ICT Themes

A podcast is like a radio show. However, instead of being broadcast live, a podcast is recorded and then distributed over the internet, so that you can listen to it whenever you please.

It can be an audio Blog - you listen to it rather than read it. Podcast episodes are placed on a website, where people can subscribe to them. But listeners don't have to subscribe to a podcast to listen to it, anyone can access the podcast's web address and go there and listen.

Podcasts are portable. Anyone with an iPod or other MP3 player can transfer an episode from a computer to their player and listen when it's convenient.

Use iTunes to find podcasts.

1. Open iTunes.



2. Click on 'Music Store'

.

3. Choose 'Podcasts'. Now you can search, browse etc.

Select a podcast and click to 'Get Episode' which will download the podcast to your iTunes Podcast Library.

To subscribe to a podcast, click 'Subscribe'. iTunes downloads the most recent episode. As new episodes become available, they are automatically downloaded to iTunes (when you are connected to the Internet).

Record your commentary.

1. Open Garageband. Select New Podcast Episode.



2. Give your podcast a name and click 'Create'.



3. The Garageband window will open. Decide if it is a male or female voice you will be recording and click once on the little icon of a person. It will turn blue.



The red dot on the left side of the controls indicates that recording is enabled for this track (if the dot is not red, single click on it).



When you record, the audio will be placed in the timeline wherever the Playhead is positioned.
Click the 'Go to the Beginning' button.



Or drag the playhead all the way to the left.



4. Click the Record button and speak clearly.



As you speak, your recorded voice appears as a purple region in the timeline and contains a graphic audio waveform.



5. To stop recording, click the blue triangle.



Listen to your Recording

1. Click the 'Go to the Beginning' button.



2. Click the Playback button, (the big triangle).



The spacebar starts and stops playback too!

To remove awkward pauses or unexpected noises, you can simply re-record the voice track. However, if you are interviewing someone, for example, it might be useful to cut those sections out of the track.

Click once on the section of audio you wish to edit. It will change to a darker colour of purple.



Drag the slider to zoom in.



This will enable you to view the waveform easily. You will be able to see where the volume has suddenly increased, (if someone closes a door, for example!)



Drag the play head to the start of the section that you want to remove.

Go to Edit and drag down to Split



If you move the playhead, you will notice that your track has been split.



Click on the section of the track that you are going to split. It will be highlighted.



Drag the play head to the end of the section that you want to remove.

Go to Edit and select Split.



If you move the playhead along a little bit you will notice that the track has now been split.




Click once on the section you wish to remove. Make sure that is the only clip highlighted.



Go to Edit and select Delete.



This will remove the clip and leave a gap in your recording.



Or...

go to Edit, select Delete and Move.



This will close up the space left by the deleted section.

Click on the Loop Browser button.



A section will open at the bottom of the window showing Garageband loops.

Click on the Podcast Sounds button.



Select Jingles and choose a type of Jingle. e.g. Cinematic.



You will see a list of available Jingles some of differing lengths.



Click on the loop to 'preview' the sound.

When you have made your choice, drag the loop to the Jingles track.



Reposition the voice tracks and jingles by dragging them to the desired place.

Click on the little up and down arrow



to reveal the track volume level.



To make the sound fade out, click once on the blue line to add a marker. You will see a little blue ball. This is where the sound will begin to fade out.



Move to the point in the track where you wish the volume to be at it's lowest. and click on the line again to add another marker.



Drag the second marker downwards.

Go to 'Share' at the top of your screen. Select 'Export Podcast to Disk'.



Click 'Save'.

A MP3 audio file will be created.

The easiest way to do this is to use iTunes. You can also build up a library of podcasts to listen to on your computer.

Go to 'Share' at the top of your screen. Select Send song to iTunes.




The next window will ask you to complete some details.




Click Share.

iTunes will launch automatically. You will see a new playlist has been created



and your audio file has been added to the list.



Note: the Podcast menu option in iTunes displays podcasts downloaded from the ITunes store.