Create a Podcast: Prepare Episodes

Creating a Podcast - Overview
Step 1: Prepare Episodes
Step 2: Create the Feed
Step 3: Publish

When creating podcast episodes, we suggest using "Audacity" software with the "Lame" plug-in. Both "Audacity" and "Lame" are available for free download from the Software app in MyUWF.

Mac Users: Most new Macs come with "GarageBand" which has the ability to record and edit podcasts and automatically export them to the "iWeb" program for publishing. "Audacity" for Mac is also available for free on the IT Help tab and is a good alternative for those who do not have "GarageBand."

Specific steps for creating podcast episodes depend on the software you use. Please refer to your software documentation for instructions. UWF faculty may contact the Academic Technology Center (ATC) for help getting started. When creating your podcast episodes, we recommend the following standards for optimal performance and consistency.

A. Produce the Episodes

Begin by creating your first podcast episode. Refer to the Creating an Audio File or Creating a Video File for UWF guidelines.

File Format

Video podcasts should use the m4v format. This format ensures maximum player compatibility. Note: Several software programs are available to convert other video file types to .m4v.

Audio podcast episodes should use the mp3 format. ID3 tags should be used to include the following information in the file:

• Title: “Name of the episode”
• Artist: “UWF-<department/organization or individual name>”
• Album “Title of the podcast"

Example: Title: On-line student tip #1; Artist: UWF-Academic Technology Center; Album: Summer on-line.

Where to Save

In your I: drive, or a department/organization web folder, create a folder named "media." Within the "media" folder create a sub-folder named "podcasts." All media files (.mp3 or .m4v) and the feed file (in Step 2) should be stored within the "podcasts" folder. For example: I:\media\podcasts\song1.mp3.

For instructors podcasting classroom sessions, each course should have its own folder, and each section should have its own subfolder. For example: I:\media\podcasts\COPS1230\Section3241.

B. Episode File Name

The name of the file should follow this format: <name_of_file>_<mm_dd_yyyy>.xxx (use underlines “_” for spacing).

Example: student_tip_04_27_2007.mp3