Audio Activism » Podcast-Quick

Gizmo makes good VOIP recordings

Brian R. — Thu, 21 Jul 2005 19:37:15 +0000

The Gizmo Project has released some free, but not Open Source, VOIP (Voice over IP) software for the Mac and PC (soon for Linux as well). It’s essentially the same stuff as Skype but with KEY DIFFERENCES. The ones that are most important to the podcaster/audiophile in me are:
1) Out of the box and easy call recording
2) Excellent sounding call quality (comparatively speaking)
3) Good User Interface

Here is a recording I made of Ruby and I talking as we try out this software. (I’ve podcast the WAV file Gizmo recorded so you can hear the actual quality without MP3 compression.) I’m also very impressed that the Gizmo Project is using a VOIP protocol called SIP (Session Initiation Protocol). Should help this software play nice with other VOIP software like Asterisk.

WAV 3m 35s 1.7MB 64kbps

Going to CTCnet Con 2005

Brian R. — Fri, 17 Jun 2005 03:13:41 +0000

Here is a short podcast with observations during my travel to Cleveland, how cool the VISTAs and the VISTA Project folks are, great Italian food, public transportation in Cleveland, and a Star Wars popcorn popper. ctcnet2005

MP3 4m 13s 2MB 64kbps

Miami Warmth and Activist Ideas

Brian R. — Tue, 21 Dec 2004 17:10:33 +0000

Another quick podcast. This time from the road. Sixty degrees in Miami avoiding the cold blast on the east coast.

MP3 3m 24s 3.2MB 128kbps

Ruby and I are in Miami, FL to celebrate her Fathers birthday. While we’re here I have to get the podcast done ya know. So I’m using my Samsung Yepp & Mini-Disc as preamp combo to get the job done. After I finished the show I used her Grandmothers eMac to download the mp3 off of the Yepp, put ID3 tags on the file w/ iTunes, upload it with the Mac Terminial app and scp, write this post using the web based MovableType interface, and delete some comment spam.

Quite the portable solution. All without carrying a computer around.

* During the show I mentioned the Podcasting Introduciton & Tutorial I put over at DigitalDivide.net.

* I’ve been reading Dan Gilmore’s new book from O’Reilly called “We The Media”. I’m really enjoying it. Seems like a very good introduction to the future of media as being created by bloggers, internet radio, and digital video online. Quite a ballenced introduction. Fair to all sides of political issues, IMHO.

* Andy Carvin at DigitalDivide.net has a voice mail number from k7.net too. Go check out his blog at the send him a audio comment by calling (206) 888-2762. (An American phone nubmer)

* I mentioned an idea I would like to collaborate on with people. A new tutorial called “Podcasting for the Citizen Journalist working for Social Justitce”. I’m writting this now. Hopefully people with classical Activist organizing skills will help me merge them with what I’ve learned about Podcasting.

Keep Podcasting Fun

Brian R. — Thu, 16 Dec 2004 02:39:53 +0000

So the title of this post says it all. Girls and boys just wana have fun! I elaborate on the first QUICK PODCAST.

MP3 2m 04s 1.9MB 128kbps

We, podcasters, need to have fun. Without the fun we are no longer “Citizen Journalist” or wacky geeks talking about what we love. When this new facet of the blogosphere gets bigger…it better be more fun…not less.