Diary of a Podcaster Part 19

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I regularly receive random emails addressed to such august bodies as “the Contains Moderate Peril team”. They always raise a wry smile. Like there’s a team. That implies an organisation, structure and even a budget. As opposed to just me, screaming into the void and pouring money into a financial black hole. I don’t resent such emails. People are just trying to earn a crust, I guess. The only thing about them that frustrates me, is they never address me by name. A cursory glance at the “about” page of the website would provide them with my personal details. So I just delete them and think no more about them. Today I received one that did more than make me smile. In fact I laughed out loud and heartily. The email started with “Dear Burton”. Someone had found a few old episodes of the Burton and Scrooge podcast and had assumed this was indeed my real identity.

The email itself was about outsourcing podcast post production. I broke protocol and actually replied to this one, as they had unknowingly amused me. I politely declined their services, pointing out that the Burton and Scrooge podcast had ceased production over 8 years ago. But it certainly got me thinking about how the nature of podcast production has changed over the years. When I started producing podcasts in 2010, it was very much a case of flying by the seat of your pants. I had a cheap, desktop microphone which sounded terrible. Everyone recorded their own audio which was then sent to me and I tried to cobble it together using Audacity. It was very rough around the edges but it was that lack of formality and quality which made it exciting and different. Now even a small podcast can outsource its post production, if it sees fit. The cost is that low.

That “wild west” period of small, amateur podcasts seems pretty much over. Everything is slick once again. Podcasts for a while supplanted traditional media but the corporations and professional companies simply moved into the podcast market and slowly formalised everything once again. Like the media version of the Borg. It’s a shame but unsurprising. Capitalism hates anything that it can’t control and monetise. But enough of this melancholic, introspection. It was nice to have been reminded of the Burton and Scrooge podcast. It was a fun time and both I and my co-host Brian really enjoyed having a weekly show where we could literally talk about anything. That is a rare opportunity these days, where everything is quantified and optimised to appeal to a predetermined market. As for being addressed as Burton, it just makes me want to podcast again.

Evolution of Horror: Podcasting Masterclass

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Earlier tonight, I had the pleasure of participating in the Evolution of Horror: Podcasting Masterclass. An online seminar conducted via Zoom. For those who are not familiar with the Evolution of Horror, it is a podcast written and hosted by Mike Muncer along with regular guests. It explores horror cinema in depth, considering the technical, thematic and sociological elements of the genre. Launched in 2017 this independent production has gone from strength to strength, with Mike now producing content for Paramount + and Studio Canal. The masterclass was designed to provide podcasters both old and new with some practical advice and answer some commonly asked questions. Being a fan of Evolution of Horror as well as a former podcaster, I signed up and enjoyed a most informative and enjoyable 90 minute seminar.

The Zoom based masterclass was quite an intimate setting. Having all the participants on screen created a very personal atmosphere. Mike is a very confident public speaker who excels at informal but informative discussions. As you’d expect with a masterclass, Mike went through his planning and recording process. How he scripted introductions and wrote shownotes, selected guests according to expertise and the mechanics of recording the show. He also discussed the software and hardware used as well as hosting. There was a particular focus upon finding the right dynamic, tone and niche for your podcast. Mike produced some rather amusing videos about the “do’s and don’ts” of recording a conversation to highlight how you must back up your references, not talk over each other and never assume that listeners have seen the same films that you have.

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The masterclass ended with a Q&A which featured a broad range of enquiries from participants. This was in many ways just as informative as the first part of the seminar. It was interesting to see people from existing podcasts still seeking out advice from their peers as well as those who were new to content creation of this kind. I found this to be especially beneficial because I have recently reflected upon the several hundred podcasts that myself and co-host Brian produced between 2010 and 2022. I have wondered whether we made any obvious mistakes in our production or with our approach to making a podcast. Mike seems to have done much that is comparable to what we did, although far more successfully. I certainly feel, on the strength of this masterclass, that I could return to podcasting and produce a new show of an acceptable standard.

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Like blogging, podcasting started off as an accessible means of communicating that everyone could participate in. The barriers to entry, both technical and financial, have always been pretty low. Sadly, fan driven podcasting seems to have been overshadowed by a tsunami of corporate content. Some of it is good but not all of it is. Podcasts made by production companies have advertising budgets and hence find it easier to establish themselves. However, the Evolution of Horror has managed to find its audience and gain critical acclaim the old fashioned way. Through word of mouth, building a community and by being very good. If Mike does another masterclass I would certainly recommend it to anyone who produces a podcast or is thinking of doing so. You’ll get honest answers, practical advice and a lot of genuine encouragement. Rare commodities these days.

Diary of a Podcaster Part 18

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I recently decided I’d had enough of the endless deliberation and procrastination and so I started producing a weekly podcast again. As of today the second episode of Season 10 of the Contains Moderate Peril podcast is available on all major platforms. I must admit, although I was confident that a few people would listen to the show, I was completely taken aback by the overall reaction. The Contains Moderate Peril podcast was warmly welcomed back by previous listeners on social media and the statistics for the first show have been most positive. For myself and Brian, recording the show is like putting on a comfortable pair of shoes. Last night’s recording went okay and I think after a few more episodes, the recording and editing process will be an efficient process. Keeping each episode to an hour or under means that the conversation stays on point.

Previously, I have used third party hosting sites such as Podbean and SoundCloud to manage both the Contains Moderate Peril and the Burton and Scrooge podcasts. Although these were paid services they come with many benefits. The most beneficial is the convenient provision of an RSS feed. As I now host the podcast on Squarespace I’ve had to use a third party service to create an alternative. I managed to use Feedburner to create this a few years ago when I reposted some old episodes but as of July 2021, the service has gone into maintenance mode. Luckily, it still provides its basic functionality, so yesterday I submitted the RSS feed to several podcast aggregation sites. As of today, I am pleased to announce that Contains Moderate Peril is available on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, Amazon Music, Google Podcasts and Spotify. If you wish to subscribe just search for “CMP Podcast” via whatever podcast client you use. 

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At present I am using Craig to record directly from Discord. Being a free service it has many positive attributes, the price being an important one. However, because it uses Discord as a recording source, the sound quality is subject to the whims and caprices of Discords compression software and bandwidth. I’m not sure if I am entirely happy with the sound quality of the finished podcast, at present. I may do some experimentation with other podcast recording services such as Zencastr. Perhaps using Zoom as a platform and then extracting the audio afterwards is a viable alternative? I recently bought Bandicam and Bandicut so I have the requisite tools for the job. Perhaps Zoom is the way to go as it means as well as an audio version, I can post a video edition of the show to YouTube. It’s worth consideration. I also need some sort of means to track the podcast statistics as the facilities that Squarespace offer are very basic.

Next Sunday 16th January, Brian and I will be recording the next episode of the Contains Moderate Peril podcast. We’ve decided to take a break from some of the more weighty discussions that we usually have and to do an AMA (ask me anything) themed show. So if there’s a question you’d like to ask either of us please get in touch. We’re happy to address most enquiries as long as they’re within the confines of the law and public decency. Please feel free to submit your enquiries to the show via the contact page of the Contains Moderate Peril website and make sure you write AMA or “ask me anything” in the subject field. In return we’ll happily give you a shout out. If you have a blog, live stream or such like we’ll be pleased to mention it. Thank you in advance for your support and interesting questions. The next episode of the Contains Moderate Peril podcast will be available on Monday 17th January.

The Return of the Contains Moderate Peril Podcast

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Sometimes in life, you have to stop banging on about what you want to do and just go out and do it. I was thinking, yet again, over the Christmas holidays about how I wanted to get back into podcasting and to create a regular show. Although it is always a pleasure to be a guest on Beyond Bossfights, it is not quite the same as writing and producing your own project. So I decided not to sit around and overthink things but instead to pick a subject as a talking point, start recording and see what happened. As ever, my longstanding co-host Brian was happy to participate and so joined the session. Several hours later, I had a fully edited recording that was good to go. Hence, I am pleased to announce that after a three year hiatus, the Contains Moderate Peril podcast is back. A new episode is now available for download, either via the podcast page of this site or through iTunes and Stitcher.

The Contains Moderate Peril podcast is intended to be a weekly fixture. The show is currently scheduled to be recorded on a Sunday to be released on Monday. The format is a single topic discussed by either myself or with a guest(s). The show is to be approximately an hour long so there’s not an excess of post production work. Why bring the podcast back you may well ask? Mainly because it’s fun to make and Brian and I have always enjoyed talking about the video games industry, film, TV and other aspects of popular culture. The podcast is an opportunity to expand the reach of Contains Moderate Peril and offers brand continuity. Talking to guests is also a great way to support and cross promotion for fellow content creators. Another reason is because people liked the show in the past. The feedback has always been positive and so there’s a potential audience already out there.

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Due to the impromptu nature of the podcast recording, the audio is a little rough around the edges. At present we are recording via Discord using the online recording service Craig. I still use Audacity to edit and mix the show. However, as long as the discussion is clear I think any minor technical failings can be overlooked for the meantime. I’ll do some further sound tests during the forthcoming week. The important fact is that a new episode of the podcast has finally been produced after all the endless talk and brainstorming. For the present, I just want to get back into the habit of producing a weekly show and I’m not going to get bogged down with any plans about its long term future. Overall, I am pleased that Contains Moderate Peril is back and both Brian I look forward to receiving any feedback that listeners wish to provide.

Diary of a Podcaster Part 17

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Cheap Desktop Mic

My personal podcast journey started back in 2010 when I effectively invited myself onto the Mordor or Bust podcast. The three of us who were involved in the production of that show were learning as we went along. I recently listened to an old episode and despite our enthusiasm, it is quite rough around the edges from a technical perspective. I think that the biggest mistake that I made at the time was not investing in a better quality microphone. I sound like I’m at the bottom of a well. It’s hardly surprising as I was using a very cheap analog desk microphone which I think only cost a few pounds from PC World. Roll on eleven years and I’ve been invited to be a guest on the Beyond Bossfights podcast. It’s nice to be back in the saddle again, so to speak. Up until now, I’ve been using my Razer gaming headset for any previous podcast recordings but I’ve decided to take the opportunity to overhaul my technical setup.

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Aveek Condenser USB Microphone

The last official Contains Moderate Peril podcast was recorded in January 2019. Both Brian and I used our gaming headsets and Zencastr to record the show. I did have at one point a USB microphone on a fancy armature but although it looked as cool as heck, it was totally impractical to use and got in the way when I wasn’t recording a podcast. Hence slumming it with gaming headsets was the path of least resistance. However, Braxwolf and DJ PimpDaddy (they do have normal names as well) record their show using fancy desktop microphones and also use webcams for the YouTube version of the show. This has been a bit of a culture shock for me as I tend not to post pictures of myself online. But life is predicated on change so I’ve rolled with it. I already bought an adequate webcam during the 2020 lockdown, so I only needed to upgrade my mic and find a convenient means of being able to hear the other participants.

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Anker Soundcore Life A1 Bluetooth Earbuds

In July I bought an Aveek Condenser USB Microphone. It’s essentially a Chinese clone of a more expensive brand but the customer feedback was good and the price was right. I’ve done some tests and the sound quality is perfectly adequate for the job in hand. It comes with a sturdy but simple desk stand. Rather than using headphones to monitor what everyone else is saying during the recording, I have recently purchased Anker Soundcore Life A1 Bluetooth Earbuds (why do products have such complex names these days?), so I don’t have cables trailing everywhere. I had to buy a TP-Link USB Bluetooth 5.0 Adaptor as well. I think in total these three items have cost about £100 or thereabouts. Bearing in mind that the primary goal is to be able to record clear voice audio I think I should be able to get the job done and to a reasonable standard. It’s certainly a far cry from the humble (IE shit) analog desktop microphone I was using a decade ago.

Damn Microphones

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Back in 2010 there was a video game podcast boom, especially with shows driven by MMORPG fandom. Hence, in a fit of hubris, I decided to add my voice to the growing conversation. Or alternatively jumped on the bandwagon, depending upon your point of view. The accessibility of the tools to create and distribute a podcast eliminated the traditional barriers to producing such material. Technically, the entire process of making a podcast remains quite simple. You record, edit, upload and promote. The quality of the podcast comes down to two factors. Your content and technical presentation. In this post I’d like to focus upon the latter. Podcasts are by their very nature, an audio medium, so it is important that those speaking are recorded clearly. Yes, this post is about microphones. How they can make or break a podcast (or live stream) and that they’re my new fixation.

So let’s begin with some technobabble. Recording audio is a chain of events. You speak into a microphone that picks up the sound. The sound is pre-amplified and is then captured and converted to a digital format. The digital data is then saved, cleaned, edited and mixed into a final recording. This recording is then digitally distributed and consumed by listeners using their respective audio equipment. Like any chain, if there is a weak link then there’s a potential point of failure. Conversely, each step offers an opportunity for improvement. Good audio enhances the overall listening experience for your audience. Ultimately, if those listening are doing so with inferior audio equipment, that is a matter beyond your control. But you can ensure that your audio is the best it can be, prior to its distribution.

Mics on their own cannot produce a signal that is strong enough to just be recorded without going through a "pre-amplifier". This boosts the signal level to get the best quality audio saturation from the mic. However, this boosting affects the sound quality. As you can see, we’re only four paragraphs into this post and there are now both hardware and technical literacy requirements. However, for podcasting the practical solution is to use a USB microphone. These handle the pre-amp requirement and also convert the source audio to a digital format. But like any technology that does multiple tasks, there is a trade off. Like so many things in life you get what you pay for. A decent quality, brand name USB mic will cost between £100 and £200 or thereabouts. But you can also find some interesting “clone” products available which have similar specifications but are not manufactured by known brands. 

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It should be noted that simply buying the most expensive mic available is not by default going to solve your audio woes. No sir. The acoustics of the room in which you’re recording, the placement of the mic and how far you sit in front of it all have an impact. I was quite surprised how I improved the audio quality of a test recording simply by moving my chair a few inches closer to the desk on which the mic was placed. Pop filters of some kind are also essential. The simple reality is that if you’re using a USB mic on a desk stand or a boom you have to stay close to the mic and remain relatively still. This is a nuisance, if like me, you geticulate and are animated while extemporising. In the past I got away with this because I used a gaming headset to record my podcasts but this was at the expense of audio quality. The mic used to pick up the sound of the plastic creaking as my jaw moved the earphones.

Obviously there’s a lot more technical depth to microphones than I’ve covered. I’m just trying to summarise what I’ve learned of late and I’ve only scratched the surface. Furthermore, when I undertake a project I like it to be done in a professional fashion. Hence I am a hard taskmaster and will spend hours fine tuning software or hardware if I feel it will yield beneficial results. Yet no matter how much you tinker with either software or hardware, there are some things that you cannot change easily, such as how your voice sounds and your diction. I’m constantly horrified by the gulf between how I think I sound and the cold, stark reality of how I actually do. Like mirrors, microphones and not always flattering, damn them. But on the plus side, it is nice to have a requirement to use one again.

Community and Friendship

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I joined Twitter back in 2010. Perhaps the most surprising thing I quickly discovered about the platform is the immediacy of communication that it offers. You can follow someone, reply to something they say or initiate a conversation with them in real time. Hence interacting with those who share a common interest becomes very accessible and enjoyable. It’s a far cry from going to a convention, wandering around and then plucking up the courage to speak to someone or join in a conversation that others are having. Social media removes those awkward “ice breaking” moments. Of course not every Twitter exchange is a pleasant experience but overall I’ve not encountered many problems using social media over the past decade. Twitter has broadly been a positive experience and introduced me to a wider community. It has provided me with an opportunity to meet new people and become part of something that is both social and positive.

Although I have always written throughout my life, it was my introduction to MMOs that really galvanised my endeavours. When I enjoy something I often feel compelled to write about my experiences and share them with others. So I initially blogged about The Lord of the Rings Online and later expanded my writing to encompass other games. Twitter proved to be a good medium to promote my material and I quickly found others who shared similar interests and wrote their own blogs or produced their own podcast. In an act of hubris I actually emailed one such podcaster and “suggested” he have a “european correspondent”. The next thing I knew I was talking to the two existing hosts of that show on Skype and subsequently found myself part of the team. This act of kindness and good faith was quite remarkable when you think about it. Here were two people who were doing a podcast by the “seat of their pants”, that were prepared to take a risk on some over enthusiastic British guy who basically tried to gate crash their project. But they took a gamble and it worked out well. 

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This was one of many acts of kindness that I’ve encountered over the years. The podcasting and blogging helped me find a very industrious and friendly fan community. Many of which were already established and had an online presence. Yet all were happy to promote new blogs and podcasts, leave positive feedback and generally be supportive. But it seems to be a recurring theme. So many of the content creators I’ve met over the years seem disposed towards helping others by default. And outside of our immediate shared fandom, it’s nice to get to know folk from all over the world. Because you do get to know people over time. Many of us are careful about what we share on social media or write about in our blog posts. Privacy is ever evolving and can be abused, so it is logical that people don’t fully “pull back the curtain” on their lives. Yet often a writer’s personality will bleed through into their work. They’ll occasionally throw in an anecdote about their life, be it a remark about their work, partner or family. It is these personal touches that build a sense of rapport.

There was a boom time for gaming blogs and it has now passed. Many of those who were active within the community have moved on or significantly reduced their output of content. And then there are those who just keep going because it’s “what they do”. Yet the blogging diaspora still endures and many of the people I met a decade ago are still about on social media. It’s always pleasant when someone you haven’t heard from for a while turns up in your timeline. It’s very much like bumping into an old friend as you come back from grocery shopping. And yes I am happy to use the word friend. I think the somewhat dismissive view that online friendships are not the same as those with people you physically meet, is archaic and simply incorrect. 

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I hold my online friends and peers in very high regard. I respect their opinions and am very grateful for the support they’ve shown me over the years and the way they’ve encouraged my content creation. I also find the different perspectives that they often provide invaluable in helping me to understand the modern world and learn about life. I like to hear about their families, their pets and the shenanigans that go on at their work. It proves that people have far more in common than differences. I am also saddened by the trials and tribulations that some face and hope I can be supportive when they need it. Even if all I can do is to raise a wry smile. And yes, if possible, I’d love to meet up with all of them. I think it would be a most enjoyable experience to finally put faces to virtual names.

The world is a complicated and difficult place at times. There certainly seems to be a palpable sense of gloom spreading at the moment and we’re all too often encouraged to get angry with each other. Yet I take immense comfort and hope from the community that I am part of and the people I am proud to call my friends. The mutual respect, support and kindness, along with the capacity to keep a sense of humour is in many ways an antidote to all the negativity that abounds. While writing this post I toyed with the idea of referencing a few of my Twitter buddies and what I enjoy about their virtual company. However, I quickly realised that it was impossible to do so as I didn’t want to leave anyone out and I am fortunate to know so many good people. So I’ll simply finish with a classic quote from Bilbo Baggins. “I don’t know half of you half as well as I should like; and I like less than half of you half as well as you deserve”. Thanks for being you, so to speak.

Diary of a Podcaster Part 16

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Life is often about the things we’d like to do or wished we had done, rather than the things we’ve actually achieved. My last post in this blog series was back in 2nd October 2018 and the last podcast that I published was in January 2019. Since then most attempts to produce more content of this kind have come to nought, as spare time for both recording and editing have been in short supply. However, I did manage to record some material on the 22nd of December with my long-time co-host Brian. The idea was to release the finished podcast as a surprise show at the end of the year. However, due to real world commitments, that deadline has not been met. Now there’s a surprise. I do intend to finish editing the show and may add some extra material to make it a little more topical. But overall, I am not too upset by this delay, because in the process of organising this podcast, I discovered a quick and convenient means of recording via Discord. Something that has been seen as Holy Grail of podcasting over the years.

The two of the main obstacles that face anyone hoping to produce a podcast are scheduling guests and recording. Getting your co-hosts online at a mutually convenient time has always been a complex task, akin to herding cats. And then finding a simple and reliable recording package is also a challenge. I initially started recording podcasts back in 2010 and used Skype to facilitate the conversation and numerous third-party apps to record the proceedings. These were often created by gifted amateurs and would often break once Skype was updated. Eventually I started using Zencastr which offers a bespoke VOIP service and records each track individually. As a web-based solution this proved good although there were glitches every once in a while, as well as occasional syncing issues. And then I came across Craig, just before Christmas. You simply invite Craig to your Discord server and then use simple text commands in your chat channel to start and stop recording voice chat. Upon finishing your recording Craig will send you a Direct Message with links to download your files. There is a choice of formats available and each participant is on a separate track. The icing on the cake for me is downloading the files as an Audacity project, ready for editing.

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Peter Cushing recording an early podcast

However, it is worth remembering when making a podcast, that irrespective of whether you have the best recording system in the world, it cannot compensate for those participants with cheap microphones who sit at the bottom of a well or out in the middle of busy traffic, while shaking Maracas or using a Belt Sander. Plus no amount of post-production editing can improve poor material. But I guess that those sorts of problems are for another blog post. I’m hoping that the technical success of my most recent podcast recording will kick start my productivity once again. Maybe I can press gang a few of my former podcasting colleagues into appearing as guest on future episodes. Because I still think there’s a lot of life in podcasting as a medium. And having a show that goes hand in glove with the website is good for brand continuity. We shall see. The New Year is a traditionally a time for aspirations and “plans”. Sadly, reality often has other ideas.

Diary of a Podcaster Part 15

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I’ve been pondering a new podcast project for a while, since Contains Moderate Peril ended a year ago. As I’ve discussed in previous posts, I want to create a movie-based show and have been considering of late exactly what sort of format to adopt. I don’t go to the cinema often enough these days to produce a contemporary review orientated podcast, plus I don’t find a lot of mainstream releases to be sufficiently engaging. Despite looking and pursuing discrete enquiries, I haven’t been able to find a co-host who is sufficiently knowledgeable, motivated or available to do a regular show producing the audio equivalent of long form criticism of films and the movie industry. So, it’s been a bit of a chore to try and work out which niche to explore. However, I have now a clear idea of what I want to do.

Although I like podcasts that analyse in great depth a specific subject matter (such as The Evolution of Horror), they are very labour intensive to produce to a high standard. I’m looking to create a monthly show that is easy to arrange, record and edit. Round table discussions with one host and two to three guests tend to fit this format well. So, I’ve taken a leaf from fellow blogger Murfs book. He is currently working his way through a series of classic movies and then writing his thoughts on them. To me that seems like a perfect format for a show. Have the guests watch in advance a movie of note, then have a group discussion about their respective thoughts and impressions. I will be the host and endeavour to ask pertinent questions as well as provide my own insights where appropriate. Such a podcast just requires a few scheduled recording sessions, which can be done well in advance of the planned publishing of each episode. This is not a time sensitive production.

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The internet certainly doesn’t have a shortage of lists and “top ten’s” of movies that can serve as a point of debate. The project certainly doesn’t require any new hardware. There are some other minor technical issues that will need “tweaking” to get the show active on iTunes but it’s nothing too difficult. The name of the show is currently undecided, but I don’t see that as being major issue. The biggest hurdle is to line up some willing guests and then schedule some recording sessions. However, I’m not looking at releasing the first episode until January 2019, so I have plenty of time to address all these matters. In the case of everything coming together quicker than I have anticipated, then there may be a show available prior to Christmas. Overall, I’m cautiously optimistic about the sustainability of this project and am excited by the prospect of a return to podcasting.

Diary of a Podcaster Part 14

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Today I did a little blog housekeeping. I’ve reposted the last five episodes of the Contains Moderate Peril on the podcast page, now that previous hosting account has been closed and the RSS feed is defunct. The files are held locally and can either be played via the embedded player or downloaded manually. There are also two episodes of the Burton & Scrooge Podcast still available on SoundCloud for posterity. The podcast page and selection of episodes available are for reference and as an example of my podcasting back catalogue, so to speak. I may not be actively creating content of this kind at present, but I see no reason not to promote my experience in the field. If circumstances change in the future, there may be resumption of service.

While I was archiving various audio files, I spent some time listening to the jingles and stings that were created for both Contains Moderate Peril and Burton & Scrooge Podcast. This has always been an aspect of podcast production that I’ve enjoyed, hence its something that I put a lot of time and effort into when the various shows were at their peak. For example, DJ Ric Santos was specifically chosen to provide the introduction for Contains Moderate Peril, because of his upbeat inflection and prodigious experience with recording voiceovers. The Christopher Walken preamble for the Burton & Scrooge Podcast was created by re-editing an impression that comedian Kevin Pollack performed during an interview. And my personal favourite, the Liam Neeson “endorsement” was a bespoke recording made by a professional voice artist.

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The music used for both the “intro” and “outro” of each show were always picked with consideration and I loved creating little stings taken from cults movies and TV shows. The idea was to try and make them link to the various subjects being discussed. Sometimes this was done in an obvious fashion and on other occasions it was damn obscure (and somewhat self-indulgent). It made me laugh when one listener said that they listened to podcasts at double speed for reasons of time efficiency. I thought to myself bang goes all that work, but that is the nature of the beast. One man’s meat is another man’s poison. Therefore, bearing all this in mind, I thought it would be a small but fitting epitaph to both shows to post a few examples of the various jingles, stabs and stings that adorned them and added to their respective character.

Diary of a Podcaster Part 13

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I made a hard decision today. I cancelled my Podbean subscription and have effectively closed the Contains Moderate Peril podcast. Despite relaunching the show last September, I simply haven’t had the time to collate content for discussion or organise recording sessions with co-hosts. Hence, we are now two months into 2018 and a new show has not yet been produced. Furthermore, the listener numbers for the episode posted between September and December last year were disappointing. Upon mature reflection, I have reached the conclusion that the podcast peaked in 2014 when we had a strong and established audience. Rather than chase my own tail trying to recapture something that may well have been a product of circumstance, it seems prudent to finally draw a line under this show. I’m a little sad about this situation, as it does feel like the end of a personal era, but it is time to move on.

Although I am done with the Contains Moderate Peril podcast, this doesn’t mean that I’m done with podcasting. It does however present me with a particular conundrum to solve. I am still very keen on participating in a weekly show. I feel that I can contribute on a multitude of subjects and can bring a lot of podcasting experience to any show. The thing is I don’t want to be involved on the production side of things anymore. I’ve been podcasting for over a decade and have always been responsible for the editing and other aspects of post-production during that time. It has often been a labour of love, monopolising hours of time. I now want to just contribute towards a show. Just turn up when required, participate in the recording and then go. So, for the present, I’m actively looking for a regular slot on someone else’s show. Ironically this is how I got into podcasting in the first place. I contacted Brian back in 2009 and effectively invited myself onto his show, Mordor or Bust. Perhaps I can do the same again.

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In the meantime, as I’ve cancelled the hosting package I had with Podbean, it’s only a matter of time before all the previously published shows become unavailable. I have a sneaking suspicion that this may happen sooner, rather than later. As I think it’s unprofessional to have a page of dead links, I may republish directly to the blog, some of what I consider to be the best episodes of both Contains Moderate Peril and The Burton & Scrooge Podcast. Although I don’t think there’s a major audience for these, I feel that there should be some representation of what amounts to a decade worth or work. Whether people deem them good or bad, I, Brian and sundry guests put a lot of love into each episode. Plus, if I intend to hawk my services as a podcaster to others, then it is practical to have some proof of credentials.  So, if anyone is looking for a mature and seasoned podcaster to contribute to their show, let me know. I’m looking for a new podcasting home.

A Year in Podcasting

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2017 didn’t quite go to plan with regard to my personal podcast output. Brian and I decided to stop producing the Burton & Scrooge Podcast and return to creating material under the Contains Moderate Peril brand. This was a good idea in so far as consolidation, but it was ill timed as both of us were somewhat fatigued with podcasting per se. Ultimately Brian decided to take a break and pursue some projects of his own. I decided to push on with podcasting in my usual idiom and I was pleased with the three new shows that were produced. Sean, Brax, Jaedia and Wolfy were extremely obliging and great guests, but ultimately my schedule just couldn’t sustain a regular show. Hence, I re-released some “classic” shows to fill the gaps in the run up to Christmas. As a result of all these changes and the delays, the overall numbers for the show have been disappointing. Although statistics are not the only reason why I podcast, they are important as I was hoping to grow the audience this year. That has patently not happened although it is nice to know there’s a loyal core group of listeners. Therefore, I now have to think long and hard about my podcasting plans for 2018.

Although I’ve enjoyed many of the topics that have been regularly discussed on the Contains Moderate Peril podcast, I find myself tiring of the failings of the game industry and the iniquities of many of its fans. However, my passion for movies and the cinema per se is still strong and it’s a subject I would like to pursue at some depth. Sadly, I have yet to find someone who would like to co-host such a show, so the alternative is to produce a solo podcast. This requires writing a detailed script for each episode, which is time consuming and complex. Such a format would then have to be a monthly undertaking to allow the time to produce it. After some experimentation and due consideration, I don’t think I can accommodate such a project in conjunction with my regular blogging and the book I’ve decided to complete. I suspect that I may have to take a sabbatical from podcasting in 2018, which is frustrating to say the least.

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Thankfully, many of my friends and colleagues have not been stymied by their production schedules and have continued to produce regular good quality show throughout the course of the year. Pixels & Dice, Aggro Chat and Battle Bards, as well as How is the Movie? remain the backbone of The Gaming and Entertainment Network. Outside of our own collective it’s been an exceptionally good year for the Geek to Geek Podcast. Hosts Void and Beej have consistently covered a broad range of subjects and are happy to differ in opinion on many of them. Their enthusiasm and dedication has been constant over the last twelve months. Mike Muncer’s Evolution of Horror was another great discovery this year and has proven to be fun, engaging and extremely knowledgeable about its subject. I’d also like to congratulate Will Ross and Mike Taylor who continue to explore quality literary horror in their aptly named A Podcast to the Curious. Despite there being a perceived dumbing down in other media, many podcasts still maintain extremely high standards. In many respects we are spoilt for choice at present as the medium really does seem to have come into its own. Therefore, I am confident that 2018 will be a good year of quality shows and entertaining content.

Diary of a Podcaster Part 12

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Ever had what you thought was a great idea for a podcast that looked good on paper but turned into something quite different, once you started recording? Well I had that experience on Sunday evening and today I am dealing with the results. It all started with an innocuous Twitter conversation (don’t many things I hear you say) which highlighted a minor cultural difference between the US and the UK. Having recorded with an American co-host for many years this is a common occurrence, so I decided to make it the theme of the next Contains Moderate Peril podcast. I initially thought of several fun examples that could be discussed; the British obsession with the weather, cheese-rolling and Morris dancing. However, rather than take a scattergun approach, I decided to list specific categories in the show notes. Subjects such as school, work, food, social customs and public holidays were added for discussion and I believe that is where thing started to go wrong.

Braxwolf and Syl kindly joined me for the recording and being respectively American and Swiss, are eminently equipped to contribute to the proceedings. What became clear after about thirty minutes of recording was that the discussion was becoming a bit dry and formal in tone. I was hoping it was going to be lighter as the initial Twitter discussion had been. So, we then focused on some more fun examples and the tone of the debate shifted. However, it has become clear in the editing process today that the show is a little uneven and I have decided to record some further material at a later debate that focuses on the trivial rather than the serious. Certainly, I attribute no blame to my guests and think I perhaps tried to impose too rigid a structure on the recording session. Syl has also stated that perhaps the listeners should be given more credit and may be content with a more formal discussion. This is a good point. However, for the time being this show remains under development and will be re-edited with additional content and released in the New Year.

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In the meantime, this situation presents me with a gap in my current podcasting schedule, such as it is. I’m currently publishing a new show once a month, usually toward the end of that period. Due to some positive feedback I received recently regarding some material Brian and I covered in 2015, I’ve decided to produce a compilation. Yes, it would appear that if in doubt, a clip show can save your bacon. Ironically, that is indeed one of the subjects that will be making a return. Our discussion of bacon and eggs was great fun to record and found an audience upon its initial release. So, I’ve decided to produce a food based “greatest hits” show that will include the aforementioned topic as well as the follow up debate we had about fruit and vegetables. I shall record a new introduction and some framing links placing the various discussions in context. Whether it works or not remains to be seen and will more than likely be the theme of the next instalment of Diary of a Podcaster.

Diary of a Podcaster Part 11

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Podcasts are becoming an invaluable medium for the analysis and discussion of niche interests and bespoke subjects. Many of the shows that I regularly listen to bring professional quality documentary skills to bear on unique and varied areas of fandom. More and more podcasts are being made by informed and intelligent fans, offering in-depth material rather than just light weight banter. Simply put, I am spoilt for choice. Therefore, it is essential to have a suitable podcast management app to stay on top of such quality entertainment. Something that allows me to curate and organise those shows that I currently enjoy, as well as providing recommendations for comparable material that I may wish to subscribe to. For several years I’ve been using Podcast Addict on my Android devices, although I’ve struggled to find something comparable for my PC.

The most obvious choice is to use the iTunes client itself, as it has all the functionality that I need. However, I find it to be a resource hog and extremely pervasive piece of software, that makes itself the default media player once installed. I don’t like software that insists on trying to do my thinking for me. However, I recently found Grover Podcast in the Windows app store which is a free tool for podcast management. It has a comprehensive search facility that checks in all the right places, allowing you to easily find and subscribe to shows. Alternatively, you can import an OPML file if you have a list elsewhere. You can download automatically as well as cast to other devices if you need. The bottom line is that it has all the functionality you require and a very simple interface that makes managing everything very intuitive.

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At present I subscribe to over twenty podcasts. Not all are weekly, which makes keeping up with them all a lot easier. In the past when I was regularly commuting, I use to often listen to these shows while travelling. Now I tend to listen to them more at home at convenient times between chores and social obligations. Hence the change from relying upon an Android device to a PC. I will often stream podcasts to my Amazon Echo, if I am on my own doing housework or preparing food in the kitchen. I often find that the discussions that take place on many of these podcasts provide ideas for my own blog posts. Some shows do require more concentration than others, depending on the nature of the podcast. So, I don’t always multitask while listening. However, all of those that I currently subscribe to are entertaining and informative. Considering that most are free or financed through Patreon, podcasts are great value.

Diary of a Podcaster Part 10

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Last night, myself, Hannah and Chris (AKA Jaedia and Wolfyseyes) had an especially productive recording session. We managed to produce two hours of material in total and I’m confident that it can be whittled down into a coherent and enjoyable ninety-minute episode. What I especially enjoyed about this podcast recording was buoyant atmosphere and the flow of the conversation. I felt that we explored the various topics well and that the discussion felt natural. Ultimately, it will be the listeners who’ll determine whether this is the case or not but from my perspective the recording went well because the guests were a good choice. If you are pursuing a podcast format that has multiple hosts or regularly features guests, then it is important for there to be a rapport between all involved.

I’ve been very fortunate over the years as I’ve always worked with experienced podcasters or those who are confident public speakers. Therefore, the discussions are broad and follow a logical pattern. Each participant listens to the other and responds to the questions and points being raised. This means that the conversation moves forward and doesn’t flounder. If everyone gets on, then there is a more natural connection. Humour and confidence often go hand in hand. Many of my favourite podcasts that I regularly listen to, work so well primarily because the hosts work well together. That’s not to say that all parties involved have to agree with each other. Consensus is not always especially interesting. However, podcasters that know each other often means that the conversation runs its course more coherently. There is less tendency to talk across each other and for one individual to dominate the proceedings.

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"I am Henry Kissinger and I do indeed have a sexy voice".

On occasion, there have been times when a guest has struggled with the dynamics of a podcast. Not everyone is confident when in front of a microphone and sometimes it’s simply the notion of being recorded that kills their enthusiasm. However, if I think there may be an issue, we sometimes spend some time “warming up”, with some casual conversation. This process can help immensely in helping all parties to relax and focus less on the process and more on the discussion. Also, and lot of issues can be fixed during the editing process. Lengthy pauses can be reduced accordingly and misspoken lines can be eliminated entirely. You can also improve the narrative structure of a show in post-production. If a point is made that would better serve at an earlier point in the conversation, then it can be moved accordingly. It should also not be forgotten that you can re-record material if you feel it can improve matters.

There are great advantages to recording a podcast with a group, or producing a show with a regular co-host(s). I have experimented this year with producing solo content and it is immensely difficult and comes with an entire set of other problems. I therefore have immense respect for my podcasting peers that produce regular shows in this fashion. It requires a great deal of dedication, focus and confidence. There is a lot of truth in the old adage of there being safety in numbers. The solo podcaster is the focus of scrutiny on their show. However, for the present it is a format that I am no longer going to pursue. Returning to the subject of yesterday’s recording session, as well as all the other positive aspects I’ve mentioned, it was also immense fun. We did a lot of laughing and I think that is an important litmus test. It also motivates me to keep podcasting. 

Diary of a Podcaster Part 9

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As I surmised, in its current state Squarespace has proven an inadequate host for my current podcast. After exchanging several emails with Apple support, I was informed that “the server for your episodes does not support HTTP HEAD requests. To enable streaming playback of episodes, ensure the hosting server allows HTTP HEAD requests and has byte-range requests enabled”. To cut a long story short, there is no scope for me to alter any of these things at present within the Squarespace dashboard. Nor did I want the work involved in using a third-party feed managing service such as FeedBurner. So, I decided to open up an account with a commercial hosting service. After some research, I determined that PodBean could cater for all my needs and at a competitive price. Submitting the new RSS feed was easy and Apple approved the podcast within 36 hours. As of today, the Contains Moderate Peril podcast is back on iTunes.

I could have continued to using Squarespace as a host but effectively this would have meant not having any statistics available regarding the podcast and not having a presence on iTunes. Although the show is not a commercial endeavour, I still wish to grow the audience so I feel that both of the aforementioned requirements are essential. iTunes is an important platform and invaluable means to gain exposure. However, having moved to a service such as PodBean, I have now incurred an additional overhead of $14 a month. The hosting package offers unlimited audio storage and unmetered bandwidth as well as a comprehensive statistical analysis. There is a substantial knowledge base and FAQs. Overall, this is a reasonably priced and functional service. For customers simply interested in podcasting, you can create and manage a bespoke landing page.

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In other news, in preparation for a return to regular podcasting, I’ve been doing some test recordings. The scissor arm desktop stand I bought for my microphone is proving a little unwieldy in the limited space I have. So, I purchased a simple tripod as an alternative. This frees up valuable desk space and means that I can easily relocate to an alternative location to record, should the requirement arise. I also received some invaluable advice regarding the placement of my pop filter when I posted a picture of my new set up on Twitter. The subsequent changes that I’ve made have had a positive impact upon sound quality. With the technical and logistical side of podcast production now resolved, I need to focus on drawing up a recording schedule and tackling the complex issue of organising guests. International time zones are sadly one of podcasting’s perennial Achilles Heel.

Diary of a Podcaster Part 8

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Whenever I encounter a word or term that I’m not familiar with, I will usually Google it. That’s the way I’m wired. I prefer to “know” rather than “not know”. However, it is not the concept of continuous self-improvement that I wish to discuss in this post but something else. Namely sociolinguistics. Earlier today I saw someone mention vocal fry on Twitter. I had no idea what that was so I checked on Wikipedia, watched some You Tube videos and finally read some newspaper articles. An hour later I was aware of not only vocal fry, but run-ons, uptalk, glottal Ts and the fact that the way we speak has a major impact upon our lives, just like education and class. According to sociolinguistics, the manner in which you speak has a major impact on the way you are perceived by others. Sadly, like so many other social markers, it can be used in a discriminatory fashion.

My train of thought subsequently led me to watch a selection of other videos designed for those who are non-native English speakers. These You Tube channels seek to explain the subtleties of the language and provide an insight into phrases and colloquialisms that are not taught in the classroom. There is a wealth of difference between the way any language is taught formerly and how it is used in day-to-day life. Being a native English speaker, I have never stopped to consider how difficult the language is to learn. Upon mature reflection of all these points, I find myself wondering how accessible my previous podcasts have been? Do listeners have any issues with my diction, the phrases and terminology I use? How is my voice perceived?

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One thing that has come up from time to time, is that both British and US podcasters often speak very quickly which seems to be a cultural phenomenon. Both Brian and I received an email about this once back in the heyday of the Contains Moderate Peril podcast. It did come a surprise but then we felt we should try and do something to accommodate the point and thus made a conscious effort to speak slower. Since then I’ve made a point of editing the show in a specific fashion to try and reduce the speed of the conversation and pace it in a more accessible manner. However, it is a difficult issue to address. When you are consciously trying to change the manner in which you speak, it can sometimes impact negatively on the way you express yourself. Conversations can sound scripted or artificial.

There are many factors that give your podcast character and these naturally can become selling points. Banter, the way in which you express yourself and the language you use all contribute to whether your audience stays or leaves. Although you cannot please everyone and it’s important to decide upon the niche you wish to pitch to, it doesn’t do any harm to accommodate requests from your listeners. Adjusting aspects of your speech and at the very least being aware that not everyone is a native English speaker, means that you can try to make your show more inclusional. After all, podcasting is all about communicating. It seems counterproductive to contradict that philosophy.

Update:

In the previous instalment of Diary of a Podcaster, I wrote about the issues I was having with iTunes and my Squarespace RSS feed. To cut a long story short, the most prudent course of action to rectify the issue has been to host the show elsewhere. Hence, I have opened up an account with PodBean. They have a variety of plans and I have found one that suits my needs at a reasonable cost. Hopefully, with this technical issue addressed, I can return to podcasting soon.

Diary of a Podcaster Part 7

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Back in April I decided to relaunch the Contains Moderate Peril podcast for reasons of brand continuity. At the time, I was hoping to get back in to the podcasting saddle and return to producing weekly shows. However, the recording session was fraught with technical problems with Zencastr crashing regularly. I was left with nine separate audio tracks that weren’t in sync which made editing a major problem. There then followed a wealth or real-world issues that I had to address that meant for the next three months the podcast was put on hold. Finally, at the beginning of August I managed to complete the post production work on the show and publish it via Squarespace. I was hoping that using this existing website as a host for the show would save some money and reduce the work load. However, like most plans, it didn’t exactly work out that way

Although the podcast hosting service that Squarespace offers is functional, it does lack some of the features of other vendors provide. I had to create another blog within the current site specifically for podcast posts. If I had used the existing one the RSS feed would list all published audio files, regardless of whether they were podcasts or not. There is no way to segregate specific files via the use of enclosures. Once I had created an additional blog page it generated a new RSS feed containing just the show details. Within the Squarespace control panel, I set up all the usual syndication details regarding the podcast along with the relevant artwork. The RSS feed was now ready for use and could be submitted to iTunes.

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I’ve been a member of The Game and Entertainment Network since its creation back in October 2014. Like many podcast networks, time has taken a toll upon its membership and the shows it syndicates. So, I decided to do a little housekeeping and retire some of the older podcast that are not currently active and tidy up the homepage. I successfully re-instated the Contains Moderate Peril podcast. Within minutes, the show appeared as part of the TGEN RSS feed and was subsequently listed on the various podcasting platform where TGEN has a presence. I then addressed then matter of submitting the new show directly to iTunes. However, this has proven problematic. The Contains Moderate Peril podcast was previously active up until early 2015 and had an established presence on apple’s popular platform. That existing account still exists but has been flagged as deleted. To cut a long story short trying to either amend the old show details to reactivate it on iTunes or submitting another show with the same name causes problems.

To date I am still in contact with customer services trying to resolve this problem. Staff have been helpful but because support is handled exclusively via email it is a somewhat ponderous process. In the meantime, I’ve been trying to address other areas associated with the podcast. As mentioned earlier, podcast hosting on Squarespace is functional but lacking in some features. At present, it doesn’t offer any specific statistical analysis or traffic details. Now I consider this to be a major failing as I want at the very least to be able to ascertain how many listeners the podcast will have in the months to come. Producing a podcast is time consuming and hard. Simply put I want to know my audience size to ensure that such efforts are justified. So, at present I am trying to see if there’s an easy way to do basic stat tracking via a third party.

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I am hopeful that these issues will be resolved by the end of the month. If hosting the podcast on Squarespace proves impractical, then I may have to migrate the show to another host. The downside of this is that it will incurs costs which I’m trying to minimise at present. My recent housekeeping over at The Game and Entertainment Network has also got me thinking about its current membership and whether this can be built upon. As it is a collaborative undertaking there is a need for me to liaise with colleagues and the site owner. I hope I can rekindle some enthusiasm among my fellow podcasters as working collectively comes with many benefits. As ever time will tell whether things improve or not.

Diary of a Podcaster Part 6

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Professor Beej recently tweeted about consolidating all his various blogs and online activities into a single entity. I naturally agreed with him and encouraged him to do so because I did something similar back in 2010. I had a gaming blog and a site for movies reviews plus a podcast to manage. It ultimately made sense to put all these thing in one place, despite their respective differences because the common factor in all of them was me. To coin a rather nauseating phrase “you are your own brand”. This is how Contains Moderate Peril came to be. In recent years, I’ve embraced this concept further and will now write or podcast about any subject that really takes my fancy. I try to stick to the things that I like but from time to time, I do stray in to wider real world subjects.

Since June 2015 I’ve been using Soundcloud to host The Burton & Scrooge Podcast. The cost is not huge, being £8 per month but it’s still another of the many minor expenses that come with having an online presence. So, I’ve been considering alternatives of late, not only for reason of fiscal prudence but also for reasons of brand continuity. Despite the fact that The Burton & Scrooge Podcast broadly does exactly the same thing as it predecessor, the Contains Moderate Peril Podcast, it has never generated the same sort of numbers. I’m beginning to think that the name is one of the contributory reasons for this. A comment left on a previous Diary of a Podcaster lent credence to this line of thought.

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I then discovered recently that the Squarespace subscription that I use for this blog, also supports podcast hosting. I can use the feed and submit it directly to iTunes. Because Squarespace has robust infrastructure, there are no bandwidth and processor usage issues to consider, thus no extra costs. So, I have decided to start hosting future podcasts right here on Contains Moderate Peril. Furthermore, I managed to revamp the old Feedburner RSS feed that was used on the old podcast and link it to Squarespace. Finally, to ensure that the branding is uniform, Burton and Scrooge will gracefully retire and be replaced by the all new (and therefore completely the same) Contains Moderate Peril Podcast. If all goes well these changes will be made by the end of the month and a new show should be available in early May.

These branding changes have also presented me with the opportunity to revise the site logo and order some new podcast artwork. I also have new voiceovers being recorded for the new podcast. I’m also not giving up on the side projects I’ve mentioned in prior posts. They will simply be subsets of Contains Moderate Peril Podcast. Therefore, Brian will feature on some shows but not necessarily on others, depending on his interest in the featured topic. I’m also hoping to strong arm a few of my “retired” colleagues into participating on occasions. Show notes will also be making a return. Sadly, the only thing I cannot offer is a weekly recording schedule. That is still off the table due to “real life” etc. So, this is the current plan. Let’s see if it pays dividends.

Diary of a Podcaster Part 5

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Although we at the Burton & Scrooge podcast are not driven by numbers, it would be nice to see the audience grow. We seem at present to have plateaued somewhat and maintain a robust but fixed listenership. Currently our back catalogue of shows is available via SoundCloud, iTunes and Stitcher. However it would appear that other directories and aggregation services are available, so it would seem prudent to ensure that we are listed with them. My colleagues tell me that the Google Play Store and iHeartRadio are beneficial to register with. I believe that there may well also be comparable services aimed specifically at the console market. However, as our show is more geared towards PC gaming, I don’t see the need to pursue these.

Another way to attract new listeners is to invite guests from other shows. However, this is not as easy as it sounds. First off there’s the practical logistics of trying to set up a call between multiple parties across several time zones. For example, it takes a great deal of organisation and persistence, to assemble all the guest on the quarterly TGEN Tribunal roundtable. Secondly, there is the issue of whether or not your requests are accepted or not. For every guest that you manage to get on your show, at least another three requests have fallen on deaf ears. You need to be both determined and a diplomat; knowing when to push to secure someone and when to let an invitation go.

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At present, I am currently collating ideas for the next episode of Burton & Scrooge and considering whether it would to appropriate to have a guest. It very much depends on what we intend to discuss and whether we need “expertise” or an alternative point of view. Brian and I did record some material last Friday but when I sat down to edit it today, I felt that we were not really giving our best. We didn’t have particularly detailed show notes and as a result our discussion was a bit nebulous and without any coherent points. I always feel that we give our best when we are invested in a subject and well informed. Too many opinions these days seem to lack an underlying argument or overall philosophy. On a positive note the new microphone works fine.

As far as reaching a wider audience, I will try and encourage our existing listeners to promote the show via their network of friends and colleagues. Personal recommendation and word of mouth should never be underestimated. Perhaps some cross show and blog promotion would prove useful. TGEN use to have a policy of ensuring that each affiliate show included a “commercial” for another network member. Maybe I should even look in to the viability of paid advertising? It’s not as if we’re seeking global domination. It would just be rewarding to see the podcast expand its reach. After all, content creation is time intensive and it would be satisfying to see some tangible results from the fruits of our labour.