Podcasting FAQ
Podcasts
Podcasts
What is a podcast?
Podcasting is a process of download distribution allowing your audience to retain reproducable copies. A podcast is one such presentation. Podcasts are typically MP3 format audio, but can be other formats as well, such as MP4 video files.
How do I create a podcast?
First you need to create your audio file. This can be done using any recording device, but one that encodes directly to MP3 format will save extra steps. We recommend 64k for voice-only podcasts. Secondly, you must create your RSS document containing the links and descriptions of the files. Information on how to create the RSS document is available on our Creating a Podcast page. Lastly, all of the files need to be housed on a web server, but they do not need to reside on the same server. The RSS .xml can be on a separate server from the media files.
How do I subscribe to a podcast?
Each RSS aggregator's user interface will be unique, but they all provide the same basic functionality. To subscribe to a podcast, simply copy the URL of the podcast (http:// ... .xml) and paste it into the field within your RSS aggregator asking for the subscription URL. Aggregators will have settings that control how often to check for updates to your subscribed feeds as well as when to download new files. Please consult the help file or manual for you RSS aggregator of choice for specific functionality.