Even though Apple had nothing to do with the technology behind podcasting, the iPod and podcasting became linked quickly. When the iPod Video came out, podcasting moved to a whole new level. Now, people who want to share their work with the world can do more than just broadcast audio.
How do you make your own video podcast, then? Use a digital video camera to make things easier for you. If you have an analog video camera, you can still convert the footage to digital, but it will take an extra step. So assuming you have a digital video camera, what do you do?
First, get a good video. Of course, shooting is not the only part of making a movie. Come up with an idea and make it good. When you've decided on your ideas, it's time to start shooting. When you shoot, keep in mind that the iPod is your target. Since the screen is small, it won't be able to show too many details, so it's best to get close when you shoot. Use the standard mode instead of the wide-screen mode. Get the most out of your bandwidth and battery power by making several short films instead of one long one. Text won't show up clearly on small screens unless they are big enough. Also, keep in mind that on a small screen, things that move quickly or have a lot of contrast might not be very clear.
Now that you have your video, you need to make it smaller. This has to be done so that the video can be watched best on the web and on an iPod. You can do this in different ways. It's not a big deal if you have a MAC. With iMovie HD6, you can easily export and compress your video by clicking FILE > Export > iPod > Share. It's easy because the software converts the file and shares it on iTunes by itself. You can also use QuickTime Pro, version 7.0.3 or higher if you have a PC. Click Export > Using Quick Time Conversion once more. The *.m4v file that you get is the one you'll put on your web server. There are also Sorenson Squeeze and Podner from Spam Software.
Label or describe your movie. This is very important because the information you give will be used to search for things in the future. This is how, out of all the video podcasts out there, your movie can be found and picked out. If you have the latest version of iMovie, all you have to do is drag the file onto iTunes and click the Info Tab. Then enter the necessary information. The name of the file can also be changed. Make an XML document for PC users.
What's next? Distribute! Make sure that people know about your video podcast. There are different ways to do this. Send your podcast to iTunes to reach as many people as possible. You can also put a link to your podcast on your blog, which will give people a way to find it. First, make an RSS feed so that you can add your video to your blog. Then, add a post to your blog and put a link to your video there. Obviously, you have to promote your work if you want people to see it. Go to websites. Now you just have to wait for the world to find out that you are a budding filmmaker.
