How to Create Awesome Podcasts
Next, let's explore in detail exactly how to conduct either method of obtaining a Podcast. First we'll look at the easiest way, which is downloading from a website. After that we'll look at subscribing to feed.In our last section we covered exactly what a Podcast is and indicated that, just because the Podcast is named after the iPod, it's not necessary to use an iPod to Podcast. You can enjoy Podcasts without even owning any MP3 player [http://www.gizmocafe.com/portable-audio/mp3-media-players.aspx]. All you need is a media player capable of playing back MP3s on your computer.
The quickest way to get Podcasting is to simply find an Mp3 and download it directly from a website that makes them available. Some sources for Podcasts will make the individual MP3 available for download without subscribing. This isn't real Podcasting through, as you're not really using the syndication that makes Podcasting, well . Podcasting.
Here is a screen shot from the website for Air America. You can subscribe but you can also cherry pick individual episodes. The "Download" link will take you directly to the MP3. If you left click the hyperlink, you'll immediately run the file on your computer. This action will launch your computer's default MP3 player (if you use Windows that will probably be Media Player). To actually download the file you should right click the "Download" link and select "Save Target As." This will allow you to save the file to your computer and choose its location. After you perform this task, you can play it later or transfer the file to your iPod or other portable MP3 player.
Subscribing to a Podcast; this is where we really get Podcasting
It's easy to subscribe to a Podcast, but you have to be prepared with a receiver installed on your computer. A Podcast receiver is software that lets you pick up the syndicated "push" from RSS or Atom.
One of the most popular and easiest to use is called Doppler.
This is the main screen for Doppler. As you can see, it allows you to search for Podcasts you might be interested in. News is a very general query and you'll get a lot of Podcasts to choose from. Hit the retrieve button and you'll begin downloading the Mp3 files to a location you specify in the Tools - Options section.
If, on the other hand, you already know the exact location of a Podcast you wish to subscribe to, you can enter it manually with the Add Feed button seen on the image above. It will bring up the box represented in image two below.
You'll notice that the URL ends in .xml because it's an RSS feed. Once the feed is added, you can setup the program to download the latest files at the most convenient time for you.
The next option, in case you actually own an iPod and use iTunes, is to use iTunes itself. iTunes makes a very easy to use Podcast receiver.
Here is a very simple interface that iTunes gives you to configure Podcasts. It's typical in that it allows you to specify frequency and gives you an option to keep them. The iPod preferences button will let you set synch parameters to your iPod whenever it's docked to your workstation.
Here is what the file will look like in iTunes. As you will notice it is not unlike any other MP3 in iTunes, except that Podcasts will go to the iTunes Podcast container within your MP3 library. This is where you can play the files or copy them to your iPod and play them back on the go.
This ends our tutorial on Podcasting. Remember that Video Podcasting is no different except for the capabilities that are required to playback MPEG4 files.