UTO Training
Workshop: Podcasting and ASU on iTunes U
Technical Assistance:

Website: www.asu.edu/helpdesk

Phone: 480.965.6500 (24/7 support)

Email: [email protected]

Online Help wiki: http://help.wiki.asu.edu
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Podcasting 101: http://alti.asu.edu/node/66
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ITunes U at ASU: https://wiki.asu.edu/help/index.php/ITunes
Basics:
1. What is Adobe Podcasting?
Podcasting is the merging of two technologies: Downloadable media (audio, usually) and RSS
Downloadable media is simply a file (such as MP3) stored on a server that users can download and
listen to. RSS is a technology that allows a user to subscribe to a podcast and have episodes
automatically downloaded to their computer.
2. How it can be used:

Lectures

Guest Speakers

Distance Ed (online)
3. What you need:

Audacity (freeware)

LAME Encoder (freeware)

Microphone
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PC or MAC

iTunes Channel
4. Downloads

Audacity: http://audacity.sourceforge.net

o Click Download Audacity 1.2.6
o Then click Audacity 1.2.6 Installer
o Run then install
LAME Encoder: http://audacity.sourceforge.net/download/windows
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o
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Click LAME MP3 encoder link
Next page click LAME download page
Next page click libmp3lame-win-3.98.zip and save to C:/Program Files/Audacity
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UTO Training
Workshop: Podcasting and ASU on iTunes U
o Go to this page
(http://audacityteam.org/wiki/index.php?title=Lame_Installation#Windows_Instructions)
and follow the instructions under All Users to connect Audacity to LAME encoder
5. Microphones

Recommend headset microphones because they keep the microphone a consistent distance from
the mouth. This results in consistent recording levels.

If an individual is purchasing a microphone, recommend that they spend a few dollars extra for a
USB mic
6. Recording Length

30 minutes of Adobe Presenter content is LONG

Instructors should keep in mind that watching/listening to a lecture on the computer is not as
engaging as an in class session

It is a good idea to break long sessions up into smaller pieces

Consider chapters or sections
7. About Recording

Mistakes, fumbles, and the dog running through the room barking at the cat can be edited out
later (see Editing below)

Therefore, you should not stress out when you are 20 minutes into a presentation and make a
mistake – you do not need to start over
(Download practice files)
Audacity Instruction:
8. Importing Audio

You can import existing audio and/or music

When you import audio, it will be placed on a separate track from audio you record

Hint: you can import music that plays as background sound to your recording or as an
introduction

Click Project > Import Audio
9. Recording Audio
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Each time you record audio, it is placed in a separate track
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In the editing process you can combine the adio
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To RECORD, simply press the Record button (red circle)
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To STOP RECORDING, press the Stop button (yellow square)
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UTO Training
Workshop: Podcasting and ASU on iTunes U

To PAUSE RECORDING, press the Pause button (vertical equal sign) (press it again to continue
recording)
10. Editing Basics

Editing audio is no different than working with a word processor:
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The play head is the same as a cursor
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Zoom out shows the entire document and zoom in shows sentences
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You can select sentences, paragraphs, etc., by clicking and dragging the play head
(cursor)
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You can copy/paste, cut/paste, click & drag, and delete pieces of audio (always play the
selected piece of audio before deleting; space bar is a great shortcut for “play”
and “pause”)
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You can insert additional recordings at the play head
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You can add silence
11. Editing – Zoom

The Zoom tool allows you to zoom in and out from the audio track
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Click the magnifying glass with the minus to zoom out, showing you the full track

Click the magnifying glass with the plus to zoom in, showing you up to about ½ second
segments of audio at a time
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Zooming in close allows you to trim, delete or modify your recording more accurately
12. Editing – Using the Play Head
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Click once somewhere on the recording and click play

When you press pause, then play again, it plays from that point
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If you press pause, you must press pause again for it to continue from where it stopped

If you play the audio using the spacebar, it will play from where the cursor or play head was
before it began playing (even when paused, it begins at the play head)

If you click and drag a section of the recording and press play, it will play only the selected section

Navigation using your keyboard:
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Home: moves the play head to the beginning of the audio clip
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End: moves the play head to the end of the audio clip
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Arrows: left moves left and right moves right (equivalent to a letter)
13. Editing – Modifying Audio Selections

You can select sentences, paragraphs, etc., by clicking and dragging the play head (cursor)
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UTO Training
Workshop: Podcasting and ASU on iTunes U
Once a section is selected, you can perform several actions:

Duplicate Audio:
Click Edit > Copy (or Ctrl C) > place your cursor where you want the copied audio to be placed >
select Edit > Paste (or Ctrl V)

Move Audio:
Click Edit > Cut (or Ctrl X) > place your cursor where you want the cut audio to be placed >
select Edit > Paste (or Ctrl V)

Delete Audio:
Click Edit > Delete (or press the Delete key on your keyboard) > always play the selected
piece of audio before deleting

You have various other options: trim, split and duplicate
14. Editing – Insert Silence

You can insert silence in place of section where your breath is recorded or even as a lead in to a
new slide
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Replace a Section with Silence
Select the segment of audio > click Generate > Silence > a dialogue box will appear with the
amount of time highlighted on the audio track and Current Selection > click Generate Silence
and the audio segment will be replaced with a solid line (silence)

Add Silence
Place your cursor where you want to add silence > click Generate > Silence > a dialogue box will
appear > choose the amount of time you want to > click Generate Silence and silence will be
added
15. Recording Additional Audio

You can add new recordings to your audio track or replace existing audio with a new recording

Add New Audio:
Place the cursor where you wish to record audio > click the round record button > speak into
the microphone > click square stop button when finished recording

Replace Existing Audio with New Audio:
Click and drag to select the audio you wish to replace > be sure to play the selection to verify you
have the correct section selected > click the round record button > speak into the microphone >
press the square stop button when finished recording > your newly recorded segment will be
highlighted > press the space bar to play the new segment
Note: if your playhead is not aligned at the far left (home) when you record new audio, it will
record the audio on a new track starting at that point.
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UTO Training
Workshop: Podcasting and ASU on iTunes U
16. Effects
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There is a large list of effects you can try with your recording

Simply select a segment of audio, click Effect, then choose the effect from the list
17. Exporting Files
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You can export tracks individually or all at once

File > choose your method of export
iTunes Instruction:
18. Request a Channel

Request your channel at http://my.asu.edu/courserequest
Select Semester (year and term) > Begin Request > add Instructors and/or TAs > Next Step >
choose Campus > choose Intended Usage (Multiple Semester site or Class Site) > enter Class
Number (only if Class Site) > enter Course Name
Examples: ENG 101: Freshman Comp (12345) or Department Name

An email confirmation will be sent when it’s been created
19. Accessing Your Channel
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Go to http://itunes.asu.edu

Be sure to click ASURITE login here (DO NOT click the Go to ASU on iTunes U button)

Log in > click on your College or Department > click on your Channel > you should see editing
links in red in the top right corner
Editing Your iTunes Channel
To edit the various components, click Edit Page. A pencil icon will appear next the items you can edit.
20. Adding Icon (graphic)

Click Vertical arrow on graphic > a webpage is opened > click Browse > choose file and click
Open > next to Alt ID, can add tag or description (optional) > click Done
21. Modifying Author
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Click pencil icon to the right of the graphic > a text box appears > edit the name > click the
Checkmark
22. Modifying Description
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Click pencil icon under the Description > type description > click the Checkmark
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UTO Training
Workshop: Podcasting and ASU on iTunes U
23. Modifying Tabs
Adding Tabs
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Click the plus symbol > a new tab appears > type name in text box > click Checkmark
Editing Tabs
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Click pencil icon on tab > make edits > click Checkmark
Deleting Tabs

Click a tab to highlight it > click circle with line through it > click yes when asked to confirm
deletion
Change Order of Tabs

Click a tab to highlight it > click the arrow in the direction you want to move it
24. Links
You can add links to key websites
Adding New Links Section

Click the plus symbol above links section > new section added called Links > click pencil icon to
edit section name >
Adding New Links

Click the plus symbol under the section name > add title and URL > click checkmark
Click End Editing when finished editing
25. RSS Feed
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UTO Training
Workshop: Podcasting and ASU on iTunes U
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Right-click on Subscribe button > click Copy iTunes Store URL > paste the link into an email >
forward it
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