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Tony, Ray, Mike et al Podcasting - another slant It's great that podcasting exists, because it's really low technology and most of us can upload it as .mp3 files to whatever kind of server we've got, using whatever kind of CMS we have to display it, right down to, and including, stone age html sites. However, and it's a big however, as someone once said, if you want to broadcast sound, you've got to know how to record it. Just make sure, if you're planning to make .mp3 sound available on your websites, you have factored in the cost of properly recording and editing your audio, or find someone in the know who can help for less. There's a lot more to capturing sound and playing it back, than just pressing 'record' on a minidisc recorder. There was a time when BBC trainees were laboriously trained in splicing tape and editing sound by hand - thankfully those days are gone, thanks to programs like FastEdit and the rest. However good broadcast journalism courses still teach the old BBC ways - the careful and creative skill of recording sound in an accessible and professional way. Techniques like making an ambient noise track to play behind your interview and always recording in a quiet place are crucial to making good radio. Don't forget you need interviewing skills too, like not interrupting speakers or murmuring in agreement as your interviewee is talking. Yes, that 's what it is - it's not podcasting, it's radio, and it's really good fun to do as well! If you're a small museum and you want to try it out, you can access student help by contacting a local media studies course, or more effectively, any accredited BCTJ course. Find out more here: http://www.bjtc.org.uk/ Happy listening! Jon Pratty P.S. I did City and Guilds 7750 media skills (broadcast radio) before I did an NCTJ postgrad journalism course. Editor 24 Hour Museum 01273 820052 07739 287392 [log in to unmask] The National Virtual Museum Britain's Best Museum and Gallery website - Web User Magazine Best Educational Website, New Statesman New Media Awards, 2005 ************************************************** For mcg information and to manage your subscription to the list, visit the website at http://www.museumscomputergroup.org.uk **************************************************