Audio FAQ
Where did the word podcast come from and how are you supposed to use them anyway? Let us smooth your furrowed brow.
What is a podcast?
A podcast is an audio file that's usually saved in mp3 format. You can listen straight from your computer, using media players such as Windows Media Player, iTunes or Real Player, or otherwise download the files to your MP3 player and listen on the move. If you want to get the files delivered direct to your computer you can install free podcasting software to do this.
What format are TheSite.org's podcasts?
MP3 64k mono. As we're encoding mainly speech, we can encode in mono and keep the filesize down.
How do I download the file?
This depends on your setup (PC or Mac, and which operating system and browser you are using). Usually, if you left-click on the 'Download MP3' link or icon, the file will play. Right-clicking on the link or icon should display a list of options. Select "Save Target As..." or "Save Link As..." then you should be able to save the MP3 file to your computer.
I've got a Mac - do I have to do something different?
Yes. Hold down the Control (ctrl) key on your keyboard and click on the 'Download MP3' link to get a menu. Select "Download Link to Disk" or "Download Linked File" to activate the download. This should save it to your desktop.
Do I need to have a portable MP3 playing device (MP3 player) to listen to downloads?
No - all you need is a computer connected to the internet, then you can download and listen to MP3 files. You'll need a media player on your computer (many PCs come with Windows Media Player and most Macs come with iTunes), and you'll also need speakers or headphones.
Do I need an MP3 player to subscribe to podcasts?
No. Again, as long as you have a computer with internet connection, you can subscribe and listen to podcasts. You'll need to install a podcasting application though. Find out more about RSS feeds and how to set one up here.
What's the point of an MP3 player then?
After you've downloaded the podcast you can transfer it to your MP3 player and listen to it wherever and whenever you like.
I've downloaded an MP3 but I can't hear anything. What am I doing wrong?
First of all, check that you've got a media player on your computer. It could even be something simple, like the sound is turned down on your machine, or your speakers or headphones may not be connected properly.
I've downloaded an MP3 but the quality is bad. Am I doing something wrong?
You're not doing anything wrong, but it could be that your computer is having trouble running the media player you've chosen. You could try listening with a different media player to see if that solves the problem.
How do I subscribe to the podcasts?
By setting up an RSS (Really Simple Syndication) feed. You'll find out how to set up an RSS feed here. You can also subscribe through iTunes by following this link.
I've subscribed, but I'm getting an error message. Now what?
This may be down to the podcasting application that you're using. Turn to the 'Help' or 'Trouble Shooting' section in your application. If this doesn't work, it may resolve itself if you delete the feed and then re-subscribe. If your problems won't go away, why not choose another podcasting application.
I've only got a slow dial-up connection, does this matter?
It may take a little longer to download the files, but we've tried to keep them small so it shouldn't take longer than a few minutes.
Is there any legal information I should know about?
Yes, the multimedia files available through our Audio & Video section are distributed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 Unreported license. For details of how this differs from the standard permissions for TheSite.org materials please see our detailed information on multimedia files. Please note that this applies only to the audio and video content created by TheSite.org. Some video content on the site isn't made by us and these videos clearly state that a different legal policy applies.
You still haven't answered my question
There's no pleasing some people. Luckily we're nice enough to have set up a special forum just for you.
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