DC Podcaster Alliance

Looking Your Best in Online Video: Wardrobe Choices

2009-01-21T00:56:00.003-05:00

Do you appear in a video podcast? Or do you interview guests on your video podcast? Then, you may be wondering what kind of clothing looks best in online video.

According to professional stylists, what you wear in a video appearance can not only make what you say more believable to your audience, but can also help the camera do its job to create a well-focused result. For this reason, it’s quite important to give serious consideration to what you wear.

Overall, just remember to dress simply in well-fitting, attractive clothing and avoid red, black, and white. But if you want to look your very best on video — and who does not? — then pay close attention to these tips.

Tip #1: Invest in Two-Three Video Outfits
There are some great shopping bargains around right now, so take advantage of this cost-saving opportunity to find two new, flattering outfits to keep in your closet for your next online video appearance. From now on, whenever you shop, it would be a great idea for you to keep your eye open for clothing on sale that would look good in photographs or video, keeping these considerations in mind.

Wear new clothes to look your best. On video, you will look best in clothes that are new or almost new. This is because clothes that have been frequently washed or dry cleaned do not look as well as new clothes. Resist the urge to wear your video clothes on other occasions. If you don’t have the budget or inclination to reserve an entire outfit, or even a blouse or two, for your video appearances, then just wear the clothes you have that are in best condition.

The confidence that you project when you look great will also have an impact!

Tip #2: Wear New Shoes (or Shoes in Excellent Condition)
While today’s video does focus on tight shots, you never know if your full body, including your a view of your shoes, will make it in the final version, or in promotional photographs. To be on the safe side, wear shoes in new or excellent condition. They don’t have to be expensive, just not worn-looking. Don’t wear your video shoes on the street; keep your video shoes in a shoe bag, and bring them with you to video shoots. The bottom of your shoe may show in a video.

Ladies, closed-toe shoes will look best, as will a shoe with some heel. Well-worn women’s shoes have a tendency to curl at the toes. If you can, resist wearing your video-reserved pair except on camera.

Men, if you wear a worn pair of shoes, have your shoes shined, and check the soles (and don’t cross your legs and show the bottom of your sole if the soles look worn). Be sure to wear socks that cover your entire calf; knee-length socks are safest.

Tip #3: Wear Clothes That Fit Well
Wear clothes that fit your body. A little too snug is better than baggy, because the camera adds ten pounds and shapeless apparel will make you look heavier and also less polished on camera.

Tip #4: Wear All-Season Clothing
Online video is aired and viewed year-round. So, wear something that would look well in all seasons. It would look odd to your audience to see you in a light, sleeveless top if they happen to view your video in December, and viewers will stop watching your video if you wear a heavy cabled sweater and they view your video in the summer.

Tip 5: Adapt a Simple Style for Video
Your best bet is to wear tailored, classic clothes. If that look is not your style, and you prefer a high-fashion or casual look, select clothing that is simple and devoid of pattern to help the camera do its best focusing job.

Men look best in a suit or jacket. But if it’s not your style, or you prefer a more casual look, you can also wear a solid colored polo top, or shirt without a tie.

Women, consider wearing pants with a longish hem. In general, they look better on camera than skirts and dresses, especially if you are sitting for an interview. For a more casual or high-fashion look, dark wash jeans are fine. Just be sure your jeans are new and pressed, and consider dressing them up with heels. Do not wear capris or gauchos, and, of course, shorts are out of the question.

If you prefer to wear a skirt or dress, there are special considerations. First, make sure the hemline is well-below the knee. Secondly, about hosiery on film: sometimes it does not look well. You may want to wear flesh colored fishnets instead of hose. Some people can even go bare if they have nice, well-moisturized legs that with sunless tanning or a non-sparkling bronzer. Another option is to wear nice boots that reach the knee.

Tip 6: Wear Microphone-Friendly Clothing
If you are being interviewed, you may be asked to wear a lavaliere microphone on your lapel. Therefore, it would be helpful if you would wear a shirt or blouse with a collar or lapel, instead of a turtleneck, for example.. If you prefer to wear another style top, you could also wear a jacket or cardigan onto which you could clip the mic.

Tip 7: Wear Simple Accessories
Avoid wearing dangling earrings, bracelets, and necklaces that may rustle or make a jangly noise that could be picked up by sensitive microphones. In general, men and women should remove watches (because the crystal can reflect off of the lights) and wear only one ring per hand. Women may wear one small necklace, and small earrings that are not too shiny. Think matte finishes. Avoid diamond studs or rhinestones. A small pin is fine. Avoid wearing scarves or ties with large scale or intricate patterns.

For tips about makeup, please see our blog post on this subject.

Tip 8: Avoid Wearing Certain Colors
To help the camera focus properly, avoid sharp contrasts, and opt for solid colored tops and jackets in light to medium shades. If you have a dark complexion, don’t wear a light colored top. If you have a light complexion, don’t wear a dark colored top. It makes it difficult for the camera to operate properly if you do. Also, pay attention to your background. If your background is deeply colored and you are wearing a light colored shirt, the camera may focus on the background instead of you.

* Do not wear red, magenta, or fuschia, which may cause the camera film to flare.
* Avoid wearing black, dark brown, and dark blue tops, which can interfere with how the camera focuses on nearby shades (generally, you can wear black pants or a skirt, however). Men, do not wear black suits or jackets. Ladies, no black blazers.
* Men (and ladies), do not wear white shirts (pick blue or pastel instead); it flares. The same applies to any props you may have. Do not use white flip charts, for example.
* You may need to avoid green (if they are using a green screen; you can check). Light green may be okay.

Tip 9: Select the Right Colors
These colors look well for video appearances.

* Pastels and Medium Tones
* Blue, including royal blue
* Tan
* Purple, Lavender
* Gray
* Wine or Burgundy (works well for ties)
* Navy (men’s suit or jacket — not too dark)

Tip #10: Avoid These Patterns and Fabrics in Clothing for Online Video
The reason why solid colors look best is because certain patterns may cause the camera to blur or produce a moire effect. Reflective fabrics also do not look well in video. Also, do not wear anything with a logo or brand name on it.

* Plaid
* Houndstooth or checks
* Fine or intricate patterns, e.g. paisley
* Tweed
* Polka Dots
* Stripes (even thin striped dress shirts or pinstripes)
* Metallics or sparkly fabrics
* Sequins and rhinestones
* Any shiny fabric, such as satin or charmeuse
* Linen (it wrinkles)

Tip #11: Bring An Outfit or Two To Your Video Shoot
Ask in advance if you can change at the location, or if you should wear your outfit to the video location. Have at least one change of clothing, even if it is just a different top. If you are appearing on camera with another woman, such as a reporter or host, make sure you find out what she is going to wear, and bring another outfit just in case you are wearing the same color. If you both wear lavender jackets, you will look ridiculous on a video!

Most of all, relax, and be yourself. Most producers can probably compensate for any wardrobe challenges that may present. Whatever you wear will probably be just fine!

Ladies, Look Great in HD with these Makeup Tips

2008-12-21T01:04:00.001-05:00

Ladies, appearing in a video podcast can be an exciting and creative endeavor. But, especially if you are over 25, the camera can make you wish you had created an audio podcast, instead. But, no worries. We have a solution. Did you know that the right makeup, especially in with today's HD technology, can help you look your best? It’s true. Here are some important video makeup tips.

Why Makeup is Important for Video
To begin, understand the purpose of makeup for video. Makeup, in this case, is not to make you more attractive than you are, but to correct the distortion caused by video and lights. The camera deepens contours beyond their actual depth, ages your face, magnifies flaws, affects color, and layers on ten pounds! Careful makeup application is critical because it actually helps correct what the camera “mistakes.” Many men also need a bit of powder to look their best on video.

Foundation for Video
Today’s high definition digital video shows every crease and imperfection in your face and neck. Light makeup with even — but not heavy — coverage is essential.

Chances are, your everyday foundation isn’t right for video. Foundations with SPF or light reflective properties can make your skin look pasty under the lights.

Instead of using your conventional foundation, consider investing in a bottle of new foundation or skin colored powder and cosmetics that are specially designed for high definition video (you may not want to wear this everyday). Prices range from $30 to $75, and there are some “try me” sets that are a good value. You can purchase this makeup at Sephora. Some to try:

* Cargo Blu_Ray collection
* Make Up For Ever primer and foundation.
* Smash Box Photo Finish and related products.

Apply the foundation with a disposable foam sponge.

In addition to foundation, you will need concealer and a powder that matches your skin. The powder will set the makeup on your face and will also provide coverage to exposed skin, such as your throat and ears. Use a synthetic brush to apply concealer.
Consider purchasing a second bottle of foundation in a deeper toned foundation to contour under your chin.

Bringing Out Your Eyes
Many videos use tight shots on your face because the eyes and mouth impart so much information. However, under bright lights, your eyes may appear diminished. In addition to liner and mascara, take the time to fill in your brows with an eyebrow pencil, matched to the color of your brows, not your hair.

If you have your brows professionally shaped or waxed, don’t schedule that appointment immediately before your video, because your skin may break out in a rash or blemishes. A quick tweeze on video day is fine.

Select matte eye shadow in light, neutral shades. Bright lights reflect sparkles in frost formulas.

Defining Your Mouth
Lipstick is essential, but choose the right reds. A red lipstick with too cool an undertone can look purple on television or film. The best choice is a natural lip color in a creamy or matte formula (avoid frosts). Match your lip liner to the inside of your lip. I like Almay all day lip color. It is gentle, and it lasts.

Most experts say avoid lip gloss for video. However, I think a very light application of clear gloss or Vaseline catches the light and bring attention to the mouth. It also helps one speak well and helps prevent mouth noises. So, I usually ask everyone to apply a little bit. Men may apply Burt’s Bees lip balm.

More Tips to Look Your Best
Makeup is part of looking your best, but getting a good night’s sleep is just as important. There are several other dos and don’ts for looking your best before you appear in a video.

* DO drink plenty of water, not just on film day, but also for the couple of days before filming, to hydrate your skin. Being well-hydrated will also help prevent you from making involuntary mouth and lip-smacking noises.
* DON’T drink alcohol the night before. Even one glass of wine will make you look older the next day.
* DO sleep with your head slightly elevated, if it is comfortable for you. This will help reduce undereye puffiness.
* DON’T get a facial or a brow wax the day before, as these procedures can make your skin break out. A recent dermatological study found no benefit to facials.
* DO moisturize your skin and lightly buff or exfoliate to remove dead skin cells, achieve a healthy glow, and create a good base for foundation.

Put a little extra effort into your regular beauty routine, and the results will be fantastic!

Podcasting is NOT Dead

2008-11-16T16:10:00.000-05:00

I just need to rant for a second... I am sick and tired of people claiming that podcasting is dead. The truth is that it is far from it. While the names and flavors may change, podcasting is alive and well. Here’s what I have spent the past week doing.

I spoke in New York City for 3 days at the

NY Post Conference

. I was joined by great podcasters like

and

from

, and

from

. We had healthy crowds with great questions. There were also big companies there, like TiVo and HP, as well as representation from several universities. I also had some great meetings with Apple and

mDialog

... two great companies with cool things coming.

While I was gone, my crew was helping Community Health Charities create a series of podcasts to help raise awareness about health issues in the workplace. We had participation of major non-profit groups like the American Heart Association, American Diabetes Association, and the American Cancer Society. The non-profit world is abuzz about podcasting.

I then returned for an open house at

RHED Pixel

, my company. We invited people from the Washington, DC community for free seminars. Our podcasting seminar was standing room only with nearly 40 people in the room. Nearly all those people stayed to learn creative approaches for creating web video as well. Some of you will think 40 people is small... we only invited 100 people to the event... 40% came just to this one seminar.

I then gave up a few hours this weekend to join Paul Vogelzang and we spoke together and

PodCamp EDU

. The room was packed with educators, communications professionals, and non-profit agencies. I met people wanting to inspire students and reach out to others for education and political action.

Speaking of political action... I’m pretty pleased that we have a new president who “gets” podcasting. This is especially good since I live in DC and work for a company that is an authorized GSA vendor to give the government podcasting services.

What the “get-rich-quick” people seem to forget is that technology takes time. For example,

TiVo/DVRs will be in 50% of all homes by the year 2010

. It was invented in 1997. That took 13 years! Podcasting is already a part of 18% of Americans life... we are right on track and continuing to grow fast. The key to success, matching content, to an audience, with consistent releases and good quality.

It looks like we will have secured sponsorship for four of the seven shows we produce by year’s end. I’ve also been fortunate to help great companies like

MommyCast

and

Peachpit TV

expand their reach with quality content. Our

book on video podcasting

is selling well and the

DC Podcaster Alliance

is about to add its 150th member.

Lets just say I’m looking forward to the new year.

If you need a little ammunition for your defense of podcasting, download and

read this

.... then pass it on.

Adding Captions to Flash Video

2008-11-16T14:12:00.000-05:00

Looking to make your web video more accessible? Then be sure to check out this

great article

on adding open captions to Flash video. If you are doing video work for the government, then this is often an absolute must.

“The really great thing about this feature, from our perspective as designers and developers, is how simple it is to accomplish and manage. If the timing is out or a caption is wrong, you simply change a few words or numbers in the XML file.”

This tutorial makes it really easy and I suggest you check it out.

Lighting Diagrams with Omnigraffle

2008-11-11T14:11:00.000-05:00

Author and video podcaster Richard Harrington as he explains the importance of lighting diagrams and shows you how to make them with

Omnigraffle

Hoodman Makes Great Camera Accessories

2008-11-04T14:11:00.000-05:00

Richard Harrington takes a look at a wide variety of video accessories in the Hoodman (

http://www.hoodmanusa.com/

) booth at Photoshop World '08.

Turning PowerPoint or Keynote into Podcasts

2008-10-21T14:13:00.000-04:00

At the '08 New Media Expo, Richard Harrington talks to David Chmura about

Profcast

, which allows you to capture your presentations to create advanced podcasts.

Two Great Tools for Blogs

2008-09-28T14:14:00.000-04:00

Just a quick post.... there are two pieces of tech I’ve been using on my blogs (both are free).

Lijit

adds a great search engine to your site. You can create your own search network including multiple blogs, facebook, youtube, linkedin, flickr, and more. This is really useful.

Widgetbox

lets you turn your RSS feed into a blog widget that can be posted to numerous social sites. Very clean and will help extend your reach.

Be sure to try both out....

Publishing with mDialog

2008-09-27T14:14:00.000-04:00

Richard Harrington discusses the mDialog (

http://www.mdialog.com/

) online video platform with Greg Philpott at the 2008 New Media Expo.

More Than One Billion Users Will View Online Video in 2013

2008-09-21T14:14:00.000-04:00

Recently came across a new article about the growth in online video viewership. Be sure to check out what

ABI Research

has to say...

“Sparked by increasing broadband penetration and rising connection speeds available to a growing percentage of the world’s population, over-the-top video has seen phenomenal growth in very recent years. A new study from ABI Research forecasts the number of viewers who access video via the Web to nearly quadruple in the next few years, reaching at least one billion in 2013.

“The rapid expansion of broadband video creates opportunities across a number of market sectors,” comments senior analyst Cesar Bachelet. “A wide variety of actors aim to gain a share of this fast-growing market: not only content owners such as the BBC and NBC Universal, and Internet portals such as AOL and Yahoo!, but also a range of new entrants including user-generated content sites such as YouTube and Dailymotion, broadband video sites such as CinemaNow and Lovefilm, and Internet TV providers such as Apple and Zattoo.”

See the full article...

Podcast Advertising Shown to Be Highly Effective

2008-09-11T14:45:00.002-04:00

Study results released this spring found that podcast advertising is three times more effective than online video advertising and seven times more effective than television, when measured in terms of unaided ad awareness 52 online shows and podcasts participated in the four campaigns studied and 6,869 audience members participated in the research.

Ad formats consisted of: embedded :15 and :30 host-read audio and video ads, embedded :10 and :15 produced video ads, ad banners on publisher websites, and social networking in the form of publisher blog entries about advertised brands and related topics. Podtrac developed the advertising effectiveness methodology in conjunction with TNS.

The study showed embedded advertising in online shows and podcasts to be highly effective for increasing brand awareness, usage intent and positively impacting brand perceptions across four diverse product categories: television programming, automobiles, financial service, and digital imaging. Results included:

• Average unaided ad recall of 68%
• Average aided ad recall of 89%
• 73% average increase in likelihood to use/buy vs control group
• 69% having a more favorable view of advertiser due to ad exposure

“The unaided awareness level of 68% is considerably higher in podcasts and online shows than in other offline and online media,” said Mark McCrery, Podtrac’s CEO and Co-Founder. “Narrowly targeted audiences, appropriate ad formats, content relevance, and show host involvement are some of the factors which come together to produce highly effective ads in online shows and podcasts.”

“The data also suggest audiences are paying close attention to show content and the embedded ads within them which greatly increased ad effectiveness in the studies,” said Doug Keith, former Vice President of the Media & Entertainment Group at TNS and currently President of Future Research Consulting. “The high unaided ad recall figures are no doubt the results of a less cluttered environment.”

“Online shows and podcasts have loyal audiences who pay attention to advertisers who support the shows they regularly listen to or watch,” said Velvet Beard, Podtrac’s Vice President of Products. “The studies showed a 73% increase in likelihood to use or buy an advertised product which is an indication of successful targeting, the unique relationship audience members have with the hosts of today’s online shows, and their ability to quickly move audiences from awareness to consideration to purchase. The studies showed that 69% of audience members have a more favorable view of in-show advertisers, which means a tremendous amount of goodwill goes to advertisers of online shows when show selection is intentional and advertising and ad formats are integrated into show formats.”

The 52 podcasts and online shows studied as part of the research include: This Week in Tech, MacBreak Weekly, net@night, and Daily Giz Wiz all with TWiT.tv’s Leo Laporte; MacBreak, MacBreak Tech and This Week in Media with PixelCorp.tv’s Alex Lindsey; Geek News Central with Todd Cochran;SDR News with Andy McCaskey; Feast of Fools; Filmspotting; and FlashTV.

Podcast Audience is Growing Steadily

2008-09-11T13:55:00.003-04:00

The Pew Internet & American Life Project conducts surveys about podcast and other online media usage. According to Pew Researchers, the number of women and the number of people over age 65 who have downloaded podcasts has doubled over the past two years, and 19% of Americans have downloaded a podcast, compared with 12% in 2006.

The podcast audience continues to be educated and tech-savvy, with a wide range of incomes and ages.

Microsoft Zune

2008-08-19T14:15:00.000-04:00

Author and video podcaster Richard Harrington speaks to Microsoft Zune podcasting guru Rob Greenlee at the 2008 New Media Expo.

Presentation on WordPress

2008-06-28T14:26:00.000-04:00

DCPA Member Naomi offers tips on using WordPress and blogging.

http://www.viddler.com/explore/geekycybermom/videos/28/

Be sure to check it out.

Bill Mandates Closed Captioning for Podcasts

2008-06-28T14:18:00.000-04:00

A new bill has been introduced into congress that would target accessibility of web video. The "21st Century Communications and Video Accessibility Act of 2008" (

H.R. 6320

) covers about a dozen areas. The proposed law has Internet video captioning requirements.

Eighteen months after its enactment, the Federal Communications Commission must set up regulations and deadlines for "an appropriate schedule of deadlines for the provision of closed captioning of video programming distributed to the public over the Internet."

Three kinds of video would be affected:

Material that has already been captioned for TV viewing
Live programming
Video that is "generally considered to be comparable to programming provided by multichannel programming distributors."

It is point three that is sticky. A whole lot of podcasts fall into this category. Closed captioning and transcriptions cost.... many podcasters see little if any profit from their shows. Always nice when congress sticks its nose in the Internet.

How about instead of sending money to worhless causes... they actualy fund this requirement.

New Media Expo Coming Soon

2008-06-28T14:17:00.000-04:00

Just a reminder that I'll be speaking at this year's

New Media Expo

in Las Vegas. The event runs August 14-16 and I hope you can come out. My class is called:

Producing Video Podcasts with Multiple Cameras

Want to cut down editing time and give your show more polish? Learn how to create video podcasts using multiple cameras. Join veteran podcaster Richard Harrington as he shows how to harness multiple angles to improve your show. From concerts and live events to demos and interviews, multiple cameras will help you tell your story. Learn how to setup and match your cameras as well as essential editing techniques. This workshop will make multi-camera productions a snap.

Advertisers Begin To Target Podcasts

2008-06-23T14:16:00.000-04:00

A great article about podcasters and advertisers....
I’ve often scratched my head how I can gather 2 million people each month... but advertisrs still go with magazines that deliver less than 25% of that. This article from Investor’s Business Daily is an important read. It also features a colleague of mine... Scott Bourne.

Lend Me Your Ears: Advertisers Begin To Target Podcasts

Podcast audiences have branched out far beyond just geeks. And advertisers are starting to like them, too.
After having placed ads with Web sites and search engines, more advertisers are starting to spread their ad dollars to audio and video podcasts in an attempt to reach certain consumers.

Read the rest.

Shooting Progressive

2008-06-10T14:16:00.000-04:00

Author and video podcaster Richard Harrington explains why he recommends shooting your video podcast in 24p (or 24 frames per second, progressive).

5 Tips for Launching a Successful Podcast

2008-06-06T18:39:00.000-04:00

Emarketer reports that in in 2007, 18.5 million Americans tuned into podcasts. In four more years, the analysts projected that this audience will more than triple in size.

Ready to hop on the podcast bandwagon? Great! Check out these tips for launching a successful podcast.

Podcast on a regular basis. You’ll earn loyal listeners if you podcast on a schedule, such as weekly, bi-weekly, or monthly. Try to upload your shows on the same day of the week.
Keep your podcast episodes short and sweet. Online audiences have short attention spans. Five minutes is long enough. Anything over ten minutes is pushing it.
Stick to informative and entertaining content. If you talk about information listeners really value, you can slip in a little promotion. A rule of thumb for email marketing is 85% useful content and 15% promotional content. It would be unwise to devote more than 15% of your air time to promotions.
Submit your podcast to iTunes.
Create a compelling podcast website. Your website or blog can feature your podcast schedule, announcements, and special offers, archive show notes, answer audience questions, and promote products or services.
Measure your success. Some measurement tools to try:

Google Analytics: tracks users and audio file downloads
Feedburner: measures the number of unique subscribers per episode
Podtrac and Volomedia: behavioral and demographic data

Episodic Viewing of Podcasts

2008-05-17T01:06:00.000-04:00

Deeje Cooley from Adobe shares some interesting thoughts about episodic viewing of podcasts. Don't miss this

great post

on what's possible with the new Adobe Media Player.

“There is a better way. More and more,

TV shows are being (re)distributed as RSS

feeds, which allows for a completely "on-demand" experience. What's more,

the coolest feature

Adobe Media Player

, called "Storyline Subscriptions", takes advantage of the reverse chronological order inherent in RSS to deliver every episode of a show, in order, from the beginning, at a pace determined by each individual viewer.

Most video RSS aggregators will pull the most recent episodes of a show, which is great for news and magazine-style shows. But for story-based shows, viewers really want to start from the beginning, in order to follow the story arcs and character developments. When you subscribe to a show in Adobe Media Player, you can choose to either pull the N most recent episodes, or choose to pull N episodes starting with a specific episode, usually the first one. And of course you can change these settings, on a per-show basis, at any time.”

Be sure to

check it out.

Near NYC? Check Out Rocketboom.

2008-05-16T01:07:00.000-04:00

If you're near New York City, you might want to

check out the NYC Podcasting Association event

featuring

Andrew Baron

Rocketboom

.

When: Thursday, May 29, 7:00 PM

Meeting Description: We'd like to welcome Andrew Baron as this month's speaker. Andrew is best know for the hit videoblog Rocketboom. Andrew will talk about the current state of the industry; Where is the ad market at? Where is traditional media at in moving online? What options are avail to startups? What happened to Podshow and Podtec? What's wrong with Revision3 and Next New Networks?

Andrew Michael Baron is the creator and founder of the popular daily videoblog, Rocketboom. He is also the lead writer and producer of the show which has garnered international notoriety.

In Austin during the 1990s, Baron played in bands, ran a visual and performing art gallery and worked a variety of tech jobs. After receiving a BA in Philosophy from Bates College (Maine), Baron graduated with a Master of Fine Arts in Design and Technology in 2003 from Parson in New York City. He was teaching graduate classes at Parsons and MIT when the notion of Rocketboom came to him. Although he has little interest in television (and did not own a TV set during the past decade), Baron has always been inspired by the implications of the democratization of media.

Lighting With Cookies

2008-05-13T01:06:00.000-04:00

Author & video podcaster Richard Harrington shows you how you can make "cookies" and use them to enhance the look of your sets or locations.

NIN – The Times are Changing

2008-05-06T01:05:00.000-04:00

One of the first bands I fell in love with during college was Nine Inch Nails (actually back then, it wasn't a band). The seminal record,

Pretty Hate Machine

was a mash-up of Prince Samples and Orchestral Scores from Stephen King and Clive Barker films (along with many other sounds). Since then Trent Reznor has continued to evolve/

Yesreday they‘ve releases The Slip—a new 10-track album—for free on

http://theslip.nin.com/.

The record is available in virtually every flavor of DRM-free digital format, all you need to do is give them your email address. The album will eventually be available in traditional formats as well. This move mirrors those of both

Radiohead

and

Prince

.

Available in several DRM-free formats, the record will be released on CD and vinyl in July.

"Thank you for your continued and loyal support over the years," Reznor wrote. "This one's on me."

There's a great article over at

Billboard.com

that goes deeper into the whys... what I think is amazing is where the industry seems to be going. Here's an artist who's always been pushing limits (including abandonning his record label recently). This record, along with his last

Ghosts I-IV

were released under Creative Commons (in fact much of Ghosts is also free).

Taking it a step further, Reznor offers many of his tracks for remix at

http://remix.nin.com/

). So here's a guy who not only tries new things, but wants his fans to remix his records and have fun. In fact you can share your remix and listen to others off his site. I think its interesting that there's a financial model here thats all about creating a relationship with the fan base.

Bottom line... check this out... the future is at hand.

Does the World Need Another Media Player?

2008-04-28T20:10:00.000-04:00

The fine folks over at Layers Magazine have published the article:

Does the World Need Another Media Player?

This time its had the benefit of being scrubbed by an editor (not just spell-checker). You can read it here:

http://www.layersmagazine.com/column_adobe_mediaplayer1.html

A few folks have commented on the length of the article... here’s the Spark Notes version:

Flash Video is getting really popular
The Adobe Media Player will be easier for corporations, schools, and government to use due to Adobe's greater acceptance over Apple (and especially iTunes).
The media player supports several models that are attractive to content creators
The media player supports very rich statistics on media consumption
The application is going to move onto all sorts of devices and platforms in the near future.
If you are a podcaster... I predict the Adobe Media Player will have as great of an impact as iTunes did on podcast consumption.

The article is long... but worth the read... I promise.

Interesting Video to Explain Podcasting

2008-04-27T20:07:00.000-04:00

Adobe Demos Future Technology at NAB

2008-04-24T20:08:00.000-04:00

Adobe has actually posted their "secret" presentation from NAB. Hart Shafer talks about four cool things Adobe has up their sleeve.

You

need to watch this... trust me. BTW (for those of you waiting... they did show

OnLocation

for Mac in this demo).

School of Podcasting Interview about Video Podcasting

2008-04-23T20:09:00.000-04:00

Thanks to the

School of Podcasting

for having us on the show. I had a chance to catch up and talk with the host about what folks need to think about when moving into the world of video podcasting. The interview also features my co-author (and business partner) Mark Weiser.

You can get the interview for free right here (

http://www.schoolofpodcasting.libsyn.com/index.php?post_id=330803

) and you should also check out their other shows which offer great perspective.

-Rich Harrington

’Toon Your Video in Adobe CS3 Production Premium

2008-04-22T20:12:00.000-04:00

Want to create a cartoon effect for your video? Be sure to check out this step-by-step tutorial I wrote for Layers Magazine.

“Sure, clients want it…that “cartoon look.” But let’s face it; good animation is hard to come by. Unless you have a gaggle of animators locked in your closet, you’ll need to get creative. Sure, you could break out the pencil and paper (or maybe even try shadow puppets), but we’re here to offer you a different solution. By harnessing the power of Adobe CS3 Production Premium, you can convert video frames into vector art into film-resolution movie files. Curious? It’s all possible with the power of the Production Premium.

Read on

.”

Time to Comment on Advertising and Measurement Standards

2008-04-22T20:11:00.000-04:00

The Association for Downloadable Media just unveiled Advertisement Unit Standards and Download Measurement Guidelines. They'd like public comments on both. They encourage public comments in order to refine and enhance the documentation. The public comment period will end on May 16, 2008. You can download and comment on the draft standards for advertising and measurement

here.

The open comment period will conclude May 16, 2008.

Two Updated Final Cut Pro DVDs

2008-04-21T20:11:00.000-04:00

I just released two newly updated Final Cut Pro discs. We updated our Absolute Training for Final Cut Studios Disc 1 & 2. Both DVDs are full current for Final Cut Studio 2 and include hands-on training files as well as HD resolution training and iPod files.

Apple Final Cut Pro

Volume 1: Getting Started in Final Cut Pro

Volume 2: Going Deeper in Final Cut Studio

Also, you may have missed that we recently released the following titles. These also include HD and iPod versions on the same disc.

Apple Color

Volume 11:

Introduction to Color

Volume 12: Advanced Color

Bundled for Savings

Apple Motion

Volume 13: Getting Started with Apple Motion

Volume 14: Going Deeper with Apple Motion

Volume 15: Advanced Techniques with Apple Motion

Bundled for Savings

Animoto Creates Rocking Slideshows

2008-04-04T20:12:00.000-04:00

Looking for something different? I discovered

Animoto

at this year's SXSW conference... Load up your photos, pick a song, and within a few minutes you have a rocking music video. You can use their cleared music or load up your own. Thirty-second movies are free, full-length videos cost $3. You can get a full year's access for $30.

The whole process is a piece of cake. Be sure to check them out –

here.

You can post the videos to a website, download them for an iPod, or even use YouTube to share. The videos you download

Here are a two more of mine that you can check out.

Three-Point Lighting

2008-04-01T20:14:00.000-04:00

Author & video podcaster Richard Harrington explains a fundamental of video production - Three-point lighting.

Cool Link for Beginning Podcasters!

2008-03-30T20:38:00.002-04:00

You can buy this quick reference guide in bookstores ($5.95), but the Quamut guide to Podcasting is also available on line -- and the content is free! This is a nice, quick overview of podcasting. Check it out!

A Brief History of Podcasting
How to Listen to Podcasts
How to Build a Podcasting Studio
How to Plan a Podcast
How to Record a Podcast
How to Edit Your Podcast
How to Publish Your Podcast
How to Promote Your Podcast

M-Audio Recorder

2008-03-25T20:14:00.000-04:00

Author and video podcaster Richard Harrington demonstrates the M-Audio (

http://www.m-audio.com/

) recorder and explains how you can use it in your video podcasts.

New Book on Video Podcasting is Out

2008-03-20T20:15:00.000-04:00

Our new book called Producing Video Podcasts is shipping. We're really happy with how its turned out. It's a comprehensive title that explores all aspects of producing video podcasts (as well as web video).

If you are a budding podcaster or a multimedia professional I strongly encourage you to check out the book. Here are several links to give you a good idea of what its all about.

The Book:

–

–

–

–

Terrific Online "How-To" Videos

2008-03-18T12:30:00.002-04:00

Check out these free online videos from "Digital Juice." These short, funny, and informative videos cover everything from lighting to audio, to using logos to working with high-def. They're great for anyone interested in online video production!

Visit http://www.digitaljuice.com/djtv/

21 Years of Apple Evolution

2008-03-15T20:15:00.000-04:00

When I look at what Apple has accomplished its been an interesting journey. The company has released a ton of great products (and also a few clunkers). I have found a

great image

that lets you see much of the product line laid out chronologically. After all, you can't get to the great Mighty Mouse without first passing the "hockey puck."

It really is pretty interesting to

see the "big" picture

. Be sure to click on the graphic so you can zoom in and view.

What's Your Angle?

2008-03-10T20:16:00.000-04:00

While it may seem a little cliché, another way to refine your show’s concept is to ask the standard Who, What, Where, When, and Why questions.

Who –

Who is going to watch the show? Who is going to host the show?

What –

What topics will the show cover? What genre or format will it use?

Where –

Where will the show be recorded? A studio? On location?

When –

When will the show come out? Weekly? Monthly?

Why –

Why would a viewer subscribe to the show? Why would they come back for another episode?

Open Television Network Launches

2008-03-01T20:17:00.000-05:00

Podcasters looking to monetize their content have a new option called the Open Television Network, powered by klickTab. The site has been under development for a long time and has now launched.

“klickTab is a unique service that lets you create single item, or channel feeds (aka podcasts) where there is a charge per item downloaded.

As a content owner, you create an account for yourself at

http://www.opentvnetwork.com/contentowners

. You can check out the process through the screencasts on that page, along with some resources on encoding, hosting and protecting content.

Once you have created an content owner merchant account, you then create the feeds (podcasts) and add items to those feeds. We provide you with an embed code that has the klickTab graphic and all necessary code behind it so that a viewer customer can click on the link, enter their email address and password and download the link to iTunes or Miro. In iTunes or Miro they can browse the previews (trailers) you provide, buy content items, manage them, view and/or synchronize to an iPod or stream to an Apple TV.”

You can find more details on their

site

and in this

article

Warm Up Your Voice for Podcasting

2008-02-28T23:41:00.000-05:00

Before You Record...
Did you know that you can prepare your mouth for podcasting? If your mouth is dry, you may inadvertently make unattractive mouth sounds, such as tongue clicks. And that doesn't sound nice!

Before you speak into the microphone, drink and swish your mouth well with warm water, not cold water (which will constrict your vocal chords), and not hot water. Don’t drink milk, which will cause mucus, and avoid bubbly soda or sugary fruit juices. Don’t eat right before you podcast, and use lip balm, to keep you from smacking your lips.

Did You Just Say "Um?"
Do you say "um" a lot? I know I do. I've noticed if I slow down and try to relax, that I don't say "um" quite as much. But it's still a challenge for me. I'd love to hear what other people do to not say "um."

Bruce Sharpe, the inventor of the Levelator, says it's important to edit out distracting sounds, such as “um” or other mistakes in the sound editing process. After you have identified the segment of sound you want to delete, he recommends using a cross fade on the volume next to the cut sound section so that the sound cut-off doesn't sound quite so abrupt.

I use Garage Band for audio editing, so I haven't tried it out this plug-in, but if you’re using Audacity to do post-production editing, you can download Bruce Sharpe’s handy plug-in to smoothly handle cross fades with Audacity. This plug-in can be found on http://www.singularproductions.net.

Happy Podcasting!

New Podcast Advertising and Traffic Standards to Be Announced

2008-02-17T16:56:00.000-05:00

Mashable.com, the Social Networking News site reports that “the Association for Downloadable Media

has finally announced a date

for when they plan to release their long awaited Advertising and Sponsorship Standard and Guidelines for Traffic Measurement - April 16th. The announcement will be made during the

upcoming San Francisco ad:tech conference

.”

Click here

to read the full article.

DC Podcaster Alliance Meeting Video

2008-02-17T12:34:00.005-05:00

In this 7-minute video, meet some DC Podcasters. Monthly meetings are free! Join us!

Recorded on February 16, 2008

Featured members:

Mary

The Fletcher Prince Podcast

Living Well With Autism

Naomi

Tales of a Single Parent

Yvonne

Ray

The Produce Picker Podcast

Will

Cloudy Day Art

Oxana

The Microfinance Podcast

Michael

Ray

Jason

Busybee

Meet us at the Meetup

2008-02-17T12:31:00.000-05:00

Field Production Strategies for Video Podcasting

2008-02-16T19:29:00.000-05:00

Podcast and New Media Expo 2007

: The rules of the studio don’t apply the same in the field. In this session you will learn how to properly capture your video content outside of a controlled environment and unpredictable lighting and background noise. You also learn how to achieve the best results when encoding files for various output devices. See how the experts retain overall quality with an overview of the latest methods and technologies. This session will also share best practices for multi-camera productions.

Download mp3:

Distributing Video in Various Formats: How To Make the Right Choice

(1:00:46 min 27.9 MB)

Testing the Feed

2008-02-16T19:23:00.000-05:00

Validator

There are lots of things that can break an RSS feed. A misplaced character, a misformed date, the list goes on. Fortunately testing a feed is easy. Once you have your feed and media available online, you’ll want to test it. The easiest way is to visit

http://www.feedvalidator.org/

where you can enter the adress for your feed. If there are errors in your feed, they are clearly identified. The website also offers suggestions and links to more information on how to fix common problems. This website is invaluable and shoot be a part of your testing process.

Recording Techniques for Podcasting

2008-02-14T23:00:00.000-05:00

How to Record A Great Sounding Podcast

I learned some valuable tips for recording podcasts from professional podcaster, John McJunkin of Avalon Podcasting.

John identified three problem areas for sound:

Distractions, such as mouth noises.
Masking–hiss buzz, music, sound effects, and acoustical blurring from the room.
Distortion–that you add electronically, e.g., the by-products of sound editing.

He says podcasters should understand that there are elements of sound production that they can control, and ones that you have to live with. For example, you can control

How you prepare for your podcast and the way you speak.
The equipment you use, such as good quality microphones.
The sound editing equipment you use, such as compression.
The digital encoding rate and other features you employ.

But you can’t control how the listener accesses the podcast. For example, you can't control

the quality of their computer and the speed of their download.
the quality of their MP3 player.
the quality of their ear buds or head phones.

It may seem obvious, but it’s good to remember what you can control for in sound production.

Here are some tips he mentioned, along with some of my own comments.

Finding a Podcast-Friendly Space for Recording

John McJunkin says that the recorded ambiance–or noise from within the room–cannot be removed in editing. It can be adjusted with the noise reduction feature in sound editing, but that feature can cause its own challenges in altering the sound of the recording. I know this is true, because I have tried it. For example, once I recorded a podcast on a road trip. It was good material, but it was hard to take out the engine sound, even with noise reduction.

Of course, there are times when ambient noise adds something to the podcast. Tee Morris (the author of "Podcasting for Dummies") has mentioned the example of when you may be recording interviews at a conference and you want a certain amount of background hub-bub to give the listener a sense of excitement of that environment.

John recommends record in a small, innermost room with absorbent elements, such as draperies or furniture. The standard is to use Auralex foam. If foam isn't handy, you can use heavy rugs and draperies (or even blankets and quilts). Cover up anything hard that will reflect the sound. I've even heard tell of people who podcast in walk-in closets! The clothing provides good sound insulation.

If that kind of preparation just sounds like too much trouble for you, at least try to avoid recording directly in front of your computer monitor, e.g., with a USB mic. Sure, I've done it. But the sound bounces back from the hard surface of your screen. The podcasts that I've recorded in my living room with soft furnishings and drapes sound better.

Correcting for Environmental Noise

If you're going to be really serious about it, John proposes recording the environment before you podcast. That way you can identify the sounds you may otherwise miss. Examples of sounds that you may not notice until you record them include environmental sounds such as cars on the street, a computer fan, air conditioning, cellphones (do not put on vibrate), jingling jewelry, change in your pockets, and even squeaky chairs. John also advises not to wear headphones while you podcast; let a friend do that.

What to Do About Notes

One of the most distracting sounds in a podcast can be the noise that comes from turning the pages of your script or notes as you speak and record. It’s hard to record a podcast without a script or outline at hand, but the papers do create audible noise. To minimize this, put your papers and notes on a music stand covered with a carpet remnant and arrange them so you don’t have to shuffle them.

Analog to Digital

2008-02-12T19:24:00.000-05:00

Author and video podcaster Richard Harrington explains how you can best convert an analog video source to a digital format.

Like the podcast? Subscribe for

FREE

Podcasts Reach A Desirable Market Segment

2008-02-12T09:18:00.000-05:00

New media marketing is all about engagement, and nothing engages customers and constituents like blogs, social networks, and podcasts.

Arbriton assesses that 13% of all Americans have listened to an audio podcast, not counting the millions who have tuned in to “You Tube.” This desirable market segment is well-educated and affluent, listens to news and public affairs shows, and shops online.

Gender-wise, podcast audiences are almost evenly distributed between men and women. About half of all podcast enthusiasts are 35 or older, while the other half of podcast listeners and viewers are between the ages of 12 and 34.

You can review the Arbitron Report on Podcasting (2007) at

http://www.edisonresearch.com/home/archives/2007/03/the_podcast_aud.php

New Plugins for Broader DVCPRO HD and P2 Support

2008-02-10T18:22:00.001-05:00

This is just awesome,

Calibrated Software

has a bunch of new plug-ins on tap that make it possible to work with MXF and DVCPRO HD codecs. This will streamline P2 workflow for both Mac and Windows users, as well as make it easier to move DVCPRO HD material to a PC. I promise a detailed review soon. The codecs cost $49 each. Here's the info.

QuickTime P2 MXF/DVCProHD Decode Components for Apple

For playing P2 MXF Files and QuickTime DVCProHD Files on Mac OSX (Intel) and importing native P2 MXF Files into Final Cut Pro Studio 2 Applications (see Read Me)
Please note: The P2 MXF plugin has NOT been tested in long form projects in FCP Studio 2 Applications and the DVCProHD Codec should NOT be installed if the Apple DVCProHD Codec is already installed.

Download BETA 1.0.0 (Build 18) for OSX 10.4 (Tiger) - Intel Only

Download BETA 1.0.0 (Build 18) for OSX 10.5 (Leopard) - Intel Only

Download Read Me

Download License Agreement

QuickTime P2 MXF/DVCProHD Decode Components for Windows

For playing P2 MXF Files and QuickTime DVCProHD Files on Windows (see Read Me)

Download BETA 1.0.0 (Build 18) for Windows

Download Read Me

Download License Agreement

Using Levelator

2008-02-09T08:50:00.000-05:00

For those of you who may be new to podcasting, I wanted to tell you about

Levelator

– created by the effervescently charming Bruce Sharpe! which is a free tool you can download to even out the volume of your recording.You can find Levelator at

http://www.conversationsnetwork.org/levelator

.

After you have downloaded Levelator, drag a .wav file (recorded audio file)into the Levelator window on your desktop. Like magic, within the duration of a few seconds, it creates another .wav file with smoother levels of volume in the recording (less peaks and valleys of volume).

This is especially useful for recorded conversations in which one speaker has a soft voice (like mine) and the other has a more powerful voice (like my friend’s voice). The Levelator brings those volumes closer together, and the result is a recording that is more pleasing to listen to.

You may still have to do some additional sound editing to make your podcast sound its best, but Levelator is fun and easy to try.

Podcasting & New Media Conferences at NAB

2008-02-07T18:24:00.000-05:00

Looking for some great training on post production, podcasting, or new media? I'll be speaking at several conferences located at this year's NAB conference.

Choose the training you need at NAB Show 2008 in Las Vegas, Nevada:

Podcasting Summit

April 11 - 13
This is a can’t miss conference for podcasting professionals and anyone interested in diving into this evolving content delivery method.

New Media 2.0 - Creating and Delivering New Media to New Audiences

April 14 - 15
This new conference is designed for content creators looking to harness the power of the Internet for increased distribution and new audiences.

Post|Production World Conference

April 11 - 16
The largest event of its kind anywhere, this conference delivers high-level training on the latest production and post-production techniques and software.

Producer | Director Workshop

April 11 - 13
This new conference is designed for those content creators who are charged with managing and developing content. Learn new techniques for planning and managing successful video and new media projects.

New Report on Podcasting

2008-02-06T18:24:00.001-05:00

We're always only the lookout for news on podcasting, here's a new report from eMarketer.com.

Heard the Latest About Podcasting?

http://www.emarketer.com/Article.aspx?1005869

Here's the highlights.

Local Podcasting Classes (and Podcast-related)

2008-02-02T15:54:00.000-05:00

Ready for school? Here are some local podcasting and podcasting-related classes coming up now through the spring. I put a star next to the ones I am planning to attend, so look for me! Additional dates and offerings are available that aren't listed here.

Fairfax Public Access
offers all kinds of evening and weekend classes for affordable fees, from lighting to makeup to directing, and more. None of them appear to be specifically related to podcasting, but the audio and video classes, and editing classes, would be very helpful. I haven't taken any of their classes, but I'm
seriously
considering it!
Here's a link to their class schedule
. They offer free orientations on Saturdays once a month.
EEI Communications
offers podcasting classes and video production classes during the work week, and other classes where you can learn an awful lot in two or three days. The classes are not cheap, but they are a good value, and I have had excellent instructors there. I recommend them.
Also, check
Fairfax County Public Schools
and
Arlington County Public Schools
Adult Education classes. There aren't any podcast or video classes (or audio or video editing classes), but they offer inexpensive classes like Adobe Photo Shop Elements (which I am taking--got to learn how to fix those podcast logos and enhanced podcast images!).

Podcasting Classes

Cooking Your Podcast
(http://entrepreneur.cpcug.org/workshops.html). Saturday, March 1. 1:30-4:30. Bethesda, MD. $30.
Podcasting for Business and Government
(2 days). April 7-8. $745. EEI.
Enhanced and Video Podcasts Training
(2 days). April 14-15. $745. EEI.

Final Cut Pro Classes

Apple Final Cut Pro I Training
(2 days). February 21-22. $745. EEI.
Apple Final Cut Pro
(Many classes and schedules available) $500. FCAC

Garage Band Classes

Free hourly workshops offered weekly at local Apple Stores! Check
online
for the schedule.

iMovie Classes

Free hourly workshops offered weekly at local Apple Stores! Check
online
for the schedule.

Video Classes

Sony Vegas Video
(2 days). Feb. 28-29. $745. EEI.
Digital Video Production for Streaming and DVD Training
. (3 days) March 17-19. $1,065. EEI

Creating A Logo for Your Podcast

2008-02-02T15:30:00.000-05:00

The First Impression Is The Most Important One

Your podcast's logo is part of your podcast's "brand" and is the first impression you make on potential subscribers, since the logo for your podcast will appear as the "album art" on iTunes and in other podcast directories. Importantly, iTunes considers the attractiveness of your logo as one consideration when deciding whether to prominently feature your podcast. So, it's worthwhile to create a simple and appealing logo.

Good Logo Design

When designing your logo, select an image and/or type face that works well in a variety of sizes, and that is legible when reproduced in a small size (it will be appear quite small if it is featured in iTunes and in embeddable podcast players). It should also look well when expanded. iTunes prefers square .jpg images that are 600 x 600 pixels (my logo isn't square, but it still was accepted, thank goodness!).

Logo Symbolism

Your podcast logo should reflect the tone and content of your podcast, as well as the preferences of your audience. The symbolism associated with the logo may be personally meaningful for you, and may subtly convey characteristics about your podcast to your subscribers.

For example, the logo for my podcast "Living Well With Autism" features a "Brady Bunch"-style font that suggested "family" to me. I made the words "Living Well" larger than "with Autism" because I want my subscribers to understand that having a child with autism doesn't preclude a good quality of life. I made the words slightly askew to suggest a child-like playfulness--which my podcast advises as an approach to engage children with autism.

Selecting Logo Colors

Your colors of your podcast's logo can be especially meaningful. For simplicity, you may want to select one or two colors. For my logo, I chose two upbeat, friendly shades--lime green and citrus orange--because those colors are popular on the web right now, are associated with health, and convey the positive tone of my podcast's content. The color orange is also associated with RSS feeds.

Creating Your Logo

So, now that you know about logos, how do you go about creating one? If you aren't the artistic type, you can hire a professional graphic designer to create a logo for you. The price for a professionally designed logo starts at about $1,000. If that's out of your budget, you can create your own logo for about $50 using Logo Maker (http://www.logomaker.com).

Uploading and associating the logo image you create (in .jpg format) is pretty straightforward if you use a program like GarageBand (for Macintosh) or a podcast host such as Podomatic. iTunes also has online instructions for podcasters who can do programming.

And don't forget...you can put your logo on t-shirts and blog posts!

Your Podcast "To-Do" List

2008-01-26T20:28:00.000-05:00

Planning A Podcast

Producing a podcast can be fun and rewarding, but it is also a lot of work. You can avoid "pod-fading" (losing interest in producing episodes) by letting your passion for your topic fuel your motivation, and taking these preliminary steps to get organized.

After you have identified the objectives, audience, format, and content for your content, put these items on your podcast planning "to-do list."

Brainstorm podcast topics and alternative format ideas.
Write podcast outlines or scripts and show notes.
Research and purchase equipment (microphones, computer, editing software, etc.)
Select pod-safe music.
Create graphics and collect images and assets, such as your podcast logo/album art, down-loadable handouts, web links, and photographs.
Schedule your episodes; plan for production and editing time.
Select a host for your podcast.
Promote your show on podcast directories, web sites, blogs, and advertisements.

Planning Your Podcast: Tone, Content, and Format

2008-01-17T09:00:00.000-05:00

Planning the Tone, Content, and Format of Your Podcast

It may seem obvious, but determining what kinds of attributes you want to have in your podcast is an important planning step. Before you podcast, decide what kind of tone, content, and format is right for your message and audience. This will ensure that your podcast has focus and appeal.

Tone and Content. How will your podcast be different from other podcasts (or related media)? Originality is important, especially if you want your podcast to be prominently featured by iTunes and other podcast directories, or if you're contemplating monetization.

Check out other podcasts and websites that relate to your podcast's subject. If you find a well-produced podcast on your topic, then consider ways to differentiate your podcast. For example, decide if your podcast have a serious or humorous tone. Will you restrict the content of the episodes to specific themes or subject matter not explored elsewhere?

Format. Just like radio and television programs, there are many types of podcasts. Considering your subject matter and your audience, which format of podcast would work best? Or be most original? These are just some examples...

A monologue-style podcast, featuring commentary by a single host.
A duo-style podcast, emphasizing conversation between two hosts.
An interview-style podcast, featuring studio guests or on-the-street, "live" podcasting
Entertainment podcast, featuring music, drama, readings, or other performances.

One aspect that will affect the tone of your podcast is whether you will work with a well-rehearsed script or if you will produce a more spontaneous show, with an outline and notes, but some degree of ad-libbing.

Another basic decision is determining whether your podcast will be audio or video, or enhanced audio (enhanced with images and photographs). Which format do you believe would be most enjoyed and most easily accessed by your audiences?

How long will your podcast be? Online audiences have brief attention spans. If you're planning a videocast, and you also plan to put your video on YouTube, keep your individual video podcast episodes to ten minutes or less.

The duration and frequency of your podcasts may be largely affected by how much time you can dedicate to podcasting, especially if this is a hobby for you. In some cases, such as when you are first starting out, a five-minute podcast can take more than a week to produce and edit!

Keep in mind that your subscribers may appreciate it if you podcast on a regular schedule, usually no less frequently than once a month. Few people have the time or energy for a daily podcast, although those exist. A weekly podcast is only for the truly dedicated. This might be a good time to think about whether you will podcast indefinitely, or end your programming at a set number of episodes, or for a certain amount of time, such as a year.

Choosing a Microphone: The Basics

2008-01-15T00:28:00.000-05:00

Which Microphone is Right For You?

Remember when Harry Potter wanted to choose his first wand at Olivander’s, and was told that the wand would choose him? You know, it’s not so different with microphones. You have to experiment to find the one that's right for your voice. Many microphones aren’t returnable, however. Sometimes you can try out different ones at a music store.

Microphones are available in a wide range of prices and types. There are small mics that you can clip onto the lapel of a speaker. Another small mic made by Micromemo plugs into your iPod and turns it into a voice recorder (about $60). I've seen round "snowball" mics, which I understand can be useful for group interviews, and I've considered wireless mics for people who just can't sit still (like kids!) At the low end, you can purchase a USB microphone that records right into your computer for about $30, while other more expensive mics require special cables, digital recording devices, or external power sources.

Dynamic microphones are relatively inexpensive, produce a punchy sound (warm, round, and full), and are forgiving about extraneous noise. Condenser mics (such as in the picture, left) are more expensive but they can produce wonderful sound.

Nearly as important as the quality of the microphone is how you use it. I've been told you should never hold a microphone and speak directly into it. Use a good quality microphone stand, instead. Angle the microphone stand so that the microphone is aimed down at a 45 degree angle, to pick up resonance from your chest. Instead of speaking directly into the microphone, speak “across” the microphone and slightly off to one side. You have to play with this a bit to see what works for you.

When my friend and I record my voice, we have to use a little creativity with mics. He directs one mic at my chest and another mic near my mouth. It's a little more trouble, but I admit my voice does sound better that way. We also add more dimension to my recorded voice in sound editing.

Use a shock mount on the microphone (most good quality mics come with a shock mount) and a pop filter (they're not expensive). The pop filter protects the mic and helps to eliminate the “popping” sound that can be recoding when people say words with the “p” or “b” sound in them.

Can You Make Money With Your Podcast?

2008-01-15T00:08:00.000-05:00

Monetization was a hot topic at the 2007 Podcast and New Media Expo. If you’re creating content that people can view or download for free, how do you make money with a podcast? If that is your goal?

Some podcasters make money with product placement, advertising insertions, and sponsorships.

If you're trying to attract advertisers or sponsors, consider creating a well-organized web site for your podcast that features (in addition to show notes) a media kit and a rate card.

Podcast Planning: Target Audiences

2008-01-12T20:06:00.000-05:00

Planning A Podcast: Identifying Your Podcast's Target Audience

With a little advance planning, you can create an outstanding podcast that is meaningful for your subscribers. But first, you have to know who they are!

Think about your podcast's audience in terms of real people. Which magazines do they read? Which websites do they visit? What kinds of music do they listen to? Where do they shop for clothes? Examine those magazines and websites for podcast episode ideas and inspiration for graphics. Visit the places where they shop to see what appeals to them, marketing-wise. You might even develop a profile of whom you imagine your typical listener to be.

Who is the

target

audience for this podcast? This can be as detailed as you like. You may elect to research and identify their age, gender, occupation, location, buying behavior, preferences and podcast experience level.

Keep in mind that downloading a podcast is a deliberate and decisive act; much more difficult than just passively watching a television program. For this reason, your podcast's content has to be especially compelling. Think about the reasons why your target audience would want to take the time to tune into the podcast. What's in it for them? What needs does the target audience have that the podcast would help meet? What would they expect when they tune in? What do they want to hear? How can you make it easy for them to find and subscribe to your podcast?

Thinking about your podcast's target audiences will help you set an appropriate tone for the podcast; select images, music, and other assets that they will like; and plan episode topics that will be meaningful for those audiences.

Planning Your Podcast: First Steps

2008-01-09T00:58:00.000-05:00

Planning for Podcasting: First Steps

Like relationships, the best podcasts start with passion. If you are planning to podcast about something that is important to you, and you have a burning desire to share that knowledge or viewpoint with the world, then you are on the right track for creating a dynamic podcast.

But, just as with relationships, podcasts can't endure on passion alone. Before you hit "record," take the time to identify the objectives, target audience, and desired characteristics of your podcast.

First Step: Answer "What is the Big Idea?"

The first step is to define the podcast’s key message for your audience. The key message is the whole reason-for-being for your podcast. It should describe how you think the podcast will benefit the people who may tune in. The key message may be stated in your show's description and it will be the foundation for all the episodes of your podcast. For example, I produce a podcast for parents of children with autism. My key message is that parents of children with autism have the ability to improve the quality of life for themselves and their children by taking the time to learn free (or low-cost), fun, and easy strategies.

Next Step: Identify Objectives for the Podcast

This step takes your big idea a little further. Why do you want to produce this podcast? Who are you trying to help, inform, or entertain, and why? What results should the podcast accomplish? Identify the specific personal, business, or organizational objectives associated with this podcast. Think about what the podcast will persuade the audience to believe or do.

Stay tuned for more ideas on planning your podcast.

How to Promote The Heck out of Your Podcast

2008-01-07T22:48:00.000-05:00

Want to increase the numbers of people who subscribe to your podcast? Try these promotional tactics!

Create a business card for your podcast. This is SO important. Business cards are inexpensive, and there are some really fun designs online. If you just can't wait, you can get a professional business card in minutes from Staples for about $40. Put the URL for your podcast on the card and take it with you everywhere.
This one is so obvious I almost forgot it...Join DC Podcast Alliance!
Design a t-shirt for your podcast and wear it. Or at least a button. You can make a t-shirt with transfers from a craft store, or create one on CafePress.com for about $20. People will ask you about your podcast, then whip out your card!
Post the link to your podcast on your e-mail signature. And on your blog.
Write an article for "E-zine" on a topic related to your podcast, and include a link to your podcast. I received quite a few subscribers that way.
When replying to blogs, forum posts, or Yahoo Answers, include a link to your podcast if it is relevant to the subject.
When you network at business functions and conferences, mention your podcast in conversation.
Tell people you will buy them a drink if they listen to your podcast. Okay, I am just kidding about that one.
Post keywords related to your topic in your podcast description and show notes, so that the search engines will pick it up. Don't forget to include the title of your podcast!
Get an embeddable player (in HTML code) or badge for your podcast. Mine is on Podomatic. You can put that embeddable player on your blog, on MySpace, and on your website.
Post an ad for your podcast on Craig's List. It's free and it gets me plenty of subscribers. You can also embed a player in your Craig's List ad, so people can just click and listen.
Post the link for your podcast on all your profiles. If you don't have profiles on LinkedIn, Flickr, MySpace, Facebook, YouTube, Yahoo, etc. then what are you waiting for? It's free, and there's space to post links to your podcast.
List your podcast in podcast directories. Mine is listed on about 45, maybe 50, directories.
Share the love! Use your podcasting talents for the greater good. Help other people learn about podcasting, or volunteer to create a podcast for a nonprofit organization. Podcast about a worthy cause, or about something that makes life more beautiful. Think positive, and podcast that positive energy. Good stuff comes back. :)

An International Survey on Podcasting

2008-01-05T21:41:00.000-05:00

This international survey has a lot of information on podcasting. The survey size is a little small, so the numbers are skewed a bit... but it is still a good read. You can download some of the statistics at:

http://podcastersurvey.com/ipcs07.pdf

. Some of the interesting findings include:

Podfading seems to be a minor problem at the moment
The European podosphere is commercially less ambitious
Podcasting is not only attracting "techies"
Podcasting is about identity and relationship management
Most are interested in sharing information and expressing of opinions

New Resource Site Launches – Final Cut Help

2008-01-04T02:13:00.000-05:00

RHED Pixel launched a new resource site called Final Cut Help to offer you more news on Final Cut Studio as well as centralize all of their Final Cut resources and training products. Here are a few things you may like.

Tip of the Week
–
Thanks to Focal Press

Podcasts
–
Back Episodes
and
New Subscriptions
Forums
–
In partnership with Creative Cow
Conferences
–
New Events and
Notes
from previous classes
Blog
–
For all the latest news

As always... comments and requests are very welcome.

New Report on User-Generated Video

2008-01-03T16:43:00.000-05:00

The American University has released a new report called

Recut, Reframe, Recycle: Quoting Copyrighted Material in User-Generated Video

, which finds that many online videos creatively use copyrighted materials in ways that are eligible for fair use consideration under copyright law. The report claims that some users are potentially using copyrighted material legally (under fair use). These uses--an exercise of freedom-of-speech rights--are currently threatened by anti-piracy measures online. The report is online

here

- we hope you enjoy it!

Prediction: 40% of Video Online by 2012

2007-12-28T17:47:00.000-05:00

The Silicon Valley Insider has an interesting post about video distribution online. Many in Hollywood predict that within four years 40% of all video consumption would occur outside of the television set. That's according to a poll of nearly 300 media execs by Jack Myers and video tracking firm Teletrax. The short article has some interesting insight into how the "big guys" see things.

Read the full article

here

Podcasting Forum at Creative Cow

2007-12-27T18:19:00.000-05:00

If you are looking for an online forum about podcasting, then be sure to check out

Creative COW

. The Creative COW forums (Communities of the World) offer support for lots of different technical tools for video professionals. You can search past posts for answers or ask your own questions. Their

podcasting forum

is new... but has a lot of useful forum hosts who will try and help.

Creative Cow Podcasting Forum

If you want a local answer... be sure to also use the

DCPA Message Boards.

Next Meeting – Emerging Technologies for Podcasting

2007-12-27T18:03:00.000-05:00

When

Saturday, January 26, 2008 at 2:00 PM

Where

RHED Pixel
180 South Washington Street Suite 210
Falls Church , VA 22046
703-531-1325

Info/Map

Details

This meeting will focus on new technology options that help podcasters produce their shows. You'll learn useful tools for promoting your show as well. This meeting is a grab bag of new ideas and will help podcasters of all experience levels.

AGENDA

I. MacWorld Report
II. Member Spotlight
III. Quick Tip - Registering Your Podcast with iTunes
IV. Website Update
V. Feature Presentation
VI. Upcoming Events for Podcasters
VII. Next Meeting Update

To Sign Up...

click here

New Apple Books Touch on Podcasting

2007-12-27T17:41:00.000-05:00

DCPA member Rich Harrington has recently finished two new books for Apple iLife and iWork. Each books has a chapter on podcasting (as well as lots of other information on iWork and iLife). You can find the books at Apple stores as well as many other online and traditional retailers.

Apple Training Series: iWork 08

The second generation of Apple's iWork productivity suite is poised to allow Mac users to create, present and publish their work with style! iWork '08 features three powerful applications for creating everything from newsletters to business presentations. With Pages you can quickly create a wide variety of stunning documents, with Numbers you can make great-looking spreadsheets with ease and with Keynote you can produce quality presentations and more.

To Order

Apple Training Series: iLife 08

In the only Apple-certified guide to iLife '08, the authors have you working miracles with iLife within the first few pages. Featuring footage and images from around the world, this book/DVD combo uses real-life material and practical lessons that you can apply immediately to your own projects. Focused lessons take you step by step through all aspects of iLife '08--everything from organizing and sharing your photo library to creating polished video and soundtracks. Along the way, you’ll produce podcasts, websites, blogs, video blogs, and custom DVDs.

To Order

Images from Last Meeting

2007-12-24T00:19:00.000-05:00

Thanks to Mary Fletcher for posting images from our last meeting.

You can find the images here.