The Podcast Series: Episodes 1-4 (PSE1, PSE2, PSE3, PSE4) results in the production of the first 4 episodes of a podcast series. This assignment sequence is challenging because it requires cycles of preparation, audio production (recording, editing, development of complementary content), publishing, and production of related documents.
This project requires 4 stages of submissions, each corresponding to the release of a new episode. Each release includes an MP3 file of the episode & 1 or more supporting docs, depending on the episode.
For the full list of core and supporting documents/files, see Submission Requirements.
The PS project brings together elements of information research & design, design thinking, and UX design into the production of a podcast series. It continues work that you began in your Podcast Series Proposal project by bringing to life the vision that you detailed in that assignment.
In the context of the PSP project, we considered the challenges associated with a design medium that is public facing by design. That is, because podcasts are designed to be published, and therefore to be experienced by listeners, they represent a media format that has a built-in responsibility to connect with prospective audience members. Your proposal presented a plan for what you might do to connect. Now you get to produce the content that will hopefully achieve that goal.
Beyond the content for your podcast series, there is the inevitable emphasis on audio production. Your goal is to create a professional-quality podcast series. As you preparing Episode 1, you may only have a handful of beginner-level workshops in your toolkit to provide knowledge of producing that series. Technically, you know much of what you need to know to create something good. However, you may not yet have enough experience to overcome production issues, or to overcome some of the more-challenging sonic glitches and anomalies.
As you work your way from Episode 1 to Episode 4, your editing abilities should improve. Repetition alone often results in better quality as you learn to apply editing strategies more effectively. However, you must also listen to each episode with a critical ear, ready to note any drop in production quality. Compare your work to professionally produced series to refine your sense of audio quality. Push to improve each time you sit down to edit a new content segment. With that in mind, I encourage you to go back through the videos I curated for you about audio production now that you have a bit of contextual knowledge. Those vids present a lot of material, and if you are like me, you did not retain it all. Reminders are useful. Repetition is useful. But recognize that each time you return to that content, you do so with more knowledge and more experience of your own to contextualize the lessons those creators are trying to teach you.
Deliverables: memos; mp3 audio files; release notes
Document scope: 150 words (memo); 10-30 minutes (podcast episodes, see below); 1 page + transcripts (release notes)
Project value: 800 points (200 points per episode)
Evaluation rubric: _Eval_PodcastSeries.pdf
Recommended tool(s): Adobe Audition for audio production, Microsoft Word for complementary docs
The PS project results in 4 episodes of a podcast series that you prepare, record, edit, and publish for peer (and professor) access. The overarching goal is to progress in your level of production quality and professionalism throughout the semester, demonstrating improvement with each new episode.
Episode 1 introduces the concept and format for your show, and may (on your choice) run only 10-15 minutes.
By Episodes 2, 3, and 4, you'll produce full-length episodes with run times of 20 to 30 minutes each. Beginning with Episode 2, you'll add release notes, which will include the standard 1-page description of the episode and a full transcript of the dialog.
Details about how to develop and deliver your podcast series follow.
With the first episode in your podcast series, I offer you 2 options for how to proceed. If you feel comfortable with the recording & editing processes, and if you feel confident of your ability to produce a full 20 to 30 minute episode right away, then I encourage you to do just that. Produce a full-length episode that checks all of the boxes for what you hope to achieve with your series. If, however, you would prefer to ease into the production process, then you are welcome to record a 10 to 15 minute starter episode.
For a starter episode, prepare a shortened outline.
For a full episode, build off of the outline for a starter episode, but instead of introducing what you plan to do, just dive in and produce a complete episode that shows the world what to expect from your series.
Before you begin recording content for your episode, test your equipment. Make sure you have a good audio signal. That is, observe your signal levels on your recording/editing package. Hard syllables should register in the yellow bands (not the red). If you are not sure what that means, review one of the videos that support recording that I have provided through SVSU Canvas.
Record a short segment of audio where everyone who is participating talks into their microphones for at least 15 to 20 seconds. Play this back so you can assess the quality of your signal. Make adjustments if you need to.
When you are ready to begin, hit the record button, and leave the session going. You may fumble about, or you might be right on right away. Regardless of the content quality of what you capture, keep recording. You can always delete material that does not meet your needs after you are done recording. During the recording process, if your discussion group loses focus, pause for an extended moment to make that segment easier to identify visually in your editing package, and trim such moments later during the editing process.
As you record, do not worry about running long as much as you worry about running short. You can always trim excess content when you edit, but you may not be able to add content easily.
When you edit, work to establish and maintain coherence, professionalism, and high production standards when you tweak and trim content. Add fade ins and fade outs to snipped clips to make the transitions between edited moments clean and free of unwanted sonic glitches and artifacts.
When you think your podcast is ready to preview, export the file in mp3 format. Listen to it all the way through on the best quality audio device to which you have access. Note any moments that you want to re-edit (adding time stamps to your notes helps immensely), and then go back to refine that content in your session file. When you are satisfied that the episode is ready to submit, export it to MP3 and label it according to specifications in this description.
Note. I have never produced a podcast episode that was ready to publish after the first edit. Never. Every episode I have ever produced for publication through Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Audible, or other distribution platforms has gone through at least 2 editing passes, and most have gone through more.
Because Episode 1 requires no additional content files beyond the recording & the memo that introduces it, once you are content that your recording is ready for submission, you can skip down to the part about writing that memo.
As you prepare to record each full episode in your series, consider how many of the following details you need to address before you begin.
If your episode requires others to participate, how will they contribute? That is, do you plan to record in the RPW Audio & Video Production Studio (C148, which can accommodate up to 4 participants), or will you gather participants in a Zoom video session?
Beginning with Episode 2, your submissions will include a treatment document (release notes + transcripts). Use the sample doc provided through SVSU Canvas Files as a design and content guide (refer to the Project Support folder for the Podcast Series).
The core document need not exceed a single page in length, and should include the following elements.
Process a transcript of the episode using Otter.ai or any other service that you choose for this purpose. Add this to your Release Notes beginning on page 2 of each document. (Again, refer to the sample treatment docs for reference.) I recommend the Otter service for this purpose (see Otter.ai). Otter's free service plateau offers 300 minutes of transcription in up to 30 minute increments. That should provide more than enough support for this course. Just remember that you don't want to process a transcript until you have a final edit of each episode.
A memo of transmittal introduces the accompanying document to its audience(s). You will craft such a memo with each submission for this project series. Your memos should be addressed from you to me, and should introduce the accompanying episode. Your memos should incorporate the following content elements.
This section is designed to help you anticipate and avoid problems as you work on this project. Therefore, as you work, consider the following hints and tips.
Podcasts are relatively easy to produce compared to some media projects. However, listeners decide within a few minutes of listening whether or not they think you have anything meaningful to offer. Invest in connecting with your audience. What do they crave? How can you deliver a satisfying listening experience? Challenge yourself to meet lofty expectations, and then deliver on that promise.
Approach this project as a design strategist. Consider how audience needs & expectations for documents of these types, and how all of the design components coordinate & complement one another. Pay attention to the design specifications you have been given to work with. Because authenticity of experience is a goal for connecting with genre standards, strive to meet the expectations established in the specifications and to craft an authentic listening experience.
Remember that communication in professional and technical contexts values highly the ability to write and speak with economy, directness, and professionalism. Another way of saying this is to make every word count. Stay focused on the details necessary to communicate effectively with your audience(s). Write and rewrite until your textual content makes sense and represents careful, concise, professional communication.
Edit carefully, seeking to express your ideas clearly and concisely, & to eliminate any audible distractions or glitches. Edit carefully with the intent of speaking in such a manner that your message is clear & your teaser is focused. Scrutinize your work so it is consistent, professional, and quality.
I urged you in the main description to listen to every episode after the first editing pass to assess how the experience might be improved. Take this advice to heart. As I said, I have never released an episode of a podcast after a single editing pass. There are always content elements or production qualities that can be improved with more attention and time. Demonstrate care for your content and your sound quality, and your listeners will respect that you are attentive to their needs & expectations.
Read and attend carefully to these submission guidelines. Failure to do so may result in points lost on the final evaluation of your project.
Create a project folder inside your shared class folder on Dropbox.com. Remember, I can only view files that you place inside the shared folder. Until you place files in that space, you have not in practice submitted them.
Name the folder Podcast Series.
Make sure the files listed below are available to me in the project folder by the final deadline. Model your filenames on the listed examples:
Note. Do not share the individual files with me. By placing them in your project folder, you have already shared them by default.
Make sure the files listed below are available to me in the project folder by the final deadline. Model your filenames on the listed examples:
Note. Do not share the individual files with me. By placing them in your project folder, you have already shared them by default.
Make sure the files listed below are available to me in the project folder by the final deadline. Model your filenames on the listed examples:
Note. Do not share the individual files with me. By placing them in your project folder, you have already shared them by default.
Make sure the files listed below are available to me in the project folder by the final deadline. Model your filenames on the listed examples:
Note. Do not share the individual files with me. By placing them in your project folder, you have already shared them by default.
This section describes the standards by which your submission will be evaluated.
There are 200 possible points for each episode of this project. The first submission is the final submission for each. You will earn points according to the standard described on the policies page (see Policies for a description of these categories).
The specific areas of emphasis for this project are drawn from the description and discussion of the project, and are detailed in the evaluation rubric (_Eval_PodcastSeries.pdf).
Remember that I will only post the point values for projects on the Grades page in SVSU Canvas. I will post the details relevant to that evaluation in your class folder in a project-specific file.
This material has evolved over many years of teaching & research, and is protected by U.S. copyright laws.
If you are here because of random chance, or because this content came up in a search, then please feel free to explore the site. If you are a teacher or other professional in any context who would like to use any of my course content in your work, I grant you permission to do so with the following limitations.