I am still working on finding the best way to offer an RSS feed for “Meditations from The Hill.” You may click on the orange chicklet on the right sidebar and get the feed through Feeburner. I will add a post once I get the XML right. Thanks for listening.
Todd,
I just copied your feedburner link and pasted it into iTunes as a podcast, and your first test audio, and your #1 episode came up immediately. So you must have it set up right. The #2 episode did not appear, however. I did manually download it, so it is there on your server. I’m not sure what’s with that. I will click “update” later in the day to see if it appears then.
I manage a podcast of my pastor’s sermons here at Trinity Baptist in Tulsa, using a combination of Blogger and Feedburner. I am running a Mac platform, and eventhough I played with Audacity for a short time, have no real experience with it. I have heard other PC users rave about it though, so I’m sure it does a fine job. I did notice a couple of things that might be helpful.
1. If you are tight on server space, you could lower your bit rate quite a bit. I first noticed your large file sizes (for such short audio), and thought something was up, so I looked at the specs on them: 128kbps with a sample rate of 44.1kHz. For the spoken word you can half the sample rate to 22.050kHz and record (or at least finish the project) at 24kbph mono, without any appreciable difference. You will save a bunch of storage space, and create a faster download too.
2. Of course I am sure you have noticed or had comments about the audio quality. Your test run had wind blowing on the microphone, which you corrected in #1, but a sharpness in the audio appeared in #1, making your “s” sounds pierce the ears. I have not heard #2 yet, to see if that has been fixed. I am no audio tecnician, so all of the problems I encountered first starting out, I worked out by trial and error. I don’t know if your audio problem is from the mic you use, or from the audio settings in Audacity. The audio I record at church comes through the sound system, so that is all pretty good equipment. I also use a LogiTech usb boom mic/headset combo for recording intros, which at under $40-$50 provides decent audio too. My advice on audio quality: keep fiddl’n with the controls until you get the sound you want.
3. Don’t give up.
I’m not sure if you have figured it out yet, but I am Mary C.’s dad. I emailed you concerning the kids looking for a church in your area earlier this spring. Mary told us about your computer crash, so I am sorry I didn’t send you another note. About that same time I noticed on your blog that you had a personal loss, so I didn’t want to be a pest over something that I knew the kids would probably check out anyway. To confess my sin, I think I was mostly interested in a comment in your blog margin concerning a run-in you had had with the “Rottweilers” in Calif. No matter now. I’m sorry I caused you to scan your congregation for weeks.
Back to the podcast. I don’t know if this has hepled any. Feel free to ask if you have any questions. I can always say “I don’t know.” Most of what I picked up was on the tutorials at Blogger and Feedburner.
God’s blessings on you and yours.
In Christ, Wayne Hatcher
Wayne,
Your information is very helfpul. I followed your example and subscribed through itunes and it is working. I will use your other suggestions for next week’s podcast.
I enjoyed visiting with Mary and Christopher a couple of weeks ago.
Again, thanks for the help!
Blessings.
Todd