Visions and Voices - Podcasting

What is Podcasting?

We will be creating enhanced podcasts using Apple's GarageBand to combine audio and still images. For more about what a podcast is see What is Podcasting.

Gather your media files

1. capturing files to your computer
   • audio from recorders
   • still images from the web and from a digital camera
2. Organizing them in your network file space
   • Smb://orca/programs/...
   • Creating new subfolders
   • Work locally and save to the network when you’re done

Intro to Garage Band

1. Create a new podcast project
   • File > New > Create New Podcast Episode
   • Note: Only projects with a Podcast Track can create enhanced podcasts
   • Save to local harddrive
2. GarageBand interface: Tracks, Media Browser, Loops

Working with Audio

1. Record Podcast Audio directly into GarageBand
   • Set audio input in GarageBand > Preferences
   • Record enable track
2. Adding recorded voice track and Music
   • Audio files from Audacity
   • Jingles
   • Music from iTunes
3. Editing audio
   • Split and Join
   • Track Volume
   • Working with Loops from the Loop Browser (big Eyeball)

Adding Images and Markers

1. Artwork to a marker
2. URL to a marker
3. Chapter Titles
4. Deleting a marker

Adding Epsisode Artwork

1. Editing/cropping episode artwork
2. Editing Episode information
   • Select Podcast Track and choose information
3. Ducking Backing Vocals

Export your podcast to disk

1. Share > Export Podcast to Disk...
2. Choose AAC
3. Choose compression type

Tips to prevent catastrophe

• Work locally. Never open a file or work over the network
• Save often!
• Keep media files small
  • Image files: resize/crop first in Photoshop
  • Audio files: edit first in Audacity
• Normalize your audio first in Audacity
• Use simple filenames when importing media into GarageBand
  • No special characters !@#$%^&*/... or spaces
  • Keep filename short (under 10 characters)
• Lock your tracks in GarageBand when you're done editing them
• Save before final export
• Quit GarageBand before moving files around

Additional Resources

• lynda.com from on campus, get a username and password from the Computer Center front desk for off campus use
  • Check out GarageBand 09 Essential Training