Podcast information- Rachel

Some useful information that was beneficial to me during the making of my own podcast was knowing the expectations of what a podcast was. By having to listen to many different types of podcasts I was able to point out each of their purposes due to their structure. Podcasts that were more laid-back and comical were often associated with entertainment, which more straight forward information was meant to inform. This made it easier for me to figure out which type of podcast I wanted to complete for this assignment because I understood how they all differed in their development. The track planning didn’t really help me as much as it could have with this project due to the short time restriction. By having such a short amount of space, time organization wasn’t really an issue.  If the topic for the podcast required more involvement with sound, than the track plan would have been more valuable to make.

My advice for other students making a podcast is to type out everything that you want to say before you have the microphone.  Then when you have the microphone, practice saying it several  time to get used to speaking clearly, but also sounding somewhat spontaneous.   This took me a while to get used to, so I divided up my script into sections and recorded everything a section at a time.  This proved to be much more time efficient because if I made an error I only needed to correct a small portion.

Podcast Help

I think what really helped me out was listening to all different types of podcast before I started. This help me get the idea on what you should put in a podcast and how you should set it up. You really should have a plan on what you are going to talk about, don’t just wing it. Write out a draft and follow it as closly as you can, it will make things easier when you want to edit your podcast. You won’t have as much sound to edit out of your podcast. Those are the two things that helped me the most.

thanks JOHN DEPRISCO

Podcast Information-Lindsey

Throughout my time spent on my podcast I think that a couple of things helped me.  First, I liked originally searching and listening to different podcasts on the web and itunes this let me explore different kinds of podcasts.  It especially helped me understand the assignment (for those who were unfamiliar with podcast in general).  It also helped me get a feel of the music and audio I want to use.  I was also able to draw a line of how much dialogue I want and where I thought the music sounded best.  After listening to podcasts on-line this also helped me write my plan and track plan to create my own.  I also appreciate the feedback from teachers and peers to make positive changes in the final project.  Overall, I think the best advice for creating your own podcast is to do the research and listen to the podcast that are being broadcast, and receive feedback.     

The process of podcast by jeff

Something that really sticks out to me from the planning process was making a mock timeline and writing out my music and voice over on the timeline. This was helpful when I went to make my podcast, because I knew exactly how long each segment should be and the order of all my material. Going over how to use the programs in class was an activity that ways also very helpful when completing this project. Know how to put in the different kind so music and how to add my voice over made doing my first podcast very easy. Anyone who is thinking about doing a podcast I would suggest that they first plan what they want to say. Thinking through the process first will make the job much easier.

Tyler’s Response to “Pulling Back the Curtain”

Definitely a revealing article. I don’t have a problem with “cleaning up” a recording, or even with cutting out words or sentences, but I think the same ethical standard must be in place not to take a person out of context. If words are edited out that change the meaning of the statement, there is a problem. NPR does always have that soothing type of sound… I bet they train their people to talk in a certain tone… almost a whisper sometimes.

I’m not surprised that NPR layers.  Ambient noise seems much easier to insert than to try and capture it as the interviewer speaks.  The more layers there are the easier it should be to edit.  Again, when using layers radio stations must also be careful.  Sound clips can be added that change the context or setting of the broadcast from what it originally was, especially in a way that casts a negative light.  That would be unethical.

Podcast

Podcast 1)

NPR, This I believe:

This was about spiritualism coming in strange places.  I was very impressed by the opening, it was a series of clips of serveral speakers layered together. It was very interesting. I’m thinking of utilizing this technique and somehow creating a fluid opening.  However the folks who did the opening had much better voices than the actual narrator, so it was a bit disapointing.  The message of the piece was about how we are all connected, he found a moment of spiritualism as he realized that the bowl of cereal he was eating was the result of the work of hundreds of people.  I liked the length, it was brief and to the point.

Podcast 2)

NPR Popculture:

This used a lot of layering as well, but it used clips from a movie that it was reviewing.  The interview was pretty neat, since I’m aware of the various editing techniques that they use. I have to admit that they did sound exceptionally eloquent and I can partly attribute to their sophisticated editing. But they used a very casual tone to keep everything interesting instead of confusing to listeners.

Podcast 3)

MSN, Marie Clarie The Masthead:

The Masthead used really upbeat music as an intro. As the music faded out, a european woman started to talk about the cast of Grey’s Anatomy. The various segments were sepereated with very chic sounding music which would fade in and fade out. I think I want to find some urban/chic/hip music to layer with my narration in my podcast.

Pod Casts

The first pod cast I found was Inside the Game with Doug McCleod.  This pod cast was just like any other program aired on sports radio station.  It opened up with some opening music, followed by the host introducing today’s topic.  Once the host introduced the guest (Boston Bruins head coach Mike Sullivan) the music stopped and the interview began.  Doug and Mike discussed up and coming NHL players and what coaches would like to be taught in youth hockey.  The pod cast ends with a commercial followed by some annoying music.

The second pod cast  was the Million Dollar Real Estate Investing Pod Cast.  This pod cast hosted by Don Dees was an effort to educate real estate investors by teaching them how to ask for help.  This pod cast featured no music at all.  It opens up with Don introducing his topic and guest.  Then it goes to a quick commercial, the show rolls on with Don playing a recent phone coversation with himself and an expert.  I really didn’t like the quaility of the pod cast.  The audio quality takes a big hit when he plays the phone conversation.  Overall it did not do a good job of keeping my interest.

Having done pod casts in the sports and how to categories I chose a pod cast dealing with Windows Vista.  This pod cast was produced by ATI (graphics card manufacturer).  The purpose of this pod cast was to inform computer users about the new graphics requirements of Windows Vista.  The pod cast starts off with some music and goes right to an interview with an ATI engineer.  While it was informational, this pod cast was too much of a commercial.  I was hoping it would have more information about Vista itself.  Instead it goes over what is in Vista and why you would need an ATI graphics card to run it. They go on and on about how closely Microsoft and ATI worked together….kinda funny that ATI has a number of driver issues with Vista.

Pulling Back the Curtain

Well, I’m sorry to say that I’m not much of a podcast listener to begin with and also, I haven’t had a functioning internet for the past week so it was a bit difficult to find free time with finals coming quickly and other work. On Pulling Back the Curtain, I wasn’t too surprised to find out that they edit the radio speeches/interviews because there are very few people on the air that speak perfectly without any phrases that can/should be deleted from the interview. It’s more of a happy note, I would say, that they don’t try and turn people into “idiots” on the air and twist their words to make them sound like they aren’t saying what everyone wants to hear. It’s impressive that the editing can be done so quickly. I would also like to hear how some celeberties actually speak on the radio. It would be interesting to see how many “likes” and “umms” are used in their everyday speak.

I wasn’t able to listen to a podcast but I have listened to podcasts recently so I will talk about those. I listened to podcasts on the Secret Behind the Da Vinci Code. They are very well spoken, very clear voices and minimal music because the podcast was primarily used for explaining, similar to a lecture. I can imagine that some editing was used but because the man speaking knows the subject inside and out so it would seem that there would be very little information needed to be edited. Personally, when a subject matter comes up where I must talk about it infront of an audience, if I KNOW the subject, then I have no problem speaking. If it is something I recently researched, I’m not as confident.

I’ve also listened to Comedy Central Podcasts. Those are more for amusement to get a comedian’s name out there. They still have a very good quality of sound for the podcast, especially when the sound is coming from a microphone on a stage. It is pretty interesting that technology can fix just about anything when it comes to another form of media/technology. There may have been added laughter for less comical jokes but its still overall a good podcast.

Many other podcasts that my friends have done by using microphones are terrible compared to professionally edited. For example, the “scratchy” sound of a microphone when you are too close to the mic . It sounds pretty bad because you personally don’t know what the mic will pick up from your voice so you make sure everything is heard. It’s difficult, without the expensive technology that radio stations have, to make a quality sound.

About Podcasts- Rachel

I consider myself a semi-regular listener to NPR’s This America Life on iTune’s pod-casts. I’ve never been really sure what time the program airs on real time, so having it available to me on a pod-cast has made it much more convenient for me. This allows me to listen to the program whenever I get the chance and lets me pick which topic I want to listen to. What I’m noticed from these pod-casts is that the voice is usually clear and very clear. The tone is much different than when you are talking with a friend and is instead like you are giving a presentation. I don’t want to say that it sounds scripted, but it is edited it a way that makes it all seem unified as one whole piece. A technique that this podcast uses to keep the audience interested is to break up the stories by the use of music. This music is used in a way that’s almost similar to starting a new paragraph in a paper. It’s letting you know that something different than what you first heard is about to begin, but still ties into the main theme of the podcast. I think it’s very effective and makes the program seem more lighter. The purpose of this show is to inform the audience in an entertaining fashion. The reason why people listen to radio is because they want to be entertained, much like TV. This America Life chooses relevant topics to everyday life and explores them further to offer its audience so insight.

Another pod-cast that I regularly listen to is the Official Grey’s Anatomy podcast.  This podcast was more informal and had two people that worked on the show engaged in a conversation. They were joking and laughing with each other, which made it enjoyable to listen to.  The purpose of this podcast was for entertainment because it was focused around a TV show.

Mike on Podcasts

The first podcast I found was APM: Composer’s Datebook.  I only selected this because i didnt want the same genre as the other two…this obviously falls under music.  I like how they start off by introducing the program and who it is brought to you in part by and the host with a little sting instruments playing in the background.  As it starts to introduce the topics of discussion the music is still playing in the background and i like this because it keeps the listener attention at least through the first part of the playback.  The music continues as the speaker does only the music changes depending on the topic he is talking about.  The obvious goal is for this podcast is to inform….it is telling the history or background of certain music and composers.

The second podcast I found was from Newshour with Jim Lehrer.  This was a news/politics genre podcast.  This podcast started out a little bit more in a formal way which is expected.  They introduced the program  and then before the women started to talk about the first topic there was a short jingle opening just like every news show has.  The first topic that they talk about is about Russian politics  they start the story out with a sound clip of people claping and then the speaker begins and then you can hear the sound clip continuing on while the speaker is still speaking so that the listener can hear what the clip is of (not just claping) but is in fact related to the topic being discussed.  It sounds like there is a continuous sound clip behind the main speaker the entire time with only different sound levels at different point in time.  There are breaks of the background sound clips depending on what fit with what was being talked about at that specific time.  The obvious point of this podcast is to inform since it is a news show.

The last podcast was from NPR.  I thought it was interesting how when i searched for NPR podcasts the search responded with NPR with various topics.  I chose movies because that is something that interests me.  This podcast started out the same way.  Introduced the program with out a jingle.  The first topic is introduced without music and continues with this form.  The only added sound is when the main speaker introduces another speaker and then goes into that sound clip.  The podcast sounds boring and does not seem to keep the interest of the listener.  This would only be interesting for those who are actually brought in by what is being talked about.  The only other sound bits are sound bits from movies.  The first sound bit came from “Shaun of the Dead” but NO MUSIC.  I guess because the main topic is movies that the only sound clips involved with the podcast are movie sound clips.  This podcast seems to be more to inform but also might be to persuade.