Other Encoding Formats | Podcast

MP3 is perfect for audio podcasts, but you may want to work in other formats for a number of reasons. Many portable media players now include color displays. Enhanced podcasts are appearing to take advantage of these color displays that include graphics along with the audio. Enhanced podcasts can also include links for people who are watching the podcast on a browser. Enhanced podcasts also feature chapters, so people can quickly skip to the next or previous section of your podcast.

You can create enhanced podcasts using the QuickTime and Windows Media formats. Of course, enhanced QuickTime podcasts play back only on iPods or in iTunes, and enhanced Windows Media podcasts play back only in Windows Media player and Windows Media compatible portable media players. Another enhanced podcast format is the Audible format, which was developed for audio books. The Audible format includes the chapters feature, as well as the ability to store a bookmark, so that if you stop listening in the middle of a podcast, the next time you listen the podcast starts where you left off. Because the Audible format has been around for so long, it is widely supported by almost every portable media player, as well as in iTunes, Windows Media Player, and RealPlayer.

If you're creating a video podcast, a number of different formats are available, including QuickTime, Windows Media, Real, and Flash. Video podcasts have the same compatibility issues as enhanced podcasts, which means limited compatibility across portable players, and they require that the appropriate player software is installed on the audience's computer.

Caution People are weird. Talk to one person and he'll tell you why he would never install media player A on his machine, while the next person swears by player A and is convinced media player B is the devil's spawn. To some extent, these people split across platform lines (Mac users swear by QuickTime, Windows users Windows Media, and Flash users hate everything else), but not always. Each media format has its strengths and weaknesses. If you're planning on a video podcast, you should support at least two formats. Regardless of which formats you choose, plan on getting disgruntled e-mails and blog comments from crazed audience members. You can't please everyone.

Another reason to consider alternative formats is if you want to protect your podcast files using Digital Rights Management (DRM). DRM lets you place restrictions on your podcast, for example letting only paid subscribers listen to it. Not all formats support DRM. Because most podcasts are free and most podcasters want as many listeners as they can get, very few podcasts use DRM. This may change as people begin charging for their podcasts.

If you're going to offer your podcast in an alternative format, you may need to download and install encoding software (see Figure 1). Many of these formats will be included in your audio or video editing platforms, but if not, the software is generally available for free from the manufacturers.

QuickTime: iTunes will encode in the AAC and MP3 formats and exports videos to an iPod compatible format, but if you want to tinker with the encoding settings, get QuickTime Pro. You can upgrade any copy of QuickTime to the Pro version for a mere $29.

http://www.apple.com/quicktime

Windows Media: The Windows Media Encoder is available as a free download from the Microsoft site.

http://www.microsoft.com/windowsmedia

Note Microsoft has recently dropped support for Windows Media encoding on the Mac. However, Mac users can encode in Windows Media using products from Flip4Mac:

http://www.flip4mac.com/wmv.htm

Helix RealProducer: If you're considering the Real format, you need the RealProducer.

http://www.flip4mac.com/wmv.htm

Unfortunately, if you're targeting mobile phones (where the Real format is strongest), you need Helix Producer Mobile, which is incredibly expensive. If it's any consolation, you can download a trial version that's good for 30 days.

Flash: To encode into Shockwave Flash (.swf) or streaming flash (.flv), purchase the Flash authoring tool. Several multi-format encoders also offer Flash support.

http://www.adobe.com/ flashpro/

Audible: Audible doesn't make their encoding software publicly available. Instead, you have to upload your original MP3 file to their Wordcast service, and they do the encoding for you.

http://wordcast.audible.com/


Figure 1: The Windows Media Encoder is available for free from Microsoft for the PC platform (Mac users must use Flip4mac).