Opinion – PodCastNorm dot Com

More Things to Consider Before Cutting the Cord – Part 01

Today’s program is the latest from The Norman TV View at Norman-TV.com produced by PodCastNorm dot Com.

It is the fourth in a series of article/podcasts for those wanting to use the new technology of TVs, the internet and antennas to “Cut the Cord” and possibly reduce the expense of viewing their chosen entertainment on their TVs. This episode talks about several things to consider before “Cutting the Cord” and the first on a list of at least five things to consider before actually making the decision to do so. Rusty will be talking about these over the next several article/podcasts to be presented over the coming weeks here on PodCastNorm dot com. These are full of great information you should listen to before you actually decide on “Cutting the Cord”…

Thinking of Cutting The Cord? Three Things to Consider Before You Do…

Today’s program is the latest from The Norman TV View at Norman-TV.com produced by PodCastNorm dot Com.

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Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | RSS

It is the third in a series of article/podcasts for those wanting to use the new technology of TVs, the internet and antennas to “Cut the Cord” and try to reduce the expense of viewing their chosen entertainment on their TVs. This episode offers three things to consider before actually deciding on “Cutting the Cord”…

Just Want to Watch Television? Revisiting The Changes To The Way We Watch Our TVs…

Today’s program is the latest from The Norman TV View at Norman-TV.com and produced by PodCastNorm dot Com.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | RSS

It is the first in a series of article/podcasts for those not quite used to the new technology built in to TV’s these days and also for those thinking about “Cutting the Cord” and still want to watch TV without so much expense…

Latest PodCastNorm blogcast from a Nascar Fan’s View

Just in case you didn’t know I do this too, I thought I would start posting these here (Since I make them anyway.) Besides, it gives you an idea of what we can turn out with what we use to make these…

I use Sony Sound Forge Audio Studio, Sony Vegas Movie Studio and, of course, Two Buck Themes (by Mike Stewart.) I think this stuff works well and is also affordable for some of us that a bit more financially challenged than some others are…

*************************Two Buck Themes ad ****************************
MUSIC MAKES IT BETTER =>> Get 5 new themes, video tutorials each month for $10

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All views expressed are strictly the opinion of the writer
© February 23, 2013 – all rights reserved
Rusty Norman, Nascarfansview.com and Justafansview.com
All audio productions by www.podcastnorm.com and PodCastNorm Productions

Netcasting is the Word

I’ve been doing this podcasting thing, personally, since 2007. I’ve been working live audio, since the late/middle 70’s and I’ve been involved in one way or another in broadcast video and audio for over 20 years.

Does that mean I know it all?

Of course not! It just means that I’ve had a lot of experience with making good live sound happen, recording (capturing) audio and video and later editing that audio and/or video for broadcast or some other type project.

So… does that mean you should listen to me?

Of course not! It just means I’ve had a lot of experience in the field and I’ve seen a lot of changes in the way things have been, and are, done.

The latest change in the process, (in my opinion), is the words people use to describe what this form of media is. The latest cover-all word that describes what was once called podcasting is now called Netcasting.

I remember several years back there was often a discussion of what this method of presenting audio and video would be called. The descriptive terms that gained the most traction at that time were Podcasting, Webcasting and Netcasting. Now, thanks to some strong voices in the industry that have been around a long time, the descriptive word of choice is the latter of the three metioned above, Netcasting.

Personally, I think it is probably the best choice since it better tells the story of what is going on. What we do is “Netcasting” because more and more people are listening to more and more information over the net either via their laptops, tablets, ipads or smart phones and less people are listening to it via those small devices called ipods. (Don’t worry, I know some were called mp3 players and some were called Zunes, but the comment and the principle is the same.)

Does that mean they are dead and gone? No, it simply means they have been (or are being)replaced by a piece of equipment that does more than just play audio or video. (Yes, I know people still use those other things, but they are no longer the only game in town anymore than the cable company is the only means of receiving programming on your TV set.) In fact, many people are using equipment to stream programming to their TVs instead of using the cable company (or those other guys like DirecTV and Dish Network) as their method of delivery. Of course they may have their streams delivered over the cable or telephone line, but they have access to more of what they want to watch or listen to and they have it at a time they want to watch or listen to it rather than being bound by schedules set by someone else and they are usually getting it without having to pay for things they never watch anyway. (Wow, that was a long sentence.)

So what is my point, you may ask???

It’s simple… we are trying to keep up with the times and we are changing the focus of what we will be talking about here on Podcasting Resources more towards Netcasting and less focused on simply podcasting. Although they are much the same, one name fits the totality of the information better than the other does. So, if you hear us talking Netcasting more and podcasting less, don’t worry; we are still giving you great information on recording, editing and broadcasting your message to your chosen masses. The names may change but the process doesn’t… it just gets better.

Our focus for the coming year is to give you more of what you may be looking for and pointing you to people that can give you even more of the same great information. I can’t speak for everyone, but I have always said, if I don’t know the answer, I probably know someone who does or can point you to someone who will.

I/We have many favorite sources of information and places we go to find answers to our questions. One of those places I will give you a link to right now, but, I’m sure you already know about them. If you don’t, check them out at:

>>> http://www.twit.tv <<<

If you haven’t visited their site, you should and if you have, then you already know what I’m talking about…

All views expressed are the opinion of the writer

Rusty Norman and Podcastnorm.com

Any and all audio productions are by PodCastNorm Productions

www.podcastnorm.com

Beginner Podcasters: Use What You Have Until You Can Afford What You Need (or Want)

I don’t know what your situation is or what your plans are for the future, but if you are planning on starting a video or audio podcast, or, audio or video productions to get your point across (or sell your products), then what I have to tell you could help you get started with your plans.

Now, you may say, Rusty, I do want to get started with video or audio productions of some sort but I just don’t have the best equipment or software at the moment and can’t really afford to go out and purchase what I really need or want.

Well, I’m here to tell you that you can use what you have until you can afford what you need or want…

When I started podcasting over four years ago, I didn’t have a lot of special equipment and I decided that I could get started with what I had until I could get what I wanted. That’s also when I kinda decided to start sharing what I was learning about a new thing called “podcasting” and that it could be done “On The Cheap.”

Podcasting has sure come a long way since the days that it started and there is new equipment and software arriving on the scene all the time… some of it is free but some of it costs from a little to a lot if you want to invest in it.

I experimented with several things to get started because I really didn’t have any money to invest in new equipment or special equipment to get the job done. I did have some older style analog equipment and knew there was free software available that I could use to edit with while I experimented and learned more about podcasting until I could get something else. Now, I won’t say that I used everything I tried but I did use what I had laying around and didn’t have to invest any money to get started.

The first thing I tried was an old hand-held, full-sized cassette recorder just to see if it would work. (Some of you probably don’t even know what those are…) It did work but I found I had some other things that worked a just little better.

You have to remember, I didn’t even have a decent microphone for recording directly to my computer at the time and that was my first challenge; how to get my recordings entered into my computer so I could edit them and upload them so that people could access them from the internet.

I remembered in the past I had bought some little hand-held digital recorders for taking verbal notes from customers as I answered their phone calls while driving down the road in my service business. I decided to give them a try with varying degrees of success. The first two hand reasonably small memories built-in and they only sounded good if used in the high quality mode. That in itself was a challenge but was easily overcome by not rambling on for extended periods of time. Of course they were real time and to enter them into the computer had to play them back in real time plugged into my line input jack, (or mic jack) via an 1/8” mini plug. That made the process work but was quite a bit more time consuming.

Next I had a hand-held little digital recorder that had a USB connection and could plug it directly into my USB ports on my computer after I had recorded my script or talk for my podcast. This worked really well except that I didn’t like the voice quality of the recordings. I did put up with it for a while though and looked forward to the day I would be able to get the type of equipment that I really wanted.

Actually, it was the same when it came to making my video productions. I had a Kodak DX6490 still camera that could also do reasonably good quality video and stored the information on SD media cards. That worked OK, but although the camera takes great still pictures, the video quality does leave something to be desired. To be honest, I still use that today when I do a video simply because I haven’t been able to see a reason to purchase a camera yet, (although I do look forward to the day that I can have the camera that I really want.) For right now I’m using what I have until I can afford what I need (or want).

You see, I spent my money on Sony Vegas Movie Studio software so that I could more easily edit my video, (or audio), files and do it more quickly. I also invested in Sony Sound Forge Audio Studio simply because it works easily with movie studio when you need to edit audio on the fly. When I first started, I used the open source program named, “Audacity” which worked quite well and I still use it some today but I graduated to the Sony programs quickly.

I know this is a bit long winded article but I also know that if you can’t afford what you want or need right now, you can probably use what you have and turn out a pretty darn good production. I like the software that I use, but I also keep my eyes and ears open to possible new software or equipment to make the job even easier and possibly quicker. Some things come with free trials but have certain limitations while other things don’t have limitations but may have files inserted that keep it from being used other than a demo.

So what am I actually saying here? I think it is important, especially for beginners, to know that you don’t have to spend a lot of money turn out video or audio productions at least in a reasonable quality to get started. You probably have something laying around that you can use to accomplish your desired goals until you can afford to get what you need or want.

Yes, it is true, the quality may not be as good as some have, but, you can get started and turn out a pretty darn good production by just paying attention to some small details that can make your not so good equipment look and sound better than it really does; (which we talk more about right here at, Podcasting Resources…)

Well, we’ll talk more about “Podcasting On The Cheap”, next time… right here on Podcasting Resources…

See ya next time… Rusty

All views expressed are strictly the opinion of the writer

Rusty Norman and Podcastnorm.com

Three Things That Can Help You In Your Podcasting Experience

The First Thing:

Over the last couple of months, I’ve been trying some new software and I’ve come across something that could very well be an advantage for you. I’ve tried it and like it, but haven’t purchased it yet. I’m continuing to try it before I make the final decision to purchase it, but so far, I am very pleased with it.

First of all, let me say right up front that I am not associated with this company in any way. I am not an affiliate nor are they compensating me in any way to say what I say. You see, I stumbled on this piece of software quite accidentally. I was actually looking for something else when I came across this program called, “Propaganda” by MixMeister.

At first I said, “No, this is not what I’m looking for,” but then I noticed that it had a free trial. (Now, who can pass up a free trial? Certainly not me… I guess I’m just a sucker for free stuff like so many others.) Yes, you guessed it, I decided t give it a try.

It turns out that this was better than I expected it would be and the learning curve was relatively quick. I’m not sure why, but maybe it’s because I’m familiar with other programs like it or maybe it’s because it’s just that easy to use. Or, (more likely) it could be the short tutorial they have to help users get started more quickly.

Whatever the case, my experience with it so far has been quite pleasing, except, when I stumbled upon it, I was more interested in looking for something that was free as opposed to just a free trial. Just remember one of the things I harp on all the time; sometimes you have to spend a little to turn out a great podcast. This may very well be one of those times.

The Second Thing:

Yes I know you’ve heard me talk about TwoBuckThemes(Get 5 new themes, video tutorials each month for $10) in the past and, as I’ve told you before, I am an affiliate of Mike Stewart and should you click on one of his links here, it is very possible that I could make a dollar or two because of that affiliation. Don’t let that deter you because if you like what he says and offers as software and equipment, you can become his affiliate also and do the very same thing.

So what is so important about royalty free music for podcasts and other productions?

First, I would point you to a previous article written in this blog called, “Podcasting Resources” called, “Why you should be using royalty free music in your productions.” (That article will tell much more about the subject than I want to mention here today.) Second, it is important to remember the legal issues surrounding the use of copyrighted materials. In case you don’t know, you can get into all lot of trouble by using someone else’s music or articles without their permission and it could be quite expensive for you.

The reason I use TwoBuckThemes is because the music is good and very affordable. I’m here to tell you that I have been using TwoBuckThemes for quite a while now and it just keeps getting better. Mike Stewart continues to put together some of the best royalty free music available at the outrageous price of two bucks a theme, five themes at a time. And that isn’t all he does. He offers software, equipment and tutorials for more things than I want to talk about here today. (although I’m certain I’ll talk about more of them soon.) Believe me when I tell you, Mike is a great source of information surrounding the subject of recording and editing audio and video of all kinds along with great techniques for making it simpler and better. (I assure you, Mike is no amateur.)

The Royalty Free music from Mike Stewart’s Two Buck Themes just keeps getting better all the time. It doesn’t cost anything to check out his websites, but I think you will find he is a great source of information and he won’t lead you astray, but that decision is up to you. You’ll never know for sure unless you check it out for yourself.

Thing Three:

Thing three is another thing I am not affiliated with but use all the time. If you have a lot of audio files or video files that people can access at all hours of the day, then you already know the storing of those files can take up a lot of space on a server. Why not store them someplace that is very affordable? I won’t go into great detail here, but, Amazon S 3 storage is about the most affordable storage space you can find. What does S3 stand for? Simple Storage Service… (That wasn’t so hard, was it?)

I’m not sure exactly what I pay for it right now, but I do think it is somewhere around 8 or 9 cents a gig. The only thing about using it is that it works with Firefox and it has a tool made just for Amazon S 3.If you’re not using Amazon S 3, perhaps it would be worth your while to check it out.

Oh, and one other thing, Mike Stewart also has a tutorial about S 3 for people that are members of two buck themes and also something that simplifies the process of using Amazon S 3 called the S 3 Media player (which you can also read about right here in “Podcasting Resources”. Just click here.)

Believe me when I tell you, since I started using Amazon S 3 for storage, I have put a lot of my audio and video files on their servers and the expense has been minimal. What can be wrong with that? Nothing as far as I’m concerned…

See ya next time… Rusty

Rusty Norman and Podcastnorm.com

all views expressed are strictly the opinion of the writer

Podcasting ‘On The Cheap’… Don’t invest more than you need to, but, at least as much as you should…

You’ve heard me say many times, you can get started podcasting very inexpensively and still turn out a great audio or video podcast. You have also heard me say you can spend a little more money and … still turn out a great audio or video podcast.

In reality, it isn’t the amount of money you have invested in equipment and software that makes a great podcast. It is the attention you pay to small details and the quality of the content that can ultimately make your podcast, or other type of production, as good as any and better than many, and you can still do it “On The Cheap.”

Spending a lot of money doesn’t guarantee a great podcast

You see, you don’t have to spend a lot of money to get started with podcasting. Just throwing money at equipment and software for podcasting doesn’t guarantee anything about the final product you turn out. In fact, it doesn’t even guarantee that you will turn out a great podcast. Of course, you do need to have equipment and software that simplifies the job of producing it and you need to know enough about certain production techniques to make your podcast sound good enough to make it easy and pleasing to listen to.

Let me be blatantly bold and say, “You definitely need what it takes to present your information in a way that is appealing to your listeners.” (Yes, I was trying to be dramatic and pause for effect… (chuckle) In reality, I admit that wasn’t really so blatant and also not so bold, but, it is important all the same.)

Always keep in mind that you can spend a little money, or a lot of money, and still turn out a podcast or production that is terrible and will, in no way, appeal to anyone, (except maybe you).

So, why do I continue to offer the thought that you can make podcasts, “On the Cheap”, and why should you care?

Well…the answer is pretty easy and straight forward…it is because you can!

Now, I can hear those rumblings out there from those of you that say, “So Who Cares?!?” and I understand where you’re coming from, but, I also understand that your audience does care how, why and what you do to make your podcast a pleasurable experience and why it is important to consider what they think.

No matter what you think, there are several things to consider about quality…

Any conversation about quality will ultimately open wide ranging opinions and arguments. I know why there is concern for speedy delivery and I also know what I like. Most times, the two are not even in the same ball park.

I have a very good friend that owns a recording studio. He will be the first to tell you that he is “old school” and how disappointed he is with much of digital technology, (a viewpoint I understand but don’t totally agree with, although I do know what parts in particular he doesn’t like.). He was the first person to give me this description of low resolution mp3 files. He said, “It sounds like someone threw marbles into a metal bowl and they’re rolling around while their trying to talk, play or sing.” He has received some demo mp3’s in a very small file formats and has understandably been disappointed in what he heard and totally unimpressed by what could have been presented in a slightly larger file size and it would have made a more positive impact or first impression.

Generally, I know I don’t think like some and I know I have higher expectations of quality that many because I just don’t like listening to junk. I guess I have been spoiled by being around well produced material for most of my life. I’ve been involved in doing many types of media productions (both audio and video) and there are just some things I don’t like about the internet as yet, (although things are changing for the better all the time.)

I don’t like the fact that available bandwidth controls so much of what many say is ‘acceptable’. It has to load fast and be in small perspective for maximum effectiveness; otherwise, no one will stay around long enough to watch or listen. Fortunately, audio is easier to deliver and load speedily than video, but, some are so interested in making the file so small for extremely fast delivery and small file storage space that the quality suffers greatly.

Here are some things you need to consider for the near future…

This is where I see the greatest change coming for the future and what I have, and will be talking about more and more in the near future. Storage space costs and the speed and quality of delivery are becoming more and more important and it is important to consider these aspects as you pursue your journey (or adventure) in podcasting, whether it be audio or video.

For those that may be new to Podcasting Resources, I have some interesting news. If you would like to know more about a great, inexpensive storage service and some great new software to easily use it, take a look at this previous post (> link to S3 media post<) I made several months ago. It will give you some great information that could very possibly make your adventure in podcasting much easier than it used to be.

For you regular visitors, we will be talking more about the ‘small details’ that can make noticeable differences in your audio and video productions and the way they are received and/or perceived by your listeners.

Why You Should Be Using Royalty Free Music In your productions

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

Podcastnorm.com and Rusty Norman

The S3 Media Player: A Small Investment Can Make A Big Difference for Podcasters and Others

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)

Rusty Norman and Podcastnorm.com