[Update: Now iPhones have voice recording built it with the latest software update! See the tutorials on converting and naming audio files to create podcasts. But AudioBoo, the service works from other devices and has some really cool features, like hosting and embed codes, so it's still worth checking out!!]
AudioBoo is a new service that allows iPhone podcasting. You can download the free application from the iTunes Store, and begin recording, sharing, and publishing podcasts on the fly right from your iPhone. It’s easy and simple to use, sort of like a twitter-type service for quick and easy podcasts.
One of the things I like best about this app is that the podcasts published to AudioBoo’s servers are returned with an embed code, so you can easily embed the player and podcast to any blog or website. (See AudioBoo’s website and click any podcast to see the share codes.)
It also offers Twitter and Facebook updates if you’re so inclined, and the founders have reported that they are working on a Wordpress Widget which will pull your latest “boo’s” (podcasts) right into your blog.
The interface for recording is minimal and intuitive, as is the audio player returned with the recorded podcast. Below is a short video walkthrough of recording and publishing a podcast using this app:
Want to create an audio podcast? Do you have a new iPod or are you going to get one? The latest models of the iPod Nano, iPod Classic, iPod Touch and iPhone all have the ability to record audio, which later can be brought into iTunes, turned into a podcast, and uploaded anywhere you’d like to deliver it.
The only requirement for the latest iPod Nanos and Classics is earphones with a built-in microphone or any other iPod compatible microphone. (If you own an older iPod Nano or Classic, see posts about purchasing and using the Griffin iTalk device. This is no longer needed on the latest versions of the iPod.)
For the iPod Touch and iPhone there is a free application from the iTunes Application store called iTalk Recorder which will also accomplish the task of recording audio from a microphone connected to your device.
Of course, there are cheaper recorders than an iPod. An Amazon search for “digital mp3 recorders” reveals all sorts of portable recorders at prices for anyone’s liking.
Regardless of whether you capture your audio with an iPod or other device, once the device is hooked up to your computer you can easily drag the files to iTunes to convert the files, rename them and add all of the necessary information.
iTunes can easily convert audio files that were recorded with portable devices such as iPods or other recorders to podcast formats such as AAC or mp3 (see post on The Difference to learn more about these formats). The following video covers converting files with iTunes and adding information such as titles and artist:
.
Here is a step by step for converting files to AAC or mp3 format:
Convert to AAC (m4a)
Drag the file to iTunes.
While the file is highlighted click the Advanced menu at the top.
Choose Convert Selection to AAC (for MP3 conversion see below)
iTunes makes a duplicate copy of it in the new format. To check the file type (since you now have the original WAV file and an AAC file with the same name, right click your file and choose Get Info. There you will see the file type and be sure you choose the converted one). You can also add information to the track, as well as podcast artwork that you have designed. Drag converted the file out of iTunes to your desktop for easy uploading.
or Convert to MP3
Follow the directions above using the Advanced menu, but prior to doing so, go to iTunes > Preferences > Advanced > Importing
There, change the Import Using: AAC to Import Using: MP3 Encoder
Now when you highlight the track and choose Advanced on the top menu, you will see Convert Selection to MP3 rather than AAC.
Thanks Doug Seidler over at NESAD for pointing this out to me!
Which type of podcast do you need to create for your course? Choosing the right format is important and dictates the way you go about creating your content and how much work is involved.
First considering the message and what is required to convey it effectively will assist you in choosing the best format and options.
Audio:
Easiest format for the content producer (equipment: a mic and computer or portable recording device)
Smaller file sizes, software editing tools (if needed) are available free (see Audacity)
Most portable to the end user (can be played on many devices beyond a computer)
Best suited for: lectures and any other message or discussion where visuals are not paramount to the message
Equipment: Mircophone or Portable Recording Device, Computer
More complex for content prodcuer (equipment requires a video camera or webcam, depending on recording locations)
Very large file sizes, software editing tools range from free to very expensive (computer processing power and time required to process video also important)
Less portable to end user (can be played on computer but may not play on certain portable devices)
Best suited for: Messages when visuals of speakers or events are paramount to the message, or would greatly enhance message quality.
Equipment: Flip Video or Other Camcorders, Webcams or Apple’s built in iSight Camera
Software: Apple: iMovie, Final Cut. Windows: Windows Movie Maker, Avid
Screencasting:
More complex for content producer (microphone and computer needed, must be done at computer)
Large file sizes, software tools needed for capture and editing are not free and range from $50 to $400 depending on needs.
Portability for end user depends on players (as in video example above)
Best suited for: Tutorials and situations where content shown on the computer screen is central to the message.
Equipment: Microphones and Computer
Software: Windows: Camtasia. Apple: Snapz Pro or Screen Flow
PSU has a great support section for podcasting help. Following is a clip they’ve created on the different microphone options available to podcasters. What’s most important is to assess your needs and the environment in which you will be creating your podcast. Is portability an issue? Will you be podcasting in front of a computer? Or on the go? The options outlined below are best suited for podcasters who will be utilizing a computer during podcast capturing. (For options on the go, see posts on the iPod and other mp3 recording devices).
[Update: This device works with previous versions of the iPod Nano and Classic and is no longer needed with the latest versions of these devices]
Faculty and staff have been using the Griffin iTalk Pro this semester with much success to record lectures and presentations. A group of students took one to El Paso, Texas, for Alternative Spring Break to record a series of interviews with Habitat for Humanity staff, local residents, and the students in the group.
While there are a couple of posts here about using an iPod with the Griffin iTalk for audio capturing, below are a few things to keep in mind to avoid snafus and to cut down or eliminate editing after you’ve recorded (although in some instances, and for more refined productions, editing will be unavoidable).
Recording:
Be sure the iPod is fully charged and has sufficient space before using it to record.
When the iTalk is connected, use the highest quality settings for recording so you get the highest sound quality possible.
Be sure the device is as close as possible to the speaker.
The iTalk captures your audio segments in clips depending on when the device is started and stopped. Use this to your advantage depending on what you are trying to capture (more below).
Lectures:
If you are recording a lecture or class in its entirety, try not to stop and restart the device during the lecture or class. (Doing so will give you separate audio clips that you will have to connect later using an audio editing program.)
Keep the device near-by the speaker at all times
If there is a long introduction for a guest speaker, you may want to start the recording when the introduction ends and the speaker begins talking. Alternatively, you could record the introduction and the speaker in two separate clips just in case the introduction is something you may not want in the final production.
Interviews:
Be sure the interviewee knows when the recording begins
Have a list of questions ready (you may want to share these first before the interview begins). Also, engage with responses with further questions for elaboration. And let the interviewee do more of the talking.
Make sure that the interviewer and the interviewee are in close proximity to each other and the device (for interviews on the fly and not in a formal setting, you may hold the device like a microphone and move it back and forth between persons speaking).
If you are doing a series of interviews with different speakers that could be separate productions, stop and restart the recording so you have separate audio clips for each interviewee.
Editing and Producing:
Editing of clips can be done in Audacity on Windows and Garageband on Macs (both free programs).
If no editing is required, renaming, compression, conversion and adding the proper metadata to these tracks can all be done in iTunes.
Keep in mind that all files from the iTalk recordings are large and must be compressed and converted for delivery in podcasts.
(Click the tags on the right for more posts and information on using the iTalk or for any of the topics mentioned here.)
There is some confusion over AAC and MP3 audio files. AAC is the newer format (popularized by Apple’s adoption of it in its music store) and has many advantages over the older MP3 format, including higher sound quality and smaller file size. The iTunes Music Store supports both AAC and MP3 formats. If you read up on the two, you will see that AAC is slated to replace MP3 as the most widely used format. (FYI: the MP3 extension ends in .mp3 while the AAC extension ends in .m4a)
If you have an older MP3 media player that doesn’t play AAC files but plays MP3 files, no problem! Read the rest of this entry »
GarageBand and Audacity are both free programs that allow you to create, record, edit, and compress audio podcasts. GarageBand comes free on the Mac and Audacity is a free software program that you can download for Windows. (Links to these programs found in the right column of this blog.)
Penn State’s Educational Technology Division has created some excellent, short video screencasts detailing how to use each program. These screencasts are available as podcasts on Penn State’s iTunes U page.
To visit this page and view these screencasts, click the link below (requires iTunes installed on your computer). Screencasts are about 3 minutes in length and are enough to get you up, running and creating podcasts in no time!
Apple’s QuickTime Pro is $29 and allows to you to record audio and video, and also enables you to compress and export these and other media files to various web-ready and iPod-ready formats, and works on Macs or PCs (internal or external microphone and/or internal or external webcam needed for capture). QuickTime Player is free and required to upgrade to the Pro version. The Player comes on every Mac, and on a PC when you download iTunes. If for some reason you don’t have the Player on your computer, you can download it free.
Apple has some tutorials for QuickTime Pro posted on their website:
This short 90 second clip covers how to use the Griffin iTalk to record audio on your iPod, which you can later convert to podcast ready formats. Use it to capture lectures, record interviews, discussions, forums, guest speakers, etc.
…This next 3 minute video covers what to do with the voice memo files that the iTalk puts into iTunes:
Easily Convert Voice Memos & WAV files to Podcast-ready Formats in iTunes
Cell or landline, you can create a podcast on-the-go without access to a computer or other equipment. First, you visit http://drop.io to set up your account, or “drop”, as they call it.
Next, you choose a url name and a password. You are then given a unique phone number and extension to call. When you call, you are prompted to record. Later, you visit your site and there is your MP3 file, ready to listen, share, embed, or download. Very cool, and free! I have attached instructions with my sample test. Try it out!
If you are using Audacity and can’t export your project to the MP3 format, you can export it as a WAV file. WAV files are extremely large. This is fine, but if you want to upload that file to iTunes or Blackboard, you will want it to be smaller and compressed, in either AAC (m4a) or MP3 format. Here’s how you can use iTunes to accomplish this:
Convert to AAC (m4a)
Drag the file to iTunes.
While the file is highlighted click the Advanced menu at the top.
Choose Convert Selection to AAC (for MP3 conversion see below)
iTunes makes a duplicate copy of it in the new format. To check the file type (since you now have the original WAV file and an AAC file with the same name, right click your file and choose Get Info. There you will see the file type and be sure you choose the converted one). You can also add information to the track, as well as podcast artwork that you have designed. Drag converted the file out of iTunes to your desktop for easy uploading.
or Convert to MP3
Follow the directions above using the Advanced menu, but prior to doing so, go to iTunes > Preferences > Advanced > Importing
There, change the Import Using: AAC to Import Using: MP3 Encoder
Now when you highlight the track and choose Advanced on the top menu, you will see Convert Selection to MP3 rather than AAC.
Thanks Doug Seidler over at NESAD for pointing this out to me!
CAS Academic Technology can lend you an iPod and the Griffin iTalk, as well as an attachable clip-on mic (optional, not required). With this simple solution, you hit the Record button and it captures your audio and saves it as a voice memo on the iPod.
Later, when you sync the iPod to your computer’s iTunes program, these “voice memos” are saved and you can rename and convert them for podcasting.
Most troubles you may encounter here are usually browser related. If you experience any issues accessing or viewing the content or videos found here, or if you feel that they do not display properly in your browser, try using Firefox.
[Update: Now iPhones have voice recording built it with the latest software update! See the tutorials on converting and naming audio files to create podcasts. But AudioBoo, the service works from other devices and has some really cool features, like hosting and embed codes, so it's still worth checking out!!]
Want to create an audio podcast? Do you have a new iPod or are you going to get one? The latest models of the iPod Nano, iPod Classic, iPod Touch and iPhone all have the ability to record audio, which later can be brought into iTunes, turned into a podcast, and uploaded anywhere you’d like to deliver it.
Which type of podcast do you need to create for your course? Choosing the right format is important and dictates the way you go about creating your content and how much work is involved.
[Update: This device works with previous versions of the iPod Nano and Classic and is no longer needed with the latest versions of these devices]
There is some confusion over 
GarageBand and Audacity are both free programs that allow you to create, record, edit, and compress audio podcasts. GarageBand comes free on the Mac and Audacity is a free software program that you can download for Windows. (Links to these programs found in the right column of this blog.)
Cell or landline, you can create a podcast on-the-go without access to a computer or other equipment. First, you visit 
Most troubles you may encounter here are usually browser related. If you experience any issues accessing or viewing the content or videos found here, or if you feel that they do not display properly in your browser, try using Firefox.
