Podcasting

[Peter Bremer]

I'm planning on adding podacsts/vodcats to our Library's offerings this coming fall by recording special events and publicity ventures. Anyone else out there doing something in this area? If so, how has it gone so far? From what I've read I'll need to purchase a undirectional dynamic microphone.

[Michelle Gurung]

Peter -

I've been podcasting for over a year now. Our library's podcast is at LibSyn www.alpl.libsyn.com. Basically I have volunteers do recording sessions of public domain material. It's been a great program and people love volunteering for this. I have a TON of hints that I got from trial and error. I can send you the exact specs of our microphone but we got a good deal on Amazon.

You'll need:
- a mic (we used a usb mic)
- a popfilter
- a mic stand or spider mount

Editing can be done for free and very good results with Audacity and using filters.

I have a ton (really, a lot!) of more info - feel free to pick my brain.

- Michelle

[Peter Bremer]

Hi Michelle--

I would love to know more about your library's podacsting, especially the technical aspects of it. I'm interested in creating podcasts/vodcasts for some our special events like Banned Books as well as publicity for reference services and special collections such as Best Sellers. I could definitely see creating a podcast for the latter highlighting new titles, etc. I looked into getting a undirectional dynamic microphone, but quickly learned that was more than we needed.

Basically all I think we need would be a digital voice recorder (mobile). I already downloaded Audacity. A USB mic might be useful, but I'm guessing a digital recorder would also give us mobility to cover events as well (or am I wrong about this?) Maybe for large events we should focus on vodcasting. What are the advantages/disadvantages of a USB mic and a digital voice recorder?

Is your public domain material fiction?

-Peter
Reference Librarian
University of Minnesota, Morris Briggs Library

[Michelle Gurung]

A digital recorder...I haven't used so can't offer any advice. The one thing I do like about being directly hooked up to the computer with the usb mic is that you can do test runs to check the audio setup to make sure you're not getting distortion on the sound since you're directly recording through Audacity's interface.

The USB mic....you don't need any phantom power sources (at least not for the one I chose) or a mixing board. If you were trying to record multiple people at a time then that is when you might want to look into more conventional options...yet, still maybe not.

Our pub domain material is fiction.

- Michelle

[Michelle Gurung]

Oh, yeah. Don't forget to look into a pop filter (indoors) and a dead cat (looks like a big furry mitten for the mic) - if recording outdoors. It's really frustrating to get content and have bad audio/wind/noise picked up.

The pop filter helps the speaker to keep from sounding like Sylvester the Cat.

- Michelle

[Peter Bremer]

Thanks Michelle. I really appreciate the advice.