Gadget Guru
Q Amir Hussan, Cardiff
Our tech wizard takes a look at body-toning belts, teeny MP3 players and electric cars; recommends holidays fit for gadget enthusiasts; and talks about how to start your own podcast. You know you wanna
A
Begin by tempering your expectations, talky: unless you’re supremely lucky or following up an existing career in comedy-slash-entertainment, it’s likely you’ll begin as a lone, sad voice echoing around the bottom of the iTunes well. Clawing your way up its slick walls will require marketing muscle and serious quality. Your idea had better be original and compelling, or nobody will give you a chance in the first place.
Start by securing some hosting. Liberated Syndication (libsyn.com) offers a decent deal, with fees based on a rolling storage quota rather than any download restrictions, so if you do hit it big and brutalise its servers, you won’t get hammered for additional cash. Other options include SoundCloud – which offers six hours of podcast uploads for free, plus additional tools and space for nominal money – or various other sites that include the word “pod” in their name. Take your pick.
Next, the gear. Guru is equally tempted towards two suggestions: that you invest the minimum possible because your audience may well not materialise; or that you put a decent chunk of change into making your audio actually listenable. Budgetconscious internet chatterers can get close to the latter with Blue’s idiot-level Yeti condenser microphone, though it’s still possible to make it sound awful. Turn the gain down and get your face right in there for the best results.
Serious spenders are better served looking at more versatile kit. Grab a mixer – Guru favours the entirely fine Behringer X1832USB (£209), but you may wish to spend more – and nail some echo-destroying acoustic foam (spend about £25 per ten panels) to your walls. Then you’ll need to buy mic stands, shock mounts, cables, pop shields, cans and quality mics. Don’t spend less than £200 each on the latter; the Rode NT1 is a decent place to start, at £239. You’ll be putting in £750-£1,000 before you know it. Hope someone’s listening.
“You’ll begin your podcast ing career as a lone, sad voice ech oing around th e bott om of th e itunes well”