Podcasting - Tutorial 1

Introduction:

• A podcast is a broadcast you view (listen to or watch) over the internet.
• There are different types of podcast which may require different procedures to view.
• You view a streamed podcast directly off the internet.
• You can listen to a downloaded podcast at any time you prefer - think of recording a TV program and viewing it later.
• A subscribed podcast downloads each episode of a regular program 'recording' it on your computer (requires a suitable browser or podcast program).
• The word podcast come from combining the words iPod and broadcast.
• The Tutorial is designed and copyright by Berkeley and the version is 4.
  If you have his email address let him know of any recommended improvements, new sites, broken links etc
• Web page is self-contained so can easily be downloaded or printed.

What you will need for this tutorial:

• Internet access, preferably broadband. Sound files take longer to download using dialup and a streamed podcast may stutter if the download is slow.
  Note: podcasting may add significantly to your monthly internet download.
  Some broadband plans include 200 megabytes per month with additional costs for additional megabytes.
  The ABC (Australian Broadcasting Commission) says that an hour of listening to podcasts may involve between 10 and 25 megabytes of download.
• A computer with sound card and speakers or headphones.
• A program for playing sound files. Your computer most likely has suitable programs installed. If you encounter problems try this link: http://www.abc.net.au/streaming/players.htm or ask a friend for help.
• Recommended Browser: Firefox. Open this tutorial in Firefox and then right click on each link as you come to it and then left click on open in new tab.
  You can then easily return to the tutorial by clicking on its tab.
• Note: These tutorials have been written for computers using Windows XP.
  If you have a Windows 98 or Macintosh computer the links should work but detailed directions may not.

This tutorial deals with:

1. Streamed podcasts: where you listen live directly from a web link.
2. Downloaded podcasts: download the podcast file from the internet then listen at any time, without needing an active internet connection.

1 Streaming & Downloading Audio: [Windows computers]

Streamed Podcasts (Streaming Audio):
Streaming audio is listened to directly from the internet.
Three advantages of audio streaming:

• Copyright material can be included.(As streaming audio cannot normally be saved on the local computer, copyright is protected).
•  The podcast begins playing sooner than if the whole program had to be downloaded first.
• Long programs can be managed easily. You can listen to say, Radio National for an hour or more at a time.

 Activity 1:

1. Go to: http://www.abc.net.au/classic/keys/#listen
2. For one of the listed programs click on Real Player or Windows Media Player.
   (If one program does not play try the other.
   You may need to refer to the ABC Streaming Media Players link in the What You will Need section above).
3. You should see window which includes controls (play, pause, rewind etc plus a volume control).
4. The program should load and begin to play.
   If there is a delay and the word buffering appears then the program will not play until sufficient of it has been downloaded.
5. Try accessing another web page.Can you still hear the program you selected?
6. Close your browser.Can you still hear the program?
7. You cannot save the program for later listening.
8. When finished close the music player and the program ceases to play.

Activity 2:

1. Go to: http://www.abc.net.au/classic/gourmet/#listen
2. Notice any comment about dialup and broadband.
3. Click on Real Player or Windows Media Player.

2. If asked, make sure you click on open (stream) rather than save (download).
   [Clicking on save saves a small file called a playlist. If you open the playlist it links to the audio program on the internet and begins streaming].
3. The program will load and begin to play.
   The program is streamed meaning you can listen to it sooner than if the whole program had to be downloaded.
4. When finished close the music player and the program closes.

• You will find other streaming audio on the ABC site.
• They will have the same two link icons you have just seen.
• Icons with the letters XML or POD indicates podcasts (see a later tutorial).

2 Audio Download: [Windows computers]

Audio downloads are saved to your computer. Advantages:

• Independent of the internet once downloaded.
• Can be uploaded to your iPod or MP3 Player or saved to CD.

Activity 3:

1. Go to: http://abc.net.au/rn/healthreport/
2. Notice the links: LISTEN NOW (streaming audio),
   DOWNLOAD AUDIO and
   POD (podcast).
   For this activity focus on DOWNLOAD AUDIO
   Our task is to save an episode of the health report so:
3. Right Click on the DOWNLOAD AUDIO link for an episode.
4. Left click on save link as.
5. You can change the filename if you want to.
6. Save it where you can find it again (for the next step) - maybe in My Documents or on the desktop.
   [Note how long the download takes - maybe quite a long time using dialup, maybe up to several minutes in broadband].
   Now listen to the program:
7. Go to where you saved it, double click it and it should play.
   You can listen to the program as many times as you want to without being connected to the internet.
8. If you have an ipod or mp3 player you can upload the report and listen to it anywhere.

Homework:

1. Practice streaming audio at: http://www.abc.net.au/streaming/
2. Go to: http://www.beethoven.com or http://www.bluegrasscountry.org/programs/ Listen to some music here?
   Hints: Beethoven.com: click on play live radio.
   On the Blue Grass main page find listen now and then click on Windows Media Player.
3. Practice audio download at: http://www.abc.net.au/classic/audio/#download
4. Go to: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/And_the_Band_Played_Waltzing_Matilda
   [Look in the external links section]
   Listen to this song.(streaming audio)
   Save the song to your computer (audio download)
   Locate where you saved it and play it.
   Is there an ethical issue when you downloaded or played the song?
5. Go to http://www.onlinecatholics.com.au/issue02/benevisions.php
   This is an audio loop and will play continuously until you leave this web page.
   Can you find and use the control bar?
6. Go to: http://audio.search.yahoo.com and find some audio you would like to listen to.
   Did you get to listen to it?
   Most online audio is for sale: it may not be easy to locate free material to download.
7. Locate other audio streaming or audio downloads either on the ABC site or elsewhere.-
   see if you can listen to them.
   Try it out - there is nothing to lose.

Honours:

1.    Go to: http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/faq/index.shtml

2.    Click on BBC Radio Player.

3.    Get to listen to one or more of the programs on offer. 

Further Reading and Research:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Podcast

http://www.pcworld.com/howto/article/0,aid,16060,00.asp

Remember:

Streaming audio

• These are only links.
• The program remains always on the internet.
• You can listen but cannot download.

Audio you can download

• Has a larger filesize and often RAM or MP3 in its full filename (extension).
• You can listen to these online or save them to play later.

Download:

• Podcasting adds around 10-25 megabytes per hour of listening.