Podcasting: Getting Started

As with any project, it’s important to be organized prior to beginning your podcast with GarageBand. Know exactly what you want to create: do you want to create an audio-only podcast? Video podcast? Audio/video podcast? Whichever type of podcast you are planning to create, it’s a good idea to outline exactly what you want to include.

GarageBand works in conjunction with iMovie, iTunes, iPhoto, and PhotoBooth, so make sure you have the photos, movie clips, etc. all saved prior to going to GarageBand. If your students will be creating the audio component, it is wise to have a script written out.

Creating a Simple Audio Podcast

1. Open GarageBand

1. Click on “Create New Podcast Episode”

1. Name your Podcast (in the “Save As” window)

1. Indicate where you want to save your podcast where it can easily be found

1. Click “Create” –the GarageBand control panel will appear

NOTE: To create the audio, you can use the microphone that is built into most computers, BUT you will get much better quality if you use a professional microphone. If you choose to use a professional microphone, include step six in your instructions.

6.         Plug the cord into the back of the microphone and then plug the USB end into the computer. A window will open recognizing the microphone. It will ask, “Do you want to use this device?” Click “Yes”. You are now ready to record!

To Record

1. Click on either the “Male Voice” or the “Female Voice” icon located on the left side of the control panel.

1. To begin recording, click on the red dot located in the middle of the screen.

1. Once the red button has been selected, recording begins. Simply speak into the microphone in a regular voice (about 4 inches from the microphone). When done, press the space bar on the keyboard. The space bar begins and ends recording sessions.

Note: the space bar will allow you to start and stop the recording so that the recording can be previewed.

10. If you don’t like what you have recorded, simply click on the clip, and then press the “delete” key. The clip will disappear and you can try it again.

Adding background effects

11. To view the effects available through GarageBand, click on the eyeball on the left side of the control bar.

12. Browse the different jingles and sound effects available. Each effect will play when you click on it. Once you have found an effect you want to use, simply click and drag it to the large grey box labeled “Drag Apple Loops here”. It will attach itself to your podcast automatically. When there is no voice recording playing (usually at the very beginning and ending of the podcast), the music will play at full volume, but as soon as the voice recording begins, the music automatically adjusts itself to a lower volume allowing the voice to be heard.

Saving the podcast

13. At the top of the screen, click on “Share” and then “Export song to disk”.

14. A new box will appear. Click on the “Compress” box. Compress Using “MP3 Encoder”. This selection is available in the drop down menu.

15. Click export.

16. When the save box appears, indicate where you would like to save or export the file and click “Save”.

17. When you double-click on the file, the podcast will play in the QuickTime Player.