While searching the web doing research on mics suitable for sound-seeing tours (where you create a podcast by walking around and describing what you're seeing), I ran across an article on how to create your own binaural stealth mic out of an old pair of headphones for around US$4...perfect for stealth podcasting!:
The author mentions better quality mic elements available from Panasonic...I've been told that the high-sensitivity elements best suited for sound-seeing are Panasonic model WM-61A, which also go for around US$4 a set (plus shipping).
If you're not up to the task of trying this yourself, you can buy a prebuilt (and presumably better at US$69, despite using the same Panasonic mic elements) version from Sound Professionals on the web:
(Note that these do not function as headphones, although for an extra US$20 Sound Professionals offers a set that can be switched between mic and headphone.)
Due to the time spent dealing with Radio Userland over the past two days I've decided to combine this week's edition of Behind the Scenes with next week's. So basically there won't be a show this week and there will be a "double-issue" this coming Monday. Thanks for your understanding.
Glenn Fleishman, a freelance reporter from Seattle, has a great article at O'Reilly's web site on how to record Skype calls on the Mac using free software. Check it out here:
Radio Userland, which is what I use to update The GodCast Network, crashed last night and I have only just been able to get it back up and running again. I apologize for the resulting delays.
My apologies but this weekend was made more hectic than usual by my daughter's unexpected decision to produce and host her own podcast (see Rachel's Choice in the navigation bar on the left), so Behind the Scenes will be delayed slightly. I can tell you that this edition will feature portable podcast rigs, a homemade pop filter, and the best podcast directories for generating traffic.
In the meantime, be sure to check out Rachel's Choice for motivation...this was literally put together by an 8-year-old. All I did was handle the engineering side of things. She decided on the show format and content; picked the music for the intro, outro, and beds; selected the sound clips to mix into the intro and outro; chose which song and verse to feature in the show; and wrote the script. She even oversaw the mixing and told me where she wanted everything! It took a while to put it all together, but if she can do it so can you.
In the next edition of Behind the Scenes I'll take a look at recording podcasts on-the-go, either while in the car or while walking around. For those of you who would like to get a head start, there is an interesting and comprehensive guide to field recording available online from a seemingly unlikely source: The Vermont Folklife Center. Check it out:
We're off to a good start with two excellent questions from the show's first caller (who wins a free plug for his web site at http://www.drazz75.com), a look at some cool podcasting rigs courtesy of Steve Holden's blog, and some tips on getting the most out of your mic from yours truly.
Here are the links referenced in this week's show:
Please note that if you downloaded the show on 1/17 prior to 22:00 PST the Audacity URL given in the show is incorrect...sorry!
If you're interesting in being interviewed for Behind the Scenes feel free to contact me using the email link on the left. As always, email contributions and audio comments are always welcome, as are voicemail comments (the comment line number is 815.301.8600).
As promised, Behind the Scenes finally relaunches with an overview of where the show is headed, a request for contributions from the podcasting community, and a review of the Sennheiser PC130 noise-cancelling mic headset. (Used to record this podcast during an evening commute.)
Just for fun, this is a very short 192Mbps parody of the "We don't need no stinkin' badges" line originally from the movie The Treasure of the Sierra Madre and later made famous in Mel Brooks' Blazing Saddles and by John Belushi's killer bee in Saturday Night Live. You can see and hear the original and its variations here:
I did it for kicks one night a while ago and thought it was an appropriate battle cry for podcasters! Feel free to use this as you see fit in your own podcast.
If all goes well Behind the Scenes will (finally) relaunch this weekend. Although it will start out with just me my goal is to make it a community show that is the podcast equivalent of a users group. That means I need you! Regardless of whether you're just getting started in podcasting or you've had a show up and running for months, you're a prime candidate for contributing to "Behind the Scenes". I'm looking for the following (and anything else you can think of):
- Questions you want answered
- Problems you've overcome
- Experiences you'd like to share
- Reviews (recording equipment, software, plug-ins, ISPs, etc.)
- Recording techniques
- Podcasting setups
- Public speaking techniques
- Promotional techniques
You get the idea...whatever you think other podcasters might find useful or interesting. Use the email link on the left to send email or audio comments or use the comment line (also on the left) for brief voicemail comments (two minutes or less). I'd like to keep this show work- and family-friendly, so please keep that in mind when sending or leaving audio comments.
I firmly believe that by leveraging the combined knowledge of this community (along with the willingness of the community to share), we can end up benefitting the community as a whole by increasing the overall quality, exposure, and therefore success of our podcasts. It's worth a try anyway!