Serendipity35

A few podcasting items and some simple guidelines used at NJIT.

Levelator - software that runs on Windows or OS X and adjusts the audio levels within your podcast or other audio file to correct variations. It's a very simple compressor, normalizer and limiter.

You drag-and-drop any WAV or AIFF file onto the application window, and it creates a new version. Very useful for a situation with 2 people in conversation at different volumes, groups or a panel discussion.

It's free and it's beta. http://www.gigavox.com/levelator

TeenPodcasters.com (TPN) was founded in mid-2005 to bring teen podcasters together and it's interesting to llok at what students are doing. It's a site youmight want to pass on to student podcasters.

Just starting with podcasting? Here are some guidelines from NJIT's Instructional Technology & Media Services.

Podcast Production Options

Audio only: This is the simplest way to create a podcast. Recording the audio, on a PC running the free audio recording program, Audacity, which is simple to use. Merely plug an audio feed into the PC, select the audio source, and then you are ready to record. When done, you can save the file as an MP3, the format for audio podcasts.

Use an audio recorder. NJIT offers small digital audio recorders that can be signed out to record the session. The files would then be downloaded and converted to MP3. Either of these can be done by the speaker/instructor without having a technician present. Microphones, software and all necessary instructions are available in ITMS in advance of the event.

It is the responsibility of the instructor/recorder to obtain written permission (forms available in ITMS) from the speaker to allow recording and podcasting of sessions.

Enhanced Podcast: This method is utilized where there are visuals which need to be seen, as well as being able to hear the presenter (images, graphics and PowerPoint slides if they are suitable for viewing on mobile devices). One way to do this is to use a screen capture program, like Camtasia, that on a laptop. The program is started and anything that is displayed on the screen is recorded along with the lecturer’s voice. This is the ideal method for creating podcasts of software or programming demonstrations and even PowerPoint display. The file is then compressed for posting, after the event. The lecturer will need to present using this laptop. Specific computers available from ITMS have this software installed.

Video Podcast: The most complex and expensive format - this production method requires a camera as well as sound mixing equipment to be brought in to record the lecturer and the visuals. Depending on the quality of the visuals, they may need to be edited in later. Then it is encoded for download. ITMS technician is required for this type of podcast.