We Are Experiencing Some Technical Difficulties. Well, Sorta. Not Really.
By Tom Chandler on Nov 30, 2007 in Underground Entertainment
I’ve thrown myself down a Podcasting crash course, so in between bumpy landings and dead ends, I don’t have time for much else.
How did I get into this mess? More than anything, it’s an excellent example of misplaced confidence (some might call it arrogance).
A client asked if I could deliver a podcasting demo segment by Monday, and I confidently said “sure.”
After all, anything I don’t understand must be simple, right?
Not so much.
Basic podcasting isn’t hard. But getting it right? That’s a little harder.
There’s the new terminology. (Dynamic or condenser mic? Preamps. Mixers. Frequency Response.) The new software (which — annoyingly — doesn’t work just like my word processor).
And a few other teensy details, like the simple fact that spending your adult life writing doesn’t necessarily mean you’re ready for broadcast stardom.
Holy crap.
My built-in sound card was far too noisy for good results, so I did something I almost never do — I bought a complete kit, hoping it would speed the startup process.
Three hours into the “simple” installation process, I was beginning to have my doubts.
Then it was working. Or at least I thought was, until I played my first recording, and heard a very strong echo. Actually, the segment was looping on top of itself.
Was it me? My office?
No. It was the oddly configured software. Huh?
Still, what I don’t intuitively know, I eventually figure out through the application of ignorant brute force. So I’m getting there… getting there… getting there…
Hellooooo, can you type craigslist? :=)
Good luck on the pod thing, Tom. I generally love mucking around with the tech stuff, but you’re frightening me now.
Roberta Rosenberg | Nov 30, 2007 | Reply
Craigslist? I don’t need outside help to sink myself ever deeper into trouble…
Tom Chandler | Nov 30, 2007 | Reply
Hey Tom,
Have you tried Podcast Station ? It’s pretty simple and I really like simple.
There’s a 30 day free trial and about 30 minutes of free video tutorials available before you even give ‘em a dollar.
If you have DirectX 9 and can plug an analog mic into your soundcard and if your soundcard has current WDM/DirectSound audio drivers, you’re all set.
The requirements page even has a link to Microsoft’s diagnostic tool that will tell you if you have everything you need.
And then, after you master it, you can use the affiliate program and tell the world how easy it was !
Good luck !
Mike Sigers | Dec 1, 2007 | Reply
Mike; As I pointed out in my post, my audio card is way too noisy to make quality recordings (it turns out that’s true for a lot of PC audio cards).
I went with an external USB audio adapter, and as for software, Audacity’s free and works pretty damned well.
Tom Chandler | Dec 1, 2007 | Reply
Thanks for responding so eloquently Tom.
If your audio card’s too noisy, it’s because it’s cheap, not inexpensive, cheap.
I took your post a calll for help. Turns out it was just you flapping your keyboad, as your response to Roberta and I showed you to think you know a lot more than you actually do.
Audacity is, again, like your computer and soundcard, the cheap way out. Tools built for tasks are what seperates those who get things done and those who wonder how to get it done.
You’re obviously not a people person, and not much of a blogger, just a keyboard banging, horn blower who takes advice poorly and interacts like a sophmoric asshole to people who try to help you.
Have a nice life.
Mike Sigers | Dec 1, 2007 | Reply
Whoa, Tom is a friend. Keep me out, way out, of the rant, thanks.
Roberta Rosenberg | Dec 1, 2007 | Reply
Uhh, Mike — why the attack? You suggested something that wasn’t going to work for me (and I’d stated so in my original post), and I told you why. Now you go ballistic?
Do you really think I dissed you in my comment?
Frankly, I don’t feel compelled to apologize for taking the advice of a real professional audio guy, so what gives? Is there a conflict here I’m not aware of?
As for the rest of your comment, well… I hardly know where to start.
So I think I won’t. Except to say you misspelled “sophmoric.”
Tom Chandler | Dec 1, 2007 | Reply
I apologize for misreading your tone and for taking it wrong, but I don’t like being cursed at in print and I apparently didn’t care for the ” As I pointed out…”.
I deleted several paragraphs that would have followed this one, (extolling the virtues of PS over Audacity), which is what I should have done the first time (delete, that is), but I was in a hurry to get out the door, the first time and should have waited til I got back to hit the submit button.
You did well to not argue back and showed that you listened to my grandmother who said, “Never argue with a fool in public. People won’t be able to tell which of you is the fool.”
You didn’t argue with the fool and are better for it.
Peace.
PS - I can spell, I just can’t type…. and I’m a bit dyslexic, so I sometimes miss the missing letters and unless I go over a block of text several times, I don’t always lasso the missing letters and put them back in their corral.
Mike Sigers | Dec 1, 2007 | Reply
Mike: Fair enough! The kit took three hours to get setup (I’ll be writing a review later), which is when the real struggle began.
Doing voice work for the first time is probably a little like learning to type; it’s awkward as hell at the beginning, and that’s assuming you’ve got something to say.
Tom Chandler | Dec 4, 2007 | Reply
“Doing voice work for the first time is probably a little like learning to type; it’s awkward as hell at the beginning”
You’re not kidding, Tom… I’ve just done my first ever voice work for a short tutorial video presentation. Like you I blithely accepted a request from a regular client to provide a video version of future release notes.
A head cold might not have helped matters, but I’d forgotten how much of a learning curve I’ve been through with the written word. Time to start learning again!
Roland Head | Dec 10, 2007 | Reply
One of the ugly realities of writers recording their own words is you’re confronted with the sound of your voice, which isn’t necessarily the strong, manly, Charlton Heston voice you use when reading the stuff to yourself.
I’m pretty sure the microphone’s to blame…
Tom Chandler | Dec 10, 2007 | Reply