Podcasting with WordPress
I was asked by Matt sometime ago if I would create an entry in Codex describing how to podcast with WordPress. There is already a nice article there, but I thought I would go ahead and create this tutorial for the sake of completeness.
Welcome those of you surfing here from 9rules, Airbag Industries, Photo Matt and Forever Geek. I am continually surprised when someone thinks my ramblings here are worth mentioning, so thanks for the linkup Scrivs and Greg!
So here it is, I decided to record this tutorial as a podcast as well as a proof of concept. Enjoy.
First a little background
For anyone out there who is still unaware of the phenomenon known as podcasting, lets take a moment to reflect. Podcasting is the brainchild of washed up MTV VJ who has found new life as the godfather of podcasting, and the always fashionable person to hate Dave Winer.
In a nutshell podcasting allows you to create your own audio programming and then deliver it via the web.
The socially acceptable way to distribute podcasts are through RSS enlcosures. RSS enclosures allow you to reference binary data, in our case an audio file, from within your RSS feed.
Podcast readers then subscribe to an RSS feed and download the audio files contained in the enclosures, and some like the forthcoming iTunes update will then move those downloaded audio files to your portable audio player for later consumption.
So lets look at how to podcast with WordPress shall we?
Steps to podcast with wordpress
- Create an audio file with the software of your choice, I am using Quicktime Pro, but there are great free alternatives like wavepad for the windows operating system, Rosegarden for Linux and Audacity for Mac OS X, Windows and Linux et al.
- Upload that mp3 to a server, either your own or one of the myriad, nay veritable cornacopia of servers that are available for this task. I am a big fan of the Internet Archive myself. If you use the Internet Archive you can grab the Creative Commons Uploader to make your life easier.
- Create a post in WordPress, in which you reference the URI of said mp3, and then hit publish.
And that's it. Now just pimp out that RSS URI so that people can find an download your stereophonic masterpiece.
Pingbacks & Trackbacks
- Gafanhoto » PodCast no WP » [...] Uma destas preciosidades foi o tutorial escrito pelo Chris J. Davis a respeito de uma t
- davidbisset.com » Podcasting with WordPress » [...] Another Great Tutorial. Leave a Comment [...]
- la brújula verde » Podcasting con WordPress » [...] Chris J. Davis ha escrito un mini-tutorial sobre como hacer podcasting con WordPress: 1. Crea un archivo de audio con el software que quieras (Chris usa Quicktime Pro, pero hay otras alternativas como Audacity) 2. Sube el mp3 al servidor (el tuyo o uno de los muchos que permiten alojar podcasts, como archive.org. Si usas éste último puedes utilizar el Creative Commons Uploader para subirlo facilmente) 3. Crea un post en WordPress en el que incluyas una referencia a la URI del mp3, y publícalo. Eso es todo. Sencillo verdad? La versión en inglés original de Chris está aquí: Podcasting with WordPress. Entrada publicada a las 6:35 pm en wordpress, podcasts | Tags: wordpress podcasts [...]
- World One Web » Blog Archive » Pretty Pink Ponies Edition… » Podcasting with WordPress » [...] As blogging continues to become more and more popular so do the technologies and innovations that surround it. Podcasting is one of those have many people left in the dark, Chris J. Davis has a wonderful article on how to get started Podcasting with WordPress. [...]
- 9rules Network » [...] One of the WordPress gurus in the network, Chris Davis, has written a nice tutorial for all the WordPress users out there who are interested in Podcasting. And to make it even better he has decided to do the tutorial with a Podcast showing you how to get things done. [...]
- skebrown » Blog Archive » Podcasting with WordPress » [...] Looks like Podcasting with WordPress is pretty easy. I need to get my music going in this medium and start my own podcast for those of you who wish to here my not so professional music that I produce whilst the wee ones are asleep. [...]
- MacManX.com » Blog Archive » Blogroll Dive: 6/20/05 » [...] Bryan would like you to be nice to your web developers. Owen give us a preview of some new features in WordPress v1.6. Michael is still pounding away at K2 (Kubrick v2). John discovers a legal guide for bloggers. Brian has an obsession with books and television shows about disasters. Khaled ruminates on WordPress admin panels and Shuttle. Phil has some thoughts on rest and practice. Rick receives three packages. Jon discusses Forbes.com and integrated audio. Sarah reports on the most expensive musical instrument ever to be purchased at an auction. Chris provides a short tutorial on podcasting with WordPress. Angsuman would like to hear your input before developing a plugin that would add a copyright notice to your WordPress feeds. And, Mark reviews Batman Begins. [...]
- Blog Relations » Blog Archive » Podcasting » [...] Pretty Pink Ponies Edition… » Podcasting with WordPress [...]
- Ree’s geekblog :: links for 2005-06-17 :: June :: 2005 » [...] Pretty Pink Ponies Edition… » Podcasting with WordPress (tags: wordpress wp podcast tutorial) [...]
- Tom Raftery’s I.T. views » Blog Archive » Podcast using WordPress » [...] Chris J Davis has posted a very simple 3 step tutorial on how to Podcast using WordPress. [...]
- Jack Ventura’s Blog » Blog Archive » WordPress e il podcasting » [...] Sembra che il podcasting, di cui abbiamo gia’ parlato qualche giorno fa, stia per arrivare anche nei blog creati con WordPress, e c’e’ chi (come Chris J. Davis) ha addirittura voluto fornire qualche utile consiglio su come inserire parti audio con l’ausilio di semplici software gratuiti disponibili su varie piattaforme. Anche se non conoscete l’inglese, i link sul suo blog vi permetteranno comunque di ascoltare il podcast dimostrativo e scaricare i programmi consigliati. [...]
- Radoblog » Blog Archive » » [...]
- Sample the Web » Note to self: Read this later » [...] Podcasting with WordPress. [...]
- Authentic Educational Technology » Podcasting with Wordpress » [...] From Sillyness Buchstabierte Falsch Absichtlich [...]
- Another Day, Another Design. » Podcast chatter » [...] At this point I was curious to hear a few Podcasts and started doing a bit of searching. The first one that caught my attention coincidentally was recorded by Chris J. Davis and it covered the subject of Podcasting with WordPress. After downloading it and listening to how elegantly simple and un-annoying Chris had done this Podcast I wanted to hear more but didn’t know where to look. [...]
- » Blog Archive » Podcasting with WordPress » [...] [...]
- BrittaBlog » Blog Archive » Podcasting with WP » [...] Easy-peasy:Tutorial [...]
- PODCAST PODIUM 播客宝典 » 趣闻要闻（2月26日—3月4日） » [...] Podcasting with WordPress （用WordPress做Podcast）
- Loopy - the diary - Finity Essentials 002 & guestmixes » [...] Now I’ve finally done the mp3-files to podcast Finity Essentials 001, but now I’ve have to just solve the issue how to make the podcast work. Can it really be this easy? [...]
- WordPress for Podcasting at Cole Camplese: Learning & Innovation » [...] These blogs are built using WordPress — IMHO WordPress is the best single user blogging system available (did I mention its free? And that I use it for my other blog as well?). The concept of podcasting has been getting a lot of press — and with Steve’s iTunes 4.9 demo at WWDC it appears as though it could be hitting the mainstream. What most people fail to realize about podcasting is how easy they are to serve up with the right tools. Aside from producing the podcast, getting it out to the Internet with an updated feed is daunting to some people. I came accross this really simple tutorial on how to use WordPress as a podcasting engine … take a look at it. What is so amazing is how easy it really is! Before you know it, you’ll have thousands of listeners, be listed in the iTunes 4.9 Podcasting Directory, and be a media darling. [...]
- Podcasting explanations for Wordpress « ELI Social Computing » [...] Some additional resources: Wordpress’ Site
- The Complete Idiot’s Guide To Podcasting | www.searchforblogging.com » ...roject_studio/20051028_12_ways_to_promote_your_podcast.html" target="_blank">Promoting Podcasts Podcasting with WordPress Podcast Directory Podcasting Tutoria...
Leave a Reply
Stroll on over and visit Shawn Grimes
March 1, 2007
Hey now, there is the "voice" behind the sillyness. Another great article Chris. That is the first podcast I have ever listened to and I must say it seems pretty cool. So does iTunes not handle podcasts at this point? Or will this update you speak of have specific features for podcasts? I listened to this with foobar for windows and on my iPod so would it still be considered a podcast?
Bah, sorry for the rambling, I'll stop now and head off to bed right after I add a del.icio.us link for this article.
Stroll on over and visit clint
March 1, 2007
rofl!
Stroll on over and visit khaled
March 1, 2007
Just gotta say I love the jazz music in the background. Makes everything so much better. Good voice as well, kinda reminds me of Kevin Smith, then again you've got that Kevin Smith style going on and don't think I haven't noticed your favicon. Good post though. I might try it as well.
Stroll on over and visit Trevor
March 1, 2007
Waiting patiently for Sillyness Radio Episode II... ;-)
Stroll on over and visit David Collantes
March 1, 2007
Shoot me, I am an idiot! :-/ I was reading on a different section (for live music or something, I believe). That's what I get for posting from work on a "semi-hectic" day. My apologies Chris.
Cheers!
Stroll on over and visit Chris J. Davis
March 1, 2007
Hey David long time no see eh?
Yeah I have thought about that, I am not sure what I want to do as yet. I have an aversion to flash, but I recognize the usefulness of having the files playable on the page.
Looks like I have some thinking to do.
Stroll on over and visit Jauhari
March 1, 2007
Try and try :)
Stroll on over and visit Matt
March 1, 2007
Hear hear for SR2.
Stroll on over and visit Joe
March 1, 2007
I've incorrectly learned it as URL ;)
Stroll on over and visit Sean
March 1, 2007
Humm... I wonder how I could convert this for MovableType, maybe change something in step three?
Stroll on over and visit Johan Svensson
March 1, 2007
Hmm. FeedDemon didn't show any enclosure icon. I checked your atom feed, and the enclosure tag is there. I guess I'll go submit a bug report.
Personally I've been using a separate (currently hand-written) feed for my podcasts, but that may change in the future.
Stroll on over and visit Andy
March 1, 2007
errr scrap my previous comment - my post was because i had been linked through to your post from Photo Matt feed (which naturally does not have the enclosure icon....I think I'll go get a cup of coffee and wake up.
Stroll on over and visit Andy
March 1, 2007
I'm not convinced that this podcasts properly as this post is not showing up as having an enclosure. Newzcrawler normally has an audio icon on a podcast feed but this particular entry doesn't. Surely all you are doing in your instructions is to link to a hosted mp3 as part of your content?
Stroll on over and visit Pete Prodoehl
March 1, 2007
Chris, as far as installing a second version of WordPress just for podcasting, this is a good solution, but it also seems like overkill for many. The multiple enclosures per item is debatable, WordPress does it, but which podcatching clients will honor multiple enclosures and acknowledge them all? As for Adam Curry, "wahed up" just seemed kind of harsh, am I a "washed up serigrapher" because that was my career 15 years ago? As for Winer, I've been dealing with Dave for the past 10 years on mailing lists, etc, and I suppose the phrase "always fashionable person to hate" fits, I'd just try to avoid using it myself.
Besides all that, I'm not trying to be nagative in any way, and thank you for the guide. It's a good introduction to podcasting with WordPress.
Oh, as far as adding a flash player, I've been working on integrating XSFP playlists into WordPress, and adding in the XSPF Web Music Player would probably be dead simple for a WordPress plugin developer. (Anyone interested in working on it with me?)
Stroll on over and visit Pete Prodoehl
March 1, 2007
I think this is a simple guide, but perhaps a little to simple. If you ask people who have been using WordPress for podcasting, they may have a few issues to bring up, like the whole single/multiple enclosures per post debate, and the fact that if you post very often, but don't put in enclosures as often, podcatching clients could miss your enclosures. It also seemd like unnecessary digs on Adam and Dave, who both helped foster this technology.
Stroll on over and visit Chris J. Davis
March 1, 2007
Hey Pete,
Yes I agree that it is overkill but at the moment it is the only viable solution when dealing with WP.
From your previous comment I thought you were lamenting WP's inability to generate multiple enclosures, my apologies.
As for the my comments regarding Curry and Winer, you probably have a point, but I say what I think and what I mean... gets me into trouble sometimes. As for not saying the bit about Dave, it was my intention to bring the stupidity of that statement and the underlying sentiment behind it to light.
I was not thinking you were attempting to be negative, I want people to speak their mind here. You did that, I am very appreciative of that.
Hmm that is interesting. If I wasn't already writing four plugins I might take you up on that.
Stroll on over and visit David Collantes
March 1, 2007
As a side note, the Internet Archives does not accepts MP3 file format yet.
Stroll on over and visit Gianko
March 1, 2007
Hi!...
well.. why don you create a category only for podcasting?...
that way you should have a Feed just for it.. like wp-rss2.php?cat=X with X the number of the podcasting category..
So.. you don't have to install a separate WP and your podcatching clients will not miss your enclosures...
...or did i miss something?
Stroll on over and visit Tom Raftery
March 1, 2007
It works Chris.
I tried it yesterday to upload a Podcast (about Out of Office Reply policies - a real hot topic ;-)) and I had the uri back in the amount of time it took to upload the mp3 file!
The only problem with this solution is you don't get to see stats on your masterpiece!
Tom
Stroll on over and visit Chris J. Davis
March 1, 2007
Hey Tom,
My suggestion would be of course to upload and wait for approval before you post on your blog! It only took 24 hours for mine to be approved and ready.. thats not so bad of a lag time all things considered.
Stroll on over and visit Tom Raftery
March 1, 2007
One annoyance about the Internet Archive suggestion is the wait for the uploaded file to be approved. When I post in WordPress I want my content available immediately - having said that, you did mention that you need an actual listenership before your bandwidth starts being affected so I should be ok!
Stroll on over and visit Chris J. Davis
March 1, 2007
Now that is a nice idea, they might fold, but since IA is used for storage, no problems.
If the uploading is as fast as you say Pete, then this is a real solution.
Stroll on over and visit Tom Raftery
March 1, 2007
Ah,
I'm too impatient Chris! I want everything and I want it yesterday!
As a side note, I created a similar post about blogging on my own site (blatantly ripping off your good work!) and I got a comment mentioning that it is possible to host podcasts on podblaze.com free and they are available immediately. I haven't tried it out but thought you might be interested.
Tom
Stroll on over and visit Pete Prodoehl
March 1, 2007
Tom, instead of uploading to the Internet Archive, upload to Ourmedia.org, which uses the Internet Archive for storage, but dramatically speeds up the uploading process. In the last week we've been seeing uploads happen pretty much immediately. (Well, 10 or so minutes versus 10+ hours anyway.)
Stroll on over and visit Jonathan
March 1, 2007
I've never attempted to a podcast or really any of that, but I've heard a couple. They seem cool :)
Stroll on over and visit Rick
March 1, 2007
Thanks for the very useful guide. I was with you until the last sentence. What the heck does pimp out mean?
Stroll on over and visit Jeffrey
March 1, 2007
I had a heck of a time getting WP to support my enclosure automatically. I decided, meh, and just used the manual method of using the "enclosure" custom field instead. Not sure what happened, I have two links in the post but neither would show as an enclosure automagically.
Stroll on over and visit Jeffrey
March 1, 2007
Much to my own dismay... the problem was on my end of course. Grr. WP worked perfectly ;) Just make sure the link is valid... triple check if you have too :)
Stroll on over and visit Ruth
March 1, 2007
Hi Chris,
Enjoyed your podcast. The sound quality was Sooooo much better than most.
What type of microphone were you using? Did you use any special soundcard?
Thanks,
Ruth
Stroll on over and visit hipocratico
March 1, 2007
Nice tutorial...I have one question. Which software or procedure you use to include the background music?
Stroll on over and visit Alan Houser
March 1, 2007
Thanks for the information. I guess that was too easy. I've been using a free service who wants to start charging for bandwidth overages. Go figure: one week after they roll-out the 'pay service', my podcat results were off the chart. riiiight.
I see that you mention creating a different feed for the Podcast category. I would like to do exactly that, but cannot figure-out how.
I've been searching the WP forums, but cannot locate help on this.
Thanks again!
Alan
Stroll on over and visit Darksky Alaskan Malamutes
March 1, 2007
Thankyou, I now have a much better understanding.
Have a great day
G
Stroll on over and visit Francis Augusto Medeiros
March 1, 2007
Dear Chris,
Thanks for your post!!
See, my problem is: I do have a podcast, and it has a nice feed for the AAC episodes. But people are requesting feeds for mp3's!! How can I create a second feed that directs for the mp3 version of the podcast?
Cheers,
Francis
Stroll on over and visit lyricist
March 1, 2007
how about an embedded podcast wherein viewers dont have to download? is a plugin required?
Stroll on over and visit El Scrappy
March 1, 2007
very handy... thanks for the easy steps.
Stroll on over and visit Zendo
March 1, 2007
Hi Chris,It is very easy guide but it is too simple one .
but please can you tell me How can I create a second feed that directs for the mp3 version of the podcast?
Look forward to hearing your response.
Stroll on over and visit Steve
February 11, 2008
Hey. It is very simple and useful. Exactly what I was looking for. Thanks.
Stroll on over and visit mikeritter
February 23, 2008
This solution doesn't work for me. I've followed the steps, but the RSS seems to point to the entry title, which is a WP page, not the link in the post. Ergo, it won't load the mp3. Any ideas?
Stroll on over and visit Jazz
April 10, 2008
Thank you for this post. It is a good introduction for podcasting in wordpress.
I didn't understand well how to direct the version .mp3 to podcast. Can you explain it to me, please?
Thanks,