Want a little mature discussion about MMA, Gaming, Movies, Wrestling and Tech? Well, this week’s Podcast Luminary will fill that need completely. Podcasting since 2006, with a bit of a hiatus in between, My Take Radio is still going strong!
Fun, Fame or Profit? Why are you doing the show?
I started this show for fun much like any podcaster/internet broadcaster but when you realize that people actually tune in droves to hear your words you realize that fame and possibly profit can be attained. For me it has been a gradual progression in goals to where I still enjoy it but definitely want to make some money. There is a future in this medium and I want to be a part of that in a big way.
What has changed the most in your recording setup since you started?
When I started way back in 2006 it was just a USB headset and audacity. I had no idea what I was doing but managed to crank out quite a few episodes. My set up has evolved considerably with a mixer, XLR mic and noise gate to make the audio crisp.
Have you found that social media has expanded your listener base/reach? (Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, Google+, etc)
Social media has been tremendous for our growth. Not only is the engagement with listeners more direct but it allows us to meet broadcasters with similar motivations that can share feedback and advice. Social media has also been instrumental in booking certain guests.
What is your workflow: include hardware, software, text editing, and services as necessary
I chose to answer this question because we have a very different work flow than most. We broadcast live every Thursday via two live services. For the live broadcast we do our show prep over the course of the week using Microsoft OneNote which allows us to prep remotely should we need to.
In terms of audio I broadcast using an Alesis 8 channel USB mixer and an AudioTechnica USB/XLR mic. I maintain a quiet environment using a Behringer compressor/noise gate which keeps my audio level and eliminates most ambient noise.
I record the show to a Zoom H2 which is then edited with Audacity for use on Libsyn. The WAV file is finalized to a 96k mp3 and tagged with artwork prior to upload. Any clips or sound effects are handled either with my iPad using a sound board app or via my PC with Pod Producer or other soundboard software.
Do download numbers matter matter to you? or is audience engagement key?
Download numbers matter to a degree but you can’t make them your priority. If you intend to seek out advertisers then you definitely need to monitor them. Audience engagement comes first though.
What advise would you give a new podcaster so that they keep going!
I advise any podcaster that is new or existing to press on and do it for enjoyment and not for profit. If you expect to get rich then you need a new hobby. Speak to members of the community and get as much feedback on your product as possible. While you think your product is good the fact is that there is always room for improvement.
For newbies I recommend getting 10-20 shows under your belt before making huge investments and purchases. Nothing is worse then finding out that something is not for you after you’ve spent a decent amount of money. Most important though is ensuring you have a site or blog where people can learn about you. Once your home is ready then you start increasing your social media presence.
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