Hardware & Software
 
There are four things you definitely need in order to do a podcast: Voice recorder, video camera, computer, and software that generates a podcast feed.

Voice Recorders
Anything that records voice will do. If you want an ultimate integration with iTunes, it is hard to beat using an iPod with a microphone. The moment your class is over, connect your iPod to your computer. Then, iTunes will automatically download the class audio. Here is the setup I use with my iPod Photo:
 

iPod	MicroMemo	iTalk Pro*	MemoMic
$Varies	$60	$50	$30
See this page for voice recording capabilities of new iPod’s	*If you have an older iPod that has a remote control jack on the top, you can use an iTalk. It has been discontinued but it is still available from various retailers.

Video Cameras
If you want to include video, get yourself an inexpensive USB or FireWire camera for your computer. I use Apple’s iSight, which uses FireWire (IEEE 1394) for faster data transfer. Its seamless integration with QuickTime is what I love the most.
 

QuickTime Pro is the software to use for recording audio and particularly video and preparing it for podcast and other kinds of distribution. Apple has an excellent tutorial on how to create audio & video podcasts. (Scroll down on the page)    iChat AV lets you do videoconferencing with your students—or, anyone in the world.   If you are interested in streaming audio/video in the future, read this excellent tutorial by the O’Reilly folks.

Computers
Naturally, you’ve got one. Remember, iTunes runs only on Mac’s and PC’s, not on Linux derivatives.


Software
This is important—free or modest $$. The free software approach sometimes requires knowledge in coding. If you are willing to cough up about $100, you can get nice shareware programs that make your life a whole lot easier. Here is what I recommend:

Audio	Video	Feed Generators
QuickTime Pro (Mac/PC, $30) Amadeus II (Mac, $30) Audacity (Mac/PC, Free)	QuickTime Pro (Mac/PC, $30)	Feeder (Mac, $30) FeedForAll (Mac/PC, $40)
If you work on a Mac, use Amadeus for both recording and editing audio. On a PC, use QuickTime Pro to record and Audacity to edit.	Recording video is very simple with QuickTime Pro. It works seamlessly with iSight.	Feeder is excellent on a Mac. On a PC, FeedForAll is popular. Either software makes a menu of episodes in your podcast.

 
I recommend that you tell your students to download iTunes (free) & QuickTime Player (free) and install both on their computers. It is hard for things to go wrong when a client computer has both of these programs.
 
Remember, it’s iTunes that students will use to listen to & watch episodes in your podcast. Some students would misunderstand that they must own an iPod to listen to your podcast. No, they must have iTunes on their computers to listen to your podcast. If a student happens to have an iPod, he or she can synchronize your podcast from iTunes to the iPod and take it along.
 

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