Podcasting is like blogging out loud! It gives you a voice—one that can be heard worldwide on computers, iPods, or other MP3 players. You can podcast to boost your business, promote your passion, share your opinions, or just have fun. The point is to say what you want to say to those who want to hear it. With step-by-step explanations, screen shots, and tons of examples, this guide clues you in on recording, producing, and hosting your very own podcast with info on:

• Finding your voice and your niche, whether you want to talk tech, make your own kinds of music, educate listeners, make people laugh, do soundseeing tours, serialize your novel, or invent a new podcasting genre
  
• Getting the bare necessities (if you don't already have them), including a microphone, recording software, and an audio card
  
• Audio editing software such as Audacity, Cakewalk for PCs, GarageBand for musicality, and Audio HiJack Pro for Macs
  
• Recording, including understanding dB (decibel levels), capturing or minimizing ambient noise, and more
  
• Editing with GarageBand or Audacity, adding bed music, and including intros and outros for a signature finishing touch
  

You want your podcast to be heard. Podcasting For Dummies helps you launch and promote it with info on how to:

• Downsize your audio files with MP3 compression
  
• Change bit rates and sample rates in Audacity and iTunes
  
• Create and edit your ID3 tags in Audacity or iTunes
  
• Post your show notes using Movable Type or Libsyn
  
• Simplify the RSS 2.0 feed by using blogging software or a podcast-hosting company such as Audioblog.com, Podcastamatic, and Feeder
  
• Ping for publicity
  
• Communicate with your listeners on your blog, through online discussion groups such as Yahoo! Groups or Google Groups, or on online forums
  

Of course, if you want to be a podcatcher (a listener) and subscribe to podcasts, this guide shows you how to do that, too! Complete with a companion podcast—a free weekly audio commentary that will keep you up to speed on the podsphere—this guide helps you get your message heard, loud and clear.