How do you make an MP3?

[keyan_bowes]

I consider myself as tech-savvy as I need to be to survive. I do e-mail. Website. Blog. Facebook. Digital image manipulation.  All the usual stuff.

Yesterday, I was stymied.

My short story, "She Shall Have Music" has been accepted for a Podcast anthology, Theme and Variations. The editor is Michelle Welch. She's planning to podcast it, and then make an audio CD to distribute at World Fantasy Con. (This is the same story that's been accepted for the print anthology Cheer Up, Universe.)

All this sounds wonderful, and I'm honored to be in it. The only problem is they need an MP3 file of my story (with any incidental music); and I have no clue as to how this is done.

 

Michelle's been very helpful, with a step-by-step list of instructions.  She also included a reference to Podcasting for Dummies. If they have it at my local bookstore, it's mine. I hope it starts with 'First, buy a microphone.' Meanwhile I've called on various friends who are better informed than I.

I still don't know if that will yield an MP3, but something had better work. The deadline is mid-September.

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ETA: Podcasting for Dummies acquired, Borders' last copy. (Independent store nearby didn't have it.) Audacity downloaded. Text marked up for reading. Now confusing myself with mic options. Someone is suggesting a digital recorder (which I posess) but not sure about sound quality. Sounded a bit hissy.

ETA 2: Mic acquired. On advice of Knowledgeable Friend, picked up a Logitech USB Desktop Microphone. Plugged it in, started up Audacity. OMG! This thing works!  Play with my new toy for 30 minutes.

ETA3: Did a test recording. Why am I always surprised by how I sound in recordings? Glass of water and try again.

 

Comments

[julieandrews.livejournal.com]

I've never done this either! In fact, I first made and uploaded a video a few months ago, because I had to do it for a class. It turned out to be a little trickier than I thought.

I know my netbook and my digital camera have a mic, so I think in theory I could wrangle an mp3 of my voice out of either of those if I tried.

Would it make sense to buy a digital tape recorder.. wait a minute, that was an oxymoron. One of those gadgets that you'd use for dictation or for recording an interview. That might be more useful to you in the future than just a mic.

I would expect Podcasting for Dummies to start off with a hardware chapter though, so see what it says!

Looks like you learned fast.

[(Anonymous)]

As I said on the Podcast, Theme and Variations, I thought you did an outstanding presentation. That tells me you mastered the podcasting for the CD.

This is Roger and just got around to viewing your site.

Re: Looks like you learned fast.

[keyan-bowes.livejournal.com]

Thanks, Roger! - Keyan