I’m starting to get the hang of this podcasting business. First a word for those of you who don’t know a podcast from a forecast…
Podcasts are audio files that can be downloaded and played on iPods or other portable music players. You can also listen to the podcast over the web (e.g., at your computer) by simply clicking the Listen icon on the podcast page (see the link below).
If you are new to podcasts and want to try to take one on the road, you need a software program to download the podcast and transfer it to your music player. I recommend iPodder, but there are lots of other programs that do the same thing. Remember, you only need this program if you want to listen to the podcast on your portable music player. To listen while working at your computer all you have to do is click on the Listen icon.
In that regard, I have done Beta 3 of our new RanchoCast podcasts. On this one, Cassidy and I play 7 songs, including a rocker by the Drive-By Truckers, some Richard Buckner, the song Cassidy is named after and a live John Prine song that will blow your socks off.
All in all, I’m pretty sure I can make some good podcasts, as I get more comfortable behind the mike. What I don’t know is whether there’s an audience for this sort of thing. Time will tell.
A word about the music files: I am a songwriter and musician, and I have no desire to take money out of anyone’s pocket. To the contrary, I am trying to promote some great music that you likely won’t hear on mainstream radio. These are low bitrate MP3s, and none of our podcasts are archived. In fact, the only RanchoCast that will ever be available is the current one. In other words, I am experimenting with this technology as a way to promote alt. county music. Stated simply, please don’t let your record labels sue me.
Newsome.Org 