what is right in front of it, what is behind it, or everything around it. You want to "Cardoid" setting for your best  recording of a solo podcaster.

To avoid sounding like you’re in a tunnel you need to turn the gain down, and get close the the microphone. When you do this, you will have what most people call “popping p’s” when you say worse that start with P’s, B’s, H’s, etc as the from your mouth goes into the microphone. The solution is to purchase a pop filter. Due to it’s unique size you need a specialized pop filter. You can purchase the Blue Pop Filter for $59, or you can grab a perfectly good one for $22 from Auphonix . The other thing you need is a shock mount. The reason for this is ANY touching of the desk that the Yeti is sitting on will pick up the vibrations. So you can purchase the shock mount from Blue for $56, or this one from for Auphonix for $30. So the price of a Yeti goes from $89 to somewhere between to $$141 to 204. The shock mount is going to need a stand so I recommend either the Rode PSA1 ($99) or the Heil PL-2T ($130)

This is why the Audio Technica ATR2100 is the Best Podcasting Microphone NOT the Blue yeti.

The Audio Technica us a dynamic microphone (which means it will pick up less noise than the yet)

While the stand that comes with the ATR2100 is very simple, it will pick up less thumping (but I would still recommend a shock mount. This unit is a shock mount and pop filter in one for $9.

Because its more of a “traditional” microphone you are a little more open to pop filters and shock mounts.

The ATR2100 works via USB and XLR ( can work with a mixer) so if you’re flying solo, or need to plug into a mixer you’re good to go.

So to get the same features you would need a Blue Yeti ($199), Pop Filter ($22), Shock Mount ($30), so would be out $251. Where is the ATR2100 is $77, the pop filter shock mount is $9, so you would be out around $86.

Podcast Glossary "G"

Garageband Grageband is a free software on the Macintosh platform that can be used to create a podcast. While great looking and equipped with some powerful tools, I feel its great for assembling podcasts, but not the best for editing out “Ums, and ya knows.”

"Glenn the Geek'd it" Glenn "the Geek" Hebert runs horseradionetwork.com and is doing a great job getting advertisers on his show. He gets sponsors to help promote his show and other actions. An example Jim Collison got a sponsor to pay for a custom app and said, "I Glenn the Geek'd it." To hear Glenn talk about his techniques check out http://www.schoolofpodcasting.com/glenn1

Podcast Rewind

Podcast Roundtable "Getting Your Show Out To Your Audience"

The Pub "Investigative reporting costs thousands of dollars"

Because of My Podcast - My Network Has Grown

Nick Snapp of the  The “Make it Snappy” Productivity Show has had his network of resources and friends grown since starting his podcast. He even got to Puerto Rico with a film documentary and film John Lee Dumas of eofire.com Check out Nick's Show at www.makeitsnappyshow.com

Mentioned in This Show

Alexacast - Get the most out of your Amazon Echo

Best Podcasting Gear - Find out the best podcasting gear

 

Start Podcasting Today

Go to www.schoolofpodcasting.com/start

Today we talk with Michael Oneal. Michael has over 500 episodes of his Solopreneur Hour, and also a co-host/producer of the Hines Ward show. Michael talks about how standing out leads to better relationships which lead to better opportunities. He also talks about his new "Art of the Interview" course.

Sponsor: Emerald City Productions

Your first four episodes edited for $15 each, and after that, it's only $40. Think of the time your will save, and think about how good you will sound. All the ums, and yaknows will be gone. All of your volumes will be even, and the equalization will be just right (not too much bass, not too thin) Check them out at www.emeraldcitypro.com/sop

Because of my Podcast: Jim Collison Caught the Attention of the Department of Labor

3:06 Jim Collison does a podcast for his job. Also at his job he works with high school students in an intern program. The country needs more programmers. Gallup is making it happen. He got interviewed on the program (see the video at http://gallupgethip.com/info, but what caught the ears of the State of Nebraska Department of Labor? The Audio podcast.

So because of Jim’s Podcast, he got a meeting with the Department of Labor for the State of Nebraska.

See Jim’s podcast for Gallup at http://coaching.gallup.com

Jim also does his podcast which you can find at www.theavaergeguy.tv

Michael Oneal Stand Outs Above the Rest

9:51 Michael Oneal comes up with stuff that is awesome, and the beauty of his information is that it is stuff you can put into action immediately. Here is an example. If you are doing an interview with someone and you don't want them to use the "same old stories" in this interview. What do you do? Use those stories in your introduction, and they can't use them in their answers. They are forced to come up with NEW answers. BRILLIANT.

He has a new course called the Art of the Interview which you can find at www.artoftheinterview.co

Michael started out as a web designer who has lived all over the country and has had some great experiences. He is a professional drummer and has acquired skills in all sorts of areas.

He filled in on the David Wood Show, started his own show and within a year was making a six figure income. Today we want to know how he did it. 

Michael stood out by giving Pat Flynn an iTunes gift card, and late taking him to lunch (after slowly building the relationship) then DIDN'T grill him about business (he zagged when everyone else zigged). This "non-grilling" talk then stood out from every conversation that Pat usually has at lunch. So Michael turned that into the Solopreneur Hour Show and how he has over 8 million downloads.

Michael produces/hosts a show with Hines Ward Show from the Pittsburgh Steelers. Today you hear how relationships got Michael in the door that had been closed.

Michael spent 90% of his bank account to buy flowers for John Lee Dumas, and it resulted in a great friendship that has lead to Michael partnering with John with different projects.

Michael turned down coaching because he didn't feel he was a coach. His audience showed him he was missing an opportunity.

He didn't launch with giant platforms. He got to know his audience by talking directly with his community and launched with a private Facebook group. This private Facebook Group has now evolved to Michael's Solo Lab. 

28:02 Michael is launching a new show about Hi End Stereo Equipment because he likes talking about it. He's not thinking about sponsors. He's not thinking about downloads. He's thinking he enjoys super high-end audio equipment and wants to talk about it. Now think about that. THIS AUDIENCE (hi-end stereo equipment) HAS MONEY, AND they don't have a problem spending it. He didn't over think it. He didn't do months of research. He wants to talk about it, so he did. As he said on his Solorpreneur show, "I'll figure the rest out later."

Most shows are awful because they are started not on passion, but on the idea of monetization and making big bucks. So when life happens, and you run out of steam, your episodes suffer.

The Art of the Interview

30:00 Michael trains people that "Patterns Become Products" and that is what inspired the Art of the Interview Course that Michael recently launched. People kept asking him for it (a pattern) so he turned it into a product;

Here again, Michael took steps to stand out. He made three separate courses in one.

He recorded the course in a video format

For the audio version, he didn't just strip the audio from the video. He recorded different audio to maximize the audio format.

He had some take transcripts of the audio, and then tweak it into a Kindle book.

He does a "directors cut" version of one of his toughest interviews. You get to hear Michael "Armchair Quarterback" the interview.

More Ways To Stand Out

38:01 Michael shared the stories of gift cards and flowers, but Michael shares GREAT tips on making sure your guest will promote your show

People don't take the word "host" serious enough.

As many podcast listeners don't listen to the end of the show, don't wait to plug the guest at the end of the show (please note that is why I plugged Michael's courses at the beginning of the interview).

Michaels Resources

Solo Media Ninja Course

Michael's Coaching Program

Michael's Free Course on Attending Contentions

Michaels Solo Lab

Art of the interview course

Solopreneur Hour Podcast

Dynamic Ad Insertion Is Awful

45:20 Dynamic ads allow you to populate our back catalog with advertisements. I play a clip from a show, and the transition from content to ad back to content is mind boggling.

Advertisecast.com has announced that they partnered with Podomatic. While this is interesting, what we need is not more podcasts. For those that want to monetize, we need MORE SPONSORS.

Mentioned In This Show

New Media Show

JKM Agency (Podcast Advertising)

Ryan K Parker from the Food Craftsmen

Alexa Cast (New Test Podcast From Dave Jackson about the Amazon Echo)

Podcast Consulting Sale (ENDS SOON)

Use the coupon code backfriday now through the end of the month on one on one consulting

Purchase 60 minutes of consulting and get a free month at the School of Podcasting

Today I want to share what I do to put together an episode.  My example will be the the latest episode of the Logical Weight Loss Podcast. I also do a podcast microphone shootout with microphones in the $300 range (last week we did a shootout with microphones that are under $100)

This Week's Sponsor: Emerald City Productions

This week's show is sponsored by Emerald City Productions. Get your podcast edited and sounding great with this awesome special. Your first four episodes will be $15 each (after that they go to the regular price of $40). Check them out at www.emeraldcitypro.com/sop

Because of My Podcast I Got A New Job: Super Joe Pardo

Joe Pardo is the man behind the Dreamers Podcast, and also the organizer of Podcast MidAtlantic. Today Joe shares how his podcast got him invited to an event. At that event he got to meet some influencial people. Those people got to know Joe, and through his podcast they knew what his credentials were, and offered him a job. Find Joe at SuperJoePardo.com

Being the Scenes Of Making a Podcast Episode

So I had someone who was surprised at the amount of work that might go into a podcast. So this week as I prepared to publish an episode of the Logical Weight Loss Podcast, I took notes. There is one key point here.

Length of time spent on and episode does NOT equal more downloads. You can spend all day working on content that doesn't connect with you audience. So here is what I did.

First based on the ideas in the book [easyazon_link identifier="0849921902" locale="US" tag="sop2-20"]Secrets of Dynamic Communications: Prepare with Focus, Deliver with Clarity, Speak with Power[/easyazon_link] I came up with my main idea. Which is, "Based on mainstream media, it is easy to feel out of place if you are alone for the holidays. This along with the numerous activities of the holidays can lead to stress, and stress can lead to emotional eating."  That is where I started.

Here is a little confession. Last year I was "Alone" for the holidays. It turned out it wasn't that bad. Different? Sure. Bad? Nope. I wanted to help anyone who might be feeling down for the holidays. So I set out for strategies and insights for those who are alone on the holidays.

I started with Google. I looked through about 10 articles, and ended up reading five.

I pulled from my own experiences.

I looked into resources for people who really were in a bad place and then made sure they were legit.

I then went down a rabbit hole, when I found iPrevail. A pretty cool website that offers live chat for those who need to talk, and for those who want to go deeper, the offer some online courses. Intrigued, I signed up and took one. Note: This wasn't needed to complete the episode, but I always go with the thought "If it interests me, it probably interests my audience."

I then looked at the holidays, and tried to find things that might be entertaining. I injected some humor to stop the episode from being so dark. I found examples I thought people could relate to (overly gushy Jewelry commercials), decorating a Christmas Tree, and weird family members. All of these to point out that the holidays are not a world of splendor filled with Rainbows and Lollipops.

I took some time to figure out what topics I wanted to hit first. In other words,  I tried to take the smattering of ideas and organize them into a stream of ideas that flowed nicely.

I also through in a quick segment on an egg cooker I recently purchased.

Finally I recorded it. My show notes were pretty done as I now make my show notes first to organize my thoughts.

I recorded directly into my [easyazon_link identifier="B00KCXMBES" locale="US" tag="sop2-20"]Zoom H5 Four-Track Portable Recorder[/easyazon_link] , and then took that recording and put it into Hindenburg Journalist ,and added the intro and outro music along with some transition music. If you need music check out podcastingresources.com. I uploaded the file to Libsyn.com and copied and pasted the file into my Wordpress (as this is an old site, I'm still using the PowerPress plugin, if this was a new show I would use the Libsyn plugin). Use the coupon sopfree when signing up at Libsyn.com to get a free month (in addition to the current month) .

Podcast Microphone Shootout $300 Range

All prices are based on Amazon.

Audio Techncia BP40 (Full Loaded $547)

Microphone #1 Was [easyazon_link identifier="B00VXSVF6G" locale="US" tag="sop2-20"]Audio Technica BP40 Large-Diaphragm Dynamic Broadcast Microphone[/easyazon_link] is $349. The [easyazon_link identifier="B011VJOU8Q" locale="US" tag="sop2-20"]Audio-Technica AT8484 Shockmount for BP40[/easyazon_link] is an additional $99. I would recommend the Rode PSA1 Arm ($99)

Heil PR40 ( Fully Loaded $495)

Microphone #2 Was the [easyazon_link identifier="B000SOYOTQ" locale="US" tag="sop2-20"]Heil PR-40 Dynamic Studio Recording Microphone[/easyazon_link]. There is a nice bundle with a boom arm and shock mount [easyazon_link identifier="B00T6JBAUA" locale="US" tag="sop2-20"]Heil Sound PR 40 Dynamic Cardioid Studio Microphone Bundle with PRSM Shock Mount, PL2T Overhead Studio and Broadcast Boom Mount and Microphone Cable[/easyazon_link] for $479. You would still need a pop filter or Wind Screen

I had set the volume the same for all microphones and found them all were about the same. You might want to pick up a Fet head to boost the signal of the PR40

Electrovoice RE320 ( fully Loaded $507)

Microphone #3 is the [easyazon_link identifier="B00KCN83VI" locale="US" tag="sop2-20"]EV RE320 Variable-D Dynamic Vocal and Instrument Microphone[/easyazon_link] which costs $294. The [easyazon_link identifier="B003BQ2DKK" locale="US" tag="sop2-20"]Electro-Voice 309A Suspension Shockmount (for RE20 or RE27ND)[/easyazon_link] is $99. Here again you need a pop filter, or a Windscreen and a  Rode PSA1 boom arm.

Why Did We Hear Microphone #3 Twice? (the RE320) because it has a bass roll off switch, and for me (my opinion) I thought that was the best of the tree. The first two (to my ear) sounded almost identical. I love the shock mount for the BP40 (it is specially made fpr the microphone and makes getting the mic in and out super easy.

According to my kitchen food scale, the RE320 was the heaviest at 1.7 lbs, the BP40 was 1.66 lbs, and the PR40 was only 13.7 oz.

Here again, there is no bad choice. I use the Eletrovoice RE320, and none of the other microphones moved me to lose this mic. In the end the difference between the three was minimal in my non "audio snob" ears.

How Podcasting Helped My First TV Appearance

I was interviewed on the Golden Opportunities show this week (it will air at 11:30 AM EST on Channel 3 in Cleveland on December 11). Here was the process:

The goal was to explain podcasting to people over 55.

I had a phone call with the show runner and we talked for 10 minutes.

From that the show runner picked the parts that she liked, and explained the answers that I provided that fit their audience.

I didn't have to memorize the answers (but I more or less did). The segment would be four questions.

I practiced the night before, and I practiced the morning before. On the way up to Cleveland, I kept botching at least one answer. I wasn't blowing it, but it wasn't smooth.

I came up with words that would trigger a response that would help me remember the answers. I had a feeling I might "mess up" a little bit.

In the end I did slightly have a flub, but because of podcasting I caught it, clarified and continue. I didn't freak out.

All those "Ask the Podcast Coach" live sessions on Saturday helped me keep my cool.

Podcast Glossary "F"

Feed A feed is a file that contains all the details of a podcast. The feed is often generated by your media host, or plugin, and is read by apps that then use that details to show the details on a screen (computer, phone, or tablet).

FeedburnerFeed burner is tool from Google that can take an RSS feed and add additional items to the feed. You also get stats on how many people are subscribed. Feedburner is deemed by many experts to be out of date and a prime cause for many trouble tickets for podcasting hosting providers (it often stops updating your feed and has been shown to scramble the show description and the episode descriptions). While it was once recommended in 2006, most podcast consultants tell their customers to steer clear of this now outdated tool.

FetHead Fethead is a microphone amplifier that delivers 22 DB of clean gain to your microphone. So if you are using a microphone that needs a “push” to be louder, then you might try plugging your microphone into the Fethead.

FTP FTP stands for file transfer protocol. In a nutshell, there are two ways to upload files. Http stands for hypertext transfer protocol. Of those two ftp is faster. It requires a separate program to upload files.

 

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Today we are going to get our gear on. All you gear heads are going to love this. We are going to talk about some of the best places to purchase gear, we are going to talk about mixers, and we are going to compare three microphones that are under $100

Because of My Podcast - I Had to Quit My Podcast

John Dennis is the co-organizer of the Thrive Make Money Matter conference, and the moderator of the Podcasters hangout Facebook group. He is also a podcaster with with smart time online, or he was until his podcast brought him so much business he had to stop podcasting to take care of his customers. AMAZING!

Best Places To Shop For Podcast Gear

Isn't the quick answer, "Amazon, DUH"? Not always. Here are some places to check out.

Amazon

When it comes to shopping for selection and price, it is hard to beat Amazon.com

Now for the record, I am an affiliate for Amazon. However, you will hear where this may not always be the best place to purchase your gear. If you want to shop via Amazon, please use our affiliate shop at www.schoolofpodcasting.com/shop The other advantage Amazon has is if you are an Amazon Prime member, you can get free two day shipping

Same Day Music

If you were going to purchase an Electrovoice RE320 Microphone you might be tempted to go to Amazon where the price is $279. Did you know that Same Day Musichas the Electrovoice RE320 microphone for $299 and they have non-new versions for $269 AND you don’t have to pay tax on your purchased unless you live in New Jersey.

BSW

BSW (www.bswusa.com ) is all about audio and broadcasting so they have some niche items that you may not find in some places. They also run specials and have bundles that you won’t find at some places. For example if you wanted to go totally pro and buy an Elecrovoice RE20 Mic, 309A Shockmount, BSW Broadcast Microphone cable & REPop Filter Package it would be $479. If you bought the equivalent at Amazon.

B & H Photo

Their prices are typically about the same as others (occasionally more expensive), but if you can’t find it in another place, chances are you find it at BNH. For example they have a package for the RE2o that has a cloud lifter.. The other thing you will find at BNH (and you will have this at BSW) is a knowledgeable staff. For example one package with the RE20 comes with a cloud lifter which boosts your signal (which is a pretty good idea). They have another package that has the RE20 and the DBX 286 preamp (a totally pro setup)

Podcast Stock Test

If you were using a microphone like the Heil Pro40, or a Sure SM7B, these need a lot of gain to work properly. One Solution is a piece of equipment called a "Fethead" so I went to the above mentioned place.

BNH – Yes $89

Same Day Music – No

Amazon – No (suggested a cloud lifter)

BSWUSA – No

So like I said, it helps to know where to shop based on what you are looking for.

Do I Need a Mixer What is an Audio Mixer?

If you and your co-host are in the same room, and you are playing music in your podcast the purpose of the mixer is to allow you to adjust (mix) the audio levels of you, your guest(s), and the music so the listener does not have to ride the volume knob and make constant adjustments.

Key Word Here is NEED

When I say NEED here, I mean “Can’t do it without it.” You can always find a use for a mixer, but I’ll explain when you NEED one, and when you WANT one (there is a big difference). Keep in mind that the simpler you keep it, the less headaches. The more you add, the more things that can go wrong.

When You Need a Mixer?

If you have multiple people in the same room. Everyone should have their own microphone, and that should go into a mixer.

If you are mixing in live music and sound effects.

When You DON’T NEED an Audio Mixer

If you are recording a solo podcast and you are going to add any music or sounds in later.

When You DON’T NEED a Mixer, but Probably Could Use One

If you are doing a show with a co-host or guests who are remote. You could record this with an ATr2100 microphone and a portable recorder (and use Skype as the mixer)

Best Podcast Microphones For Less Than $100

Today I test the following microphones:

Samson Q2U

Audio Technica AT 2005

Audio Technica ATR2100

Overview: For the most part, if you look at the specs of these microphones they should sound very close. They all are dynamic (pick up less room noise), and you can plug them into a mixer, or directly into the computer using USB.

Out of the three the AT2005 looks the best. In regards to which one sounds better I rank them in the following order

1. ATR2100 - TOP
2. Samson Q2u - a little warmer
3. AT 2005 - Still sounded good

Realize sound is subjective and some microphones sound good with one voice, and not so good with another. This is where a mixer can be handy (even if you're flying solo).

BOTTOM LINE: These are all fine choices, and you won't regret purchasing any of them. The big take away, is you don't need to spend $1600 to start a podcast.

Great content can save poor audio, but great gear will not save horrible content. Once you get your microphone, focus on the your audience and the content.

One Final Note: So many podcasters recommend the Blue Yeti. Is it a bad microphone? NO. Is it a good choice? NO WAY!. Why? It is a condensor microphone and condensor microphones pick up a ton of room noise (I know I have not one, but TWO in a drawer). It's always interesting when I hear someone recomend the Blule Yeti, it is often with the phrase, "I use that one when I started out." One other point, the  [easyazon_link identifier="B002VA464S" locale="US" tag="sop2-20"]Blue Yeti USB Microphone - Silver[/easyazon_link] is $149. It would be great for gamers who don't want to wear a headset.

Podcast Glossary "E" Part Two

Mark from the Resourceful Designer had a comment stating I skipped a bunch of "E's" in last week's show, so here they are. Let it never be said that Dave Jackson is not up for some constructive feedback. You can find out more about Marc at http://marksmandesign.ca/ Episode zero Episode zero is a podcast episode that is often a simple introduction episode used as a placeholder as you need one live podcast in iTunes.

Effects Effects are things you can add to your audio such as reverb, echo, compression.

Equalization Equalization is a fancy word for adding bass, treble, etc that affects the tone of your audio.

Enunciate Enunciation is talking in a way that everyone can clearly understand what you are saying. So instead of saying “I’m doin’ allrigh….” you would say I’m doing allright.”

Ecamm Call Recorder Ecamm Call Recorder is software for the Mac platform that allows you to record skype conversations. Some people refer to the software with just the phrase “ecamm.”

Evernote Evernote is a free software that allows you to organize…. Well anything you want. You can have text,pdf, images, these all then sync to all of your devices. As you can share information with other people, this is a great tool for collaborating on show notes. You can learn how to use Evernote quickly in the Organizing Your Podast Course.

Email List An email list is a software (typically a web based company such as MailChimp, Aweber, Convert Kit and many, many others) that enable you to put a form on your website. Your listeners can sign up to get updates via email. You then can go in and right one email that goes to all of your subscribers.

It's a Boy - Derek Daniels Launches a New Podcast

One thing I don't do enough of on this show is spotlight new podcast from members of the School of Podcasting. So this week I'm spotlighting the Derek Daniel Podcast. Find it at thederekdaniel.com real people doing real life.

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Lee Silverstein got a call on New years Eve to let him know he had cancer and needed Chemotherapy. Lee is the man that gave "The Messengers: A Podcast Documentary" film it's name. He is a messenger for his audience. He delivers stories that provide hope, information, and inspiration. Check him at out www.thecolorcancerpoddcast.com

Today's Show it brought to you buy Emerald City Productions

SPECIAL DEAL: Four episodes edited for $15/each. Then after that, it's only $40. They will edit out ums, etc. remove noise, adjust volumes, and make you sound fantastic. For more information go to http://www.emeraldcitypro.com/sop

Lee Silverstein Delivers Hope With His Podcast

Lee Silverstein started a podcast that he wish he had when he was told he had stage four colon cancer. Lee has been battling cancer since he was five years old, and he considers himself more than "A podcaster," but a messenger. He delivers hope, information, and inspiration. Today we hear:

• Feedback from his audience that brought Lee to tears
• How Lee has secured three sponsors by finding products that fits his niche perfectly
• How Lee had strict criteria for his sponsors
• What pitch Lee uses to get sponsors.
• A "Because of my podcast" story that you HAVE to hear.

Mentioned in this interview

Lee's Colon Cancer Podcast

Glenn the Geek from Horse Radio Network

Hear Glenn be interviewed on the Sop

Pofest in Orlando go to www.podfest.us

Podcast Glossary "E"

Episode zero

Episode zero is a podcast episode that is often a simple introduction episode used as a placeholder as you need one live podcast in iTunes. 

In my opinion, I would do more than introduce yourself. We always want to deliver value in our podcast episodes, and right now your audience doesn't know you, and probably (to be honest) doesn't care who are what you are. They are asking, "What is in it for me?" Be sure to give them something that makes them wish there were more episodes.

Why My Eleven Years of Podcasting Sets Me Apart

I recently discovered another "Podcast About Podcasting," and was checking it out. I'm sure the host is a fine person that loves their family and wants to help their audience. Some people come into the space, and only repeat the favorite memes at the time and never go about checking if they are true. So I threw up in my mouth a bit when I heard them perpetuating the same old podcasting tips that are just wrong. This included

The Blue Yetis is a great microphone (it is if you are in a very, very, very, quiet room - which 99.9% of podcasters are not - so it's NOT a great microphone)

You only get 8 weeks to be in new and noteworthy (TV show podcasts go in and out of New and Noteworthy all the time)

You should launch with at least three episodes so when people subscribe you get three downloads (this is false. It does not happen automatically. Your listen would have to choose to download the back catalog)

My friend Ravi from Digital Access Pass as well as two podcasts (subscribeme.fm about membership websites, and Cut to the Chase )has a new book out called Confessions of a Wanna Be Podcast Star that goes over many of the myths that a puked out over and over.

In the book he covers these myths and much more. Now for the record, Ravi uses a Blu Yeti, but thankfully in his book explains how you need a really quiet room (which he has). I was quoted quite a bit in the book, as well as other podcast consultants. In some cases, Ravi did his own investigation and provided screenshots to show the results of his research. I read it over two nights and found it an easy read, will be pointing people to it in the future when I see they have been sucked into the bad advice train that comes through the Internet on a regular basis.

Take Aways From DC Podfest

This was a great event for me. I met so many people who I had never met and were brand new to podcasting. The event was run very professional, and all the speakers were great in keeping to their time slots.

One of the coolest phrases to describe what we do as podcasters. We are digital influencers. Put that on your business card.

I heard about Amolto from Mathew Passy from podtopod.com which is a skype recording software for the PC (that I will need to check out).

Keep your interactions from Social Media. So for me, I had some people say some very nice things about my presentation on twitter. Take a screen shot and put those on your website.

http://www.gratisography.com/ a cool site for Royalty Free images which I have added to podcastingresources.com. This site has Free high-resolution pictures you can use on your personal and commercial projects. All pictures were photographed by Ryan McGuire and free of copyright restrictions.

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Hindenburg Journalist Noise Reduction

The latest version of Hindenburg Journalist Software (slowly becoming one of my favorites for people who "Aren't too technical"). They have a new noise reduction feature that is super easy to use, and actually not bad. 

Here is a video of it in action

Grow Your Audience Using the  KFC Approach

If you live in the US, and maybe outside you are familiar with a certain Colonel Sanders who started Kentucky Fried Chicken. You also notice that over the years they have introduced grilled chicken and changed their name to KFC. This name change provides less emphasis on the word FRIED which in the world that is becoming somewhat more educated on better food choices might serve their sales better.

Today I'm going to share what KFC stands for based on a book I'm listening to How to Make People Like You in 90 Seconds or Less by Nicholas Boothman. You can get the audiobook for free by going to www.schoolofpodcasting.com/audibletrial (If you want to be an affiliate for audible, go to www.schoolofpodcasting.com/audible )

The part is Know what you want out of podcasting. I've said before that you need to know WHY you're getting into podcasting. If you don't, you'll never make it through the how. Are you looking to be seen as an expert? Then maybe you should do some Q & A. Are you looking to get people to know and like you, then maybe it's time to ditch the interview format and talk directly to your audience. If you're trying to get a message out, then come up with a hashtag so you can track your progress. The other thing this does is it helps you know if you're being successful or not, or if you're even on track.

The F in this instance stands for find what you are getting. When I get feedback from people, they seem to like my style. They say I seem laid back, and I break things down into easy bite size chunks. They appreciate the fact that I occasionally try to get your to laugh. In the past, I've told you about surveymonkey.com and polldaddy.com and how I've used those services for surveys. My favorite tool for this now is Google Sheets (sheets.google.com). You can easily take this spreadsheet tool, and with a few mouse clicks turn it into a survey for your audience. Unlike the previous tools I mentioned, it is free, and there are unlimited questions and unlimited responses.

But what if the feedback you're getting isn't what you were expecting. What if things are going in the wrong direction.

You've heard me quote Ryan K Parker of Foodcrafstmen.com for years. I quote it because it's true. No one will punch you in the face if you change your podcast. In fact, look at any long running series on TV, and you will see how things evolved. Many times that was because what they found out was that their ratings were going the wrong way.

Not it takes courage to be able to have people leave your feedback. If you go back to the beginning, when you KNOW what you want out of podcasting, you will be willing to tweak it to get what you want, as you give your audience what they want.

Many Streams Make Up  A River

Launching my New Godaddy Reseller Account

Recently we've been talking a fair amount of about sponsorship, so I want to restate something. YOU DO NOT HAVE TO MAKE MONEY WITH YOUR PODCAST. If you are looking to have some income one of the things you might consider is instead of  trying to get a big giant paycheck, get a lot of small checks.

Earlier this year I added some features to the School of Podcasting and raised the prices quite a bit. It turned out those features weren't exactly what people were looking for. So, I tweaked some things, and adjusted the pricing. I also looked at the financials of the SOP. Part of the expenses for the School of Podcasting is my ongoing addiction to buying domain names. Yes they are only $9.99 a year at www.coolerwebsites.com (more on that in a second), but when you have over 100 domains, that adds up. My solution was to eliminate the middle man. I became a reseller for Godaddy. So if you need web hosting, domains, SSL certificates, or any other web related services, you can go to www.coolerwebsites.com and support me, and have the power of Godadddy.

I Was Won Over With Support

It wasn't just the domains that got me to put my eggs in the godaddy basket. I helped a friend setup a website using Bluehost. Now for the record I have a few websites on Bluehost. This is because I always try to use what I recommend. He hit a bit of a snag, so I told him how they had good service. He got on the phone, and I got on the live chat. As a person who works in support, I may be a bit more critical, but it was not fast at all. He finally got someone on the phone who was sticking with their script. We got our problem solved, but it took the better part of 90 minutes.

I've been promoting Host Gator for years. I've used them for over 15 years. I've always thought their support was better than Bluehost, and still do. Over the last year, what use to take 3-5 minutes to get a live chat person to answer a question was turning into 5-20 minutes, and then I often felt like they were holding 5 different chats at the same time. Not horrible, but not great.

When I tried out Godaddy, I was floored by their support. Over the years they called me to show me how I could save money with their company. No really catch when they called. They just saw my current situation and wanted to let me know if I did things a certain way I could save a few hundred dollars a year. When I get on their chat, I usually have someone within a few minutes and I get my questions answered. So I have a website I'm hosting on them, I didn't have any problems, so I became a reseller. I'm sure they are not perfect, no host is, but their support won me over.

Currently if you want to order web hosting specifically designed to be lighting quick with Wordpress, I have a special going where you get

• 2 websites
• 30GB SSD storage
• 400,000 monthly visitors
• One-click staging site
• SSH / sFTP
• Search engine optimization plugin
• Malware scan & removal
• Standard SSL Certificate - 1 year free ( renewed annually)

For $11.99 for more information go to www.schoolofpodcasting.com/hosting

Why Mystery Show Was Cancelled by Gimlet

When this show first aired I stated that this show was well produced, but in the end the content was stupid. 

That's why the show got cancelled. See my original review.

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Today I share my story on how I secured a sponsor for my show. I'm doing this as an experiment as I prepare to update my book More Podcast Money Next year. I also share the behind the scenes of what it was like to take on a sponsor. There are some things that I have to tackle mentally.

Emerald City Productions - Our Sponsor

1:15 Emerald City is running a special go to www.emeraldcitypro.com/sop and tell them you are from the School of Podcasting and have your first four podcasts done for $15 an episode.

My Favorite Podcast Is

2:50 I'm working on the last episode of the year where we all share what our favorite podcast is (you can only pick one, and no, it can't be yours). Then be sure to tells us a little about it, and WHY you like it. Also, be sure to tell us a little bit about your show and where we can find it. So its free promotion for your show, and later I get these transcribed and turn them into a book. The deadline is October 31. Go to www.schoolofpodcasting.com/favorite16

Getting A Sponsor For Your Show

4:30 Today I share my story on how I secured a sponsor for my show. I'm doing this as an experiment as I prepare to update my book More Podcast Money Next year. I also share the behind the scenes of what it was like to take on a sponsor. There are some things that I have to tackle mentally.

Getting A Sponsor For Your Show Today I talk with Jessica Kupferman who has been selling advertising for a very long time (back in the day on banner advertising) and has been podcasting since 2013. I know her best for her Shepodcasts.com show which she does with Elsie Escobar (it's a fascinating take on podcasting from a Women's point of view).

Jessica just launched jkmagency.com an add agency that helps sponsors find podcasters, and podcasters find sponsors. Here are some of the insights from today's discussion

You need to know how many downloads you get per month

If you don't have a ton of downloads, but you have an active community, that may enable you to secure a sponsor

You don't need a media kit if you don't have one. Jessica can create one for you.

If you're pricing per episode, you might as well flush your money down the toilet.

The smallest contract/campaign she sells is three months. She will go two months if there are no other options.

Podcasters should be open to having the sponsor on the show to help create content.

In regards to platforms, sponsors are looking at Twitter and Instagram followers.

You just need to create a report once a month

Never lie about your stats. Not only does it make you look bad, but it also makes podcasting, in general, look bad.

How do you figure out what to charge for your podcast?

The current standards for CPM is $15-$100 which is why it doesn't work for most podcasters and is the worst way to sell your show

Can unique genres get a sponsor? (i.e. Science Fiction movie reviews)

To be considered for adds go to jkmagency.com/considerme

She also is a co-host for She Podcasts

The Mental Side of Podcast Advertising

34:00 When you take on an advertiser, you have a couple of things to consider.

You need to make sure your sponsor fits your audience and is something you can talk about honestly. When you promote something that you don't believe in, that is (in my opinion) the definition of selling out.

Make sure you are aware what you will be delivering, and then deliver it.

Remember who your TRUE audience is. Having multiple audiences can be a struggle. My audience is you. You've been with me for almost 12 years. If I pay too much attention to promoting the sponsor, I lose the true audience (again, you). If I don't pay enough attention to the sponsor, I lose the sponsor. The problem is I'm being paid for a 15-second spot. I recorded the spot four times last night, and the first one went over two minutes long. I figured out what I needed to say, and figured out how to see it as quickly as possible. This first ad was a bit longer as I needed to introduce you to the sponsor. I've always liked he way Gimlet media does their advertisements, and I plan on borrowing as much as I can. If you are a regular listener, you know I like to think outside the box. Just know, this can mess with your brain. Remember you worked hard to get an audience, and advertisers will come and go. I have never heard one, but I've heard stories about Leo Laporte going on for what seems days when he does a spot for Audible. If you don't pay attention to your listeners, then there will be nobody to hear your advertisements.

What if you have a Patreon account? Well if you are delivering extra value to your patrons, then this shouldn't be a problem. They are getting what they pay for. Also, Patrons are people who want to support you. When they hear, you are benefiting from an advertiser they may be all for it. Just don't be surprised if someone stops being a patron because "You don't need us."

Speaking of that, realize that someone will not like the fact that you have advertisements. There is nothing you can do about that. Focus on the one who stays.

Podcast Rewind

38:18 I appeared on the Rock Your Retirement show talking about Alzheimer's disease

I appear on the new Cut to the Chase from the friend Ravi from Digital Access Pass. This is business advice with not fluff (hence cut to the chase ) so it is some of my best podcast advice in one quick blast.

While I have appeared on Podcast Junkies, I wanted to point you to the episode with Jonathan Oakes of Triva Warfare (who I've been on his show). It was just a great show where you hear Jonathon talk about how he shaped his show over time, and ever has a cool because of my podcast story. Check it out

Podcast Glossary

43:08

BlubrryBlubrry is a media hosting company (use the coupon code sopfree to get a free month). They are also the people who make the PowerPress plugin. The PowerPress plugin will work with any media host (although it does full integration with blubrry) such as Podbean, Libsyn, Soundcloud. We will talk about PowerPress later when we get to the P's, so for now Blubrry is a media hosting company.

Compressor A compressor is an effect you can add to your audio. In its simplest form, it makes louder things softer, and softer things louder to ensure a level audio output. These can be applied in software, or they can be physical pieces of hardware such a DBX 286

CPM CPM is a pricing model used by the Radio industry. With CPM you get paid a certain amount for 1000 listeners. So if you have a CPM rate of $6, and you have 20,000 listeners you would pay the radio station 6 X 20 = $120. CPM rates in Podcasting typically start at $20 and go up. Some reporting as high as $60 or more. For most podcasters (without thousands of downloads) CPM is not a viable model to making money with your podcast

Mentioned in This Show

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I've spoken about Corey Fineran before and how his Chicago Cubs podcast Ivy Envy helped get a rule changed in Major League Baseball. Corey's boss saw the impact podcasting creates and talked Corey into starting a podcast for his job.

Corey's podcast helps high school students with special needs transition into the workplace. It went over well. It lead to him starting Next Up (His own business) Here are some key points:

They tried it to see if it would work.

They got feedback from their audience, and listened to it, and acted on it.

They updated their equipment after they proved the concept.

Corey's goal is to help as many students as possible. His niche (students with special needs) is often overlooked, or has no budget. So he created the content that was needed. One night it was speaking with his brother in law (who is well versed in running a business) and they realized that he could reach more students and have a larger impact if he did this on his own, and start his own company. So Corey:

Used his brother as a resource to launch the business

Converted his current employer into his first customer

Used his mother (an accountant) to help with taxes

Growing His Business

Corey found that educators are not used to being "pitched." The tried and true strategies of mass emails, cold calling, etc were not going to work. So he did what any good podcaster would do:

He went to where his audience was.

He started attending events where he could talk face to face about his products and services.

Common Podcast Lessons and Truths Translate to Business

Listen to your audience and be open to suggestions

When you have a great podcast people will spread the word about your show

When you can, the best way to get feedback from your audience is face to face. It is also the best way to start building those relationships.

While your audience can become your brand advocates, so can your family (so make sure they know what you are up to).

Save at Podfest

Us the coupon code earlybird at www.podfest.us

Mentioned In This Show

www.dcpodfest.com

Submit Your My Favorite Podcast Is

Go to www.schoolofpodcasting.com/favorite16

 

MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE

Membership Guys Podcast 

Marketing School Podcast 

Audio Technica 2100 (Dave's Preferred Microphone)

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Today we have some lessons from fast food that apply to podcasting, and I talk about zagging when everyone is zigging,

Bernie's Greatest Hits

1:58 My cat is pretty popular on this show as he chimes in all the time. When I went to Pittsburgh last week apparently he got a record deal. He's releasing "Bernie sings the hits"

Someone Is Doing a Show Like Mine - So I Didn't Start my Show

3:07

One of the most frustrating parts of being a consultant is seeing someone who has the right stuff to create a podcast, but they are more skilled at finding reasons not to press record than actually pressing record. Today I have two points I want to make

Someone will come to me and say, “I want to do a podcast about ______” but someone is already doing a show like that. The first thing I say is to go to iTunes and see when their last episode was published. Many times the person has already hung up their microphone.

But what if they haven’t?

Let’s look at McDonald’s. Here are some interesting facts (well facts according to Wikipedia). McDonald’s was not the first hamburger chain. A&W was first in 1919 followed by White Castle in 1921. McDonald’s didn’t come about until 1940.

Fun facts:

McDonald’s started as a barbecue joint. They found that hamburgers were more profitable. So they started in one direction, and then followed what their audience wanted. I always say your podcast is a recipe not a statue. You can change it any time you want.

White Castle developed the supply chain and automation to have a nationwide food chain way before McDonald’s did. But when McDonald’s did, they didn’t recreate the wheel. They looked at what others were doing, and borrowed the best, and tweaked the rest.

Now when burger king came along in 1953 did they say, “I would open a restaurant but someone else is doing “Assembly line” hamburgers? No. They didn’t recreate the wheel, and they tweaked it (adding flame broiling and “have it your way” at Burger King).

What is the one thing that is common here? Well in the US apparently we can’t get enough of hamburgers. If you throw some meat on a bun and squirt some ketchup on it, we will eat it. In America I think if you put enough ketchup on anything we will eat it.

They saw their competition and looked at ways to innovate. Breakfast was introduced. Bigger hamburgers like the Big Mac were introduced in 1967. Later the innovation of the drive through window.

So if someone is doing a show like yours, WHO CARES! If you think it will be fun, if you think people will enjoy it, DO IT. The WORST thing you can do for yourself in podcasting is COMPARE YOURSELF TO OTHERS.

Podcasting is like golf, while there is competition, you are really only competing against yourself.

Now to my second point, and this builds on innovation. Todd Cochrane recently launched a new Podcast Legends show and it is interviewing podcast pioneers (people from 2004 - sorry Chris Hardwick is not a Pioneer) and one of the things I forgot about (I started in 2005) was the WHACKY shows that just made you go WHOA!?!

Yeast Radio was by Madge Weinstein and was one of the most subscribed to podcast in 2005. Madge would say outrageous things about the government, about her hygiene (she was often bloated), and in general said things often people only think. She was an angry, jewish, fat, Lesbian. There was one other small twist.

Madge was a dude (Richard Bluestein ).

One other thing, if you could handle the language, Madge was pretty darn funny. Madge was the queen of tuning in because you didn’t know what to expect.

The really cool thing was there was NO WAY that this would EVER be on radio or TV. It’s kind of what made podcasting special, unique, and intimate. Madge is still going strong at yeastradio.com

One person did a show called the daily download where he recorded his thoughts while using the bathroom...

Dave Slusher from the Evil Genius Chronicles mentioned how one podcaster had a show called Podcat where he would play clips of other shows intermingled with clips of his cat.

Why did people do this?

Because THEY COULD. There was no radio, no FCC, no program directors, and it was YOURS. If people didn’t like it, WHO CARES. Podcasting was much more of an art form. People grabbed their stick microphone and press record, because they had something to say, and they could be creative.

I think we’ve gone too far from those days. Now we over-think podcasting as if our lives depended on it. We are all preparing as if this is going to be a full time job some day because it might be. That is true.

Maybe We Should Zag?

I was listening to the Start Up Podcast where they have a team of 18 people per podcast (roughly), and when they launch a show it sounds painful. It sounds like there so up tight about it. I guess they should be as they are doing this as a business. But let's look at women singers. Back in the day Madonna stood out for singing in her underwear. No EVERYBODY sings in their underwear. So now there is  someone sings with a bit more passion, keeps her clothes on, and has oodles of talent that lead to her selling 31 million records (Adele). She stands out because she's not doing what everybody else is doing. Maybe, just maybe it's time to stop doing a "This week in," or "On Fire", or "Three guys one brain" shows. Maybe, just maybe we should all spend that extra time figuring  out if there is something we can do that might make us stand out (realizing that there is no way to do something 100% original)

Fun Fact: According to a CNBC story 60% of restaurants fail in their first year. This is a company that is serving FOOD. That is something every single person on the planet NEEDS (not wants).

Now we have podcasting that only roughly 30% of the planet even knows we exist, and people think they are going to make six figures talking about their love of Barbarella and other fun movies. I hate to be skeptical, but that might be a tough road. This is what is bothering me.

Just because you can’t make a living with your podcast shouldn’t stop you from starting it. If you would have fun with it, then start it and have fun.

When you look at the people making big bucks in podcasting, and you stress our about it you take the fun out of, well, FUN.

That my friends is a crime

My Favorite Podcast Is (2016 Version)

22:52 It's that time where I ask you to answer a very hard question. What is your favorite podcast? You can only pick ONE (no ties). Then (more importantly) WHY IS IT YOUR FAVORITE? You can CLICK HERE, and let me know (and be included in the last episode of the year, and in the 2016 version of the book).

Podcast Glossary "B"

26:25

Bit Depth, Sample Rate, Export or Encoding Rate I want to use the analogy of a camera here. Let's say you are taking pictures at a Nascar Race, and there is a wreck. One person has a camera that takes 10 pictures per second, and the other person takes 5 pictures per second. Who has the better representation of the wreck? The sample rate is how many times your recording device (computer or portable recorder) "takes a picture" of your voice. The standard is 44.1 which means it takes a picture 44,000 times per second. Can you go higher? Sure, but there is a minor problem. Most everything is created at 44.1, and when you mix with other sample rates, those will need to be re-sampled. Not the end of the world, but in the end remember most people are going to listen to this in their car or ear buds. The details you gain are not really worth the hassle (in my opinion).

So what is Bit Depth? If we stick with the analogy of the camera, the Sample Rate is how many times per second the recording device "takes a picture" of your voice, the Bit Depth is the megapixels on the camera. Most people record in 16 bit. Can you record in 24? Sure. Is it needed? Not in my opinion, but if you ask engineers who do music they will disagree.  In photography bit rate it is how many colors are used to make up a picture, so more bits would be a better reproduction of your audio (but again, we are getting into overkill).

You want to record in a "lossless" format. Lossless means the sound you record is what you hear back. It does not lose any quality. That's the good news. The bad news is these files are HUGE. So when you record you want to record in WAV on a PC or AAC on a Mac. This keeps the best quality. But you don't want to force your audience to use these big giant files that destroy data plans. So we encode them as MP3 files which are much smaller and still sound good.

So I want to use the analogy of painting a house now to explain encoding. The sample rate is how much pain it on your brush. The encoding rate is how fast you move the brush across the house. If you go too fast no paint gets on the house. If you go to slow, you get too much paint, and it may run. There are three formats that are used frequently.

128 Kbps Stereo. This is sometimes referred to as "CD" quality. That is debatable, but it is the highest acceptable rate (IMHO). Meaning anything above this is too much, and you are just wasting storage space, bandwidth, and the difference in audio is almost unnoticeable. (So anything above 128 is too much paint on the brush)

64 Kbps mono. This file is half the size of the 128 kbps but has no stereo separation (which if your show is mainly talk, is not a big deal).

96 kbps mono. This is used for people who feel the extra bits make the files sound better.

You could also say that 64 mono / 128 stereo "Cover with one coat" of paint. Anything below 64 (32 kbps ) you don't have enough paint on the brush (and you get hiss, and bad audio).

Podcast Rewind

Ham Radio 360 had a listener download his back catalog and listened to him for two weeks.

Mike Murphy Unplugged - Has the Adobe Audition listening to his show (last week we mentioned that you never know who is listening)

Glenn Hebert from Horse Radio Network

Podcaster's Roundtable -Listeners to Subscribers

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