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)

(Click Here) for the podcast version of this article from “mypodcast.com”

(Click Here) for the podcast version of this article from “podcastpeople.com”

Since we’ve recently been talking about putting a musical floor beneath your talking or reading of your podcast, you may have the problem of your musical spots being to short. So, if that is the case, what can you do to make them longer?

In this article I will be talking about, and using “Audacity” (1.3.0-beta version). It’s for Windows XP . If you download a later version, (like 1.3.3, which I think is the latest) I will be updating this article and it’s information to that version soon. There are some slight differences in the 1.3.3 version and I am not totally familiar with it yet, (but you can get it by Clicking Here).

If you are using an editing program like “Audacity” I will be showing you what I consider to be the easiest way to extend the length of those short musical spots that you have access user rights to and want to use. Even if you aren’t using “Audacity”, the principles and techniques will still hold true. This is not something that is hard, but it does require you to expend a little effort to accomplish the desired results. Who knows; you may actually find that it’s a lot of fun finding ways to make them work differently.

Remember; my examples are just that– examples– and please do not think I am in anyway trying to limit your creative capabilities. I simply offer these examples as my creative offering.

First of all, let me stress I am talking about musical spots you have the rights to use. I am not talking about taking short sections of someone’s music you don’t have the right to use and making a musical floor out of it. I am a firm believer that everyone that creates copyrighted material has the option of allowing you to use it for free, or for pay, and they should have the final say in it. In other words, if you don’t have the right to use it, you shouldn’t. It just isn’t fair to the person who makes their living on, or by, what they create. If you do use it without permission, the person that owns it has every right to take legal action against you in some form or other and probably will.

Now that I’ve said that, I think we can move on to using those short little spots to become as long, or as short, a piece of music as we need for our musical floor. In the examples I will use in this article, I will be using music from Mike Stewart. It is music that was made available for free from his site, “theinternetaudioguy” and all I had to do was sign up for his email list at “soundpages” to receive them. I just checked on them before this article and they are still available. What could be easier?

Now, just as a side-note; Mike Stewart and his friends share a wealth of information on their sites. You cannot go wrong in checking them out. Now think about this; how can you go wrong by checking out what Mike and his friends have to offer and getting some free stuff at the same time. It’s a “no-brainer” as far as I’m concerned.

Okay, I think we’re done with the preliminaries and ready to move on to the actual subject for this article. What we want to do is make a thirty second music spot into one that is a little, or a lot, longer without it sounding as if it is starting over and over again. There are several ways of making this happen, depending on the way the musical spot is put together. (To clarify, this means how it begins and how it ends).

In the following example, I am using a piece called, “Hipster”, by Michael and Mike and I use it because it has several possibilities as far as editing is concerned. It can be done in several ways. I don’t know if it was planned that way or not, but, I do know that it works.

This spot is 30 seconds in time. I want to play it for you in its entirety first.

(Insert “Hipster” original cut)

Now, as long as you only need 30 seconds of music, this works just fine. When you need more time, you have to find a way to make the music you have last longer. Fortunately, this is fairly easy. I will do my best to explain it to you in simple, step-by-step, form so that you can try it yourself. Believe me, it will take longer to write out how it is done that it actually takes to do it. This explanation will require that you at least be somewhat familiar with your editing program and, as I said before, I am using “Audacity” to edit with. (Click Here if you don’t have “audacity” and would like to have it; after all it is free.)

1. First, load your musical selection (file) into your editing program. In “Audacity”, this step is found on the menu button, “project”. Left click on “project” and you will see a menu. The first item on this menu is, “import audio” (or you can use “control+I”).
2. A display page will appear and you can either click on your file choice for music or you can type in the file location to get your chosen piece of music ready to load into the editing program.
3. Once it is loaded, you can either copy that track and paste it to a new track or you use “control+I” again and load it into the new track. After the track has loaded a second time, you will need to realign the second track to a new location so that it picks up where the other track ends.

This is where you have to use your ear for music. There are at least two ways to realign this track and I will demonstrate both of them here. (The reason I am going to demonstrate both of them is because I am going to use both of them.) You can either choose to use one, or both, of the overlaps in your re-creation of the track. My only request is that you try to make it work musically.

First, take a look at what you have on your screen before you. You have two copies of the same thing. If you play them, they will probably sound exactly the same, (as if they were one track). What we need to do is shift the second track to somewhere near the end of the first track. In “audacity” this is as easy as clicking on the second track near the end of the first track. This will locate the cursor at that point in the second track. After you have done this, do the following:

1. Once again you will need to go to the “project” button.
2. Click on the “project” button and open the menu
3. Go down the menu to where it says “align tracks” and click on it. You will notice that it has a sub-menu.
4. In the sub-menu, click on “align with cursor”.
5. After you have done this, you will notice that the beginning of the second track is re-aligned to the place you clicked the cursor to.

That was pretty easy, wasn’t it? The next thing is to play it and see how it works musically. Let me play you my example now and see what you think. Now I admit, I have already moved it around several times to get it to this point and it is done the same way as the steps above. You simply move it around until it works musically and you like the way it sounds.

(Insert “Hipster” example 1, here.)

At this point, I would like to offer a second edit just to show that there is more than one way to arrive at a lengthened piece of music. This example uses the first two tracks and then adds a third of the same music spot, placed slightly differently than the first to add a bit of diversity.

(Insert “hipster example 2, here.)

As you can see, it is up to you how you edit your spots and the process can go on indefinitely until you have filled the necessary time slots with your musical floor choices. After you have re-edited several versions or extensions, you should save them as either an mp3 or wav file for later use. When you use them you can also fade them in or out as you deem necessary. The important thing to remember is to keep them easily available so all you have to do is click on them to add them to your future recordings.

Once you have made your extended versions and are happy with them, you can also add them together to make an even longer spot. In any case, you now control the length according to your needs.

Now, I am sure you are ready to get started with trying your hand at editing your own spots so … have at it. Don’t get frustrated or aggravated, just relax and have fun with it. You’ll be amazed at what you can accomplish and how easily you did it. All it takes is a little practice and paying attention to detail. (Hmmm … now where have I heard that before??)

See ya next time …

(Click Here) for the podcast version of this article

I’m sure you all remember the time, recently, I was talking about hums and buzzes in my recordings, (Podcasting Quick Tip #5) and I told you I would fill you in on why I was having some ground loop problems when I knew more. Well, I did figure out part of it and the other I haven’t quite got a grip on yet.

The first problem was when I hooked up directly with my laptop to record stuff off of the telephone, (possible interview practice), an noticed I had a bad hum or buss in the recording. I solved it temporarily by removing the laptop power supply. But, the technician in me wanted to know where the ground loop was coming from so I had to try a few things.

I finally isolated it to my modem connection on my downstairs computer. You see, because of some of the work I do, I have and test some head-end parts for RF distribution. I have one of my computers connected to this system to play music and sometimes show stuff from ‘TSTN’ on my whole house system. I have experienced ground loop problems before with the system and thought I had it all taken care of. Apparently, I didn’t. Since I use the computer as my fax machine, it is connected to the phone line via the modem and also the head-end system. When I remove the connection to the modem of that computer, the hum goes away from my other phone connection to my laptop. I won’t go any further with that one, i just know where it is and I can deal with it.

The other one still has me a little baffled. Why my microphone does what it does I cannot say for sure. Perhaps I should try a USB input and see if it does the same thing. As it is now, I am using the mic input at the front of my computer and it has no buzz as long as I am not connected to the power line with my laptop power supply. It also seems to be pretty much evident with the mic I am using. Others I try are either not as evident or don’t have the hum/buzz in them. It is still a little confusing to me. Maybe one of you out there in the land of podcasting and blogs can help me this one. It really doesn’t bother me that much, but I would like to know why. If you have any input, please leave your ideas in the comments section.

I am going to be stepping up to a little bit different equipment in the very near future and I will probably solve my delima in that way. Still, my curiosity is arroused and I would like to know why it does what it does.

I have been extrememly busy lately and have had a little bit of a hard time keeping up with the blog. I have been forced, at least temporarily, to only update twice a week and I have moved it from Monday and Friday to Tuesday and Friday. I hope you won’t mind. Perhaps soon, I will be able to get back on the old schedule. In April, I will probably be turning out one podcast a week on this site, but it will be a compiliation of the articles and thoughts for the week. I will still be providing the podcast version of the articles for those that want to listen to them instead of read them.

See ya next time . . .

(Click here) for the podcast version of this article

You know I have been speaking very highly of the stuff available over at www.mypodcast.com. I have been so pleased with the quality and the ease of using their site, software and little recorder program that I can’t help but give them another big thumbs up. I have been using it regularly for a while now and have become just a bit spoiled I guess. It’s like I said before, “When something works, it works” ( see, ‘Beginners . . . podcast ‘on the cheap’), and I still feel that way.

So, if you’re a beginner and want to get started with mypodcast.com’s “Mypodcast recorder”, I have a couple of helpful hints for you. Please remember, it is a simple recorder and not extremely versatile, but for what it is, it works great! If you just want a simple way of getting started recording your podcast, this is a great place to start.

One nice thing about this simple little program is it can be used immediately after you download it. As long as you don’t make any mistakes or have to restate a statement because you got tongue-tied, it is completely easy to use. It is when you have those moments of brain strained audio garble that it becomes a little tricky.

If you mess up right at the beginning of your talk, it’s probably best to start over from the very beginning. If it is a half a minute or so into it, you can stop, playback or advance to just before the mistake and pick it up from there.

So, how do you do that? I’ll try to ‘simply’ talk you through it. It will help if you have already downloaded it and tried doing a few things with it so that you are at least somewhat familiar with it.

First, when you open the Mypodcast recorder and click the record button (I’m assuming you have a microphone attached) you will notice it immediately starts recording. Notice the line that moves through the time graphic. As you record, it tells you where you are. (You can use this as your guide as you record your production for how much time has elapsed and it is also helpful for correcting a mistake.) When you click the record button again, it stops recording. If you click the record button again,(whether accidently or otherwise), you just erased what you just recorded and started recording all over again. That probably wasn’t what you wanted or expected, so, here is the first really big tip:

• After you have recorded something, either listen to it by clicking the play button to advance it back to the end of the recording, or,
• Manually advance it, either with your mouse or arrow buttons, to the end and you can begin recording again without losing any of the previous information

This particular feature is a mixed blessing. If you accidently double click the record button to stop and listen to your recording, it will stop the recording and start recording again, BUT, it will have quickly erased all of you previous work. I guess the best thing I can tell you about this is just don’t be in a hurry. Take your time and be cautious. While working on a recording, you can make corrections and add to the recording as long as you don’t save it. Once you save it it is fixed in stone, (unless you enter it into another program, like Audacity, for editing it that way.)

Here is hint number 2 for the day. If you are recording your program and notice that you have made a really noticeable mistake, simply stop recording and do the following:

• Click play and listen to what you have recorded up to the mistake.
• Notice where it was and click stop on the play button.
• You can back up in small increments by using your left arrow key
• Hit play and make sure of where you are in the recording
• Hit stop one more time and back up to a good place for starting the statement over
• Work at it until you are sure have the right spot
• Click record and proceed from that point with your recording

At this time, I have found no way to do insert editing with this program. You can go back to where you want to pick it up from, but you cannot insert something in the middle. Once you back up to where you want to record something, the program erases everything beyond that point and starts recording new from that point. This one little drawback to this program is at times a nuisance, but as you get used to using it, you find how easy it is to work with this feature. With practice, you will find you can do things that no one will notice, including yourself.

Just remember, this works only in original recordings. Once you save the recording, it is not able to be added to or corrected unless you put it into another program to edit it.

See ya next time . . .

(Click here) to listen to the podcast of this article

Have you been hearing some mysterious hums and/or buzzing sounds in the background of your productions? If you have, it could quite possibly be associated with ground loops of some sort.

I came across this problem as I was trying out a new headset microphone to use with both, “Audacity” and “mypodcast recorder”. You see, I use my laptop for almost everything I do at the moment because it is my fastest and best computer, as well as the most portable. (It is also my newest). I have been trying a lot of new things lately, for my own benefit and, hopefully, for yours. This led me to discover I had the above mentioned problem.

While doing some practice recordings with “mypodcast recorder”, I noticed a buzz in the background of my recordings. It was probably always there, I think the new microphone just helped me notice it more. For that I am thankful, because I really don’t like hums and buzzing and I find them quite distracting.

At first, I thought it had something to do with the mic, but substituting a different one proved that theory to be false. (The substitute generated the same thing, only a little softer in the background). It was beginning to really bother me. Now that I had heard it, my hearing really began to focus on it. I was determined to get rid of it, so the troubleshooting process continued.

I decided to see if it was associated somehow with the software, although it didn’t make sense it would be. I tried using “Audacity” and found the same thing once again. There was that distracting buzz in the background. I decided to go one step further with “Audacity” since I was planning to use it to directly record interviews over the telephone. I called a friend up and recorded the conversation, (with his permission of course). The result was horrible, (and I am being extremely nice about it). I was really begining to think I had a major problem and began to worry that some of my plans for the near and distant future were going to be out the window. I have to admit, it had me baffled, at least for the time being.

I began to look for possible ‘RF generators’ like lighting dimmers or something similar. Nothing I checked made any difference. I was really beginning to get concerned when the thought finally struck me. In audio work, we often contend with ground loops of one sort or another. We can usually temporarily lift a ground to test and isolate the problem. The problem was, I was not using any plugs with ground pins in them, just the standard two prong, so how was I going to lift the ground separately. I remembered I didn’t have the problem when I used only my portable digital recorder, to capture with. Nothing else was attached to it, so, what was the difference between the two ways?

(Well, I hope you haven’t guessed yet, because that would spoil the rest of this article.) It was the fact that the digital recorder was totally self-powered by battery and I was using the power supply/battery charger for my laptop. When I removed the power supply cord from the computer and it went on to its own battery power, the buzzing completely stopped. My recordings were once again clean in both, “Audacity” and “mypodcast recorder”.

The problem seems to have been a difference in ground potential (a ground loop) between the phone line and the electric in my house for the problem with the telephone buzzing. Removing the connection to the power line, removed the ground loop problem between it and the phone line. Now I just have to consider laptop battery life into the extended phone interview equation for the future. Hopefully, that is just a minor problem that I will be able to wring out soon.

I have to be honest. I still don’t fully understand why that cured the buzz in the microphone, but my theory has to do with the stereo plug it has. I think it has to do with the way the plug makes connection internally in the computer. To be technical about it, it is like inserting a balanced plug into an unbalanced input, or vice versa. At any rate I will keep working on that and let you know when I totally figure it out. If you have any ideas about it, please, feel free to leave your comments!

For now, though, all is much quieter on the recording end.

See ya next time . . .

This little Quick Tip has a lot to do with something I tend to nit-pick myself about regularly and it has to do with paying attention to small details. Sometimes, the smallest little thing catches my attention and drives me crazy.

Admittedly, this probably catches my attention (and bothers me) more than it does others. Still yet, I think it can make a difference in the recording, editing and production of your podcast, (or any other recording for that matter), if you pay attention to this small detail. (Now, I never said what I turn out is perfect, but, no one can say I don’t pay attention to details when it comes to podcasts and broadcasts.)

Have you ever been listening to someone’s production and you could tell where many of their edits were because of the difference in background noise or a bit of silence between one statement and another? You see, (as I said back in “Podcasters Should Pay Attention to the Details”), constant attention to small details can make a very big difference when it comes to the final result. This is one detail that many don’t think about. They just pass over it as though no one will notice. (But rest assured, someone will notice. When you notice it, and take care of it before the others have a chance to hear it, your production will be that much better.)

So . . . what is this little thing that bugs the heck out of me? It is those noticeable edits.

Since I have been experimenting so much with my little digital voice recorder and telling how well it works, I will use it as an example. One little drawback it has is the fact it has a little hiss in the background, kind of like the old tape hiss of the old cassette tapes. Sometimes, when I want to cover a mistake or add a bit of spacing to something I have said, the easiest thing to do is insert a bit of silence. Unfortunately, when I do that, it is noticed as being different than what comes before and after it.

So what do I do to cover it? Some of you have already guessed I suppose, but for the novice out there I offer this little bitty detail that can cover that noticeable edit. (The nice thing is it doesn’t take much time either.)

I go find a place either somewhere in the recording before or after that section and look for a break in the words that are spoken. That’s right, I am looking for some hiss to copy. After I copy it, I insert it at the point of the noticeable edit and then I trim out the stuff that drew my attention to it in the first place. I then listen to it and make it sound as normal as possible, hopefully unnoticeable to those listening to it. Sometimes I have to do nothing more than insert it and trim out the differing background or silence. At other times it takes a little more work to make it fit. I may have to play with the level of the insertion to make it match or I may have to shorten or lengthen it to get the right feel. In the end, the idea is to make it sound as though there never was an edit and if I pay enough attention to the details the only one that will know is me.

Don’t get discouraged if your first attempts don’t turn out right. This will take some practice to master, but as you do, the end result will very pleasing to you and to others.

I know it works, too. I use it all the time. (Click here to listen to the podcast of this article).

See ya next time . . .

A short while ago, I talked about using a digital voice recorder to record something and then load it into your computer later using audacity to edit it. (That was in podcasting quick tip #1 if you would like to check it out.)

This one is for beginners and advanced users alike. It is either good in a pinch or as a quick way of having a backup for a phone interview. It could possibly even help with a quick live interview that you weren’t really prepared for or one that happens on the spur of the moment.

Now remember, this isn’t being captured in your studio, so it won’t be perfect, but, it will turn out remarkably well. You can enter it directly into your computer and use your digital voice recorder as a hand held microphone. On thing I really like about this is it allows a better quality input because you are entering it directly into your computer as if you had a hand-held microphone. It also leaves you with a backup copy on your digital voice recorder just in case something goes wrong with the computer copy.

Once again I am using an OLYMPUS digital voice recorder,WS320M. I really like the way it records, (I use it in HQ record mode). It is a 1G voice recorder and mp3 player. It also has a USB direct connect input for your computer. (This makes it quick and easy to enter into your computer, later, should you need to.) To Try This . . . you will need:

• The Olympus digital Voice recorder (or a good substitute)
• An 1/8 inch (at both ends) stereo cable (preferably a minimum 6 feet long)
• Your laptop(or desktop computer)
• Audacity software

The other thing I like about this is that it is really simple. You will have fun with this. You can even use this as a way of getting a quick start for your podcast.

(For starters, be sure to turn down your speaker volume control to eliminate possible feedback while you are trying to record. Audacity has settings for being able to listen to what you are recording. Let’s keep it simple and have fun. There’s plenty of time to confuse ourselves, later.) Here’s how to do this:

1. Plug one end of the 1/8 inch stereo plug into the earphone jack of the Olympus.
2. Plug the other end into the Mic input of your laptop
3. Open Audacity and set it for Mic input. (Click here if you don’t have Audacity)
4. Press record on the audacity program
5. Press record on the Digital Voice Recorder
6. Run a test recording of the input to set your levels
7. Press “control Z” to erase the the test recording (for the computer)
8. Press stop button on digital voice recorder (manually erase)
9. Repeat steps 4 and 5
10. Start talking and watch the magic happen.
11. When done stop both recordings and you are ready to edit and upload or store.

That’s easy, huh? With practice, you will be very pleased with the end results.
Just a couple more things you will need if you want to use it for recording a telephone interview. You will need a tape recorder to telephone adapter for recording you and your interviewee from the telephone. (I got one at Radio Shack. There are other places to get them.) You may not need this next item but it is nice to have and it makes everything work much better. An 1/8 inch monoral/stereo adapter for adapting the telephone adapter to stereo input. This can help eliminate problems with noise, hums etc.

See Ya Next Time . . .