Using Podcast-specific Software : WebPod Studio

WebPod Studio
WebPod studio offers audio and video podcast production capabilities. It's available in three different versions ranging in price form $89.95 for the basic edition to $189.50 for the Enterprise edition. The main screen displays a number of icons along the top showing all the different things you can do, along with text links in the main part of the interface with links to wizards that walk you through each process. A sample screen is shown in Figure 1.


Figure 1: WebPod Studio helps you create audio and video podcasts.

WebPod Studio offers no advanced editing or signal processing tools, but it does offer a few features that set it apart. First, it offers teleprompting, so you can enter a script for your podcast. It also imports PowerPoint slides and converts them to slides you can use in a video podcast. It also creates RSS feeds and automatically sends your files to your server.

Using Podcast-specific Software : Castblaster

Castblaster
Castblaster is similar to Podcast Station in that it provides a simple user interface for you to create and publish your podcasts. A sample screen is shown in Figure 1. It also offers cart and deck functionality, enabling you to easily insert short audio pieces like sound effects or promotional pieces, as well as longer pre-recorded pieces such as songs or interviews. It has faders to control the volume of your microphone and your headphones, as well as the volume of the pre-recorded pieces.


Figure 1: Castblaster is a simple, no-nonsense way to create and publish podcasts.

Castblaster offers rudimentary editing, but does not offer any signal processing. Castblaster offers a publishing interface that automatically creates your RSS file, encodes your audio into MP3 format, and places the files on your server. It has tight integration with http://PodShow.com, because Castblaster is distributed by the good folks there, for $50.

Using Podcast-specific Software : Podcast Station

Using Podcast-specific Software
Assume you're using a standard audio-editing program to record and edit your podcast. However, a number of podcast-specific software packages include audio-processing capabilities, along with other capabilities that may be of use to you. This section discusses a few of these solutions. By the time, even more will be available.

Podcast Station
Podcast station, from Audion Laboratories, is based on its VoxPro software, which is a professional broadcasting package designed for recording and editing radio programs. Although it's priced at a fraction of the cost of VoxPro, it still offers a host of features that podcasters will find valuable. The Podcast Station interface is simple and intuitive. A sample screen from Podcast Station is shown in Figure 1.


Figure 1: Podcast Station offers radio station functionality in a single screen.

All your recording and editing takes place on the main screen. A large "button block" contains oneclick buttons for just about every operation you'll need. You can record from any soundcard input directly to the video time line and then insert songs, sound effects, or any pre-recorded files using the cart and deck buttons. After your program is on the time line, you can apply audio effects like EQ and compression.

Podcast Station is a well thought-out product with lots of nice touches. For example, if you rightclick any of the faders (Podcast Station calls them sliders), the fader does a nice quick fade out, for example if you need to cough or you want to quickly fade out from an interview. Right-click the fader again, and it is restored to its previous level.

Another great feature is the ability to undo. This is similar to the undo abilities of other audio-editing programs, but Podcast Station goes one better — you can undo days or weeks later. Podcast Station keeps track of everything you do and stores it in the file along with your audio, so you can undo all the way back to your original if you need to.

Podcast Station also has a nice wizard-driven publishing feature, shown in Figure 2. It automatically generates your XML file, compresses your program to MP3 format, and sends your files up to your Web site. On top of all this, the folks at Audion Labs have a good sense of fun that is reflected in the documentation and tutorials that are provided. This is hard to beat for only $59.


Figure 2: Podcast Station also offers encoding, RSS authoring, and FTP through its wizard-driven publishing interface.

Audio editing software (Podcast)

Audio-editing software

To get the most out of your podcast, you're going to need audio-editing software. Audio-editing software gives you the power to turn your raw podcast shows into things of beauty. Plenty of audio editors exist, from freeware all the way to specialized recording platforms for recording music. All are capable of basic editing operations such as cut and paste, as well as more advanced forms of signal optimization.

This list of some of the most common full-featured stereo audio-editing programs is by no means meant to be a definitive list:

- Audacity (Windows, Mac, Linux): Audacity is a free, open-source audio editor that runs on just about every platform. What's not to love?

- Peak (Mac): Berkeley Integrated Audio Software's flagship stereo audio editor comes in a number of versions at different price points.

- Sound Forge (Windows): Now a part of the Sony family, Sound Forge comes in a number of different versions at different price points.

- Audition (Windows): Formerly CoolEdit, Audition is now Adobe's flagship audio editor, offering all the quality you'd expect from an Adobe product.

Creating a podcast involves more than just audio editing. Some audio-editing programs include additional podcast production tools, such as built-in file transfer (FTP) and Real Simple Syndication (RSS) support. Not all of the programs listed here include sophisticated audio processing. They're meant to be simple, easy-to-use tools that get the job done as quickly as possible.

- GarageBand (Mac): Originally intended as a very simple multi-track audio-editing program, GarageBand now includes just about everything you need to make a podcast. One problem, though, is that it does not export MP3 files; it only exports AAC encoded files, which is fine for podcasts targeted at iPods, but not for other portable music players.

- ePodcast Producer (Windows): This editor includes many handy podcast production features, including a teleprompter, sound effects management, and a built-in facility for recording Voice-over IP (VoIP) phone conversations such as Skype.

- Propaganda (Windows): This editor uses an interesting model where multiple clips are cued up to produce your podcast, much like a digital cartridge system used at radio stations.

- Podcast Station (Windows): This editor is similar to Propaganda in that you assemble your podcasts from lists of clips. Simple insert editing and unlimited undo make this a great platform for the podcaster who enjoys winging it. The Web site includes lots of tutorial videos to get you up and running quickly.

If you're planning on creating video podcasts, you should be aware that many video-editing software platforms also include audio editing and processing. Your decision on which audio-editing platform to buy will be based on the operating system you're working on, your familiarity with audio-editing software, and how much functionality you want in a single tool. You may want to create a few podcasts on a shoestring budget using open-source tools and see what works best for you before investing your hard-earned cash.