Living in 2007 is either a very good thing or a very bad thing for the true technophile. It's good, of course, because of all the great toys out there to play with, and bad because a technology lover can feel a bit like a dog turned loose in a park full of squirrels. Which way do you go…which one do you chase?
If you are looking for a way to get your message out to the world—whether it's an artistic one or a sales message—podcasts are a great way to accomplish this. At the moment, it's the “new thing.” YouTube has done wonders for the popularity of voice recording technology. Now anyone and everyone can have a voice over recording. You're not confined to typing out your manifesto in blog form.
But what do you need in order to make your podcast dreams come true? Actually, not that much. First and foremost, you need a computer or at least the use of one from a friend or family member—or even your arch enemy if he has a really cool system. The next thing you need is a website of some description, though a blog may do. That's because your podcast is powered by bandwidth—but that's another article.
What you are about to do, basically, is turn your computer (or your brother's or best enemy's computer) into a recording studio. So you're going to need a microphone. You can pick these up for pretty cheap. I mean $10 cheap. These are not expensive items. You will also need headphones so you can listen to your recording and make sure your computer isn't sending out secret signals to the homeworld. All sorts of random noise can show up just when you're at your most clever, and you'll want to do a “take 2” if that happens. Don't let white noise disguise your genius.
After that, you will need some type of recording program. Then you are, as they say, good to go. Now, of course, you have plenty of choices about which particular recording program you choose to use. Some of that choice may actually be made for you by the computer itself, because it may only be compatible with certain programs, so check around and make sure that what you would like to use actually works on your computer.
Actually, you do need one more little thing—a great idea to turn into a podcast. You don't want to just throw anything out there. Or maybe you do. Maybe the world desperately needs to know about your Aunt Petunia's fried liver and onions that you had for last Sunday's dinner and what Cousin Earl said at the table. Whatever gift you are making to the world of amateur radio, you are now armed and ready to make it a reality.
