Podcasting Made Easy?

A while back, Rok asked why can't we get a one-package solution that produces podcasts. He then listed some some of the features that should be included. Since that time, I have only come across one solution, and its specifications appear to take care of all the items in Rok's list.

M-Audio has been a reputable company in the area of audio recording equipment for both home and professional studios for quite a few years. While surfing around looking for product news for my music/ composing journal, I came across M-Audio's Podcast Factory. The package includes:

A quality microphone and stand that connects to the audio interface with standard microphone cable.
An external audio interface unit that essentially acts as a high-quality sound card
A copy of the free, open source Audacity recording software. It's a very easy to use program which would automatically record audio input from the interface. So, from the mic to the audio interface, then to Audacity, which would record a WAV file to your hard drive. Use Audacity to edit audio tracks.
A copy of Ableton's Live 4 Lite audio production software, which you can use to visually sequence different tracks. For example, if you have a musical intro, interlude, or outro, you can weave them with your audio track(s). Produce an MP3 file once your arrangement is complete.
A copy of Podifier software, which you would use to wrap your MP3 file with the necessary RSS XML code. The RSS file is created after you specify some typically feed channel information.
Necessary cabling.

The audio interface can be used with a desktop computer, but it has mobility in mind and in fact is even recommended for laptops. This is because laptops tend to have lower-quality soundcards and need such an interace. What the M-Audio website does not specify is whether you can actually upload the MP3 and RSS XML files from the Podifier software, or whether you now have to use FTP software to upload.

The specs suggest that this is a fairly cohesive package. But anyone who has not used audio production software might be a little initimated. At a price of US$179.95, it's not a bad deal, although there's no mention of the make of the microphone. All specified software runs on Mac or Windows. If you do purchase Podcast Factory, you may want to buy a "spit guard" from your local musical instruments shop to reduce sibilant consonant sounds during recording.

If you think the Podcast Factory process is a bit too complicated for you, there's an alternative, but it's nearly 3 times the cost. M-Audio has a portable "professional 2-channel mobile digital recorder" which costs USD$499.95 and records to CompactFlash memory cards. This device, because of its small size ("about the size and weight of a deck of cards"), is obviously more portable than the Podcast Factory solution.

A small stereo electret microphone is included, but other mic options are available. Recording formats include both MP3 and WAV PCM, at a variety of quality levels. The included CompactFlash card is only 64 Mb, but M-Audio offers an upgrade to 1 Gb. According to the details, a 1 Gb card can hold "approximately 100 minutes of uncompressed CD-quality 16-bit stereo 44.1 kHz WAV files" or "1500 minutes of stereo speech-quality MP3 audio at 96 kbps". CompactFlash cards are also readily available now in the 2-4 Gb range, and 8-32 Gb models - while quite pricey - are supposedly out now or later this year.

M-Audio claims that its very easy to transfer recordings to your computer and post them to the web or email them. Transfers are done by connecting the device to your computer with the USB cable. As with Podcast Factory, Microtrack comes with a copy of Audacity for sound editing. It does not come with any other software, so creating the actual podcast requires to either find a suitable plugin for your website/ weblog content management software, or some other solution.

My experience with audio recording equipment makes me feel that the Microtrack is a bit pricey, but then other miniature recorders over the past few years haven't been cheap, either. Otherwise, the specs seem pretty solid, and using CompactFlash memory cards instead of, say, DAT tapes, etc., is a better choice.

If I can get my hands on either product, I'll go through the podcasting process and report my findings. Hey M-Audio. If you want to send me the Podcast Factory or the MicroTrack to review, feel free :)

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