Distanced Podcast Production
Making your podcast in the current reality
There is no single right way to produce a podcast. Depending on the technology you have available, your approach might be as simple as recording a conversation using conferencing, or might be more highly produced. The focus of this presentation is to suggest an approach that allows you to create a sophisticated finished product, yet minimizes the need to be physically together as you collaborate. The basic ingredients are...
Meeting together virtually
Use Zoom, Google Meet (or whatever conferencing system you prefer) for developing your ideas, planning the production steps, and checking in as you develop your podcast.
Towards the end of the process you’ll want to use Zoom to collaboratively edit the podcast, because Zoom allows one person to work with the editing software on their computer with everyone listening and contributing ideas as the podcast takes shape. Other conferencing systems don’t allow this kind of audio sharing.
You can use Zoom Basic for multi-point calls of up to 40 minutes at a time. When the call times out, you can just restart it. If that proves to be a problem, the person running the editing software can request a Zoom Pro account at this link.
A way to record audio
For individual tracks (narration, etc) the recommendation is to record audio on your phone, then share the unedited tracks to a shared folder on Google Drive.
The audio collected in the Drive folder will be used by the person running the editing software as raw materials for the final production.
�Optionally, if you want to record interviews or group conversations, we recommend Cleanfeed. The free account is more than adequate for doing this. Cleanfeed recording instructions Cleanfeed FAQ
Once you have Cleanfeed recordings, you can edit them into a podcast using Audacity.
The simple way
More advanced
A way to edit your finished podcast
If your group chooses to produce an edited podcast, one group member will need to either install Audacity* on their own computer, or book time in one of the DiSCO audio rooms. Only one person at a time will be allowed in the audio rooms, so the other group members will need to remotely participate in the session via Zoom.
The group will work together over Zoom to make editing decisions, with the person running Audacity doing the actual editing.
Audacity is free, open source software. There’s a link to the download page on the Resources slide.
* You’re welcome to use other audio editing software if you prefer
Tips for success
Listen to examples!
Discuss with your group what works, what you like or don’t like, what you’d like to emulate, how you can improve on what you hear. Find an exemplar for how you’d like your podcast to sound.�
Experiment early
Don’t wait until you’re ready to start producing to get to know Audacity. Learn the program and get ideas by playing around with whatever audio comes to hand.
You can do this either in the DiSCO or on your own computer.�
Develop an audio concept
Collaborate to develop a concept for how you want your project to sound, before you start production. But keep the focus on making substantive content, not technical perfection.
Collaborating with your group
Using Cleanfeed
Cleanfeed is a free tool for recording interviews and conversations using the chrome web browser
Note that it is essential that all people recording with Cleanfeed must use headphones or earbuds or an annoying echo will ruin the recording
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Audacity basics
Getting your microphone working, setting levels, making your first recording in Audacity
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Audacity editing
Editing and mixing together your recordings, music, and other production elements to make a finished podcast
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Distanced editing session
If the members of you group can’t be in the same room due to social distancing, designate one person to run Audacity on their computer (or a DiSCO computer). The editor will need to copy the audio files from Google Drive onto their computer to work with Audacity.
In a Zoom meeting, the editor should share their screen so the other group members can see and hear what’s happening and make suggestions.
Make sure to check the “Share computer sound” box so everyone on the meeting can hear what’s happening in Audacity.
Finishing your Audacity project
Audacity projects are works in progress...they keep everything editable so you can make changes.
But the project file is not in a form you can share with others. For that, you need to do the final step: exporting your project as an MP3 file.
In Audacity, simply go to the file menu and select Export > Export as MP3.
DiSCO audio rooms
Two audio recording rooms are available in the DiSCO for making recordings and hosting distanced editing sessions. For the time being, only one person will be allowed in these rooms at a time.
Note that Audacity is installed on all the DiSCO computers. You can use headphones to conduct distanced work sessions from any of the computers, so you don’t necessarily need one of the audio rooms.
If you get stuck or need advice at any point in you project, DiSCO staff and Interns are there to help. Use this request form to reserve an audio room or request help.
Digital recorder available for checkout
Zoom H2n�All-purpose digital recorder
If you don’t have a phone that will make adequate recordings, the Zoom H2n recorder is available for checkout from the library circulation desk. Records audio onto an SD card for transfer to your computer.
Resources
Doug Hamilton�hamilton@stolaf.edu
Audacity and Google Drive
Audacity projects always include a related folder which contains all the audio. It is vital that you keep both the project file and the related folder together to make possible any further editing or changes.
Here are instructions for zipping up the Audacity project files before copying them to your Google Drive. That keeps the file set together and uncorrupted.
This slide only applies to older version of Audacity. If you are using version 3 or above, all the audio is included in the .aup3 file.