Create your own podcast - a guide
You can create your own podcast in just a few minutes with little equipment. Our instructions show you what you need for this and how to proceed.
Instructions for your own podcast
The following three things you need for your podcast. You can find more detailed information on the individual points below:
- Record podcast: For a clean recording, you should either use an external recording device or a good USB microphone.
- Cut podcast: Good editing software is available free of charge. Although the number of sound effects is limited, freeware is completely sufficient for a podcast.
- Upload podcast: You can publish your podcast on numerous websites - be it on your own blog or on a YouTube channel. The non-plus-ultra are RSS feeds, but they are not widely used.
1. Record your own podcast
You should record a podcast in a quiet room that emits as little sound as possible. Large curtains, lots of furniture and carpeting are ideal for taking pictures at home. With the equipment you can choose between recording device and microphone. What you need for the recording:
- Recording device: The Zoom H1 has proven itself for beginners. For about 90 euros you can currently not get a better recorder. The Zoom H4N is more suitable for larger recordings (e.g. from a concert).
- USB microphone: Among the microphones with a USB connection, the Meteor microphone (price 70 euros) is one of the most popular. The quality is usually not as good as with the H1 recording device.
- Pop filter: No matter which microphone / recording device you choose, a pop filter is essential. This can be a cheap pop filter to clip on, or a windbreak that does this.
2. Record and cut podcast
For recording devices, speak your podcast first and then connect the device to the computer to transfer the file. For devices with an SD card, you can also simply remove the memory cards and insert them into the PC. You then open the file in an audio editing program such as Audacity or Samplitude. If you record with a USB microphone instead, the recording is made directly in the editing program:
- Audacity: The free and easy-to-use program is one of the most used audio editing programs. In our tutorial for beginners you will find all tips for the first podcast.
- Magix Samplitude: The professional software Samplitude is also available in a free lite version.
- You can find more recording tools in this article.
3. Publish your own podcast
When your first podcast is finished, you should save it as an MP3 file. There are countless ways to distribute the file now:
- YouTube: With your own YouTube channel you can publish your podcast for free. In addition, advertising can be switched optionally, you get direct feedback via the comment function and users can subscribe.
- Blog: Blogger, Wordpress and Tumblr are ideal if you want to publish pictures and texts in addition to your podcasts. We'll help you build a Blogger blog and WordPress blog.
- Soundcloud: Soundcloud is only intended for audios and can also be embedded in WordPress. Good alternatives include Mixcloud and Co ..
- RSS feed: You can create your own RSS feed with the free open source tool Easypodcast. Advanced users use this guide to output the RSS feed as an XML file. You can then register your podcast in the iTunes Store under "Podcast". Please note that you need your own web space for the XML file for an RSS feed.
Now all you have to do is distribute your podcast - for example, link to your Facebook page. We show you how to make your Facebook page better known.