Contribute audio programs - CounselorAudioSource.Net
CounselorAudioSource.Net encourages audio contributions from professional counselors, counselor educators and supervisors, beyond our standing group of contributing editors. If you would like to contribute one of the weekly podcasts for CounselorAudioSource.Net, please contact the editor, Dr. Marty Jencius, at 330-672-0699 or email at mjencius@kent.edu before embarking on your work.
In order to produce a podcast interview you would need the following:
1. Desktop or laptop computer with available sound card input
2. Two computer microphone headsets.
3. A “splitter” device which allows for both microphone feeds to go into one input. The purpose of this ‘splitter’ is actually to help you combine the interview into one input which will be captured by the software through your microphone record input. You can generally pick up one of these “splitters” from most electronic stores or online at shops.
4. Software to capture your audio interview. Audacity is used by many podcasters for creating their podcast recordings and mixing. It is easy to use and best of all it’s free. You can download the software at this link. Software documentation and tutorials are available also.
Preparing your podcast for CounselorAudioSource.net
If you are not listed as a regular contributing editor for CounselorAudioSource.Net you need to contact the CAS editor, Marty Jencius at mjencius@kent.edu or 330-672-0699 to discuss your plans for creating a CounselorAudioSource.Net podcast. He can help you plan, develop and create your podcast. Final editorial decision to include your submission as a weekly CounselorAudioSource.Net podcast rests with the editor. All submissions an d rights thereof conform to the copyright and distribution granted to CounselorAudioSource.Net by the Creative Commons agreement.
Finding a good topic/subject. What drives good podcasts are good content. Low production quality can be forgiven by the listener when you have a compelling topic and a compelling interviewee.
CAS is attempting to open the conversation at all levels of practitioner, counselor educator, and supervisor so prominence in the field and name recognition is not the only element that makes for good narrative (although it does help with drawing an audience). CAS is interested in sharing conversations at all levels from the beginning counselor to the seasoned practitioner, recognizing that there is something to be learned from a variety of voices. So be creative in thinking of topics of interest to counselors and also selecting a good interviewee that is also informed on your topic.
Creating a list of questions. It is always a good idea to create a list of questions for yourself and the interviewee before you initiate the interview. It is also helpful for the interview process if your subject is able to review the questions and think about responses prior to you recording the podcast.
Doing the interview. Even though you have a list of questions, do not be afraid of straying from the questions or eliminating some as you record (either because the interviewee has already answered it OR because the flow of the conversation makes the question less relevant). Use your skills as a listener and in your head ask additional questions that a listener might have as they are listening to your interviewee respond. Currently, CounselorAudioSource.Net is leaving the podcast length from 20-40 minutes so you have some latitude in your interview process.
Setting up your equipment. Getting your computer set up so it will give you the best recording option is crucial to good production of a podcast. Become familiar with your audio recording software and comfortable with it by running a few test runs before you sit to do the interview. Given the equipment suggested above. You would need to do the following:
1. Plug the splitter cable into the microphone input on your computer.
2. Attach both microphone headsets via the microphone input leads to splitter cable connectors effectively blending both microphone inputs into the one microphone input for the computer.
3. Set the computer's sound mixer (program/accessories/entertainment/volume control) to record through the microphone input by opening the volume control, selecting "options" then "properties" and then radio button for "recording". At this point you should check to make sure that the "microphone" option is checked and it is best to clear all the other options in the record field. Once the "microphone" option is checked, a slider bar will open for the microphone option. (If there is an "Advanced" option button in the Microphone slider, open it and select the "1 Mic boost" option.) Minimize your volume controls once the settings are checked as suggested.
4. Open your sound recording software (Audacity) and test the software for recording, saving and output.
5. Have a test run recording to get use to the equipment, software and interview process.
Creating your podcast. Audacity or a similar recording program will allow you to store the digital audio in .wav format and in .mp3 format. CAS would advise that you store a copy in .wav format (an uncompressed format that could take considerable file space) and then a copy in .mp3 format. Keep the .wav file as an editable backup. Send the .mp3 file as an email attachment to the editor with a text description of the interviewer, interviewee and topic. Also include a brief credential/job summary of the interviewer and interviewee.
Post-production to podcast. The editor will review the submission and pending approval will sandwich the podcast between a CounselorAudioSource.Net lead track including the topic, interviewer and interviewee introduction and a post-broadcast thank-you, contact information and content disclaimer.