How to create a mini podcast with AudioBoo

Posted by Fr. Roderick on Nov 8, 2010 in How-to, Tools | 3 comments

Even if you don’t have any audio equipment, you can still experiment with podcasting using a free service called AudioBoo.

AudioBoo allows you to use your iPhone, Android phone or computer to record short, 5 minute audioclips that you can embed on your blog. But the cool thing is: AudioBoo also creates what is called an ‘RSS feed’ based on your recordings that people can subscribe to as a podcast.

It’s very simple to start recording with AudioBoo; Instead of repeating the instructions on the website, I will just refer you to AudioBoo.fm

However, since the standard recording time is only 5 minutes, here are some tips on making the most of those 300 seconds!

Determine what your recordings will be about
You can use AudioBoo for personal updates – like a personal audioblog – but keep in mind that your audience might stay limited to the people that already know you and probably follow you via Twitter or Facebook. But why not use AudioBoo to create a series of recordings about a topic that you are passionate about?

Say you love cooking: you could share your favorite recipes in short, 5 minute episodes. Or perhaps you are a big movie fan: you could do short movie reviews. Think of the possibilities for parishes: you could record a weekly 5 minute overview of upcoming activities or celebrations at your local church that are easy to spread via Twitter, Facebook or blogs.

Prepare your recording
You will notice that 300 seconds fly by very quickly. Especially if you don’t know exactly what you are going to say. Therefore, prepare your recording. Make a list of things you want to mention, or write the entire text of your recording if you are nervous. Try to read it in a lively, natural way though – avoid monotonous, boring delivery. Be passionate about your message!

Tell a story
We all love stories. Think about the beginning, the middle part and the end of your 5 minute podcast. Paint a picture with audio. Tell a story. If something happens while you are recording, chances are your listeners will listen more carefully and remember your message. This can be as simple as starting your recording at your doorstep, walking to your garage and stepping into your car. As long as you take a few seconds to ‘set the stage’ and narrate what you are doing or where you are going, it will make the overall recording a lot more interesting to listen to.

Chose your recording environment
Don’t expect studio quality in terms of audio. The microphone of your mobile phone is limited, and if you record on your computer, you might be using an internal microphone or headset. Moreover, AudioBoo uses strong compression and a limited bit-rate to keep file-sizes small.

However, you can still improve your recordings by making sure you are not too far away from your microphone. The further away you are from the microphone, the more it will pick up the echo of the room you are in. Try to find a recording place with as little echo as possible. Bedrooms are great, because curtains, pillows and sheets absorb audio reflections.

Use ambient noise
But you can also consider going outside or to a location with lots of atmospheric background noise. Like a busy kitchen for your episodes of Michelin-star 5 minute recipes, or the lobby of a movie theater for your Pixar movie reviews. In those situations, you purposely use the background noise as ‘texture’, similar to the wallpaper on the wall on which you put a painting.

Describe your surroundings
If you opt for a recording ‘on location’, keep in mind that your listeners can’t see what you see. So briefly describe some of the visuals – it will help your audience to form a mental picture of your situation, and keep them interested.

Know how to end your recording
Keep an eye on the time, and if you are approaching the end of your recording, tell people where they can find you on the web (mention your blog, Facebook page or Twitter feed). Or let them know how they can reach you via email.

Title, tag and add a picture
AudioBoo allows you to add tags and a picture to your recording. Pick a short title that makes people curious to listen, add tags that relate to the content of your recording, and attach a nice picture to the episode. If you use AudioBoo on your phone, you can make a picture on the spot with your internal camera, or chose a picture from your library. You could even consider uploading a logo for your show to your phone and attach that picture to your episodes!

Experiment and evaluate
Don’t be afraid to record some tests and evaluate them to see if you are happy with the results (both audio-wise and in terms of content). Practice makes perfect. AudioBoo allows you to re-record your message before you upload it.

Publish your recording and your iTunes feed
AudioBoo provides you with the code you need to embed your recording on your blog or Facebook page. And you can publish the address of the RSS feed or iTunes feed that AudioBoo automatically creates. Just right click on the appropriate icons and copy the address. You can even create a Feedburner feed on the basis of your AudioBoo RSS feed and submit it to the iTunes store for inclusion in their online catalogue.

AudioBoo is developing new options for their service, like longer recording times, but even in its current, simple form it can already be a great tool to communicate with your audience! More information on the website AudioBoo.fm

Do you use AudioBoo? What kind of recordings do you make with it? Share your experiences (and your AudioBoo feed!) in the comments.