Podcast Production

European Podcast Awards

nospam@example.com (Robin Wolstenholme) — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 09:04:58 +0000

The second European Podcast Awards are now underway.

It's a great opportunity to promote your podcast to a European audience and to win some great prizes from their sponsor OLYMPUS. So go on, take a look at the podcast nominations and see what's good.

You may also find some inspiration from the podcasts on show, but brush up on your language skills because there's always alot of German submissions, 300 reported so far!

Podcast production website refresh

nospam@example.com (Robin Wolstenholme) — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 15:32:53 +0100

We've recently updated our website with some new features. You'll notice that it's looking a little sharper, but the main change is the new podcasting showcase and podcast samples page we have added.

Corporate podcasting showcase
To listen to "real" podcasts that we have produced for our clients, just follow the rotating podcast logos on the left hand side of the homepage. You may recognise the likes of OPEC, Zurich and if you're in the UK I'm sure that the Government's Business Link will also ring a bell. If you click on any of these logos you can now sift through a selection of podcasts of varying style and format to get a good idea what's possible with this modern and dynamic media.

Zurich podcast

We'd highly recommend tuning in to Scottish Life's Pensions Radio for 2 or 3 way pensions banter. If the episode in our showcase whet's your appetite, you can subscribe in iTunes - just search for "Pensions Radio" in the iTunes Music store or visit the Scottish Life's Beehive website for other subscription options such as iGoogle and a generic feed for Zencast etc.

The Living Britain podcast that we produced for Zurich discusses the changing face of Britain. The podcast is based upon research commissioned by Zurich. Each episode, three voice over artists were invited to record the male and female interview and the introduction. A clean, contemprary musical sting completed the podcast's authentic radio programme feel. Very interesting listen for anyone in the UK - and any Anglophiles too.

Podcast stings and compilations
The podcast samples page have been updated with some stings and voice over recordings that showcase some of our audio podcasting work in one place. Just scroll down and tune in using our online player to hear some of our work over the years. We produce our own stings using the latest software and real musical instruments. If you're interested to here some of our more adventurous work I could do worse than to point you to Pensions Radio again - if you're planning an ongoing podcast rather than a one-off series then a good sting and some artistic license can really enthuse your listeners!

New podcast questions assessment management leaders

nospam@example.com (Robin Wolstenholme) — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 15:22:46 +0100

Podcast Production has been busy over the last few months recording podcasts with specialist software solutions company Questionmark.

Podcast

Questionmark provides technologies and services for online testing and assessment to wide range of educational institutions, corporations, government agencies and awarding bodies all over the world. Their blog includes tips on best practices, case studies and commentary. Podcasts on the blog offer insights from users of the Questionmark Perception assessment management system as well as learning industry thought leaders.

Each month, Podcast Production's recording engineer joins hosts Joan Phaup and Sarah Elkins from Questionmark to record an audio podcast. The global nature and diversity of Questionmark's business means that their guests can be dialing in via landlines or Internet telecommunications from all over the world. Once we have tapped in and recorded the podcast in the best audio quality possible, we edit any slips that may have occured and once everyone is happy with the content it is produced with its distinctive "sting" and published on the Questionmark blog.

In podcast 6 Sarah spoke to David Lewis about formative assesement. I'm sure to those such as myself that are new to the subject, this podcast could make a good introduction:

David Lewis of Glamorgan University has extensive experience with Questionmark Perception. I spoke with him recently about the large scale implementation he has been working on at Glamorgan, where they use Questionmark for formative assessment, summative assessment and module evaluation. David also spoke about the training programs that have been developed within the University, the collaboration with other higher education institutions in Wales, and provided some great advice for anyone working with online assessments

Tune in to this podcast with David Lewis

We're sure their podcast is up to the mark!

OPEC Monthly Oil Market Report podcast

nospam@example.com (Robin Wolstenholme) — Fri, 13 Feb 2009 19:24:15 +0000

Popular oil market podcast

Anyone interested in the oil market price, who would like to know a little more about the wider issues affecting the cost their next tank of petrol is encouraged to tune in the OPEC Monthly Oil Market Report podcast.

Every month, Podcast Production produces and publishes this podcast within 24 hours of the Monthly Oil Market Report being released by our customer OPEC - in fact, more typically the same afternoon!

Of course, none of this would be possible without the efforts of the OPEC team in Vienna or "ever-ready" broadcast journalist and correspondent Eithne Treanor who does the voice over an mobile podcast recording. A true pro!

Pensions Radio nominated for European Podcast Award

nospam@example.com (Robin Wolstenholme) — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 16:15:42 +0100

Pensions Radio, which Podcast Production produce for Scottish Life has been nominated for Hitachi's European Podcast Award. The podcast has developed its own unique blend of bare pensions facts with banter centered around the UK pensions industry.

Lords, ladies, ministers, journalists and pensions experts frequently join Chief pensions strategist Steve Bee and "man on the street" Stephen Ballard for live on-site recordings which are usually in London. It makes interesting listening, even for the pensions ignorant such as myself - so why not tune in? If you like it, vote too!

Pensions Radio celebrates birthday with Aubrey de Grey

nospam@example.com (Robin Wolstenholme) — Thu, 05 Jun 2008 13:07:38 +0100

One of Podcast Production's best known and most successful podcasts celebrates its first anniversary today with the publishing of Pensions Radio 24. Every fortnight, Pensions expert and outright city slicker Steve Bee is joined by our very own Stephen Ballard and special guests to put life into the notoriously complex and misunderstood world of UK Pensions.

Pensions Radio

During the past year Pensions Radio (formerly the BeeHive Pensions Podcast) has welcomed the illuminati of UK pensions to the airwaves, from Shadow Minister for Work and Pensions Nigel Waterson and the RMT's ever outspoken Bob Crow to Baroness Hollis. Today's episode is no exception, with the intrepid duo joined by none other than Aubrey de Grey, Chairman of the Methuselah Foundation.

Dr. Aubrey de Grey's work leads him to believe that the first human being to live to the age of 250 is alive today! But what could this mean for our Pensions? There is already a great deal of debate concerning retirement age and its affect on pensions and pension funds... tune in for more.

Pensions Radio welcomes your feedback, so please take a moment to leave your comments on iTunes or Podcast Alley

Don't forget you can also tune in to Pensions Radio by dialling 0208 0993190.

Is podcast directory a good term?

nospam@example.com (Robin Wolstenholme) — Mon, 02 Jul 2007 10:50:55 +0100

Hi all, Robin here with an update on podcast directories.

Podcast directories are a difficult one to nail down, but broadly speaking there are three types around that can help listeners find a podcast. Depending on the directory, there could be a host of additional functionality that the listener use if they choose and, of course, if they understand concept.

Podcast directories accessed from within software eg. iTunes
Load up your iTunes and look in Music store, not everything is paid for! Some websites provide one click subscription "chicklets" for iTunes. If you have iTunes installed, these will automatically open up your software and take you to the approriate page eg. BeeHive pension podcast.
Podcast directories on the web eg. Podcast Alley, Podcast Pickle, Podcast.net
These podcast directories help listeners find new podcasts using their usual web browser (IE,Firefox,Safari). Many offer "one click" subscription buttons to allow listeners to subscribe to podcasts using iTunes, PodNova, Bloglines. Podcasts are classified by their subject, sometimes using the predefined iTunes categories but mostly their own classfication to help browsers tune in to podcasts of interest to them. For example, Look under "business" and "investing" in most podcast directories and you will find the BeeHive Pension podcast.
eg. Podcast Alley.

Other directories such as Odeo and Blubrry use the more powerful "tagging" mechanism to help listeners find podcasts with keyword links.
Podcast subscription portals eg. PodNova, Bloglines
Create an account and log into these portals to manage subscriptions to podcasts, play them with embedded payers and find new podcast to subscribe to. Being an online account, you can sign in on any computer with a modern web browser and tune in eg. Click BeeHive Pension podcast to try subscribing with Bloglines.

In addition to these, the all of the big names such as Google, Yahoo and AOL, Live (Microsoft) have various forms of podcast support. Google, in particular have added podcasting support to their RSS reader, Google Reader. Google Reader is a good way for business and office-bound listeners to tune in to podcasts because is provides an embedded player and organisational tools for "tagging" episodes.

Many online Blog and RSS readers also provide podcast support too, and those that don't already are starting to catch on. One worthy of note is Bloglines, which we also put under online podcast organisation tools in out classification above. Why? Because they adapted well to the test - audio shift, after all podcasting started off as "audioblogging".

Finally, there is virtually no limit to what they developers, podcasters and bloggers on the net are up to. It is possible to create your own podcast feed by compiling epidodes from other podcasters together. I'll leave this to you to discover for yourselves.

Businesses don’t understand Podcasting

nospam@example.com (Robin Wolstenholme) — Mon, 04 Jun 2007 11:44:49 +0100

We thought our latest press release, "Businesses don’t understand Podcasting" could be of interest to blog visitors and subscribers.

New media production agency, Podcast Production Ltd, is helping business take advantage of this new and exciting communication channel throughout Europe. The Company was formed by a group of media, marketing and technical specialists in order to make the dynamic and engaging media of Podcasts accessible both to the corporate business community and its customers.

Sales and Marketing Director, Stephen Ballard commented,

“Corporate customers are now recognising Podcasting as a unique marketing channel that will give them a fast track connection to the iPod generation. Giving users the flexibility to listen to information on the move has undoubtedly been the key driver in making Podcasting such an effective new communication channel. As a marketing professional I would recommend that customers embrace this technology to provide competitive advantage.”

A Podcast is a series of multimedia “episodes” much like the chapters of a book, delivered via an audio or video file to which a listener can subscribe and receive regular updates. Having subscribed using free and easily accessible software, listeners automatically receive the episodes as they are published. All this happens within affecting the users email account so SPAM is not an issue. Each Podcast episode can be automatically downloaded to an mp3 player such as an iPod, mobile phone or simply played back on a PC.

Communications Director, Robin Wolstenholme has discovered a knowledge gap within business,

“When we talk to new customers about Podcasting, they think a Podcast is just an mp3 download. For me, the real power of Podcasting lies in the subscription mechanism, building up a listener base.”

Another misconception that Podcast Production has encountered is a lack of imagination when embarking on a corporate Podcast. Rob Granville who heads up the production department at Podcast Production elaborated,

“We have found that formal interviews, chaired discussions and short market reports adapt well to Podcasting, but the possibilities extend to many other areas of application. For example, a customer newsletter delivered by Podcast is more engaging and dynamic than a paper equivalent. It is also more accessible and environmentally friendly than a paper delivery for a socially responsible business or organisation”

Ballard summarised,

“Podcasting is not a replacement for existing communication channels, but a powerful ally in the struggle for voice in today’s fast paced business world. ”

Podcast Production on PRWeb

Streaming media apathetic to change

nospam@example.com (Stephen Ballard) — Wed, 16 May 2007 17:19:21 +0100

In recent years many companies, particularly within the financial sector, have used streamed video to provide information about their products and services. This video information is streamed and viewed within a webpage. Once upon a time this was an effective way of communicating with stake holders but I would argue that this is no longer the case.

Listen anywhere

The problem with streamed media is that it cannot easily be saved to disk. As a result, the user has to be connected to the web to view the steamed video content. In addition, that streamed video content is effectively “blind” to search engines apart from basic tag information. All of the valuable audio content within the streamed video is not indexed by search engines, which offers no benefit to the website owner in terms of web visibility.

With the advent of Podcasts or Vodcasts (video Podcasts), that has all changed. Putting aside the fact that in general terms a video Podcast can be produced more cost effectively than a streamed video, and ignoring that that streamed video uses significant charged bandwidth, the video Podcast is unique in several ways.

Firstly, the compression algorithm that is used ensures that the size of the file is reduced and therefore can be downloaded quickly; second the fact that it can be downloaded means that the file can be viewed at anytime with or without an Internet connection. Thirdly - and this is the really interesting part - the audio content of the Podcast can be indexed using sophisticated voice recognition software. Couple this with the fact that the user can listen to or view the content on an mp3 player and you start to wonder why on earth are companies still using streamed video content?

Companies can reduce the cost of production and hosting, at the same time benefiting from web indexing that makes their content visible to search engines. So why do companies remain wedded to streamed video - is it ignorance, apathy or just video production companies trying to protect their income?

Rant over.

Recording professional quality Podcasts

nospam@example.com (Robin Wolstenholme) — Fri, 11 May 2007 13:02:48 +0100

Podcasts can be theoretically recorded and uploaded by just about anybody. However, in practice professionally produced and reocorded Podcast will shine through and enhance your corprate brand image.

Podcast show in session

You can expect more on this from our resident recording engineer and sucessful band member Rob Granville in future blogs, but for now here's a brief introducton to the tips and techniques that Podcast Production employ to make your Podcast successful.

Background noise
Background noise can distract the listener from the subject matter. Without the proper environment, a quiet recording is difficult to achieve for long periods of time. Our fully floating studio offers complete sound proofing, ensuring that your recording is completely free of background noise.

Production quality
It is common knowledge that people tend not to be as natural as they might usually be when recording into a microphone. We create the right environment for the best performance and relaxed atmosphere by offering a few helpful pointers to start off the session. This is often the most efficient way of achieving a good result.

Recording equipment at the studio

Broadcasting methods
Specialist filters are used to eliminate any ambient "boxy" room sounds from untreated rooms. Radio compression is also added to the voice to inject that smooth quality unattainable in a less professional environment.

Equipment
Only the best recording equipment is used to produce a professional sounding Podcast both on location and in our studio. An array of microphones, pre-amps, editing and mastering software to ensure the Podcast is clear, flowing and to the point. Most importantly we ensure quality audio even at low resolutions for the internet.

Experience
Knowing the demands of today's corporate executives we are able to record, edit and process outside broadcasts and interviews in the same manner. Quite often we simulate international interviews and debates for our clients from around the globe all at one table. We also have the ability to restore bad quality recordings by removing background noise and hiss to acceptable levels for broadcasting quality.

Branding
Finally, we are able to input sound stings to increase the visibility and recognition for each Podcast. These are created in-studio, and are a useful branding tool to stand out in the ever increasing crowd.

Podcasting for business launched

nospam@example.com (Robin Wolstenholme) — Thu, 03 May 2007 17:12:55 +0100

If you are interested in Podcast production techniques and applications for business marcomms, then tune in to our very own brand new Podcast, Podcasting for business.

Podcasting for business subscribers will get tips on how to use Podcasting to get the most out of this exciting new medium, how to promote their Podcast and other useful information.

You can subscribe to Podcasting for business using the chicklets below.

RSS 2.0 -
Google -
iTunes -
Odeo -

Note that Odeo doesn't work too well in Internet Explorer 6.

Angry man - no, an MP3 is not a Podcast

nospam@example.com (Stephen Ballard) — Tue, 01 May 2007 17:51:02 +0100

How many times have I heard the uniformed claim that an mp3 file is the same as a Podcast? An mp3 file is not a Podcast; it is an audio file that has been compressed using an mp3 algorithm.

XML isn't straightforward

In order to convert and mp3 file into a Podcast, additional information has to be attached to the audio file using iTunes tags. These tags refer
to the information contained within the Podcast that are recognised by the mp3 player.

Next, the appropriate xml code must be written to produce an RSS feed. It is this RSS feed that structures a series of episodes into a Podcast series and tells the Podcast subscription software and Podcast directories that the Podcast exists. It is only after inserting these tags into the mp3 file and writing the xml code for the RSS feed that the Podcast episode can be published to your listeners and the Podcast directories. Only then will the Podcast become visible within the World Wide Web.

Getting the information right is not as easy as you might expect. So to all those who feel that Podcast production is a straightforward exercise, be warned it is not!

Podcast naming and ip protection

nospam@example.com (Robin Wolstenholme) — Wed, 25 Apr 2007 14:13:05 +0100

In the early days of domain registration, it was possible to register the domain of a commercial company. Indeed, many did - for in the early days of the web, companies were slow off the mark to protect their intellectual property by registering there own company domain names. In those early days entrepreneurs made a great deal of money by selling the domain names to those companies who had been lethargic in their domain name registration.

iTunes is the leading Podcast directory

Some will remember the legal cases that ensued where cyber squatters attempted - and in some cases where successful - in blackmailing companies for domain names they had registered. Of course, that was in the days prior to the legal framework and precedent which helps prevent this type of fraudulent activity. Today domain name registration is carefully monitored by leading institutions, so that if a domain name reflects an established company’s trademark there is legal recourse.

The same is not true for Podcast names, for as in the early days in the domain registration not registrative framework exists for naming. In order for companies to protect their ip they must ensure that a podcast reflecting their company name is represented in a leading podcast directory. This means that firstly a Podcast must be produced, and secondly the name must be claimed in the defacto largest podcast directory - right now that's iTunes. Having secured the podcast name on iTunes, that same name should be claimed on the plethora of other podcast directories such as:

Podcast Alley, Podnova, Podcast.net, Podblaze.com

Of course, producing one Podcast is not enough to maintain “ownership” of that Podcast's name. The very nature of the Podcast demands an continuous series of episodes to in much the same way as a radio show (or a newsletter those of you with a corporate background).

There is no doubt that as Podcasting matures - which given the anecdotal evidence within the market is now occurring - that a legislative framework will be introduced. It is those companies that have actively protected their brand by producing regular podcast content, that will undoubtedly have unjustifiable legal right to use that name.

Is your Podcast legal?

nospam@example.com (Robin Wolstenholme) — Tue, 10 Apr 2007 17:32:13 +0100

Podcasting has faced a recent upheaval driven by legal issues. This is largely as a result of artists and their record labels and claiming copyright over their work, in particular for music “mixtapes” or radio style Podcasts.

Current challenges relate to larger corporations taking steps to protect their work from those distributing audio, labels or logos without proper consent. These laws are regulated by parties more familiar with traditional printed media, however these laws have become relevant for the internet community and more recently the growing Podcast community.

The most relevant law covers the redistribution of music without proper permission and / or royalties paid to the artist and or record company. This is a rapidly changing and grey area, for example PPL, a UK based royalty collection and distribution orgnaisation has recently signed a deal allowing members of RadioCentre, the organisation that represents commercial radio, to use 30 seconds of music per track, excluding voiceover, in downloads of their radio programmes.

Other suggestions for good practice include using voiceovers to obscure the first and last 10 seconds of the music track. So called “Podsafe” music is another growing concept, to help audio bloggers avoid penalties.

Within business Podcasts, the regulations are less strict – in part because a good Podcast does not require licensed music, instead professional “stings” or custom made music can be used to enhance the production. The most fundamental regulation comes in the form of correct permission to release and edit interviews and soundbites that form the Podcast content. A useful guide for Podcasters can be found on The Register.

If you are embarking on a Podcast production, much of what is distributed through radio channels cannot be reproduced as a Podcast without review by all parties involved - there is a very fine line to follow for what is legal and what’s illegal.

For more tips on the legal issues surrounding Podcast production keep tuned in to our blog. If you want to keep an eye on our blog without whiling away your day visiting the Podcast Production website, you can add our RSS feed to your favourite reader or you Google, Yahoo, MSN homepage using the link below.

Subscribe using your RSS reader

Could your business cut paper by producing Podcasts?

nospam@example.com (Robin Wolstenholme) — Wed, 28 Mar 2007 16:47:06 +0100

The production and distribution of paper media such as leaflet handouts and customer newsletters costs more money as the number of copies increases. Even a short print run of 5000 is costly to produce and print, but in many cases it also becomes a major logistical operation. The staff time and postal costs certainly mount up with larger circulations.

Save the trees

Podcasts can also appeal to the environmentally conscious. It only takes mouse clicks to publish Podcast, and they do not have to be recycled or disposed of like their paper counterparts.

Podcast recording, production and web hosting of course uses energy, as does the listener's computer and mp3 player or mobile phone. However, the ecological cost of running a server is (as good as) the same whether 5,000 listeners are downloading your Podcast episode or 1. Compare this with the comparable chunk of rainforest used by paper-based communication and you are obviously onto a green (and inexpensive) thing.

So, how do you instigate this communications revolution? There are many options for your podcast production, ranging from a simple monologue briefing listeners on the latest news through to a fully scripted and professionally produced talk show. I would ask, if you are prepared to make the effort to produce a magazine every month - could you not feed the same effort into a personal, engaging and interactive Podcast?

Let us consider a company anniversary for a moment. A Podcast could include a "state of the nation" address from your Company President, a page in the newsletter normally ignored by the staff could become an upbeat and dynamic interview where staff questions are posed and answered.

podcast production podcast