Topic: Radio Free Nintendo - Making a Podcast

[Xander]

Although I am sure this has been answered in the past, I am curious what programs go in to making Radio Free Nintendo.  I am a semi-frequent listener, so if has ever been explained before, I may have missed it.

I have been trying to make my own podcast, but am getting frustrated with Trial versions with limited capability. The images in the podcast are something I would like to try, so I was wondering what software is used for this.

Thanks for any help you can offer, and keep up the good work on RFN!

Cheers,
-Xander

[vudu]

This is how Karl used to do it.

I'm not sure if Crimm does it the same way.

[Xander]

Thanks.  Hrm, Mac software, go figure!

[Crimm]

Well Karl used a mac, I however use a real computer.

We record the same way:
The chair makes a Skype voice chat and we record our own audio using the program of our choice (most use Audacity).

After than the other three email me their audio file.  I put them together and edith them in Audacity.  That takes a bajillion hours.  Then I use Audacity to export the MP3 feed.

After that I take the MP3 Audacity spit out and convert it to M4A using iTunes.  Then I simply rename it to an MP4 from the command line.

rename podcast.M4A podcast.MP4

Then, to make the "enhanced" feed I use a program called Slideshow Assembler.  As far as I know it's the only way to do enhanced pocasts on a PC.  It's a bit of work tho.  I need to manually create a .POD file, which I do by actually listening to the podcast and recording the timecode for each chapter. 

I run slideshow assembler from the command line.

I upload both files to our FTP server using FileZilla.

[Crimm]

I should point out that Slideshow Assembler takes some time to get used to.  The pdf that comes with it is marginally helpful, but really the best way to do it is to use the example podcast and copy it closely.

I also encourage anybody who wants to use it to not drag the .pod file onto the slideshow assembler.exe like the instructions tell you to do.  It's much easier to do it via command line, because you'll actually get to SEE any errors with the file.

[NWR_insanolord]

Well Karl used a mac, I however use a real computer.

Hey, thanks Crimm, now I know who to vote for in Mafia!

[NWR_Karl]

Yeah, it would be so great if somehow you could have that slideshow app and your audio editor combined into one easy-to-use program.

OH WAIT THAT'S WHAT I USE AND IT'S ON A MAC.

Maybe one day your "real computers" will get some decent production software.

[vudu]

And maybe one day your "fake computers" will remember your website passwords in its browser software.

[Crimm]

Yeah, it sure is nice of them to create a proprietary format and spend their time not making inroads with it.

[Svevan]

Let's not forget the creation of the iTunes feed, which is a solid-brick bitch. IMO, at least, I did it by hand with TextEdit. We also used to put the podcast on Odeo, not sure if that still happens, but it was inconvenient too.

[NWR_Karl]

Let's not forget the creation of the iTunes feed, which is a solid-brick bitch. IMO, at least, I did it by hand with TextEdit. We also used to put the podcast on Odeo, not sure if that still happens, but it was inconvenient too.

From what I understand, there's a program that you can use to do it automatically without the manual crap, but Obi stopped paying for it, haha.

[Crimm]

I had mentioned the .POD file.  Here is this week's, so you get an idea of it.

[Podcast]
altfolder1=resources
basename=nwrpodcast89
audiofile=nwrpodcast89.mp4
shownotes=shownotes
artwork=rfn_big.jpg
imgwidth=300
imgheight=300
editpointcount=3


[Editpoint_1]
start=00:00:00.00
chapter=Radio Free Nintendo Episode 89
image=rfn_big.jpg
href=
hreftext=


[Editpoint_2]
start=00:00:56.00
chapter=Guests
image=GuestParking.jpg
href=
hreftext=


[Editpoint_3]
start=00:01:45.00
chapter=NINTENDO SIXTY FOOOOOOOOOOOOOOUAAAAAAAAR!
image=n64.jpg
href=
hreftext=


[Editpoint_4]
start=00:44:43.00
chapter=Games?  On the Nintendo 64?
image=iggy.jpg
href=
hreftext=

[Editpoint_5]
start=01:18:15.00
chapter=Nintendo 64?
image=rejection.bmp
href=
hreftext=

[Editpoint_6]
start=01:21:06.00
chapter=Starting Over
image=lotp.jpg
href=
hreftext=

[Shownotes]
Not implemented (yet).




[metadata]
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;; @" for data type 0 with character data - if you need at the start of the string include " twice (e.g. @""Some text )
;;
;; all other are strings (type 1) - only lyrics can exceed 255 bytes
;;
©cpy=Copyright 2008 by Nintendo World Report
©too=

©nam=RFN Episode 89: Nintendo 64 Spectacular
©ART=Nintendo World Report
©alb=Radio Free Nintendo
©gen=Podcast
©day=$today

©lyr=Music: Respective copyright holders

catg=podcasts
desc=N64 Retrospective
pcst=&01

purl=@"feed://www.nintendoworldreport.com/podcast/feed.xml
egid=@"http://nintendoworldreport.com/podcast.cfm?series=rfn

[Xander]

Awesome!  Thanks so much!

Keep up the good work on the cast!

[animecyberrat]

Ever tried using Magix or Sony Acid for the audio editing? Both are a lot better in terms of function and user friendly-nes than Audacity, which sucks IMO. You can get Acid for free if you download the trial. They only thing you have to pay for is the Loops if you get one with that, and the mp3 codecs. You can output the file into .wav and convert it into .mp3 or .mp4 using I-tunes. Or you can buy the full featured version and have access to tons of tools you won't get using Audacity. 

[Crimm]

I'll try Magix for next week's podcast.  I'd try it this week, because it's a tough edit, but I'm already pretty far into it.

Thanks for the suggestion, audacity drives me crazy sometimes.