Can I be extremely blunt with you? I do hope you answered yes because I’m going to be anyway.

This may not be the first time you’ve heard this, but, if you’re not using music — legal music — in your productions, you’re already making two mistakes that could cost you in a large way when it comes to getting people to listen to your podcasts or other audio/video productions.

Go ahead, check out just about any audio or video production, whether it be a commercial or an interview or even a documentary of someone or something. Chances are it uses music in some way. There are several reasons for that and all of them relate to how people respond to what they are seeing or listening to and it has to do with the music used.

The music, in many instances, sets the mood the producer wants to set with what is being presented. Whether it be pictures of a vacation or presenting a situation that needs to be addressed in some way, the music can make or break the way it is received.

So, you ask, “What’s the big deal about using ‘LEGAL MUSIC’? Can’t I use what I like? Why do I have to pay someone to use their music?”

All of those are good questions, but there is only one answer. Because the people that made the music own the rights to it and if you use it without their permission, you could be sued for a large amount of money.

That’s why you need to use, legal, royalty free music for your purposes. It makes you not have to be looking over your shoulder waiting for someone to call you up or serve you with legal papers telling you that you’re being sued for using someone’s music without permission. Believe me, the laws are on their side, not yours if you choose to use anything copyrighted by someone else. They own the rights to it and it is their property.

There are many sources for legally obtaining the rights to use music out there. Some are very expensive and some are reasonably expensive, (sometimes depending on the popularity of the song, or songs you want to use.)

We will talk about some of those other sources in the coming weeks, but for today, I would like to mention Mike Stewart one more time. The reason I use Mike Stewart’s Two Buck Themes is because it is affordable and he gives me so much more for my money. Not only does he give me music for a minimal cost, but he gives me good tutorials and ideas for using the music (and software and equipment he also sells) in different ways.

If you to have to pay for it anyway, why not get the best bang for your buck? (Yes, I am making a recommendation here.) Mike Stewart is someone you can depend on to give you your money’s worth.

But you don’t have to take my word for it, check him out for yourself and see if you don’t agree. It costs nothing to check it out by clicking on this link, Get 5 new themes, video tutorials each month for $10

After that, the rest is up to you… While you’re there, you may want to check on some of the specials on equipment he has available:USB Mic Special – Domestic Shipping

See ya next time… Rusty

© August 28, 2009 – all rights reserved

Podcastnorm.com and Rusty Norman

Okay, I know you’ve heard me say all this before, BUT, you don’t have to spend a lot of money to make things easier for yourself or turn out a good product. The idea these days is to save yourself time and money when it comes to turning out your production or product. So if you’re looking for something that can do both, plus someone that can continually provide you with good, usable information, maybe you should think about trying the S3 Media Player from Mike Stewart.

I know I talk about Mike a lot and there is a reason for that. First and foremost, Mike is a wonderfully talented person that is not stingy in sharing what he knows about audio and video production and recording equipment, software and techniques.

You see, when I was just entering into this new adventure called podcasting several years ago, I had a lot of experience with live and studio production recording, editing and turning out final products, but I knew very little about doing the same thing on the internet.  You might say I knew enough to be dangerous and, to tell the truth, I struggled to do even some of the simplest things.

At first, most of what I did was experiment with what I knew and honestly, I didn’t have  a lot of money, so I tried to find less expensive ways of accomplishing the tasks of recording, editing and posting my final productions. I just tried different things until I started finding better ways to produce and distribute my original audio podcasts and, to tell the truth, although I know a lot about the equipment and software I turned out my productions with, I don’t use most of them anymore.

It was during this time that I first encountered Mike Stewart. When I would listen or watch him explain things, it seemed so simple and he always seemed to be a step above the rest in the quality of his productions. Needless to say, that was one of the first things that attracted me to him — the quality of his audio and video productions. Even with his input, still I struggled to put audio or video on my websites simply because I wasn’t computer literate enough to do it.

With the S3 Media Player, it is a totally different experience now. The S3 Media Player from Mike Stewart has greatly simplified how I add audio or video to my websites and blogs. In fact, it has made it extremely easy and quite inexpensive to produce and deliver audio and video from my websites. I guess you could say, now I am spoiled; and it’s true… I am. I use it and several other things I learned from Mike for everything in audio or video I add to my sites and pages.

It doesn’t matter whether you are just a beginner or experienced at adding audio and video to your pages or sites. The S3 Media Player can simplify the process for you affordably. I use it and highly recommend it, but, the best way to find out if I am right is to give it a try yourself.

So, stand by immediately after this audio and you will be taken to Mike Stewart’s video about the S3 Media Player and how you can simplify adding audio and video to your pages or sites AND a whole lot more From Mike Stewart.

See ya next time …

Rusty

(all views expressed are strictly the opinion of the writer)

© July 2009 – all rights reserved

Rusty Norman and  Podcastnorm.com

If you pay attention to advertisements on TV or Radio (and on the internet) you will hear music playing. Music is used to lead into a spot or play underneath the talk of an advertisement and it usually tries to set a mood or get you to pay attention to what’s coming up.

I know you’ve all heard this type of music and it is very effective. There is no reason to not start building your own music library specifically for this purpose. (Click here to signup for Two Buck Themes!)

Believe me, you don’t want to go through the hassle of using music without people’s permission because it can very expensive and cause you unimaginable grief. Many people think that professional, royalty free music is expensive and they don’t think they can afford it. I’m here to tell you two things:

1. You can’t afford not to use legal, royalty free music. If you think using music without permission is okay and you won’t get caught, think again…It will cost you a bundle if you use music without permission (especially if the artist is hungry) and
2. I know of some great royalty free music that is great quality and, most importantly, AFFORDABLE.

If you’ve visited Podcasting Resources before, you’ve heard me mention Mike Stewart numerous times. I highly recommend him for just about any need you have when it comes to equipment or software for recording, editing and delivering the final product(s).

He is not only knowledgeable but is also a musician and makes royalty free music. The product is already in one minute spots and can be used as is or altered for your purpose.

What I mean is he has tutorials available to show you how to use his products. When you buy products from him your investment pays off better with him because he over-delivers. He gives you a lot of usuable information that helps you get started with the equipment and software you purchase from him.

His two-buck-themes are some of the most affordable and usable royalty free music available. In my opinion, you can’t go wrong by trying them, Click here to signup for Two Buck Themes!

PLUS you can cancel at any time (even though I don’t think you will want to for a long time).

Go ahead, give Mike Stewart a try…I think you’ll be surprised at just how valuable he and his products and services are.

See ya next time…

Rusty

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I fully intended to be giving you a review of a nice little software program I tried out at the request of one of my reader/listeners … but I have found that they are no longer around. That software was called “Podcast Station” and I gave it a good try for the thirty day trial period and wanted to buy it but found they were out of business.

Wow, how quickly things change in this world we live in … especially this audio and video podcasting world.

That’s one of the problems, or should I say challenges, of getting started marketing either yourself or a product online. Sometimes a great idea is just that, a great idea, but needs to be looked at further BEFORE you offer more than you can deliver or before your hopes and dreams for a program or product bankrupt you either physically, spiritually or financially.

I am sure all of us would like to generate some sort of income from our podcasts, products or productions, but there are some pitfalls that need to be considered also. That’s why we need to look at our future in this endeavor before we’ve invested too much money or time (which is part of the subject I talked about in my last article).

I cannot, and will not, speak for the makers of “Podcast Station” but I do kinda know how they feel. It can be really tough in this life of technology and information sharing, whether you are trying to market a podcast or trying to sell a software program. I’m inclined to believe that just because something is so easy and inexpensive for individuals, or companies, to produce does not mean it will always be successful or valuable.

That’s why I think it is so important for beginner, (or wannabe), podcasters to really think about their short-term and long-term goals for their chosen direction. Although you can’t necessarily see all of the possible problems before you actually turn out your project, you can research and analyze your possibilities by taking just a bit more time before making a long-term commitment to something. Does this mean you can’t step out and just do it? No; but it does mean that you need to take the necessary time to look at your plan before it causes you a lot of grief or heartache.

If you take that little bit of extra time, what does it cost you? Nothing but the extra time it takes. The nice part is that if you take a little extra time and decide to continue on, you may find that it makes your progress towards what you consider success that much quicker. Can that be a bad thing? I don’t think so.

You see, I have this really big “wish list” filled with all kinds of nifty items I would love to have or at least try out. I just don’t have the extra cash laying around to throw at items that I probably don’t need anyway. I have managed to keep my budget relatively low because I took a little extra time to look at what I wanted to do, what I could afford to do and how important it was for me to do it.

I have invested in a couple of pieces of equipment to make my job easier for now and they were things I could use not only for my podcasting adventure, but also for other things I like to do.

One of the best investments I think I have made is how I record my voice for this podcast. I use a ZOOM H4 Handy Recorder. It is a portable and handy device that captures (records) directly to an SD memory card (up to 2g) in either wav or mp3 files from the built in x-y pattern mics. It also has the capability to directly connect external mic or instrument inputs. In fact, it is actually a hand held 4 track studio.

As I have mentioned many times before, I use Audacity to edit my programs. It is free, versatile and works extremely well. (Now, admittedly, I use ver. 1.2.6 just because I like the stability of it but I have used the newer versions which do even more and also perform well). Did I mention it was FREE?

You see, I’m a believer in not spending more than you need to and I also believe in keeping things simple. Both of the items I have mentioned here are easy to use and affordable. I didn’t start out with the H4 but took equipment I had laying around and used that until I determined what would be the best for me to invest my limited finances in. I’ve used an old hand-held, full-size cassette recorder and then graduated to using my little hand-held, audio note-taking digital recorder (made by Olympus) until I made that investment in the H4.

Now, I feel as though I am working with two things, (the H4 and Audacity), that allow me to quickly turn out a very good production and also serve me well in other areas of interest.

Does that mean I can’t do better?

No … it means I have put off making a larger financial investment in some equipment I would someday like to have until I really need it. I think what I use serves me quite well considering what I have invested in it.

You may ask the question, “Do I really think my podcast is that important or popular?”

I would answer you this way. If I can help just one person make a better decision in their quest for a dream, then I have accomplished at least one purpose for this website. My hope is that I have reached, and will continue to reach, more than one. I have considered my purpose and investment and it is worth the price for me to continue trying to help people not waste their time or money and become frustrated.

Am I looking to be popular? Although popularity is always appealing — no — I am looking to help you make wise decisions to accomplish your most burning desire in podcasting. The most important thing I have to offer is my experience in recording, editing and turning out productions and doing it the best I can. That part may not be important to you, but I have been doing it for a long time and I do care about what I do.

See ya next time …
Rusty

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“So … why can’t you just start a podcast?” Well, that’s a really good question and here’s another. “Why bother thinking about the ins and outs and pesky details of making a podcast when all you want to do is interview people and/or talk about what-ever comes to mind?” Well, that’s another good question, and here’s one more. “When all is said and done, couldn’t spontaneity be the key to a successful podcast?”

The answers to these three questions are:

• you can;
• you don’t have to
• and, yes.

But these are not the three most important questions you need to ask yourself before you start your own podcast. Hopefully, you will consider these and other questions as you progress towards producing your own podcast, but, you see, there are a lot of things that need to be considered and some are more important than others.

Let’s get real here. Audio recording and editing (especially simple, digital recording and non-destructive editing) is not at all difficult in this day and age but it is an ever-evolving craft as far as equipment and software is concerned. Although not quite the same, this same thought holds true for video recording and editing. Podcasting, more often than not, is merely an extension of recording and editing either audio or video or both.

While we’re at it, let’s not forget what a definition of podcasting actually is. It is the ability of the listener to take recorded audio or video files of information they’re interested in and listen to them at a time more convenient for them. Perhaps better stated, it is a recorded audio or video file that is portable and time-shiftable by the listener.

In the end, however simple or complicated you decide to make the above tasks determines what equipment and software you will need, but those are questions we can better answer later.

Now that we’ve gotten those preliminaries out of the way, there are other things you need to consider as you plan producing your podcast. You don’t need to consider every little detail here at the beginning, but you do need to think about the bigger picture. In other words, you may know you want to be podcaster, but, do you know what you are getting yourself into?

Let’s take a look at three of the questions you really need to ask yourself before you get started and before you make any large investments in equipment or software.

First: Just how serious are you about making a regular podcast?

• You must first make up your mind whether or not you are really serious about doing a regular podcast. Believe me, somewhere down the road you will definitely come to the point of answering this question and you might as well answer it first. It is one of the most important you can ask yourself right now, before you spend any money or invest in any equipment or software. Think it through. After the newness wears off and the drudgery kicks in will you still want to pursue this?

Second: How much do you want to invest in this adventure?

• Just because you only have a little money — or don’t have any money — to invest in equipment or software doesn’t mean you can’t achieve your goal. It just means you may have to be more creative in your approach to getting started. It may mean you have to think a little harder or consider more broadly how you can actually get started or where you want to spend what little money you do or don’t have to purchase the necessary equipment or software. It is my opinion, if you have a relatively new computer and a microphone that records your voice somewhat decently, you are ready to get started, (even if only on a limited basis to begin with.) Your options are still wide open in any case. Trust me, if you really want to be a podcaster, there are even ways to be one whether you have a computer or not.

Third: How willing are you to listen to the input of others even if you have a working knowledge of recording, editing and podcasting?

• Just because you know a lot doesn’t mean you know it all. Swallow that pride, be open-minded and listen to the input of others. You may not agree with them and you may not use all or any of what they offer but you can gain valuable input and information from them; and come to better know why you do things the way you do and why their way won’t work for you. You never know, you may actually find they have some really good ideas that you can tweak and use for your own purpose. (Who knows, you may even one day discover that people are willing to listen to what you have to say concerning this ever-changing way of communicating ideas to others.)

As I said earlier in this article, there are many things you need to consider before jumping headlong into your choice of podcasting. These are three of the ones I consider to be most important to consider before you get started. I do believe if you take the time to evaluate them and your plans for your production you will be miles ahead now and in the future.

See you next time …

Russ

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I’m sure you remember in the not too distant past we’ve talked about using a musical floor in the main body of your podcast. Well, I have a very good reason for bringing it up again and there are more than a few good reasons to use a musical floor.

(For those of you that may just be joining in, that’s background music, or for some of you out there, a musical underlay. Others may even call it an underscore. They all pretty much mean the same thing)

Some good reasons for using one are:

• Setting the mood for what you are presenting or talking about.
• Enhancing or reinforcing the mood you want to set for the podcast or subject.
• Using it with video often adds mental excitement of some sort to the visual footage.
• It can also be used to add a calming effect after some sort of intensity.

Now, I want you to know those are just some of the reasons.

Here, I would like to tell you two of the main reasons I use a musical floor:

• The first is to add life or set the mood for the podcast.
• Second is to cover over a little bit of background sound that I have no way of getting rid of, (at least, not easily at the moment.)

You see, I don’t have the quietest of places to record my podcast, I just have a place that is fairly quiet. Because of this particular reason, I decided, rather than let it bother me too much, I would just, basically, make it sound as if those background sounds weren’t there or at least cover them over as best I could. Now I know that sounds as if I am cheating a bit, but trust me when I tell you, I’m not alone in choosing that method of covering some small imperfections.

Remember, this is just one good reason to use a musical floor. It gives you a bit more room for covering things that might be a distraction to you or some of your listeners.

Now, I understand there will be some that will disagree with me on this, but when the proper music is chosen for this purpose, it can do more than just cover background noise. It can cause your listeners to be more responsive to your message.

I can tell you with certainty that the music you choose for your musical floor can make a world of difference in what people take away from your presentation (what ever it may be) and what they will think of it in general. It has to do with a thing called the brain. In fact it has to do with speaking to the left side and the right side of the human brain at the same time.

Now, I am not a psychologist but I do know that this works for several reasons and just about anyone in marketing will tell you that if you can effectively relate, or link, left brain-right brain activity, the more effective and better are the chances of your message being responded to and remembered.

If you think I’m wrong, let me remind you once again, you are entitled to your opinion. I can, however, make a good argument for my case. I would merely point out to you that music can, and probably has, helped you remember twenty six somewhat unrelated items (at least if you’re from the USA). This is a classic example that many have already experienced. Yes, you’ve guessed it; It is the a-b-c’s. Surely you know the musical melody and the letters of the alphbet by now.

For another example, I’m sure you’ve already noticed, if you watch much TV or many movies, there is usually some sort of music in the background. It isn’t necessarily the same music all the time and there are times when music just doesn’t fit, but, music can make or break a message or a scene. I’m also guessing you’ve noticed most commercials, whether on TV, radio or anywhere else, have music of some sort playing in the background. (That’s right; it seems inescapable, doesn’t it?) And here’s the important thing about it. All of that music is chosen because it does what it is supposed to do. It makes the message either more memorable, or more effective.

Now, we won’t be getting into all of the nuances of music and sound effects right now, but suffice it to say, music … the right music … can make a world of difference in what you are trying to get across to your listener and what they take away from what you are saying. Music in the background … the right music in the background … can help make your message more acceptable to those listening to it. Yes, I know not all people’s taste in music is the same and I know, also, that music is not needed in every situation. Used properly, though, it can possibly make your podcast more interesting and even more exciting than it may have been without it.

Now, admittedly, the wrong music can totally distract your listener and cause them to completely miss what you want them to take away with them. It could even possibly cause them to turn off your podcast before they ever get your message. This is why you need to put a little forethought into the audience you are trying to reach. By taking the time to think about your audience — who they are what their interests are — could quite possibly make the difference in how they respond to you and your message. Not only could that make your podcast more popular, but it could possibly make it more valuable in more ways than one.

Simply choosing music you like is not the best reason for what you choose to use as a musical floor. You need to think bigger. You need to think wider or broader. You need to think about your audience and what you are trying to get across to them. Experimenting with different types will not be a waste of your time, but wise use of it. By taking the time to think about these things, you’re taking the time to make your podcast a level above the rest and, in my thinking, that is a good thing.

I’ll see you next time …

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If someone would have told you 3-4 years ago that podcasting was going to be as popular as it is today and that you would be able to get your favorite music and podcasts through your cell phone, would that have made a difference in your life at that time?

If your answer is yes, (or even a ‘maybe’), then I have some great information for you today. I know of someone (and I am sure he was not alone) who said just that 3-4 years ago and that’s one of the reasons I look to him for software and equipment recommendations. I listen closely what he says about the future of podcasting with audio, video or both and thoroughly enjoy the excitement in his voice when he shares his thoughts and insights into recording, editing, podcasting and production.

Who is this person, you ask?

In the past, I have mentioned to you many times this person named, Mike Stewart. If you have never visited his sites or taken advantage of his expertise, you shouldn’t put it off any longer. He has branded himself, (and is known as), the “internetaudioguy” and the “internetvideoguy“. (That’s not all he can do but that’s a good place to start in this conversation.)

I have visited his sites many times and have to tell you, he and a few of his friends are always coming up with cutting edge stuff to make the job of recording, editing and podcasting, using audio and video, easier and more understandable. He can help you get started with the proper equipment and software without you having to do a lot of trial and error along the way. His input could save you a lot of wasted time and money as you pursue your podcasting journey further.

One thing I have personally tried to get across in past discussions is, “Don’t complicate your podcasting life by making things more difficult than they need to be. Keep it simple. Make it simple for yourself and your listener.” That is why I suggest you check out Mike Stewart. He can help you get started without complicating your life with a lot of ’stuff’ that just makes him money and does very little for you.

I firmly believe the information and resources I provide can help you get started podcasting “On The Cheap” (which just happens to be the title of my soon available ebook for beginners getting started as podcasters.) But, when I say, “On The Cheap” I want you to understand it is a relative term:

• If you have no money, you can still do this podcasting thing with no money, (depending on what you already have as equipment).
• If you have a little money, you can spend a little money and have pretty good setup.
• If money is not a real problem, it is still important to only invest in what you need and not buy a bunch of frills you will never use.

To me, ‘Podcasting “On the Cheap”, means you don’t spend money on things you don’t need or can’t afford, but, wisely invest the money you do have in what will benefit you most. To simplify, “Cheap” means, “you only pay for what you need once and because of that, you didn’t waste any time or money.

What I have shared with you in the past still holds true. I think the information and resources I give you here can help you get started at a point that you can afford. At the very least, Continue reading »