Month: May 2020

Anchor Turns Your Video Chats into a Podcast

~ jen

Anchor announced that it can turn your virtual hangouts into a podcast with Anchor’s new video-to-audio conversion.

Now, Anchor makes it possible to turn your video files into podcast-ready audio – so the next time you have a great conversation over Zoom, Google Meet, Instagram Live, or your favorite video chat tool, you can share it as a podcast for everyone to hear.

Starting at the end of April 2020, Anchor’s tools make it possible for you to convert your video files into editable audio. So, as you’re keeping up your face-to-face connections through video chats and virtual hangouts, you can easily capture the conversation for everyone to hear by turning it into a podcast.

But, before you do that, it would be wise to let everyone who is in the video chat know that you are going to be recording it and making it into a podcast episode. The following states require consent from all parties that are recorded: California, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Montana, Nevada, New Hampshire, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Vermont, and Washington.

If your recorded video chat will include people who live outside of the United States, you need to find out what the laws are regarding recording in their country. Be smart and ask for permission to record and release the conversation as a podcast episode before you hit the record button.

Obviously, Anchor’s video-to-audio tool is only available to Anchor podcasters. First, record your video chat through your favorite streaming tool and download the file. Next, upload it to your Anchor dashboard on web. You cannot upload YouTube links directly to Anchor. But, if you own the raw video file (.MP4 or .MOV) you can upload it and convert it to audio.

Spotify Seeks a Technical Podcast Producer for Parcast

~ jen

Spotify is seeking a talented Technical Podcast Producer to join the team at Parcast. The person who fills this position must bring meaningful experience in and passion for audio space, to include production and sound design. Spotify says you’ll be most likely to thrive in this role if your innovative, passionate, sincere, collaborative and playful.

What you’ll do:

  •  Assist the Supervising Producer with overseeing the production and execution of a new vertical of “on the mic” shows
  •  Help develop the sound design – to include mood and feel – of some exciting new programming
  • Produce trailers, episodes of some shows, and other content as needed
  • Interface and work cross-functionality with other producers, writers, and studio managers
  • Identify and solve technical problems with equipment
  • Other duties and special projects as assigned

Qualifications include:

  •  You have several meaningful years of audio industry experience (ideally 4+)
  • You are comfortable with strict deadlines and working under pressure in a fast-paced environment
  • Can work quickly and efficiently and autonomously
  • You have a deep understanding and proficiency in audio editing software with expertise in at least one Digital Audio Workstation (DAW). You are also willing to learn a new DAW (Adobe Audition ProTools, etc.)
  • You can critique and judge your own work and achieve excellent resultsYou care about the quality of the product and your good reputation within the industry

Those who are interested in applying for the position can do so on the Spotify website where the job is listed.

Acast has Partnered with JioSaavn

~ jen

Global podcast giant Acast has partnered with JioSaavn, South Asia’s largest audio streaming platform, to enable it to leverage Acast’s extensive global network of shows. The partnership expands JioSaavn’s content offering exponentially, providing access to Acast’s infrastructure and latest advances in podcast technology.

The clear appetite in South Asia – shown through JioSaavn’s existing 104 million+ Monthly Active User (MAU) base – is paramount to Acast’s understanding of the huge opportunity for podcasts in the market. And Acast and JioSaavn will align on one central mission, to popularize podcasts in South Asia.

The companies’ aim is to educate listeners on both the merits of podcasts – including the flexibility to listen anywhere at any time – and the opportunity they provide to share culturally diverse, compelling content with global voices.

The infrastructure of the partnership provides a platform for Indian voices, enabling new independent podcasters to produce content, and connects JioSaavn with Acast’s large collection of global publishers including The Guardian, The Economist, Financial Times, BBC, VICE, PBS NewsHour, The Times, and many more.

Acast and JioSaavn believe connecting South Asia to this content in particular – already generating 200+ million listens on a monthly basis in Europe and North America alone – will help both expand such content beyond borders, and encourage and provide publishers with the opportunity to reach new audiences and create bespoke content with them in mind.

Over the next two months the full effect of Acast and JioSaavn’s partnership will be visible, with Acast’s content appearing in full through JioSaavn.

RØDE Announced My RØDE Cast has Returned!

~ jen

RØDE announced that My RØDE Cast has returned! Podcasters who wish to enter this contest should submit a 1-2 minute podcast for a chance to win a share of $150,000 in podcasting prizes. Entries close 12PM (EST) Tuesday, June 16, 2020.

For this year’s My RØDE Cast we’re giving away a massive $150,000 worth of RØDE podcasting gear, including the RØDECaster Pro Podcast Production Studio, PodMics, and more. There is also Adobe Creative Cloud subscriptions, sound effect packs from soundeffects.com and acoustic kits from Prismacoustic to be won!

There are three packs up for grabs: the Major Prize, Runner up, and People’s Choice.

How to Enter:

  •  Register to receive a starter pack.
  •  Record a 1-2 minute podcast on any topic and in any style.
  •  Upload it to RØDE’s free hosting platform Anchor. You can create an Anchor account for free.
  •  Copy the link to your podcast from Anchor, log-in to My RØDE Cast and copy the link to your page.
  •  Once your podcast is approved, you will receive a confirmation email.
  •  Share your podcast and encourage fans to vote for it! The podcast with the most votes wins the People’s Choice Prize!

Personally, I think RØDE is a good company with quality products that any podcaster would want to use. There are three judges that RØDE selected to help choose the winners, and I think that it is smarter to have a panel of judges rather than handing that responsibility to one person.

The only part of this that worries me is the way RØDE is determining who wins the People’s Choice Prize. There have been podcasting contests/awards in the past where that type of system was manipulated by people in order to artificially inflate the votes of their favorite podcaster. Hopefully, RØDE is aware of that possibility and has something in place to counter it.

This American Life Wins First Pulitzer Prize for Audio Journalism

~ jen

This American Life announced they won the first Pulitzer Prize ever given to audio journalism, for “revelatory, intimate journalism that illuminates the personal impact of the Trump administration’s ‘Remain in Mexico’ policy.”

This American Life has more details about the episode:

The episode that won, “The Out Crowd”, ran last November. When we started putting it together, we knew that elements of the “Remain in Mexico” policy had been covered by the press. But a lot of that coverage had come out in drips and drops, as the wonky specifics of the policy changed. Most listeners – hell, most of our own families and friends – had not put together what the policies really meant: tens of thousands of asylum seekers stranded on the other side of the border in shelters, on the streets, and in makeshift encampments. Many get kidnapped by the cartels, in areas the State Department classifies as violent and unsafe as Syria and Iraq.

The Pultizer Prizes website points out that Episode 668: The Out Crowd was an episode created by Molly O’Toole, who is an immigration and security reporter based in the Los Angeles Times’ Washington D.C., bureau. It was also created by Emily Green, a Mexico City-based journalist reporting on Mexico and Central America.

This American Life wrote: It’s an honor to be recognized this way by the Pulitzers. And exciting to win their very first prize for audio reporting.

I agree! The fact that the Pultizer Prize has been given to a podcast episode really opens up the possibility for more podcast episodes to be considered for the prize. I find that inspiring.

Podcast Movement 2020 Announced New Dates

~ jen

Podcast Movement 2020 will take place in Dallas, Texas. Unfortunately, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the dates of the event have been changed. It will now be from Monday, October 19, through Thursday, October 22. This decision was made in order to prioritize the health and safety of attendees, sponsors, speakers, and staff.

Here are some key points from the newsletter:

  •  We hope that this is a welcome change for many of you, but are fully aware that it will be an unfortunate one for others, so we wanted to share with you why this decision is necessary after several weeks of serious discussion and consideration.
  •  We feel that August is too soon to hold the event safely. Even if cities and states were open for events by then, which is far from certain, we would not feel comfortable asking our speakers, sponsors, or attendees to travel to us until later.
  • The October dates give us an additional two months to monitor the containment and confirm that we can safely host the event, if, as the new date approaches, we feel as if we cannot do this, we will cancel the conference before putting anyone in harm’s way.

Those who have already registered for Podcast Movement 2020 will find detailed information in the newsletter about your options. You can transfer your registration to the new Podcast Movement 2020 October dates. You can covert your in-person pass to a PM20 virtual pass. Or, you can transfer your registration to Podcast Movement 2021, which will take place in August of 2021.

More details can be found in the newsletter, which also contains a link to an audio update.

Apple Podcasts Now Available in More Countries

~ jen

Apple announced in April that even more customers around the world can enjoy many of Apple’s most popular services. This includes Apple Podcasts (as well as The App Store, Apple Arcade, Apple Music, and iCloud). Apple Podcasts is now available to people in 20 more countries. Apple Music is available in 52 additional countries.

“We’re delighted to bring many of Apple’s most beloved Services to users in more countries than ever before,” said Oliver Schusser, Apple’s vice president of Apple Music and International Content. “We hope our customers can discover their new favorite apps, games, music, and podcasts as we continue to celebrate the world’s best creators, artists, and developers.

Apple Podcasts (and The App Store, Apple Arcade, Apple Music, and iCloud) are now available in the following countries and regions:

  • Africa: Cameron, Côte d’Ivoire, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Gabon, Libya, Morroco, Rwanda, and Zambia
  • Asia-Pacific: Maldives and Myanmar
  • Europe: Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia, Kosovo, Montenegro, and Serbia
  • Middle East: Afghanistan (excluding Apple Music) and Iraq
  • Oceania: Nauru (excluding Apple Music), Tonga and Vanuatu.

Apple describes Apple Podcasts as “the best place to browse and listen to the world’s largest catalog of podcasts, now featuring over 1 million shows in more than 100 languages and 175 countries and regions.”

StartAPod Guides New Podcasters Through How to Make a Podcast

~ jen

During the COVID-19 epidemic, many people have been under “stay at home” orders. Some are working from home, and others may be out of work. It is not surprising that people in these situations decide that now is the time to start their own podcast. StartAPod guides new podcasters, step-by-step, through the entire process of making a brand new podcast.

A monthly subscription costs $9.99 per month. StartAPod says this is the best option for podcasters who are looking to grow their audience and/or earn revenue.

An annual subscription costs $99.90 a year. Apparently, this option gives you two months free. StartAPod says this is the best option for podcasters who want to create a successful podcast from the ground up.

The StartAPod website seems to use the word “subscription” and “membership” interchangeably. I find this confusing. There is also a Bundle option, and I am unsure how that fits into the subscription and/or membership options. A Bundle appears to include several different types of courses, plus accompanying worksheets and resources.

That said, there is a list of what a membership includes:

  • Unlimited access to learning video content
  • Downloadable tools and resources
  • Easy hosting options
  • Connections to advertisers
  • Gear purchasing options
  • Connections to producers

Interestingly, there is one Editing Course. It appears to be the only course offered that has only one lesson. (The rest have around 11 or 12 lessons). The Editing Course is a tutorial on editing using ProTools. StartAPod says that tutorials for Audacity and Garageband are coming soon!

Auby is Seeking Podcast Enthusiasts

~ jen

Auby, a young startup with big ambitions, is on a mission to change podcast discovery. They are looking for people who are as passionate about podcasts and as excited to make a positive impact on the community as they are. Auby is seeking Podcast Enthusiasts.

…Most podcast directories are like old school video rental stores with basic categories. With over 800,000 active podcasts and over 54 million podcast episodes, there must be a perfect podcast for you, but the question is, how do you find it?

At Auby, we are looking to solve that with a podcast discovery platform personalized to the user. We’re tackling the cold start problem for new podcast listeners by curating podcast episode suggestions based on who the person is and their listening habits.

About You:

Super passionate about podcasts! You live, breathe, sleep podcasts. Whenever your friends talk about something, you suggest a podcast episode to listen to related to it. The idea of creating a listening list of your favorite podcast episodes to share sounds like a blast.

What You’ll Be Working On:

What you already naturally do! Recommend favorite podcast episodes and help categorize/curate them. This time, you will be contributing to the Auby database so we can share your favorite podcast episodes with the rest of the world.

Reasons to Work with Auby:

  • Connect with others in the podcast community!
  • Flexible schedule: options to work remotely or in-office in Los Angeles (post pandemic)
  • Possibility of getting hired for a full-time job (we will be hiring a podcast expert for Auby down the road and will pick from one of our podcast enthusiasts).

To apply for this job, and to find out more about it, please visit the Auby website where the job is listed. Auby did not mention what this job will pay, or whether the position will be for a full-time employee, a contract worker, or something else.

NAB Show Express will be Online

~ jen

NAB is smartly putting measures in place to ensure people can safely participate in the event. While NAB may not be able to meet in Las Vegas this year, NAB Show is dedicated to delivering the resources and connectivity that keeps us all moving forward. It is being offered via the NAB Show Express website.

NAB Show Express has been built with the flexibility for every one of use to find what we’re searching for and design our own experience.

  •  Watch 24-hour broadcasting on three channels, allowing for convenient viewing in time zones around the world.
  • Get access to on-demand video content, covering everything from new industry trends and technologies to creator tools and distribution
  • Explore the marketplace, featuring exhibitor profiles, company-hosted events and press conferences.
  • Access the resource library where partner organization has contributed timely industry-related white papers, eBooks, guides and research reports.

Additionally, NAB Show Express features three standalone events for training and executive leadership that have separate registrations available. These include:

NAB Show Executive Leadership Summit

A series of conversations about the state of the fast transforming TV industry, which is navigating accelerating direct-to-consumer viewership, while reaching new creative heights in storytelling engagement. Find out how TV chiefs are answering new pressures to entertain audience through today’s COVID-19 challenges, and learn how they plan to break through with programming to elusive younger audiences. This summit is free to attend.

Cybersecurity & Content Protection Summit

Discover the latest solutions from choosing the most secure-possible workflow, cloud and storage solutions available to facilitate a fully remote workforce; to discovering gaps in now-crucial business continuity plans; to evaluating threats to your intellectual property where your workforce is dispersed outside the office, the concerns – and threats – are like nothing media and entertainment has encountered before. This one requires a fee, that appears to be different amounts depending on how big a group you bring.

Post|Production World Online

Three days of online training with over 100 cutting-edge, live training sessions in multiple tracks. Following the live event, paid attendees get access to streaming of the recordings of all sessions for 120 days. A Full Pass costs $299.