What’s a podcast?
A podcast is a downloadable sound file, a bit like a personalised radio programme
that you can listen to on your MP3 player or computer.
What are podcasts about?
You name it! Podcasts can be about anything! From football to fishing,
from fashion to films, from music to musings about life, the universe
and everything.
Can anyone make a podcast?
Sometimes podcasts are made by professionals like the BBC or the Guardian,
but mostly podcasts are made by ordinary people with just a microphone
and a computer.
Do I need an iPod to listen to a podcast?
Nope. You can play a podcast on anything that reads MP3 files.
How do I listen to the MPSix podcasts?
Simply click on the link next to each podcast description. The file
should download to your default media player in a few seconds (the
faster your connection speed ,the better) and you will be able to
listen through your headphones or speakers.
What’s a soundseeing tour?
It’s a sightseeing tour for your ears!
What’s a soundscape?
It’s a landscape for your ears to walk about in.
What’s a “found sound sonic postcard”?
Sonic postcards are recordings of the different kinds of sound from
different places edited together to give other people a sense of
what it’s like to be there, even if they’re on the other
side of the world.
Why do people make podcasts?
Because they have something to share with the rest of the world. Part
of the fun of making podcasts is that you hear the environment around
you in a way you’ve never heard before.
How do I get regular podcast updates?
Some podcasts are updated daily, some weekly, some at irregular intervals.
The easiest way to find out when your favourite podcaster is updating
is to subscribe to an RSS feed.
RSS (it stands for Really Simple Syndication) is a way for your computer, via the internet, to find the latest updates of your favourite blogs or podcasts. Instead of you having to check manually, your system regularly goes to their site looking for the latest edition and when it’s found one – bingo! – it’ll let you know.
How do I sign up for an RSS feed?
The best advice is to follow the links on the site you want to subscribe
to. Each RSS feed will be slightly different depending on the software
each site uses and the browser your computer uses. Sometimes to play
certain podcasts you might need to download special software such
as iTunes.
More detailed information on RSS is available here.