Now that a respectable duration of time has passed, podcasting
shows no signs of slowing down. People everywhere are creating new
podcasts. Some of the more popular ones boast a loyal following of
millions around the globe. And just like in any creative venue, you
will find the good, the bad and everything else in between. For the
most part, all you really need to create a podcast is a computer,
Internet access, a microphone and recording software.
As with anything, a little bit of research will turn up a wide
variety of products ranging from the bare-bones basics to a
complete, professional recording setup. Prices will obviously
reflect the quality setup you select so be careful in your choices.
One of the most important things you need to consider before
plunging into making your own podcast is to consider what it is you
have to say and how long a period of time it will take for you to
say it. If all you are looking to do is to find a soapbox to say
your piece, then chances are that after you've made your point, your
podcasting career will come to a swift ending. Too often have I seen
this happen. At first the idea is new, fresh and exciting. They
start out making a new podcast every day. Then after they say what
it is that they have to say, the podcasts get updated every other
day, then once a week, then maybe a couple of times a month, and
then the stale virtual order begins to rise as the same podcasts
remain there unchanged for months, even years, finally abandoned as
all interest is lost and it fades into oblivion. Usually it's that
the podcaster didn't realize how demanding a podcast can be on ones
time. So if yours is a limited quest, you may be better off creating
one or a series of recordings and just post them on your website.
On a related subject, just the other day I wanted to record
something into my computer only to discover that the device I wanted
to use was not USB.
Instead, it had the more conventional mini-plug at the end of its
cable.
Exploring further into my equipment drawer revealed several such
devices including microphones, telephone recorders, an AM/FM radio
and even a cassette tape recorder/player, all of which required
input or output and the corresponding jack to make them work with my
computer. I realized that if I ever wanted to use any of this older
equipment with my computer, I needed something that would be able to
convert the older analog outputs and inputs from these devices to a
digital one and also be able to connect them physically to the
computer's USB port. That's exactly with the iMic from Griffin
Technologies does.
Actually, the iMic has been around for years but it recently got
both a cosmetic and functional upgrade. The small, round disk-shaped
device sports IN and OUT plugs to accommodate your mini-plug
equipment. At the other end, the iMic has a USB cable that connects
to either your Windows or Macintosh computer. If it's a microphone
for example, then you plug the mike's mini-plug cable to the iMic's
IN plug. If you want to transfer audio out from your computer to
your older cassette tape recorder, then connect a cable from the
iMic's OUT plug to your cassette recorder's line-in jack.
Depending on the sensitivity of the older device, the iMic offers
a single switch that lets you select between line and microphone
levels.
The iMic sells for $39.99. Griffin also includes their Final
Vinyl software that automatically senses and locates the iMic's USB
connection so just plug it in with your older device connected and
you'll be ready to rock and roll.
www.griffintechnology.com
