Portfolios Journalism
Page updated July.28.2007
Podcasting in Pro Tools
Article, DigiZine Issue 14, Summer 2007
(~900 words)
So you’ve got big ideas and a voice that needs to be heard? You want to share your point of view with the world, but you don’t want to spend much money? The solution is clear: Try podcasting.
Podcasts are easy to create and share; they allow you to broadcast digital media to anybody anywhere with an Internet connection. Podcasting bypasses many of the limitations of more established delivery methods, such as radio or television. A podcast is equally accessible from Tokyo or New York City, even if it was initially uploaded in London. And there are no federal licenses, fancy satellite dishes, or other expensive equipment to deal with.
All you need to make a podcast is a compact recording and production system such as an Mbox 2 Mini, laptop or desktop computer, and a microphone—and, of course, something to say.
Meet Mini, the New Studio
The beauty of Mbox 2 Mini is the number of features it packs into a small and very affordable package. With a footprint the size of your hand, Mbox 2 Mini is the perfect production system for the road—and it’s USB-powered, so you don’t need extra batteries or electrical cables. Just plug it into your computer, add a microphone such as the M-Audio Luna, and you’re set to record your ideas. Whether you’re at home, on a long train ride, or sitting at a café, Mbox 2 Mini allows you to stay focused on capturing your inspiration.
Size can be deceptive: Not only is Mbox 2 Mini small and affordable (at just $329), but it packs a serious audio punch. Thanks to the included Pro Tools LE software, you can record, edit, and mix high-quality audio tracks with your Mbox 2 Mini. Podcasting is just one of the Mbox 2 Mini’s strengths—it’s great for music production too. You can use Pro Tools LE to record entire albums, and even take your Mbox-recorded sessions to a professional recording studio to fine-tune or mix your tracks with Pro Tools|HD, the industry standard in audio production. No wonder Pro Tools is the leader in audio production—it frees you from learning complex workflows and enables you to produce high-quality work.
Ready, Set, Podcast
You’ve got a laptop, your Mbox 2 Mini, and a microphone, and now you’re ready to start podcasting. Just connect Mbox 2 Mini to your computer via USB and fire up Pro Tools LE. Since Pro Tools is fully integrated with Digidesign hardware, it will automatically recognize Mbox 2 Mini and any preferences you’ve previously set in Pro Tools. All you need to do is create an audio track to record to (see figure 1).
Next, connect your microphone to the mic input of Mbox 2 Mini. Since Mbox 2 Mini can provide a full 48 volts of phantom power, you can use just about any type of microphone. Once you’re all hooked up, make sure the audio track’s input in Pro Tools is set to the mic input of Mbox 2 Mini (see figure 2).
Finally, clear your throat (and your mind) before record-enabling the audio track. Once you’ve reached a sublime state of mental clarity, hit Record to capture your ideas (see figure 3).
If you make a mistake, don’t worry—you can stop and punch in a correction, or record several tracks consecutively and “comp” together the best parts of each one. If your podcast is too long, you can seamlessly cut some parts to shorten it. With Pro Tools LE software, you’ve got total control over the editing process.
Podcast Production
There’s a lot more you that can do besides correct mistakes and edit the length of your podcast with Pro Tools LE. You can create additional tracks and layer different recordings together, or add a music background to your spoken-word track. You can record audio or MIDI directly into the session using software instruments like Digidesign’s Xpand!, which is included with Pro Tools, or you can import an existing song as a stereo audio file. You can even incorporate video into your podcast. With DV Toolkit 2 for Pro Tools, you can add video editing and production capabilities to the same session, all within Pro Tools! Who needs a staff of production specialists when you’ve got Pro Tools LE and a vision?
Publish Your Podcast
So you’ve completed your first podcast. It’s amazing, and your family wholeheartedly agrees with you. Now you need to make it available to the world. Your audience can subscribe to your podcasts, so every time you create a new episode it’s automatically downloaded to your subscribers’ laptops or portable devices. You don’t have to worry about repeat traffic—you can always reach them directly with your latest edition.
How do you do this? With Podifier (podifier.com), an application that automates the process of creating RSS feeds out of digital media files that you upload to a server. It even has FTP functionality to help you upload your podcasts. And the best thing about Podifier is that it’s free!
Once your podcasts are packaged and uploaded via Podifier, you need to make sure it’s available to others. For starters, post a request to have your podcast listed at high-profile podcast sites such as the iTunes Store, podcastingnews.com, podcastcentral.com, and podcasting-station.com. Before long, the world will be hanging on your every word.
That’s it. Even if you’ve never ventured outside Small Town USA, you’re on your way to becoming internationally famous!
To view this article in DigiZine, please visit the DigiZine section
of the Digidesign web site.
Journalism Outline
DigiZine
· "Podcasting in Pro Tools"
Special Feature, DigiZine Issue 14, Summer 2007
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