Q: What do you use to record podcasts?
A: I like the Plantronics brand a lot for the headphones I use to record podcasts, and I am currently using the Plantronics .Audio 655 USB Multimedia Headset. It’s good quality and plugs into the USB.
The podcasts are recorded over Skype, because it provides a cleaner sound than a telephone call, and there is a software program called Pamela that integrates with Skype to record the show.
There are other programs you can use to record a podcast, depending on whether you’re using a Mac of PC. In my case, I record on a PC and Pamela has been my favorite.
After the podcast is recorded, I edit it with a program called Sony Sound Forge Audio Studio. This software is easy to learn, and it renders the audio fast.
When I want to record a podcast and I am away from my computer, I use either the M-Audio MicroTrack 24/96 Professional 2-Channel Mobile Digital Recorder or my Nexus One phone, which has an app called DroidRecord. You could also use an iPhone.
Recently, I picked up the Alesis USB Microphone Podcast Kit, because I thought it would be fun to have a free-standing microphone on my desk when doing a podcast, instead of having the microphone attached to the headset and hanging in front of my mouth.
I need to sneak a drink once in a while when podcasting, and also the separate microphone enables me to pretend I am on the radio, rather than some hack making a podcast.
But this podcast kit has some stuff that I didn’t need (but would be good for a new podcaster), such as a trial account for free web hosting of a podcasts (mine is on GeekCast.fm, Audacity software to record podcasts, and some other stuff.
As far as uploading the audio files, I used an FTP program called FileZilla. I post podcasts to a WordPress site using the PowerPress plugin, which enables me to provide an audio stream and download link, and it publishes the podcast to iTunes.
On some other sites, where I syndicate the stream of my podcast, I use a plugin called Audio Player.
Finally, when I am recording a podcast, I typically open tabs on a browser for all of the stories I plan to cover, and then I use those links as the show notes in the blog post.