Podcasting: Creation and Types

Podcasting

• Term was adopted in 2004
• Combines the terms iPod and Broadcast
• RSS is a sublanguage of XML, which is a more flexible metalanguage than HTML
• Used for distribution or syndication
• To create a podcast you need a recording, hosting space on a server for MP3 files, a feed with update, and a web service to emit the podcast from

Podcast Types

• Entertainment podcasts are the most common, aiming to entertain with humor or curious stories
• Information podcasts provide news in a specific field periodically
• Educational podcasts offer timeless, lasting information, illustrating a particular topic
• Persuasion podcasts instill an idea in listeners

Key Aspects in Podcast Creation

• Musical selection involves choosing music aligned with the tone and theme
• Sound effects use audio to accentuate key moments to create tension, or simulate specific environments
• Editing and mixing involves adjusting audio levels for a comfortable and pleasant listening experience

Streaming vs Podcasting

• Streaming and podcasting primarily differ in the following ways
• Video files result in larger file sizes.
• Streaming occurs automatically when content is available, allowing to be heard at any time.
• Streaming has more compatibility issues than podcasting among different systems

La Cuña Publicitaria (Radio Advertisement)

• Radio advertisement is a format where only hearing is used
• It is a prerecorded, autonomous ad with an average duration of 30 seconds
• Its effect comes from repetition and can promote programs, projects, products, or ideas
• Its purpose is to impact listeners so they remember the product

Key Elements of Radio Advertising

• Idea involves the advertising purpose, strategy, media, key messages, campaign slogan, and budget
• Enunciation/voice-over must be clear, brilliant, and present
• Music involves recording original music
• Sound effects are traditionally used to create realistic atmospheres

MIDI (Musical Instrument Digital Interface)

• Enables computers, musical instruments, and hardware to communicate
• Developed in the early 80s to standardize communication between musical hardware
• Ikaturo Kakehashi (founder of Roland) proposed the language’s creation

How MIDI Works

• When a MIDI instrument key/pad is pressed it creates a MIDI note
• Key ON and OFF determines when the key is pressed and released
• Pitches are pulsed notes
• Velocity refers to the speed and strength of a key press
• Aftertouch is the pressure maintained on the key
• Tempo is measured in BPM
• Panning for left vs write audio
• Modulations for controlling effects parameters
• Volume is for adjusting the loudness

MIDI Setups

• Most MIDI setups use a sequencer as the main element
• The sequencer is at the center of musical tracks
• Most MIDI connections are made with a 5-pin DIN cable

Audio Connections

• While connections are mostly through MIDI cables, some configurations only need USB
• MIDI OUT transmits MIDI data from a device
• MIDI IN receives MIDI data from another source
• MIDI THRU duplicates data from the MIDI IN port

Basic Editing Features

• Copy, cut, and paste enables easy arranging
• Displacing allows for audio movement along timeline
• Modifying duration allows for clip extending or shortening
• Changing velocity adjusts the strength and speed of key pressed
• Quantizing corrects the start and duration of notes to coincide with a temporal grid

Sound Project Planning

• Installation is technical, costly, laborious and involves many people

Preproduction Phase

• Conception of the idea is important, including project development
• Planning and organization requires a Calendar/Timing, so to set target dates

Human Resources

• Departments, templates, and work teams are important
• Economic-administrative management is important

Logistics

• Logistics and business management are important by contracting services, transportation and equipment/system assembly
• The design of spaces, structures, and infrastructure should be adequate to support sound

Types of Spaces

• Open Spaces (outdoor) are open air surfaces lacking original structure
• Closed Spaces (indoor) are free from weather conditions affecting the event
• Spaces without fixed structures provide no configuration in organization event
• Spaces with fixed structures provide multiple structure options for events

Specialized Personnel

• Stage Manager organizes technical teams of artist or bands with local teams to meet deadlines
• Stage Manager designs the work plan and handles tasks during execution.
• Road Manager handles logistics, schedules for the artist, band, and technical operators
• Tour Manager supervises the artists needs during the tour
• Sound Engineer designs the sound installation, acoustics, PA systems, and monitor systems

Technical Production

• Sound, Lighting, and Visual Technicians direct what is needed for production
• Operators handle the technical equipment for lighting, sound mixing, monitors, or video equipment
• Backliner Technicians are responsible for instruments on the setup and maintain the equipment
• Backline refers to where musical instruments are stored on the stage
• Spotlight Operator focuses on the moving follow-spot lights.
• Electrician is responsible to safely bring power to entire staging operation
• Equipment Operator operates self-propelled equipment such as forklifts and lifts
• Stagehands work together with special technicians to load and unload equipment
• Climbers facilitate/deliver material to riggers at higher levels
• Scaffolders assemble staging on the high scaffolding areas
• Steelhands assembles/disassembles the trusses and staging to build structures.
• Riggers install, uninstall and work at height using elevating equipment to support audio needs

Production Phase

• Involves coordinating of technical and human to develop the activity within the allotted time
• Stages include scheduling timing, transport of materials and equipment, assembly of structure , assembly of lights, assembly decorations, equipment testing, interpretation of stage plot/plans, riders agreements, set designs etc

Sound Department

• Involves planning by team, sound team, distribution of spaces, tasks for the team
• Creating a PA area, mounting and cabling of speaker, including general artist agreements
• The PA System or “Public Address” is called the main field

Sound Field Areas

• Main field covers the central part of the viewing audience
• Front field provides better close range listening
• Down field provides better horizontal expansion
• Outfield provides better sound projection for outside walls
• Delay Tower relays better sounds for sound loss

Posproducción (Postproduction)

• Sidefield ensures the musicians on stage can hear themselves
• In addition to PA setups must have control monitors (inner-ear or speakers), FOH which controls the areas from within

Sound Storage

• Backline is an instruments that could used by the artist
• Backstage is typically off limits to audience members
• Involves disassembling staging areas
• Clean up sound and lighting staging

Show Breakdown

• Involves dismantling all aspects of a show
• Includes PA, FOH, and monitors, lighting and visuals
• Include structures, staging platforms, and support
• Load the materials to truck for transport

Show Documentation

• Requires good planning whether human tech
• Important documents include: Running order, timing, agreements, technical riders, report
• All of this combined for the Technical Documentation for show