The Podcasters' Studio

TPS 073- Securing Your WordPress Website with Dustin Hartzler

ray@thepodcastersstudio.com (Ray - @podcasthelper on Twitter) — Mon, 20 May 2013 23:42:10 +0000

Protect your WordPress website from malicious hackers, spam and other bots attempting to invade your site by taking some simple steps for non-coders. Plugins are a great way to enhance the security of your WordPress website. Dustin Hartzler from Your Website Engineer talks with me about some of his favorite ways to protect your website. Also included [...]

PQT – Naming Your Podcast with Dave Jackson

ray@thepodcastersstudio.com (Ray - @podcasthelper on Twitter) — Tue, 23 Apr 2013 00:52:41 +0000

Naming your podcast is kind of a big deal. Yet some people might just jump into it without ever asking anyone if the name is any good or more importantly, makes any sense? I know I did, oops. Yes, some podcasters will start a podcast with a name that tells you nothing about the content [...]

TPS 072 – FetHead In-line Microphone Preamp

ray@thepodcastersstudio.com (Ray - @podcasthelper on Twitter) — Fri, 19 Apr 2013 04:29:20 +0000

Do you have a microphone, mixer or recorder that requires you to turn up the gain settings really loud in order to get a good signal? The FetHead might just be your answer to bringing those gain levels back down and reducing the hiss and noise you’re getting in your podcast’s audio. To be clear, [...]

Unboxing: Triton Audio FetHead

ray@thepodcastersstudio.com (Ray - @podcasthelper on Twitter) — Tue, 16 Apr 2013 18:39:14 +0000

The Fethead is an in-line microphone preamp that provides +20db of additional “ultra clean gain.” This is an unboxing of the Triton Audio FetHead (watch in HD for best quality). I can tell you that I did a very quick test using the ATR2100 direct into a Zoom H4n with and without the FetHead and [...]

Purchased: Triton Audio FetHead

ray@thepodcastersstudio.com (Ray - @podcasthelper on Twitter) — Fri, 12 Apr 2013 19:57:36 +0000

Today I ordered a Triton Audio FetHead in-line preamp and it’s already shipped. So what does it do? Take a look at the linked page for complete details but the short of it is, it provides +20db of “ultra clean gain.” Why would you want this? The simple answer is cleaner audio at higher levels. [...]

TPS 071 – USB Dynamic Podcasting Microphones with Matt McGlynn

ray@thepodcastersstudio.com (Ray - @podcasthelper on Twitter) — Sat, 30 Mar 2013 04:15:50 +0000

Microphones! Matt McGlynn from Recording Hacks joins me “in Studio” to talk all about microphones (a passion and hobby of his) and specifically those mics that work best for most podcasters. Matt’s site, Recording Hacks, is dedicated to “making audio gear accessible and useful to people.” Recently he has written a couple of great articles [...]

PQT – Names in Titles

ray@thepodcastersstudio.com (Ray - @podcasthelper on Twitter) — Sun, 03 Mar 2013 18:50:30 +0000

If you have a podcast where you have on guests/interviewees, you should include those names in the title of your episode(s) for better search results in iTunes. I’ve noticed that when I search for someone’s name on iTunes I get results not only for their own podcast, assuming they have set up their feed correctly, [...]

TPS 070 – Show intros, Zoom H4n and the Top Podcast Directories

ray@thepodcastersstudio.com (Ray - @podcasthelper on Twitter) — Wed, 27 Feb 2013 02:49:25 +0000

I recently spoke on the topic of podcasting at Social Media Week D.C. (#SMWDC) and it presented some great opportunities to use gear that I don’t always use and speak to people face to face instead of from behind the mic. This of course led to some insights that are perfect for podcasters. Public speaking [...]

Best Podcasting Directories – Where to Submit Your Podcast

ray@thepodcastersstudio.com (Ray - @podcasthelper on Twitter) — Wed, 20 Feb 2013 01:53:41 +0000

Whether you just started a new podcast or are looking to grow your audience, being in the best podcasting directories will make your show more visible to potential viewers. Ranked in the order of where my shows are seeing the largest audiences, below is a list of the best podcast directories (a.k.a. podcatchers) to submit [...]

PQT – Focus Your Podcast’s Budget

ray@thepodcastersstudio.com (Ray - @podcasthelper on Twitter) — Wed, 06 Feb 2013 02:25:53 +0000

Most podcasts are a hobby endeavor which usually means budgets for gear, websites, software and everything else involved in making a podcast is limited. When deciding where to put your money first, focus on the elements of your podcast that are most likely to affect the overall quality of your show. The best place to [...]

TPS 069 – WordPress for Podcasting with Dustin Hartzler from Your Website Engineer

ray@thepodcastersstudio.com (Ray - @podcasthelper on Twitter) — Mon, 28 Jan 2013 01:52:14 +0000

Your website is your podcast’s central hub, its home on the web. It’s where you have an entire archive of all your episodes, links you mentioned in any given show, buttons to follow, share and continue the conversation on social media, profiles of your hosts and easy ways to allow your community to get in [...]

CFL Light Bulb Buzz – The Dreaded Hiss (Series)

ray@thepodcastersstudio.com (Ray - @podcasthelper on Twitter) — Fri, 25 Jan 2013 20:47:29 +0000

This is part one in a series I’m calling “The Dreaded Hiss” which will feature different sounds commonly found inside a podcaster’s studio that can create background noise (often known as hiss) in your podcast’s audio. The issue of buzzing compact florescent lights (CFLs) used to be a bigger problem then it is now. However, [...]

PQT – iTunes Affiliate Program

ray@thepodcastersstudio.com (Ray - @podcasthelper on Twitter) — Wed, 16 Jan 2013 04:21:55 +0000

Learn how you can earn money when someone uses your iTunes subscription link to subscribe to your podcast. Every podcaster should have a link to their podcast in the iTunes store on their website. You can see mine in the upper right hand corner widget area of this site. It’s important to make it easy [...]

Earn Money When Someone Subscribes to Your Podcast in iTunes.

ray@thepodcastersstudio.com (Ray - @podcasthelper on Twitter) — Wed, 16 Jan 2013 04:20:17 +0000

Did you know you can earn money when someone subscribes to your podcast in iTunes? It’s true, iTunes has an affiliate program. Create icons, banners, text links and more by signing up with the iTunes affiliate program and you can start earning commissions when someone uses your link to buy items on iTunes. If you’re [...]

TPS Ep. 068 – Shoot Video Like a Pro and My Audio Podcast Workflow

ray@thepodcastersstudio.com (Ray - @podcasthelper on Twitter) — Mon, 07 Jan 2013 03:30:45 +0000

Take a behind the scenes listen to the audio workflow that I use to produce an episode of The Podcasters’ Studio. Want to learn how to shoot better video for your podcast, YouTube channel or just your home movies? I take you through the most important steps to getting a more professional look out of [...]

Stop Skype from Dropping Audio Caused by Background and Unwanted Noise

ray@thepodcastersstudio.com (Ray - @podcasthelper on Twitter) — Thu, 03 Jan 2013 17:42:10 +0000

One thing I’ve noticed during my daily job as a podcast producer and editor is Skype doesn’t like talk-over. When using Skype to record your podcast, be it with co-hosts or interview guests, making sure everyone’s microphone is well positioned can be the difference between good and bad audio. Skype hates talk-over and will often drop audio [...]

PQT – FeedBurner Status Update

ray@thepodcastersstudio.com (Ray - @podcasthelper on Twitter) — Sun, 23 Dec 2012 18:25:40 +0000

Is FeedBurner shutting down? I cover this topic, the fear going around the Internet and the truth about what is really happening. The key takeaway here is not to worry. Don’t panic and scramble to move your podcast RSS feed(s) away from FeedBurner. If you are currently using it, there has been no official announcements [...]

How to Get a Sponsor for Your Podcast

ray@thepodcastersstudio.com (Ray - @podcasthelper on Twitter) — Wed, 19 Dec 2012 03:36:45 +0000

There are many ways to make money with your podcast (not to be confused with getting rich). The best of these methods is to obtain a sponsor that works with you exclusively. Often times this will result in more money, more customization, and an overall better experience for your audience. This however is likely the [...]

TPS Ep. 067 – Using Affiliates with Your Podcast to Make Money

ray@thepodcastersstudio.com (Ray - @podcasthelper on Twitter) — Sun, 16 Dec 2012 23:50:14 +0000

Want an easy way to start making money with your podcast? Start using affilate links in your content. It may sound too simple to be effective but signing up for an affiliate program and placing links in your website’s text and/or mentioning them on your podcast is the easiest way to start monetizating your show. [...]

Rode VideoMic Pro for DSLR Video Production – Demo

ray@thepodcastersstudio.com (Ray - @podcasthelper on Twitter) — Tue, 11 Dec 2012 22:32:43 +0000

[youtube]kglj2L4aldw[/youtube] *Best viewed and heard in HD. Select 720p in the player options. This demo also works best if headphones are worn. Here’s a quick demo and test of my newest piece of Studio gear, the Rode VideoMic Pro (currently being sold with a free accessory mount AND PluralEyes3!) Upon receiving this mic I plugged it into [...]

PQT – Gravatar

ray@thepodcastersstudio.com (Ray - @podcasthelper on Twitter) — Thu, 06 Dec 2012 15:19:23 +0000

Creating a free Gravatar account for your podcast, will allow you to automatically insert your branded logo or personal image alongside comments you make on the internet. For example, if you leave a comment below this post and you have a Gravatar account, when you type your email into the email section of the submission, [...]

Why Every Podcaster Needs a Mailing List

ray@thepodcastersstudio.com (Ray - @podcasthelper on Twitter) — Wed, 05 Dec 2012 14:43:55 +0000

Every podcaster should have a mailing list. So to back up that statement, I’ve finally created one for The Podcasters’ Studio podcast and website. As a podcaster, the main reason to create a mailing list is to make sure you never lose contact with your audience. Websites can crash, iTunes can shut off your feed [...]

TPS Ep. 066 – The Status of Podcasts on the Zune Marketplace with Rob Greenlee

ray@thepodcastersstudio.com (Ray - @podcasthelper on Twitter) — Wed, 28 Nov 2012 15:10:51 +0000

The goal of this episode was simple. Find out what happened to Zune.net and podcasts on the Zune Marketplace. To achieve this goal I went straight to the source. I talk to Rob Greenlee the Project Manager for podcasts on the Zune Marketplace. If you listened to episode 065, you heard me say that links [...]

TPS Ep. 065 – Pro Mics into an H4n, Reducing Hiss, Hardware Processing, and Media Hosting

ray@thepodcastersstudio.com (Ray - @podcasthelper on Twitter) — Mon, 05 Nov 2012 03:55:23 +0000

First order of business is Zune. It appears that links to my podcast and everyone else for that matter, are broken. That’s because Zune.net is gone. This means that when you click your old link to Zune (if you had one on your site) you are now taken to xbox.com. Zune is gone and so [...]

TPS Ep. 064 – The Future of FeedBurner, G+ Hangouts On-Air for Video Podcasting and ATR 2100 Mic Demo

ray@thepodcastersstudio.com (Ray - @podcasthelper on Twitter) — Sun, 07 Oct 2012 01:16:59 +0000

Have you heard that Google might be shutting down Feedburner? Lots of people have but is it true? I have some of my own ideas and great resources for getting a much better picture of what is really going on. You’ll also hear about some resources for moving your feed away from Feedburner if you [...]

TPS Ep. 063 – Libsyn Updates and Insights into iTunes, Podcast Stats and Hosting.

ray@thepodcastersstudio.com (Ray - @podcasthelper on Twitter) — Thu, 20 Sep 2012 20:15:18 +0000

Rob Walch from Wizzard Media and Libsyn.com joins us once again to talk about all the recent improvements to podcast hosting on Libsyn. Even if you don’t have a Libsyn account or don’t plan to have one anytime soon, you’ll still want to listen as Rob provides many great insights into iTunes, podcasting statistics, hosting [...]

TPS Ep. 062 – Listening for Problems in Your Podcast’s Audio and My Rack Gear Compressor

ray@thepodcastersstudio.com (Ray - @podcasthelper on Twitter) — Mon, 20 Aug 2012 13:20:45 +0000

Have you ever speaker tested your podcast? Have you done it lately? Speaker testing your podcast means listening to your show the way your audience does, on many different devices.Your audience listens to your show in their car, on their mp3 player, on their computer and on many other devices and in countless environments. To [...]

PQT – Speaker Test Your Podcast

ray@thepodcastersstudio.com (Ray - @podcasthelper on Twitter) — Sat, 11 Aug 2012 15:07:46 +0000

Listening to your podcast while you edit with headphones on might lead you to think your audio is just right. That everything sounds perfect. But what about the most important listener…your audience? Make sure the audio you’re publishing sounds as good to your audience as it does to you. Take your podcast for a trial [...]

TPS Ep. 061 – Google Listen Discontinued

ray@thepodcastersstudio.com (Ray - @podcasthelper on Twitter) — Mon, 06 Aug 2012 14:25:27 +0000

Google announces that it will no longer support their native podcasting application, Google Listen. If you are using the Listen app, you’ll still be able to listen to podcasts however after Novemeber 11, 2012 the search function will no longer work. Google says because of the proliferation of podcasting apps available in their app store, [...]

TPS Ep. 060 – Starting Your First Podcast: A First Time Podcaster’s Experience

ray@thepodcastersstudio.com (Ray - @podcasthelper on Twitter) — Mon, 30 Jul 2012 03:48:41 +0000

From blogger to podcaster, Jeff Yin shares his experience of starting his very first podcast. Jeff attended Blogworld NYC 2012 as a blogger and quickly learned he’d make a great podcaster after attending several of the podcasting track sessions including Podcasting 101 which I was a part of. One month later, Jeff had taken some [...]

Guest Appearance on Waves of Tech Episode 142

ray@thepodcastersstudio.com (Ray - @podcasthelper on Twitter) — Thu, 12 Jul 2012 15:35:57 +0000

I was kindly asked back to the Waves of Tech podcast for a second appearance to talk about my experience at BlogWorld NYC, the new iOS podcasting app from Apple, DSLR video and many other fun topics. Special thanks to Steve and Dave for having me on the show. Visit Netcast Studios to subscribe to [...]

Rode NTG-1 Microphone Demo and Review

ray@thepodcastersstudio.com (Ray - @podcasthelper on Twitter) — Wed, 11 Jul 2012 16:23:43 +0000

The NTG-1 shotgun microphone by Rode is the best mic I’ve used (in terms of audio quality) so far for DSLR video production. Just take a listen to the quality of the mic and learn why it’s important to get the microphone away from the camera and close to the talent. [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qoMQeAc6EU4&hd=1[/youtube] Description comparison (as listed [...]

PQT – YouTube SEO: Creating Relevant File Names

ray@thepodcastersstudio.com (Ray - @podcasthelper on Twitter) — Fri, 06 Jul 2012 00:57:35 +0000

Once you’ve edited your video you need to export it, add some metadata and then upload it to YouTube. But before you do that, make sure that the name of your actual video file is something relevant to the information contained in the video itself. This is because YouTube indexes the file name as well [...]

TPS Ep. 059 – Part Two – Audio Post Production for Podcasters with Joe Gilder

ray@thepodcastersstudio.com (Ray - @podcasthelper on Twitter) — Mon, 04 Jun 2012 01:54:05 +0000

We’re back in the Studio with Joe Gilder, audio engineer and podcaster, for part two in our discussion about audio post production for podcasters. On this episode (part 2 of 2) Joe and I open up the audio editor and take a look at the effects we use when post processing our audio for podcasting. Specifically we [...]

Appearance on BlogWorld TV

ray@thepodcastersstudio.com (Ray - @podcasthelper on Twitter) — Fri, 25 May 2012 20:27:54 +0000

Here’s my (video) appearance on BlogWorld TV with Jeffrey Powers aka Geekazine, in a segment called “5 Questions.” I’ll be speaking at BlogWorld NY June 5- 7th. Use promo code: PodRay10 to save 10% off a ticket. Interesting note about this embedded YouTube video…You’ll notice that it starts right before my interview and ends exactly [...]

TPS Ep. 058 – Audio Post Production with Joe Gilder (part 1)

ray@thepodcastersstudio.com (Ray - @podcasthelper on Twitter) — Wed, 23 May 2012 23:35:53 +0000

There’s lots of training online for audio post production. However, most of the information is focused on mastering audio for music. As podcaster’s our main post production concerns involve techniques related to mastering for voice only. Joe Gilder is an audio engineer who masters music for a living however he’s also a podcaster. So I [...]

PQT – Recording with the Zoom H4n

ray@thepodcastersstudio.com (Ray - @podcasthelper on Twitter) — Fri, 11 May 2012 02:15:41 +0000

Looking around my studio, I counted almost ten different ways to record a podcast. Over the next few episode of Podcast Quick Tips, I’m going to be using each of these methods to demonstrate how you can produce a quality sounding podcast many different ways. First up is the Zoom H4n. This digital audio recorder [...]

Mixing Color Temperatures in Your Video Lighting Setup

ray@thepodcastersstudio.com (Ray - @podcasthelper on Twitter) — Tue, 01 May 2012 18:28:13 +0000

When shooting video podcasts, light is probably your most important factor. Digital video needs light and often times, lots of it. You can help a bad video camera look better with a well lit scene or make your high end video camera look professional by knowing some basics about lighting. In the video below you’ll [...]

TPS Ep. 057 – The Benefits of Using a Mixer

ray@thepodcastersstudio.com (Ray - @podcasthelper on Twitter) — Mon, 16 Apr 2012 19:53:04 +0000

Adding a mixer to your podcast studio will allow your productions to grow along with your show. As you get further along in your podcasting venture, you’ll likely want to add in more capabilities such as Skype hosts and guests, more in-studio microphones, and built in capabilities for backing up recordings to avoid loss of [...]

Create an .mp3 file for podcasting for free using the iTunes Software

ray@thepodcastersstudio.com (Ray - @podcasthelper on Twitter) — Sat, 31 Mar 2012 00:30:16 +0000

There are many ways to create an .mp3 file. Some methods include creating an mp3 directly from your editing system including Audacity, Garageband and others. My preferred method is to use the free iTunes software. This gives you a better sounding file due to the technology (Fraunhoffer (best for voice)) that iTunes is using to [...]

How To Disable Skype’s Auto Gain and Echo Cancellation Controls

ray@thepodcastersstudio.com (Ray - @podcasthelper on Twitter) — Tue, 27 Mar 2012 02:22:46 +0000

Your version of Skype might be doing a couple things with your audio that you don’t want it to. Here’s how to fix it. To disable Skype’s auto gain control (AGC) for both Mac (5.6.0.143 and later) and PC versions, simply go into your Preferrences > Audio/Video and deselect the Automatic Microphone Control checkbox. [...]

TPS Ep. 056 – SXSW, Archiving Your Podcast, and Powerpress 3.0

ray@thepodcastersstudio.com (Ray - @podcasthelper on Twitter) — Sun, 25 Mar 2012 03:17:09 +0000

Fresh off my return from SXSW, I share my experiences from the conference and a couple panels I saw that led me to bigger ideas about my podcast, sharing and your show’s legacy. One of the speakers I sat in on was Jason Scott from the Internet Archive. He talked about curating the culture of [...]

PQT – Disable Skype’s Auto Gain Control

ray@thepodcastersstudio.com (Ray - @podcasthelper on Twitter) — Tue, 20 Mar 2012 20:35:33 +0000

If you weren’t already aware, Skype is likely controlling your audio levels. As podcasters, we want to make sure we are in control of all our settings all of the time. This is how you can make sure Skype isn’t changing your audio quality. Skype just released (03/06/12) a new version of it’s software for [...]

DIY Desktop Rack Mount

ray@thepodcastersstudio.com (Ray - @podcasthelper on Twitter) — Mon, 20 Feb 2012 18:50:41 +0000

I tackled another DIY podcast studio project today (see detailed pictures at the bottom of this post) and I’m happy with the results thus far. I built a desktop rack mount which I’m calling the Podcaster’s Rack Mount because of it’s relatively small footprint. Designed to fit a mixer and two rack mountable pieces for [...]

TPS Ep. 055 – Podcast Currency: How Your Podcast Pays You Back

ray@thepodcastersstudio.com (Ray - @podcasthelper on Twitter) — Wed, 15 Feb 2012 22:59:07 +0000

You produce a podcast that you make available for free and in fact spend lots of your own money on (if you’re truly invested). So how does your podcast pay you back? A podcast pays in both tangible and non-tangible ways. In this episode I cover all of the ways I’ve found to make money [...]

Audio compression tutorials

ray@thepodcastersstudio.com (Ray - @podcasthelper on Twitter) — Wed, 15 Feb 2012 20:14:05 +0000

I’ve spent hours culling through all the video tutorials I could find to help you get a better understanding of specific audio production concepts. The videos on this page all deal with the concept of compression and help you understand how to go about using this effect in your audio editing. Underneath each video, I’ve [...]

TPS Ep. 054 – Free Audio Hosting Woes

ray@thepodcastersstudio.com (Ray - @podcasthelper on Twitter) — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 01:20:16 +0000

Blip.tv announces they will no longer accept audio only uploads. For the past six years or so, Blip.tv has been kindly hosting audio only files for free. Blip.tv is primarily a video site and now they’re cementing that with the discontinuation of audio only uploads. Here’s the official announcement: At blip.tv we’re focused on being [...]

TPS Ep. 053 – Podcasting Controversies – Part 2 of my Interview with Dave Jackson

ray@thepodcastersstudio.com (Ray - @podcasthelper on Twitter) — Sun, 09 Oct 2011 22:58:40 +0000

We continue where we left off talking to Dave Jackson from the School of Podcasting. On this episode Dave and I chat about podcasting software and how using old gear can be just as effective as buying brand new. I ask Dave what he thinks about having to have the “radio voice” sound for your [...]

PQT – Increase Your Podcast’s Credibility by Using Other Voices

ray@thepodcastersstudio.com (Ray - @podcasthelper on Twitter) — Sat, 01 Oct 2011 00:10:47 +0000

Sean Allen sent in a guest Quick Tip detailing how he increases the credibility of his podcast by using voice overs. Subscribe to Podcast Quick Tips

TPS Ep. 052 – An Interview with Dave Jackson from the School of Podcasting (Part 1)

ray@thepodcastersstudio.com (Ray - @podcasthelper on Twitter) — Sat, 24 Sep 2011 17:41:06 +0000

An interview with Dave Jackson from The School of Podcasting’s Morning Announcements. A “podcast that talks about all things Podcasting. From planning planning, producing, and promoting your podcast along with all the tools and techniques.” With over 250 episodes published, Dave is one of the original podcasters. He was an early digital mentor for me [...]

PQT – Edit Facebook Audio Player Information

ray@thepodcastersstudio.com (Ray - @podcasthelper on Twitter) — Wed, 07 Sep 2011 02:10:16 +0000

When you insert a link to a hosted audio file into Facebook’s link section above the status box, Facebook will automatically create an audio player. Below this audio player is a couple areas of information about any particular audio file you link to. They don’t make it obvious that you can actually edit the information [...]

TPS Ep. 051 – Back to Podcasting Basics (Part 2 of 2)

ray@thepodcastersstudio.com (Ray - @podcasthelper on Twitter) — Tue, 30 Aug 2011 21:34:21 +0000

Continuing where I left off in part one of this two part series, I wrap things up with a discussion about the remaining basic pieces you’ll need to start a successful podcast. I’m defining a successful podcast here as a podcast that starts off with all the core elements in place so that you don’t [...]

How to Check the Size of Your RSS Feed

ray@thepodcastersstudio.com (Ray - @podcasthelper on Twitter) — Sat, 13 Aug 2011 19:12:43 +0000

If your RSS feed stops updating and you are using Feedburner, it’s likely that your feed size has become too large. Feedburner stops updating feeds when the size of your original feed is larger than 512 KB. This video shows you how to check the size of your Feedburner feed so that you can avoid [...]

Check Your Podcast’s Ratings and Reviews in Each iTunes Store in the World

ray@thepodcastersstudio.com (Ray - @podcasthelper on Twitter) — Tue, 09 Aug 2011 23:07:02 +0000

Here’s a way to see if you have received any iTunes reviews and/or ratings for your podcast in different countries. There are 123 different countries with an iTunes store. And although you can’t purchase from countries you don’t reside in, you can see your ratings and reviews for each podcast you have in the iTunes [...]

TPS Ep. 050 – Back to Podcasting Basics (Part 1 of 2)

ray@thepodcastersstudio.com (Ray - @podcasthelper on Twitter) — Fri, 05 Aug 2011 23:55:08 +0000

Learn the basics of podcasting from how to decide on a topic to choosing gear, software and hosting for your website and media. You’ve decided you want to start your own podcast and now you need to know how to proceed. In this episode we go back to the beginning and walk you through the [...]

PQT – Free Video Converters

ray@thepodcastersstudio.com (Ray - @podcasthelper on Twitter) — Wed, 27 Jul 2011 02:48:21 +0000

There are any number of reasons why you might need to convert a video from one format to another. In the case of video podcasting perhaps you need to make your file compatible to work on Apple devices or you need to take your original file created specifically for iTunes and make it more compatible [...]

PQT – Mixlr.com. Audio Only Live Streaming

ray@thepodcastersstudio.com (Ray - @podcasthelper on Twitter) — Tue, 19 Jul 2011 00:52:44 +0000

An introduction to mixlr.com, a new live streaming dedicated to the audio only podcaster. With mixlr’s easy to use app, available for both Windows and Mac, you can easily stream your show live to the web while you record it in your studio. The advantages to live streaming audio only are many in the case [...]

TPS Ep. 049 – Noisy Headphones, Free Graphics Editor, and Creating Supplemental Video

ray@thepodcastersstudio.com (Ray - @podcasthelper on Twitter) — Sat, 16 Jul 2011 19:53:22 +0000

On this episode I talk about the effect that bad headphones can have on your podcast’s audio. Headphones that don’t fit properly, are not well built or are simply turned up too loud can affect that amount of feedback that your mic hears. If the audio going into your headphones leaks out and into your [...]

PQT – Fix the Number of Default Items in Your WordPress Feed

ray@thepodcastersstudio.com (Ray - @podcasthelper on Twitter) — Fri, 01 Jul 2011 21:19:09 +0000

If you use WordPress to create your podcasting RSS feed then you may have noticed that only ten or less of your most recent episodes are showing up in podcatchers such as iTunes. There’s a simple fix. Simply adjust the default syndication setting (10) in the Reading section of your WordPress settings. Click here to [...]

Change the Number of Feed Items In WordPress to Display All Your Episodes on iTunes

ray@thepodcastersstudio.com (Ray - @podcasthelper on Twitter) — Thu, 30 Jun 2011 15:32:16 +0000

If you are having an issue with iTunes, or any other podcatcher, only showing your most recent ten (10) or less episodes and you are using WordPress to feed your podcast, this is the fix for you. Even if you are also using feedburner, changing this simple setting will allow more episodes to appear in [...]

TPS Ep. 048 – Audio Only Live Streaming Via Mixlr And Podcast Myths

ray@thepodcastersstudio.com (Ray - @podcasthelper on Twitter) — Tue, 28 Jun 2011 01:56:30 +0000

Have you ever wanted to live stream your podcast in an audio only player? Finally a solution that caters to audio only podcasters has arrived in the form of mixlr.com. A live streaming, audio only applicationavailable for both PC and Mac. Live streaming your podcast as you record can be another great way to interact [...]

PQT – Creating High Resolution Album Art

ray@thepodcastersstudio.com (Ray - @podcasthelper on Twitter) — Wed, 08 Jun 2011 00:27:29 +0000

When you create your album artwork the graphic that represents your podcast (also referred to as show art or ID3 image), make sure you use a high enough resolution so that it displays well on large screens. I recommend making your show logo 600 x 600 pixels. This is a square image that will display [...]

TPS Ep. 047 – Recording a Double-Ender Podcast

ray@thepodcastersstudio.com (Ray - @podcasthelper on Twitter) — Tue, 24 May 2011 15:45:17 +0000

When you want the absolute best quality recording from your remotely co-hosted podcast, you record a double-ender. A double-ender is a type of recording where everyone on the podcast episode records their own audio. This allows for the cleanest sound possible, removing the unwanted noise problems you might get from such things as Skype or [...]

Remove Room Reverb from Your Podcast Recordings with a Plugin.

ray@thepodcastersstudio.com (Ray - @podcasthelper on Twitter) — Sat, 09 Apr 2011 03:47:57 +0000

Here is some audio from a test I ran using a plugin that claims to remove echo from your recordings. In other words, a plugin to help podcasters with large empty rooms facing the challenge of getting the resulting reverb out of their recordings. When listening to this, you’ll want to make sure to wear [...]

TPS Ep. 046 – Show Notes and Increasing Audience Participation

ray@thepodcastersstudio.com (Ray - @podcasthelper on Twitter) — Sun, 03 Apr 2011 20:35:56 +0000

As a podcast producer you have likely heard that you need to create good show notes for each episode. But what does this mean and how do you accomplish it? On this episode I talk about the elements that make up good show notes (descriptive, keyword rich, and supplemental links). I also discuss ways to [...]

Flash player displayed first then HTML5 if no support?

ray@thepodcastersstudio.com (Ray - @podcasthelper on Twitter) — Mon, 28 Mar 2011 20:29:43 +0000

See comments to view the code used here.

PQT – Statistics and Analytics for Your Podcast and Website

ray@thepodcastersstudio.com (Ray - @podcasthelper on Twitter) — Sun, 27 Mar 2011 20:22:54 +0000

Resources for tracking statistics for your podcast and website. By using some simple resources, you can get a clear picture regarding how many people are listening to your podcast as well visiting your website. File hosts such as Libsyn, Blubrry, and Blip.tv all keep statistics about the number of people downloading your show as well [...]

TPS Ep. 045 – Libsyn Launches a New Monetization Model for Podcasters – An Interview with Rob Walch

ray@thepodcastersstudio.com (Ray - @podcasthelper on Twitter) — Sat, 19 Mar 2011 21:49:47 +0000

Wizzard Media recently announced that they are implementing a new program that will allow podcast producers, with any Libsyn.com account, to monetize their content. A basic Libsyn account can be purchased for as little as five dollars a month which would give you access to the subscription service. Each Libsyn account will have the option [...]

PQT – Powerpress 2.0 and HTML5

ray@thepodcastersstudio.com (Ray - @podcasthelper on Twitter) — Thu, 17 Mar 2011 04:06:56 +0000

With the recent update of the Powerpress plugin for WordPress, your podcast can now be HTML5 and Apple device friendly. HTML5 player for non-flash devices This is an important point because of the iPhone’s dominate spot in the mobile market and the rise of the iPad as the primary tablet device of choice (at the [...]

Powerpress 2.0 and HTML5

ray@thepodcastersstudio.com (Ray - @podcasthelper on Twitter) — Tue, 15 Mar 2011 04:34:18 +0000

The Powerpress plugin for WordPress was updated a few days ago. This plugin does much more than you need it to and can be used in many different ways. One of it’s most exciting new features is the ability to place an html5 player on your site, essentially making your podcast non-flash or Apple friendly. [...]

TPS Ep. 044 – Media Kits and A New Sponsorship Opportunity for Your Podcast

ray@thepodcastersstudio.com (Ray - @podcasthelper on Twitter) — Tue, 01 Mar 2011 03:57:29 +0000

Learn how to start preparing your podcast’s media kit and about a new affiliate sponsorship opportunity from Audible.com. I start off by answering a question from Sean who wants to know how he can improve the audio for his screencasts? He is currently using a headset but I talk about some different options that [...]

RSS Graffiti Says “By: Unavailable”

ray@thepodcastersstudio.com (Ray - @podcasthelper on Twitter) — Sun, 13 Feb 2011 00:31:22 +0000

RSS Graffiti is an application for Facebook that allows you to auto-post your RSS feed content to your Facebook Wall. If you have a podcast and a Facebook Fan Page or you just want your podcast to be automatically posted to your Facebook profilewhen a new episode is published in your RSS feed, then RSS [...]

TPS Ep. 043 – Royalty Free Music and Using Your Basic Web Hosting Plan to Deliver Your Podcast

ray@thepodcastersstudio.com (Ray - @podcasthelper on Twitter) — Sat, 12 Feb 2011 01:18:21 +0000

On this episode I debut my new show intro and talk about how my new podcast music can affect your show’s production value. I also introduce a few new elements to the show’s introduction including an episode number and a tag-line. Learn how you can improve on your show intro and opening from a great [...]

PQT – Microphones for Video

ray@thepodcastersstudio.com (Ray - @podcasthelper on Twitter) — Tue, 08 Feb 2011 02:25:15 +0000

Learn what options you have when choosing a microphone for your video podcast productions. In most cases audio is as important or even more important than the quality of your video. Find out the different types of microphones that you can use together with whatever video camera you have to get the best quality audio [...]

Using Your Basic Web Hosting Server to Host Your Podcast Files

ray@thepodcastersstudio.com (Ray - @podcasthelper on Twitter) — Wed, 02 Feb 2011 06:05:27 +0000

It’s a simple question. Can I use my web hosting (basic plan, typically about $5 a month) to host my podcast files? The answer however, as you might expect, is much more difficult. In search of that answer I approached a couple different web hosts (Bluehost and Lunarpages) and asked them this very question in [...]

TPS Ep. 042 – Microphones for Video and iTunes Metadata

ray@thepodcastersstudio.com (Ray - @podcasthelper on Twitter) — Tue, 25 Jan 2011 04:57:22 +0000

On this episode, Soundcloud.com announces that they will soon be supporting RSS feeds for their audio hosting service. I discuss what I think of the service for use as a podcast audio hosting solution and how you can get into the Soundcloud beta to be a tester for this new feature. Learn what options you [...]

TPS Ep. 041 – Autopost Your Podcast to Facebook, Archiving Content and Hardware Versus Software FX Processors

ray@thepodcastersstudio.com (Ray - @podcasthelper on Twitter) — Tue, 04 Jan 2011 18:50:31 +0000

On this episode I talk about how to post your podcast feed to facebook automatically including an audio player and how to keep your podcast alive after you stop producing it and paying for hosting. I also discuss the differences between using a hardware versus software based compressor/limiter/gate. This is a non-essential piece of equipment [...]

PQT – Promote Your Podcast by Notifying the People and Products You Mention

ray@thepodcastersstudio.com (Ray - @podcasthelper on Twitter) — Thu, 23 Dec 2010 04:20:40 +0000

Promote your podcast by contacting the people and or companies you mention in your show. Many times those people will respond by passing on your content to their community. Whether it’s through a simple tweet or facebook post, your content gets exposed to infinite amounts of new listeners when it’s passed on by someone else. [...]

TPS Ep. 040 – USB Mixers, Recording Skype Video, and Podcasting Statistics for 2010

ray@thepodcastersstudio.com (Ray - @podcasthelper on Twitter) — Sun, 19 Dec 2010 06:00:38 +0000

When choosing a mixer for your podcast there are some special considerations that I think each podcaster should think about before making their purchase. Some of these include the number of mic inputs your mixer will allow. Can you grow your show with the mixer you are planning to buy? Can it power condenser microphones [...]

PQT – Choosing a Mixer for Podcasting

ray@thepodcastersstudio.com (Ray - @podcasthelper on Twitter) — Thu, 16 Dec 2010 23:17:47 +0000

When you’re deciding on what kind of mixer to get for your podcast there are several things to consider before making your purchase. I run through the most important things I think you should be looking for in a mixer that will be used for producing podcasts. Some of the things I like to have [...]

How To Use WordPress and Feedburner to Create a Podcast Ready RSS Feed

ray@thepodcastersstudio.com (Ray - @podcasthelper on Twitter) — Wed, 08 Dec 2010 21:46:51 +0000

Best viewed in full screen mode. Press play then select 720p HD version in the bottom right of the video player and then view full screen. *This is no longer my preferred method of creating a podcast ready RSS feed on WordPress but this still works. I now recommend using the PowerPress plugin from blubrry. [...]

PQT – Submit Your Podcast RSS Feed to iTunes Early

ray@thepodcastersstudio.com (Ray - @podcasthelper on Twitter) — Mon, 06 Dec 2010 03:38:52 +0000

[UPDATE] I no longer recommend this method unless you have some compelling reason to do so. The approval process is usually complete within 24 hours now and you will benefit more by having at least three episodes ready to do publish when you submit your podcast. When creating a podcast, before you even publish it [...]

TPS Ep. 039 – Audio Editors, Virtual Cart Machines, and Using Analytics to Track Success

ray@thepodcastersstudio.com (Ray - @podcasthelper on Twitter) — Thu, 02 Dec 2010 04:20:10 +0000

Adobe Audition is now out for the Mac. Find out what I like about it, what I think you could use as an alternative and the effects I use when using Audition to process my audio. Also discussed on this episode are virtual cart machines (soundbyte, pod producer, etc). These apps and programs allow you [...]

TPS Ep. 038 – Podcasting and the Law – An Interview with Entertainment Attorney Gordon Firemark

ray@thepodcastersstudio.com (Ray - @podcasthelper on Twitter) — Fri, 19 Nov 2010 22:04:33 +0000

On this episode I interview entertainment lawyer and podcaster, Gordon Firemark. We talk about the many different legal issues surrounding podcasting and podcasters including copyright, fair use, model releases and much more. Do you know your rights if your original content is taken and used without your permission or violates the copyright you have in [...]

PQT – iTunes Store Approval Times for Podcast RSS Feeds

ray@thepodcastersstudio.com (Ray - @podcasthelper on Twitter) — Tue, 16 Nov 2010 00:37:49 +0000

How long does it take before a podcast RSS feed is accepted into the itunes store once you have submitted it? When you’ve submitted your podcast to itunes and its not showing up in the itunes catalog, many podcasters start to worry that they did something wrong. So what do you do once you have [...]

TPS Ep. 037 – A WordPress Feed Fix, A New Home for your Podcast, and a Great Blogworld Keynote

ray@thepodcastersstudio.com (Ray - @podcasthelper on Twitter) — Fri, 05 Nov 2010 00:25:49 +0000

On this episode I introduce you to a new resource on ThePodcastersStudio.com, the newly redone blog which will be used to share emails that I receive regarding podcasting questions. Now everyone will benefit from the information I exchange with those people who take the time to write into the show. I also introduce you to [...]

Inbox: file size, bit rate, hosting and conversion.

ray@thepodcastersstudio.com (Ray - @podcasthelper on Twitter) — Sat, 16 Oct 2010 06:08:57 +0000

On a daily basis I answer how-to podcasting questions on twitter (@PodcastHelper) and in most cases each question is answered in 140 characters of less. However on occasion I want to provide a much more lengthy answer and that’s when I turn to email to answer questions that might have several answers or just need [...]

PQT – Blackberry Podcast Store

ray@thepodcastersstudio.com (Ray - @podcasthelper on Twitter) — Wed, 06 Oct 2010 23:38:53 +0000

Submitting your show to new podcatchers is the best way to grow your audience fast. Make sure to submit your podcast to all the podcasting directories you can find and don’t forget the thousands of people who are consuming, searching, and using the Blackberry Podcast store. Go to the Blackberry Podcast Store to create an [...]

TPS Ep. 036 – Logo Design for Your Podcast

ray@thepodcastersstudio.com (Ray - @podcasthelper on Twitter) — Wed, 29 Sep 2010 05:07:49 +0000

The importance of having a clean, easy to read, relevant show logo. Learn why your podcast’s show art is so important and how to improve on the one you already have or create one for free. Also find out how to use Posterous to host your podcast for free but reasons why you might not [...]

PQT – A Logo for Your Podcast

ray@thepodcastersstudio.com (Ray - @podcasthelper on Twitter) — Mon, 27 Sep 2010 04:09:46 +0000

Learn why having a logo for your podcast is so important and how to create one for free. Also learn some of the most important elements of show logo design for maximizing the impact it has on your audience. right-click to download Subscribe to Podcast Quick Tips

PQT – A Powerful Facebook Strategy for Gaining More Listeners

ray@thepodcastersstudio.com (Ray - @podcasthelper on Twitter) — Mon, 06 Sep 2010 17:32:14 +0000

Find out about a powerful facebook strategy I use to potentially gain a large increase in the amount of people listening and subscribing to your podcast. right-click to download Subscribe to Podcast Quick Tips

TPS Ep. 035 – Phone Calls From Within Your Browser via Gmail

ray@thepodcastersstudio.com (Ray - @podcasthelper on Twitter) — Fri, 27 Aug 2010 04:42:10 +0000

On this episode I talk about making voice calls from within your browser via Gmail, Podcamp Philly 4 and the presentation I’ll be giving, Camtasia for the mac, Gnomedex 10, and I’ll answer a few of your call in questions. Oh and the dynamics of moving your podcast studio! Yep I’m moving to a new [...]

TPS Ep. 034 – How to Avoid Losing Contact with Your Audience

ray@thepodcastersstudio.com (Ray - @podcasthelper on Twitter) — Mon, 12 Jul 2010 04:03:46 +0000

On this episode, Vincent, host of This Week in Virology, calls in to talk about his mix-minus setup. Grant wants to know about slow download speeds from files hosted on blip.tv and I talk about having a plan to stay connected to your audience if one or more of your broadcasting channels goes down or [...]

PQT – Remember Playback Position and Proof Listening

ray@thepodcastersstudio.com (Ray - @podcasthelper on Twitter) — Thu, 08 Jul 2010 23:50:08 +0000

Learn the importance of using the "remember playback position" check box when tagging your podcast files with ID3 tags (i.e. metadata). This is one item I always check when filling in my ID3 information and can easily be done using the itunes software. Also, do you listen to your own show? Do you make sure [...]

PQT – Provide Feedback to Podcasts

ray@thepodcastersstudio.com (Ray - @podcasthelper on Twitter) — Tue, 29 Jun 2010 01:58:06 +0000

Today I’m asking the listeners of Podcast Quick Tips to submit their very own Podcast Quick Tip that I can play on the show. If you have a 2 to 4 minute tip about how to podcast that you would like to share on this show, please submit that tip by calling 925-567-3335 or better [...]

PQT – One Click iTunes Subscription Buttons Versus iTunes Show Page URLs

ray@thepodcastersstudio.com (Ray - @podcasthelper on Twitter) — Tue, 22 Jun 2010 21:55:02 +0000

Using an ITPC link to create a one-click subscribe button for your podcast on your website will exclude itunes from knowing you have a new subscriber. Don’t be cheated out of your stats and thus hurting your show’s ranking in the itunes podcast directory. Learn how to use native itunes links to make each subscriber [...]

TPS Ep. 033 – Multiple Feeds via Libsyn, Edit Your YouTube Videos, A Critical Piece of Podcast Gear and More!

ray@thepodcastersstudio.com (Ray - @podcasthelper on Twitter) — Fri, 18 Jun 2010 05:54:30 +0000

Learn how to use your single Libsyn account to create multiple feeds, edit video in the cloud via YouTube, stalk that twitter account that you want but someone else has, and find out one of the most important parts of your podcast studio that you might not have considered. Right-Click to download Links mentioned in [...]

TPS Ep. 032 – Sponsor Your Own Podcast

ray@thepodcastersstudio.com (Ray - @podcasthelper on Twitter) — Mon, 07 Jun 2010 06:33:24 +0000

On this episode I talk about progress made in my experiments with html5 for audio and video, thoughts about sponsoring your own podcast, and new ideas about how to market your show with the intent of growing your audience. We also have listener feedback sent in by Jerry of My Amateur Radio.com and Steve from [...]

PQT – Publish Your Audio Podcast in the MP3 Format

ray@thepodcastersstudio.com (Ray - @podcasthelper on Twitter) — Wed, 19 May 2010 01:43:37 +0000

Learn why it’s important to always publish your audio podcast in the mp3 file format. right-click to download Subscribe to Podcast Quick Tips

TPS Ep. 031 – Mixers, Mix-Minus, and Edirol vs Zoom Comparison

ray@thepodcastersstudio.com (Ray - @podcasthelper on Twitter) — Mon, 10 May 2010 07:23:40 +0000

On this episode I’m talking about new gear in the studio including a Mackie ProFX12 mixer and the Zoom H4n. I also discuss how I do a mix-minus setup for recording Skype calls. And I’m curious as a podcaster, do you apologize to your audience when you miss your regular schedule? Learn about why I [...]