I know I’ve talked a lot about podcasting over the last several years, but I do have good reasons for making podcasts and productions and I want you to check out at least one of these three short podcast demos from PodCastNorm Productions. (I’ll give you links for them here at the end of this article.)

I’m not doing this to brag or to get you to buy something, but I do want you to see that not every production has to be an interview with some guru about some subject that takes 90 minutes to get to the reason they wanted you to listen in the first place — buy their product!

Yeah, I know not everyone that makes podcasts just wants you to buy something and not everybody just wants to entertain you. I will be the first to tell you, most of those type things are well produced and often offer great information about the subject they talk about, but there are a number of other reasons to use podcasts, blog/casts, v-casts or whatever you might think of.

One of the reason’s I take the time to make a production out of reading my articles is for those that may not be able to read because of eyesight or health issues. Another would be so they can listen on the fly while they are walking, exercising or driving down the road. In a way, I offer to read my articles to them, (or you), so they, (or you), can multi-task and still absorb the information and hopefully use it sooner or later, depending on what the case may be.

I try my level best to make the presentation acceptable on many levels so that it isn’t offensive to the listeners in several ways. I don’t want to offend them by using harsh language and I try to make the music I use fit the project. I want it to sound at least somewhat professional and not like it was recorded in some large auditorium (although I know those type recordings have their place also.) I try to do the best I can with what I have.

Another reason I read them is because I know I may not be able to capture in writing the text the way I meant for the reader to read it. By reading it, I can put the emphasis where it needs to be for the listener to properly understand what I meant. (At least, I hope I accomplish that.) Voice inflection, chuckles and laughter can often make a big difference in the way something is understood. They also give the listener/reader some insight into the personality of the person presenting the information and, along the way, hopefully making it a more pleasing experience.

So, I tell you this today for two reasons…

1. So I can demonstrate to you at least one of the other type productions I make through PodCastNorm, (PCN Productions)
2. To give you some other ideas for making podcasts, blog/casts, v-casts or whatever type presentation or production you would like to make.

The first one I am sending you to is:

<< www.nascarfansview.com >> (Yes, it is about NASCAR from a fan’s view and I hope you like it.)

Please do click on the link and listen to the production all the way to the end. The reason I ask this of you is because I have inserted a commercial in it and I want you to see how you can make commercials for yourself, or others, and turn out productions, if not for yourself, at least for others that may not have your capabilities or talents.

The second one is another of my sites that I use for sharing on a more personal level. (I am still working on this site and it is a growing project that I will be adding more content to on a regular basis.) Please click on this link and just listen to it…

<< http://www.singlesongconcert.com >>

Once you arrive on the site, it should begin playing almost immediately. When it finishes, it will redirect you to the next page which contains a video of one of the songs I’ve written. (I would like you to watch the video and hear the song, too, because it is part of what I want you to see about the possibilities for production and podcast ideas and about ways to use your websites to present your material of all kinds.)

Who knows, this could open up whole new opportunities and possibilities for you as you look for a place to use your talents to make productions for yourself or others…

See ya next time… Rusty

All views expressed are strictly the opinion of the writer

© June 17, 2010 – all rights reserved

Rusty Norman and Podcasting Resources

(All audio productions by www.podcastnorm.com and PCNProductions.com)

I could go into a long winded dissertation on the reasons for using Royalty Free Music for your productions but I’ve already done that several times here at Podcasting Resources. If you don’t use Royalty Free Music in your productions of all types for public consumption, YOU COULD GET INTO A LOT OF TROUBLE!

I love Two Buck Themes and use it all the time in my productions! But don’t take my word for it… click on the video below and let Mike Stewart tell you the best reasons,  himself…

Try Two Buck Themes FOR JUST $1 Dollar-(Trial Membership)

There is nothing more disappointing to me than listening to someone’s audio or video production and finding they could have done better, “IF…

“IF what”, you say?

Well, yeah, “IF”… If they would have just paid closer attention to some small details that could have made their production much better. I have to say, there’s several things that really bother me when people don’t pay close attention to those little details, but I’ll try to be brief. Today, I’ll just list three… Next week we’ll start taking them one at a time and discuss them more fully, (and add some others as we progress over the weeks ahead.)

• Production is of too low a quality:

There is nothing more disappointing to me that to try and listen to a podcast, a downloadable mp3 or some other type of audio file and find that it sounds like someone tried to bounce it off of Jupiter. A friend of mine described poor quality mp3’s as sounding like someone threw a bunch of marbles in a metal bowl and rolled them around while they were recording. I have to agree; In this day and age, if you can’t make your files big enough to allow the end result to be clear and pleasing to your listener, please; don’t bother even making it!

• Poor or no edits — Abrupt ins and outs

I know it is hard to believe for many of you, but, I have come across productions more than once that whomever the person was that posted it didn’t even take the time to clean it up a little. Their ins and outs throughout the recording are abrupt and some don’t even take the time to edit out the noise at the beginning while they were waiting for someone to start talking. I’m sorry to be so harsh, but honestly, that stinks. Taking the time to properly edit the production isn’t only necessary, but it is a must. No one I know wants to listen to something that sounds like it was done on a little recorder with the ‘vox’ feature turned on. The quality may be there but it sounds choppy. Editing the beginning and the end and adding a fade in or out makes a world of difference to you listener. Once again I offer my opinion… If you don’t have the time and/or the ability to do the even the slightest bit of editing of your production to make it more listenable, maybe you should let someone else do it for you. (Or, maybe you should think about finding something else to do…)

• Your production sounds like you’re in a large echo-chamber

(This is one of my pet peeves and it can often drive people away from your production even if it is worth listening to.) Now, understand, I’m not talking about doing a live recording out in some room like the capitol building in Washington DC. I am talking about making your recording in your temporary (or maybe even permanent) studio area and it sounds like your making it in a public bathroom. There are several ways to control that ambient (echo-chamber like) sound and some are expensive while others aren’t. One of the simplest little things to do is find a room that doesn’t have such hard walls and floors. Carpeted floors are better than hard tile or linoleum and can help reduce the ambient sound problems. I know many of the rooms in a house are either dry wall or paneling, but, there are little ways to manage them, too. Oh, by the way, if you are making your production in your bathroom, maybe you should think about moving to another room (unless you just like hearing yourself over and over again.)

To be honest, the time has come for all who are involved or want to be involved in podcasting or making audio or video productions of all types to start thinking about paying attention to some small details that will make a big difference in the end results of their productions. The days of over-all sloppiness are gone and people expect good quality productions and downloadable files. That doesn’t mean everything has to be perfect but it does mean every effort should be made to strive for excellence.

The era of just throwing something together without concern for quality and consideration for those that will be listening or watching is over. Software and hardware have become much to sophisticated and affordable to not make the best productions you can with what you have to work with. (Imagine… all this and ease of use, too.)

Don’t forget, you can still turn out very good stuff without having to spend a fortune and by paying attention to some little things that can make your productions “as good as any and better than many…”

See ya next time… Rusty

All views expressed are strictly the opinion of the writer

© June 10, 2010 – all rights reserved

Rusty Norman and Podcasting Resources

(All audio productions by www.podcastnorm.com and PCNProductions.com)

HAVE FUN WATCHING THIS SHORT VIDEO. IT WAS MADE USING TWO BUCK THEMES AND SOFTWARE I GOT FROM MIKE STEWART. (YES, SOMETIMES YOU JUST HAVE TO LET PEOPLE KNOW ABOUT SOME GOOD STUFF.)
$1 Dollar Trial Membership CLICK HERE TO TRY THIS MUSIC FOR A BUCK!! ($1.00)

$1 Dollar Trial Membership CLICK HERE TO TRY THIS MUSIC FOR A BUCK!! ($1.00)

There is no better way to try Mike Stewart’s Two Buck Themes. How can you go wrong with paying a single dollar ($1.00) to try something that can make your audio and video productions legal (as far as the music you use for them) and also add a professional dimension to them. We all know that music makes things better and using Two Buck Themes gives you Royalty Free Music to use in any and all your audio and video productions, with no worries about someone being upset with you about using their music. Generally, Two Buck Themes is available to use for $2.00-bucks-a-theme — 5-themes-at-a-time. Check it out and you will find Mike over-delivers when it comes to anything he does and I think you will find his music and tutorials a useful tool for making your audio and video productions better.

$1 Dollar Trial Membership MAKE THIS MUSIC MINE!!
Oh, and one other thing; I am an affiliate of Mike’s and should you use this link, I may make a little on what you purchase from him, but remember, you can become an affiliate of his also and you can help spread the word about TWO BUCK THEMES
$1 Dollar Trial Membership – MAKE THIS MUSIC MINE!!!

Podcasting Resources is changing what it covers to include not only podcasting and resources for beginner and advanced podcasters, but recording and editing for internet presentations of all types.

We have been covering basically podcasting and podcasting resources, in particular for beginners and also advanced users, for several years. Now, we are determined to become and even better place for you to come for information, reviews on equipment and software, shortcuts to getting started and generally, anything we think will help you get started in recording, editing and podcasting or just about anything you want to produce for the internet in audio and video. (Yes, we will also be talking about live streaming audio and video, too.)

Don’t forget, we still think you can get started turning out some very good “stuff” even if you don’t have a lot of money. We are still firm believers that, “You don’t have to spend more than you need to, but at least as much as you should.”

We don’t claim to know all the answers, but we are probably affiliated with someone or know someone that can answer just about any question that comes up. Together, we can all learn and do what we do (and what we want to do)  BETTER.

Check back soon and see how we’re changing and be sure to let us know what you think…

See ya next time… Rusty

Just thought you might like to check out some of our other podcasting projects. One of them is called Nascar Fans View. Find it at http://www.nascarfansview.com/the-fans-view/ CHECK IT OUT!!