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In case you’re wondering why blogging has been a little sporadic as of late, it’s partly due to time being spent gearing up and getting ready to do some serious podcasting here this coming spring.   Right now the equipment is finally in-house and the studio is…well, coming together with a little bit of effort.   Fact is setting up the studio and learning about the proper use of all the equipment is taking a considerable amount of my spare time…but hopefully in the end it will be well worth it.

There are many ways to become a podcaster.   As Rich Lindgren recently pointed out to me in an e-mail there are services such as BlogTalkRadio that requires nothing more than a telephone to produce a podcast.   In fact, another very popular service is www.Audioblog.com where a person uses the telephone instead of a microphone.   A lot of successful folks produce their shows in this manner and do a fabulous job.

The next step up is to get some sort of a microphone for the computer.   Here again, a number of successful podcasters get a good USB mic such as Samson C01U USB mic that is basically a plug and play mic into the computer.   Pull the mic out of the package, plug it into the computer, and within minutes a person is ready to do some serious recording.   Download a free audio editing program such as Audacity and you’re in business having invested only a small amount of money into fairly easy to operate equipment.

Then, of course, there’s podcasting by taking the next step using broadcast quality mics, professional mixing equipment using pre-amps, compressors, equalizers, telephone interface equipment all channeled into a computer via fire-wire for post-production processing.   In most cases this process is merely a scaled down version of the very same broadcast equipment a person would find at a local radio station studio.   The quality is superb and very professional sounding, but I dare say the learning curve, not only in connecting all the necessary wires and cables, but also in setting the proper levels on all the controls is almost overwhelming for this novice.   Yet, just like that wily old buck that teases and taunts you all summer…the challenge lying ahead can be invigorating for both the mind and the spirit.

That brings me to a point where I want to involve you…the Sportsman’s Blog reader.   In your opinion what makes an interesting podcast?   Your input is not only welcomed, but strongly encouraged.   Over the next several weeks I will be practicing with and tuning up this equipment for an early March ‘07 re-launch of my podcast.   Yes, it is a re-launch because last year my podcasting effort fizzled out after just a few episodes.

This time around I plan to do things a bit different.   How so, you might ask?   Well, the plan is EVERY show will feature an interview with some expert in the outdoors industry.   Not only do I think the interview format makes things more interesting for the listeners, but it actually makes things more fun for the podcaster, as well.   I’m not knocking those podcasters who show after show do nothing but preach…but let’s face it, eventually that format gets a little boring.

So, starting hopefully in early March when I begin podcasting in earnest once again, expect to hear lots of short interviews (20 to 30 minutes in length) with the movers and shakers of this outdoors industry.   If you have an idea as to who might make an interesting interview…drop me a line and let me know.   I’ll try my best to line it up.   I want to keep things diverse covering lots of varied topics…yet I also want to keep the subject matter timely as to what is currently happening in the outdoors.

My goal is to upload a new podcast episode each week…but that will depend on how much free time I have to produce the show throughout the year.   Again, now is a critical time for your input in terms of how I am developing the show.   If you have ideas and care to share them…please do so.   The purpose of podcasting is to enhance the blogging effort, not to replace it.   I really think the new interview format will end up working out quite well…I know I am anxious to get going, I just hope you are likewise a bit anxious to hear the finished result of my most recent audio blogging efforts.

© 2007 Jim Braaten.  All Rights Reserved.  No Reproduction Allowed Without Prior Permission.

Filed under: Podcasting | 3 Comments »

Well, here it is…my first podcast effort that I promised a few weeks ago.   Please be kind in your criticism as it’s been far too many years since I last sat behind the microphone or did anything remotely similar to this sort of thing.

 (To find out more about podcasts and the software to access them, check out Podcasting on the Wikipedia Web site.2006 Jim Braaten. All Rights Reserved. No Reproduction without Prior Permission.