Podcasting: The Do-It-Yourself Guide

by Todd Cochrane

Book Overview

Listen up Podcasting, which has taken the online world by storm, involves recording a broadcast and embedding it in an RSS feed so listeners can download it to their PCs, iPods, MP3 players, or even... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0764597787
• ISBN13: 9780764597787
• Release Date: June 2005
• Publisher: John Wiley & Sons
• Length: 281 Pages
• Weight: 1.10 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.7" x 7.4" x 9.3"

Customer Reviews

NosillaCast review from podfeet.com

- Todd was one of the very first podcasters (he celebrated his one year anniversary last week) - Podcasting so new - must have been hard to crank out a whole book on top of podcasting on top of a wife and two small children AND working! - recommend the book highly - very easy to read and follow, not too terribly techie - well organized and methodical - directions are clear and allow easy experimentation - too tempting to get started before finishing, e.g. told about how to pick a good ISP long after I'd picked one - luckily vizaweb met his requirements - understands everyone has a budget - gives solutions for low/medium/high spend - I like how throughout the book he is operating system agnostic - Overall It's a great book, very readable, well written, and above all completely practical

A must read!

If you're interested in podcasting, this book will get you started. I became interested in podcasting when I bought my first mp3 player not long ago. Being somewhat of a news junkie, podcasts make it easier for me to get my news when and where I want it. Also, I've always wanted my own radio show, but streaming requires too many resources. I saw this book at a local book store and picked it up for decidedly more than the advertised price here. The extra money is well spent. I've secured hosting and will soon be recording my first of many podcasts. Others have noted how easy this book is to read, and I can vouch for that! It is meant to be a beginner's guide and not the end all be all of podcasting. The pictures and step by step instructions on programs is very helpful, as are the references to copyright law and other resources. On the same note, others have noted a PC-centric point of view to this book (read less info on the Mac side). I found this to be somewhat true, but at the same time, Todd runs a mostly PC shop. I would not want a car mechanic writing a book about brain surgery. Over all, "Podcasting: Do It Yourself Guide" by Todd Cochrane is well balanced with a lot of good information. 5 stars!!

An excellent podcast manual for both beginners and pros

When media historians write about the summer of 2005, they will note that it was the year that the public truly regained control of broadcasting. The podcast revolution has made it possible for anyone with something to say to again have a platform to say it. And Todd Cochrane's excellent new book, Podcasting: Do It Yourself Guide (Wiley), makes the process accessable to everybody. Cochrane is uniquely qualified to teach. His weekly Geek News Central podcast sets a high standard in both content and technical quality. But Todd's greatest gift is his ability to translate geek-speak into a language that the rest of us can understand. With a disarmingly readable style, he mythodically takes us through the sometimes daunting steps involved in creating a listenable podcast, from selecting the right equipment to finding a place to host the show. From the art of finding and downloading programs to the vagueries of Dave Winers cryptic RSS (Really Simple Syndication) protocol, Cochrane paints a compelling picture of the Internet's new-new thing in a way that entices even the most casual reader to make her own personal audio statement. When the Federal Radio Commission wrote the first rudimentary rules for the new broadcast medium back in 1924, the objective was to provide a diversity of voices that would serve "the public interest, convenience and necessity." it's taken nearly 80 years, but at last, Podcasting: Do It Yourself Guide makes that dream real.

Solid book for even existing podcasters

I've been podcasting for a while, so some of the intro chapters were a little basic for me. (Of course, they were absolutely perfect for newbies. Can't say enough about how much I wish this book existed late last year when I started my communityguy.com podcast!) But where the book really shines for me in about halfway through when it starts to get into some of the discussion about issues that every podcaster hears about, but never really gets a good answer to. Stuff like "Do I need a mixer? What is a mixer even for, anyway??" Great job to the author on this spectacular book. The best thing about it is that in two nights of casual reading I was able to breeze through it - the true mark of a great technology book!

Detailed How-To

This book walks you step-by-step through the process of creating your own podcasts. Todd Cochrane starts out by explaining a little about what podcasts are and how to find and listen to podcasts, then quickly delves into how to create, upload and promote your own shows. Cochrane has created a realistic guide to podcasting on any budget. Along with recommending equipment for setting up a "semiprofessional" podcast studio, he tells how to get started with what you already own. And, he suggests many free sources for software, hosting and content. If you are looking for a comprehensive guide to podcasting from someone who has "been there, done that," then you should buy "Podcasting: The Do-it-Yourself Guide." Cathy Stucker, IdeaLady Marketing and Publishing Consultant