Blog Out Loud - and Sound Great Doing It; O'Reilly Releases "Podcasting Hacks"

Farnham, UK - "An hour from now you can be a podcaster," promises Jack Herrington, author of the groundbreaking new book "Podcasting Hacks" (O'Reilly), the ultimate how-to of podcasting for anyone looking to get into this hot new medium for publishing, broadcasting, and syndicating audio programs on the Web.

But Herrington doesn't want his readers to make just any podcast. He guides them through every step of producing and distributing the very best podcast they can - and then learning from the experience to make more and produce even better podcasts.

"Podcasting, simply put, is the idea of downloading an MP3 audio file to a digital device and listening to the program - a song, a lecture, a rant, whatever - at a time and in a place of your own choosing," says Dan Gillmor in his Foreword to Podcasting Hacks.

"It is the marriage of several genres including weblogs, audio, radio, and TiVo-ish devices. It is made possible by the ever-powerful forces of technological progress, competitive instincts and - this is key - our perfectly human wish to express ourselves."

Both aspiring and experienced podcasters will learn the mechanics of recording and posting podcasts to the Internet, tips for managing bandwidth, professional techniques for improving their podcasting voices, tools for audio editing (and using audio effects and filters effectively), and seasoned advice for building a home studio.

There are hacks for recording on the go (such as from a car or an event), building an MP3zine, and adding more dimension to podcasts by creating videos in addition to sound (videoblogging).

There's even a section on the legal dos and don'ts of using copyrighted music and of grabbing audio from another source for use on a podcast. Readers will learn how to:

-Find the Best Podcasts: Subscribe to them (without filling up their hard disks), and pass them on to friends

-Listen to Podcasts: Through a browser and a variety of different devices

-Choose the Right Equipment and Software: Produce a podcast with the best sound and the lowest noise

-Format a Great Show: Produce engaging programs that people will want to hear (including tips for interviewing and editing)

-Market a Podcast: Maybe even make some money off of it!

-Tweak a Blog or RSS Feed: Give listeners access to new shows

-Join or Build a Podcast Network

-Get Podcasts on the Radio

-Include Video: Get started with professional-quality videoblogging

Whether readers are interested in hearing the personal expression of others or want to express themselves, "Podcasting Hacks" will teach them everything they need to know to produce and enjoy podcasts.

Well-illustrated and featuring helpful case studies, this groundbreaking tutorial for becoming a part of the podcasting community gives readers all the friendly, practical advice they need to blog out loud and sound great doing it.

Additional Resources
For more information about the book, including table of contents, index, author bio, and sample hacks, see:
http://www.oreilly.com/catalog/podcastinghks/

To read an article from the author, go to:
http://digitalmedia.oreilly.com/2005/08/10/improvingpodcasts.html

Podcasting Hacks
Jack D. Herrington (Foreword by Dan Gillmor)
ISBN: 0-596-100663, 464 pages, $24.95, £17.50, 24.95 €