To Cast a Pod?
I'm pondering if I should dip my toes in the Podcasting waters. Tonight I worked up an entire 20 minute podcast and put it all together in GarageBand — including music — in about an hour. It was rather fun. But I'm not sure if I can commit to regularly taking out the time to do a podcast; unlike a text entry like this, podcasting requires a larger block of uninterrupted time (even if it might not require more time as a whole). When I'm writing a blog entry, I might be interrupted every few minutes, but if I'm recording myself, I cannot be interrupted as easily.
For that matter, I've listened to a few podcasts, and beyond the enjoyment I've gotten at putting voices to the words of the bloggers who are podcasting, I have not found myself becoming a regular listener. It is not a matter of whether the podcast was good, but I've found I simply do not have a lot of periods of time in which listening to a podcast is convenient (unlike text blogging).
Those two reasons make me think perhaps I won't publish my first (and perhaps only) stab at podcasting.
I won't cast for the same reason I don't listen. You hit on it. It's the chunk of time needed. In the time it takes to listen to one podcast, I can visit dozens of blogs. Further, I can visit multiple blogs at the same time, while checking mail and instant messaging.
If I had a long bus commute or some other reason to listen to audio for more than 10 minutes where I don't have to be concentrating on something else and don't have access to the 'net, it would be different.
If you do a none stop show I completely see your point but, if you are interested, consider doing segments. Both of my shows are done in that way so for me written blogging takes alot longer. With podcasting I just let it rip and there you have it. Heck for my music show I don't even talk for anything longer then 4 mins. Intro the band, bio already written by the band, make any annoucements, intro the next band, again written by the band, and voila, its done. The next day I can do the next transition and on it goes. In audacity, adding the tracks in and doing the transitions is completely easy given its visual nature.
As for finding the time to listen, here is when I listen; all day.
While driving, while shopping, while doing the laundry, the vacuuming, cleaning my bike, and on and on it goes. I even replaced the only station we could get in the bathroom, with a few music podcasts, while taking a shower. I guess it should be stated that I always had something on before be it music or sports talk so for me its just replacing one thing for another.
later
I've been picking up some podcasts lately. Some people really don't seem to have any idea what the topic is and ramble on. Some of the best are 5 minute sessions of concise audio. If you do it, definitely have a focus more specific than a blog generally has.
It seems that blogging and podcasting are really 2 different mediums. I mean, a podcast isn't just an audio blog. For personal interaction, I'm still going to prefer the blog. It's more direct and accessible. This is a “to me” kinda thing. I know others find blogs to be less personal.
I've been listening to them while I work. I'd really like to have an MP3 player to put them on so that I could listen to them during my commute among other things. I'm working on that.
Maybe once we get the camera thing worked out.
So if you have something to say, say it! If not, get your pastor's sermons podcasted and then you don't have to do the show, just the fun tech behind it.
Well at least let us hear the first one!
I have a 45 min. drive 4 times a week that makes good podcasting listening time.
Kevin: That's exactly it. I use my iPod fairly frequently, but it is often while doing things — like writing — which wouldn't go along with talk radio or podcasting very well.
Mark: I guess doing it all at once really isn't necessary. I still feel like it requires more of a time block (plus, if you feel the need to redo something, you can't just backspace one word and have it fixed
). But, maybe I should look for some time to get a feel for the whole medium, even if I don't keep following it.
Josiah: I agree about topics. I came up with three topics to talk about in the “first program” of 20 minutes. I probably rambled a bit, but tried to keep the feel somewhat like a talk radio program (I even rustled my newspaper like Rush Limbaugh!
). Now's probably a good time to get an MP3 player if you are considering an iPod… I'd imagine you can find some reasonable deals on the now discontinued black-and-white units.
Christopher: Well, I'll listen to it again. If it doesn't sound too horrible, maybe I'll put the first one up. 45 minute commutes would help!