How to podcast Series - Part 1 How to listen to a podcast without an Ipod or Zune for free

I currently run a weekly music podcast called Queens Artists Music Podcast.  It is a free, you read correctly, a free weekly music show.  It is perfectly legal for you do download the music that I play.  I have been given permission by the bands to share their music.

If you’re not already familiar with podcasts and podcasting that’s quite alright. In this series we will take the time to discover and explore all about podcasting.

First off– What Is A Podcast?
A:  A podcast is an audio or video (mp3) file that gets downloaded from the internet and can be played on any computer regardless of operating system, that’s right mac, windows, or linux/ubuntu etc…

That’s the good news, you don’t need anything other than your computer to listen to the podcast.  Most computers operating systems come with free audio software already installed that will allow you to listen to the music files.  You listen to the podcast with itunes or quicktime, or Windows Media Player.  There are other software programs available too that you can use, but it’s not required, and of the preinstalled software will do.  But, by all means feel free to experiment with other music software once you’re ready.

Also, if the podcast is shorter than 80 minutes long than you can go ahead and burn the podcast to a cd and listen to the disc using any cd player.

Q:  Do I need special software to view/listen to a podcast?

A:  In addition to being able to view or listen to the podcast on  your computer, you will also be able to take the file with you on your ipod, zune or other portable music player.  This is the BONUS mp3’s are portable and you can take them with you on any number of portable mp3 players, i’ve named a few above if you don’t have one yet.

You can Listen online, Download and Listen later or Download and burn to CD.
Here we will foucs on listening online.
The next episode will focus on Downloading to listen later A.K.A. putting podcast downloading on AUTOPILOT.
Ok already, so tell me how to listen online…

1. Visit the Queens Artists Podcast Website.
2. Scroll down the page to the most recent podcast, for purposes of this tutorial the most recent podcast episode is QAMP #53 Roctober week 4 10/26/08 (if you’d like to listen to this podcast episode just click on the episode)
3. Simply click on the play arrow and wait for the file to start playing. You’ve just listened to your first podcast episode.

• You can change the volume by using the volume control.
• Please note that it might take just a few seconds up to several minutes to load the podcast.
• The determining factor will be based upon one or more of the following: your internet connection speed, it is possible that the podcast
  could begin playing and then pause as your computer is waiting to
  download the rest of the podcast. Internet traffic to the site, if there are a lot of people playing the file at the same time, delivery will also be slower.

Out Next step in the series will allow you to download the file to your computer so that you won’t have to worry about the internet traffic, or your connection speed.

One of the good things about listening directly from the site is that you have the ability to see the set list right there on the same page that you’re listening to the songs.  Also, I try to include links back to the musicians, as well as links for you to buy their music if you enjoyed listening to the track that I include in the podcast.

Many of the artists included in the Queens Artsits Podcast are independant artists without the support and backing of a major label, some are even self published.  Purchasing their cd’s will allow them to continue to create great music.

Next we’ll discuss subscribing to podcasts putting your downloading on autopilot.