#melodyloops | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

jcmarchi · 6 months

Text

The Importance of Background Music and the Benefits it Offers - Technology Org

New Post has been published on https://thedigitalinsider.com/the-importance-of-background-music-and-the-benefits-it-offers-technology-org/

The Importance of Background Music and the Benefits it Offers - Technology Org

There’s no denying the importance of music in the life of the general person. It has the ability to change mood, affect mental state and provide energy. It can be a way to make you more motivated, to soothe your worries, and help you get through difficult times in your life. Music can create beautiful memories and serve as a means of self-expression. With so many advantages to listening to music, there seems to be no reason why you shouldn’t have background music on basically all the time. Let’s delve a little deeper into what makes music such a force for good on a day-to-day basis.

A turntable – illustrative photo. Image credit: Travis Yewell via Unsplash, free license

Podcasts

Having a podcast allows you to develop your own voice, start conversations, and address topics that are important to you. Listeners can’t see your face, so your format should be engaging enough so that the audience remains engaged even in the absence of a visual medium. Go to MelodyLoops to discover the best royalty-free music that can help you send your message across more effectively and drive up the engagement of your listeners.

The music will also dictate the atmosphere of your podcast, depending on the themes you’ll discuss. Are you looking for something relaxed and jazzy, or would you prefer something that sounds darker and more mysterious? You must also think about what your designated audience is more likely to respond to, depending on demographics.

When picked correctly, the music will also add to the entertainment factor and might even promote brand recognition. The people who listen to your podcasts could start associating certain sounds or melodies with you, providing you with increased visibility.

Videos

You have the visual medium to rely on with videos, but that doesn’t make it sound any less critical. In fact, choosing the right tunes can legitimately make or break your video, and it should be employed to enhance the general message of your video. Now, the best type of song is one that is in tune with the message you’re showing, as having the two clashes will impact the general atmosphere. Informative videos go well with soft, ambient music. It should remain in the background and never cover the voiceover.

However, if you’re talking about something fun based on entertainment, you should go for something more upbeat, such as funk or groovy vibes. Topics such as fashion or lifestyle go well with pop, indie rock or rap, depending on the topics you cover. To find the best tunes, you just have to think of the message you’re trying to convey. Of course, if the video deals with several different topics and atmospheres, you’ll probably need many other songs as well. From confidence to hope to sadness, happiness, victory and excitement, there’s a song out there for any mood.

Films

Films are well-known for their use of music, and many soundtracks have become famous. Many music lovers actually enjoy listening to original scores as their own separate genre since the music is often incredibly evocative and beautifully arranged. Music sets the tone of movies and provides viewers with a subconscious effect. It offers additional input apart from the visuals and dialogue, allowing audiences to interpret scenes differently.

Music helps deliver those scenes that viewers love so much, such as plot twists, epic battles, anticipation and suspense, much more effectively, and adds weight to every scene. Thematic development is also easy to achieve since many tunes can be built on themes. For instance, a character can have a particular theme, and then, as they evolve throughout the story, the music evolves as well to become more somber or lighter.

The pacing and dynamics, showcasing a different time period, location or culture, as well as making the scenes stick together and creating a more cohesive motion picture, are all possible and more believable thanks to music. In the case of cartoons, Mickey Mousing is one of the most well-known techniques. The technique, that has been used for several decades, refers to matching music with the movements on the screen.

Studying

Can music actually help you study and learn more efficiently? Some would say yes, while others claim that they can only truly focus when they work in complete silence. Studies show that music can indeed help you become more productive by improving your mood and helping you relax. Banishing these negative emotions naturally gives you more energy and mental fortitude to focus on the tasks you need to accomplish.

Since studying can be pretty stressful, managing and even controlling that panic can make the learning outcomes more successful. Many people find that they end up having trouble focusing, especially if they have to study intensively and for long periods of time. Music can also help in that regard by allowing the brain to absorb the information more efficiently and consolidate it. It can also improve your attention span and reasoning skills so you can come up with answers based on the information available to you.

However, you must be careful that the music you use doesn’t end up doing more harm than good. For instance, it could distract you and cause you to procrastinate. Generally, very fast or loud music can make it more challenging to concentrate, but some people find that mellow lofi or classical is not engaging enough, and their mind drifts away to fill in the blanks. For some, listening to music they’ve never heard before can be helpful because their well-known favorites cause them to be more likely to want to sing and dance. Others notice that new, previously unheard songs cause them to pay more attention to the music rather than their tasks.

In conclusion, music is crucial for life, and people use it daily for their work, either during production or to manufacture the finished result. If you discover that music helps you as well and allows you to become more productive, optimistic, and to be able to overcome the hurdles of daily life more efficiently, it would be a pity not to use it. From filling the silence in podcasts to helping you ace your exams and creating pacing in movies, there’s nothing music cannot do.

1 note · View note

digitalfleshrecordsblog · 5 years

Video

THe *MuSIC SPoT* Online - We Got BeATS! 2019 http://bit.ly/WeGotBeATS_2019 [#Producer #Loops] is the world's largest distributor of #downloadable #loops & #samples and #MIDI files. http://bit.ly/WeGotBeATS_2019 ======= #ModernProducers2019 is all about High-Quality 👉#Sounds, #Kits, #Loops, #Vocals, #VSTs, #Presets ___ http://bit.ly/ModernProducersProGeaR2019 and sharing related #musicalaccessories that are designed for the *Modern #Music #Producer #DJ #Beatmaker* ___ #WeBeClubbin2019 http://bit.ly/ModernProducersProGeaR2019 Download Samples & Loops, Find the Perfect Sound for You, High-Quality Sounds, Kits, Loops, Download #Vocals, Download #VSTs, Download #Presets, Download #DrumLoops #Kits, Download #MelodyLoops #Packs, Download #Royalty_Free #SamplePacks, Download #ConstructionKits, Modern #Producers, Perfect for #Beatmakers, Perfect for #MusicProducers, Perfect for #DJ's Download Royalty-Free #SoundKits https://www.instagram.com/p/BwrnLZ1hNEO/?igshid=vrrmlspbs8xj

0 notes

slammingsamples · 5 years

Video

Ambient trap pack 🔥 🎧# . . . #trap #trapbeats #producergrind #producerlife #samplepack #samplepacks #producersamples #samples #hiphopmusic #melodies #midi #loops #producerloops #melodyloops #traploops #hiphopbeats #drake #asaprocky #synth #ableton #flstudio (at Melbourne, Victoria, Australia) https://www.instagram.com/p/BtXydr-AF92/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1105umsyn57jj

0 notes

phungthaihy · 4 years

Photo

HOW TO MAKE MELODY LOOPS IN FL STUDIO FOR BEGINNERS (FL Studio 20 Tutorial) http://ehelpdesk.tk/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/logo-header.png [ad_1] HOW TO MAKE MELODY LOOPS IN FL S... #abletonlive #beginner #bluesguitar #dj #drums #electronicmusic #fingerstyleguitar #flstudio #flstudiobeginnertutorial #flstudioforbeginners #flstudiotutorial #forbeginners #guitar #harmonica #howto #howtocreatemelodies #howtomakeloopsflstudio #howtomakemelodies #howtomakemelodiesinflstudio #howtomakemelodiesinflstudio12 #howtomakemelodiesinflstudio20 #howtomakemelodyinflstudio #howtomakemelodyloops #keyboardinstrument #logicprox #melody #melodylooptutorial #melodyloops #melodyloopsflstudio #melodyloopsfree #music #musiccomposition #musicmixing #musicproduction #musictheory #piano #singing #songwriting #stockpluginsflstudio

0 notes

100daymission · 4 years

Text

Day0002 13-02-2020

-Melodyloop

-upload เพลงเดียวกันไปที่หลายๆแหล่งขายเพลง

-สร้าง platform อื่นๆร่วมเช่น youtube. Podcast Twitter fan page และทุกช่องทางที่รู้จัก

#soundsell

0 notes

dasprogrammblog · 7 years

Text

Videos mit dem Smartphone produzieren – wie geht das?

Mittwoch // 17. Mai 2017

Sie haben eine zündende Idee für Ihr nächstes Video, wissen aber nicht, wie Sie diese kostengünstig und schnell umsetzen können? Dann probieren Sie es doch mal mit einem Smartphone-Video. Wir erklären Ihnen, was bei einem Dreh mit dem Smartphone zu beachten ist.

1. Die Formatwahl

Am Anfang steht die Frage: Welches Format ist das richtige? Um diese zu beantworten, sollten Sie weiter überlegen: Wen möchte ich erreichen? Welche Inhalte sind für meine Zielgruppe interessant? Und: Auf welchen Plattformen ist meine Zielgruppe unterwegs? Je nach Zielgruppe können unterschiedliche Plattformen wie Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, Snapchat oder Twitter spannend sein. Können Sie all diese Fragen schon in der Konzeptionsphase beantworten, ersparen Sie sich später viel Arbeit.

Gut funktionierende Formate sind:

Hinter den Kulissen – Geben Sie authentische Einblicke, die das Publikum sonst nicht bekommt.

Frage- und Antwortrunden – Lassen Sie sich auf Fragen aus dem Publikum/Netz oder von bekannten Persönlichkeiten ein. Dies schafft höchste Aufmerksamkeit für Ihr Projekt und steigert die Reichweite.

Authentische Interviews – Die richtigen Fragen und Antworten sind hier das A&O. Für ein Höchstmaß an Ehrlichkeit und Transparenz verzichten Sie auf das Schneiden der Videos. So zeigen Sie Publikumsnähe.

Demo-Videos und How-Tos – In unterhaltsamen Tutorials holen Sie Ihre Zielgruppe direkt bei ihren Fragen ab. Nutzen Sie dafür auch die Kommentarfunktion der jeweiligen Plattform, um Ihr Publikum zur Mitgestaltung des Formates zu motivieren.

Spielerische Wettbewerbe und Aufrufe zum Mitmachen – Geben Sie Ihrem Publikum Anreize selbst Videos, zu einem von Ihnen vorgegebenen Thema, zu posten. Dadurch können Ihre Inhalte gut verbreitet werden.

Nicht geeignet für die Produktion mit dem Smartphone sind:

hochwertige Imagefilme

umfangreiche Eventmitschnitte

tiefergehende Reportagen

wohl gesetzte Statements.

Weitere No-Gos sind:

langweilige Unternehmensfilme

zu intime Einblicke.

Sie sehen, mit dem Smartphone können Sie viele Formate ausprobieren und Content kreieren.

2. Die Dreharbeiten

Die Frage nach dem richtigen Equipment lässt sich kurz gesagt so beantworten: Je professioneller das Equipment, desto mehr Möglichkeiten bietet es Ihnen. Aber was sind die absoluten Basics? Hier ein Überblick:

Stabilität – Die Aufnahmen sollten möglichst wenig wackeln. Daher: Entweder Sie lehnen sich an, oder Sie nutzen ein Stativ. Besonders gut eignet sich übrigens ein kleiner Reissack, auf dem Sie Ihr Smartphone gemütlich platzieren können. Wenn Sie besonders experimentierfreudig sind und ein wenig Geld zur Verfügung haben, probieren Sie doch ein Smartphone Gimbal aus.

Ton – Da die Tonqualität von Handys häufig zu wünschen übrig lässt, empfehlen wir, ein externes Mikrofon zu verwenden. In unserer Arbeit hat sich das Zoom H4N sehr bewährt.

Kamera – Mit einer Vielzahl an Apps können Sie Videos aufnehmen. Unser Tipp: Starten Sie erst einmal mit der integrierten Anwendung Ihres Mobiltelefons. Bei Facebook Live und auf Instagram können Sie übrigens auch aus der App heraus den Aufnahme-Button drücken.

Licht – Für ein schönes Bild sollten Sie Gegenlicht vermeiden, außer Sie wünschen diesen Effekt ausdrücklich. Gehen Sie harter Sonneneinstrahlung und hellem Deckenlicht möglichst aus dem Weg. Damit vermeiden Sie auch unschöne Augenringe.

Position – Am besten filmen Sie immer auf Augenhöhe, außer wenn Sie einen dramatischen Effekt erzielen möchten.

Bildeinstellung – Achten Sie dabei auf eine waagerechte Horizontlinie. Statt Hochformat raten wir hier zu einem Querformat. Aber Achtung! Auf vielen Videoplattformen kommen Sie mit einer Formatgröße von 1:1 am besten an. Daher macht es Sinn schon zu Beginn des Projektes zu wissen, auf welcher Plattform Sie den Film posten werden.

UND ACTION! Egal für welches Filmformat Sie sich entscheiden, versuchen Sie schon im Voraus sowohl das Set als auch die Protagonisten gut vorzubereiten. So vermeiden Sie unangenehme Zufälle.

3. Die Postproduktion

Als Faustregel gilt: Bei der Filmproduktion nimmt der Schnitt IMMER die meiste Zeit in Anspruch. Wir raten daher zu Formaten, die möglichst ohne Schnitt auskommen. Zum Beispiel Hinter den Kulissen, Frage- und Antwortrunden oder Interviews.

Wenn Sie sich für ein Format entscheiden, das eine Montage benötigt, erlauben Ihnen eine Reihe von Apps einen Schnitt “on the fly”. PS: Das macht ihn leider nicht zwingend weniger aufwändig.

Im Schnitt spielen schließlich folgende Basics eine Rolle.

Montage – Hier sind noch einmal starke Entscheidungen bezüglich Dramaturgie, Tonalität und Stil gefragt. Abwechslungsreich wirken Filme, die zwischen nahen und weiten, dynamischen und statischen Aufnahmen gekonnt hin und her wechseln.

Effekte – Auch hier können Sie sich noch einmal richtig austoben. Blenden, Tilt Shift, Geschwindigkeit, Vorwärts/Rückwärts-Bewegungen, Farbe, Stop-Motion-Sequenzen oder Nostalgiefilter sind nur einige Regler, an denen Sie drehen können. Hier gilt: Ist Ihre Kamera gut, sind Sie eigentlich nicht auf Filter angewiesen.

Texte – Geben Sie auf der Textebene Informationen, die Ihr Publikum zum besseren Verständnis benötigt. Dazu gehören zum Beispiel Filmtitel, Bauchbinden, Untertitel und wichtige Schlagworte. Bedenken Sie dabei: Die meisten Videos werden heute mobil und tonlos abgespielt. Viele Social-Media-Plattformen bieten bereits Optionen wie Untertitelung und Link-Overlays an. Wenn Ihnen das nicht ausreicht, können Apps wie KineMaster (Android) und IMovie (IOS) weiterhelfen.

Soundtrack – Augen auf bei der Auswahl der Musik! Lizenzpflichtige Musik wird meist schnell wieder von den Plattformen gelöscht. Die Lösung heißt: GEMA-freie Musik verwenden (z.B. Audiojugle, Melodyloops, AUDIOSPARX), oder die Musik selber basteln.

Sind Smartphonevideos eine wirksame Form der Kommunikation?

Unser Fazit: Der richtige Mix machts. Nutzen Sie Smartphonevideos vor allem, um regelmäßigen Content in die Welt zu bringen. Wenn Sie häufig kommunizieren möchten, wählen Sie Themen, die Ihnen auch Filmreihen erlauben. So müssen Sie das Rad nicht mit jeder Folge neu erfinden. Für aufwändige Formate empfiehlt es sich hingegen doch auf eine Agentur zurückzugreifen.

Wir wünschen Ihnen viel Erfolg und sind gespannt auf Ihre Ergebnisse. Posten Sie die Links zu Ihren Smartphonefilmen gerne unten in die Kommentare.

#video #videoproduktion #smartphone #gimbal #content #hero #hub #hygiene

0 notes

williamlwolf89 · 4 years

Text

How to Start a Podcast in 2020: No Fluff (Just the Essentials)

Learning how to start a podcast doesn’t have to be overwhelming. We’ll show you how, step by step.

The time has come.

You know that idea bouncing around in the back of your mind? That dream, fearlessly waging war against your internal fears?

It’s time to let it out.

It’s time to start your podcast.

The only problem?

You don’t know how to start a podcast. And the thought of wading through a 20,000-word “Ultimate Guide” leaves you with a roaring headache and the overwhelming desire to ditch your podcasting dreams.

Well, no more excuses. This article will teach you everything you need to know about starting a podcast, and it’ll do it without filler, fluff, and long-winded details that don’t really matter.

So let’s dive in, shall we?

Table of Contents

Step 1: Choose a Topic for Your Podcast

Step 2: Name Your Podcast

Step 3: Create Artwork for Your Podcast

Step 4: Add Music

Step 5: Get a Microphone (& Other Equipment)

Step 6: Pick Your Podcast Hosting

Chapter 7: Record Your First Episode

Step 8: Upload Your Podcast Episode

Step 9: Submit Your Feed to Apple, Spotify, and Google

Step 10: Promote Your Podcast

1. Choose a Topic for Your Podcast

First things first…

Why do you want to start a podcast?

If your answer is “to get rich and famous,” try again. Podcasting can help you generate business leads, elevate your reputation, and yes, even contribute to your bottom line, but it is a commitment. The rewards come only if you persist.

That means you need to start with a topic you are passionate about. One that you’re so obsessed with, your friends sometimes have to kindly ask you to shut up about it.

If you’re reading this article, you probably already have an idea about that topic. So let’s consider the other half of the equation: your listeners.

The key to choosing a topic for your podcast is to search for that magical zone where your obsessions overlap with your audience’s interests.

So before committing to a topic, look for similar podcasts to see how many followers and reviews they have.

If there are already many popular podcasts in your niche, that’s a good sign: The more people producing and consuming podcasts on a topic, the more viable the topic.

Next, try to come up with a list of 50-100 potential episodes on this topic. If it’s easy for you to brainstorm this list, then that’s another good sign.

But be careful.

You don’t want a topic so broad it won’t appeal to your specific audience. As comedian Bill Cosby once said, “I don’t know the key to success, but the key to failure is trying to please everybody.”

Your core demographic is not “everybody.” Think about your ideal listener and choose a topic that is narrow enough for you to stand out, yet broad enough for you to speak on it for 100+ episodes.

2. Name Your Podcast

Now that you’ve chosen your podcast topic, it’s time to name it!

You want a name that is specific and clear, yet unique enough to catch the attention of your audience.

For example, the Smart Blogger podcast, Break Through the Noise with Jon Morrow, has the flexibility to cover a wider range of topics as it grows. It’s not locked into an overly narrow theme.

As you are brainstorming the perfect name for your podcast, here are some best practices to keep in mind:

Be clear

Ideally, listeners should know what your podcast is about just by its name. This is not 100% necessary, since most podcast platforms include a short description, but sometimes people don’t read descriptions, so better safe than sorry.

Examples:

Grammar Girl Quick and Dirty Tips for Better Writing

Japanese Podcast for Beginners (Nihongo con Teppei)

Try to include your target keyword in the title

Apple podcasts is a search engine, and one of the best ways to help it recommend your podcast to the right listeners is to include your target keyword in the title. Just be careful not to keyword stuff! Make it natural.

Examples:

American History Tellers

B2B Writing Success Podcast

Be consistent

If you already have a brand, or a recognizable name, consider using that in your podcast.

Examples:

The James Altucher Show is named after influencer James Altucher

Rich Dad Radio Show with Robert Kiyosaki is named after Kiyosaki and his best-selling book Rich Dad Poor Dad

Combine strategies

Another option is to combine a clear title with your personal, brand, or business name.

Don’t be too long or wordy. You want to make it easy for people to find your podcast. If you still can’t decide on a name, look at other podcast names for inspiration. Check out podcasts inside and outside your niche.

Examples:

The Portfolio Life with Jeff Goins

Anthony Metivier’s Magentic Memory Method Podcast

But don’t get stuck on this step. Pick a name and move on!

3.Create Artwork for Your Podcast

Your podcast cover art is the first thing people see about your podcast, even before they read your description. So create an image that grabs them.

Your image should communicate the subject of your podcast and hint at your personality. It reinforces your brand, so if you already have a certain look to your site, try to keep it consistent.

Creating an eye-catching cover image

Here are some best practices to keep in mind:

Use minimal text. The fewer words and characters, the better. Whatever text you use should be readable even at low resolutions, such as 150 x 150 pixels.

Your cover image should be a minimum of 1400 x 1400 pixels, max 3000 x 3000 pixels for larger screens like the iPad.

Shoot for 72 DPI (dots per inch) JPG or PNG format, under 500kb size in RGB color space.

How to create your own cover image

If you want to create your own artwork for your podcast, you can use a free service such as Canva. Simply type in “CD covers” (which are 1400 x 1400 pixels) while browsing templates, or create your own design from scratch.

If you want to take it one step further, you can create a vector-based illustration in a program such as Adobe Illustrator. These images remain clear at any size.

Hiring someone to create your cover art

If you prefer outsourcing your artwork, you can hire somebody through Upwork, Fiverr, or 99designs.

Editor’s Note: Author and illustrator Jaime Buckley is another great option. He’s created artwork for me before, and his work is top-notch (and affordable).

Give them the details of your podcast, as well as the podcast image dimension specifications, and any brand colors or images you want to include.

Note: if you are planning to invest time and money in hiring a professional to design your artwork for you, make sure you know what you want and give clear directions.

4. Add Music

Music is another powerful element to include in your podcast.

Most podcasters use a few seconds of intro music, which becomes a familiar “theme song” that listeners associate with the show.

But be careful.

The one and only ironclad music rule is: Never ever use someone else’s copyrighted music.

Instead, look for royalty-free music or buy a one-time commercial license from platforms such as:

Shutterstock: Offers an unlimited music subscription for a monthly fee. You can also license individual tracks for a one-time price.

Audiojungle: Hundreds of thousands of tracks, sound effects, and jingles for any of your musical needs. You can buy a subscription or purchase individual items as needed.

Epidemic Sound: Subscribe (monthly or annually) to get access to tens of thousands of tracks and sound effects, with new tracks added weekly.

Melodyloops: Buy packets of royalty-free melodies for a set price.

If you’re on a budget, you can ask a musical friend to make you something, or check out these platforms:

Imcompetech: A collection of thousands of Creative Commons tracks (free to use if you properly attribute the artists and the track title) and paid licenses (if you don’t).

SilvermanSound: Royalty free music with attribution. You can also get a non-attribution license for a fee.

Free Music Archive: A collection of music from artists around the world. Free to download under the Creative Commons license.

Purple Planet Music: Offers royalty free music as well as paid high quality commercial license tracks.

DigCCMixtr: A music discovery site offering free and paid, commercial tracks.

Zapsplat: Tens of thousands of free and paid sound effects (and counting!) to use throughout your podcasts.

The downside of getting free music is that you won’t have music that is unique to your podcast.

Your listeners might hear snatches of the exact same track on other podcasts, YouTube channels, etc. So if you want exclusive music, buy it or hire someone to create it for you.

And take the time to find a track that you really like, because as your “signature sound,” you don’t want to change your music once you’ve begun.

5. Get a Microphone (And Other Podcasting Equipment)

Assuming you already have a computer, you’re going to need 2-3 more things to get your podcast up and running:

A microphone

Audio editing software

Other (optional) recording equipment

Your Microphone

To be a killer podcaster, you need a proper weapon. Ahem. I mean, microphone.

Audio is everything when it comes to podcasting, so if you want to splurge on something, get yourself a good microphone.

And whatever you do, do NOT use your built-in computer microphone. The audio quality is atrocious and there’s not much you can do on the editing end to fix that.

When choosing a microphone, you have a choice between two basic options:

USB vs XLR mics

USB mics are plug-and-play microphones that tend to be cheaper and easier to use, but less customizable than XLRs.

XLR mics require an extra cable and audio interface to work. They tend to be more expensive and higher quality than USB microphones.

An XLR mic + audio interface is the way to go if you have a co-host and need to record more than one person in one room, because plugging in multiple mics into USB ports can mess up your sound quality, and recording more than one person on one mic can make it difficult to edit your audio.

For a microphone that gives you the option of both USB and XLR, check out the Audio-Technica ATR2100x (affiliate link), Blue Yeti (affiliate link), or Samson Q2U (affiliate link) on Amazon.

Your Audio Recording-Editing Software

Audacity is a fantastic audio recording/editing software for beginners.

Audacity works on Windows, Mac, and Linux computers, and can record, playback, edit, and export your audio into a variety of different audio formats (MP3, WAV, FLAC, etc). Plus, unlike Pamela and some of its freemium competitors, Audacity is open-source and free.

If you are a Mac user, Garageband is another free audio software you already have, and if you want to dive deeper into home recording, you can also invest in a Digital Audio Workstation (DAW).

If you need any pro features that Audacity and Garageband don’t offer, Adobe Audition is $20.99 per month, and it’s available for both Windows and Mac.

Other (Optional) Recording Equipment

A pop filter

If it didn’t come with your microphone, you may want to buy a pop filter, a noise protection screen that helps to reduce or eliminate sibilance (hissing noises) and plosives (popping noises).

A pair of headphones

Headphones protect your microphone from picking up extra sounds from your computer speakers. They also help you hear what you sound like as you speak, so you can adjust your presentation style.

You don’t have to get fancy, a pair of earbuds will do just fine.

Boom arm

Depending on the microphone you buy, a boom arm (affiliate link) could be a worthwhile purchase. Decent ones are available on Amazon for under $20.

Interview Software

If you plan to talk to people long-distance, you’ll want to invest in interview software, such as:

Squadcast: This platform offers videoconferencing and records on separate tracks for each speaker.

Zoom: This easy-to-use tool for remote interviews offers above-average audio quality, but doesn’t save audio to separate tracks.

Callnote: This software records GotoMeeting, WebEx, Facetime, Skype, Google Hangouts, and more.

6. Pick Your Podcast Hosting

Although you may listen to your podcast via Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, etc., as a podcaster, you don’t actually upload your episodes directly to those directories.

To share your podcast with your adoring fans, you’ll need a podcast host: a place to store and distribute your podcast’s audio recordings.

Hosts charge a monthly service fee to host your audio files and generate the RSS feed you need to submit your podcast to podcasting directories (so listeners can find you).

How to Pick a Podcast Host

Podcast hosts are (almost) as varied as cell phone providers. When choosing a host, consider these factors:

Longevity & dependability: Will your host stand the test of time?

Flexibility & adaptability: What is your host’s storage capabilities?

Website integrations: Does your host integrate with your website or create a site for you?

Analytics: How in-depth is your host’s analytics?

Monetization support: Will your host help or hinder your monetization efforts?

Here are a few podcast hosting services to look into:

Libsyn

Libsyn has been around since 2004, and offers plans with unlimited bandwidth and monetization options, WordPress integration (with their Libsyn Publisher Hub plugin) and detailed analytics.

Podbean

Podbean started in 2006, and offers 24/7 support, distribution to all the major apps and podcast directories, and your own podcast site. Their Unlimited Plus Plan, gives you access to a patron program, advertising capabilities, and video support.

Buzzsprout

Buzzsprout offers an easy-to-use analytics dashboard, making it easy to upload, schedule, fill in meta-details, and submit your podcast to multiple podcast directories.

Blubrry

Blubrry podcast hosting plans start at $12 per month. At that introductory price you get 100MB storage each month and unlimited bandwidth. If you need more, $80 per month will give you 1,000MB of storage space.

Free hosting

Some hosts offer free podcasting plans, but these plans come with limits:

Buzzsprout allows you to upload 2 hours of content which they host for 90 days.

Podbean allows you to upload 5 hours of content per month at max 100GB of bandwidth and only basic statistics.

Speaker’s free plan includes advertisements, you’ll need to pay to remove them.

Anchor is a 100% free platform focused on “democratizing audio.” But they were the center of a terms and conditions controversy in 2018.

Soundcloud allows you to upload up to 3 hours of audio only.

So be careful with free plans, and know that if you want your podcast to grow and be competitive, it’s worth investing in a good host.

7. Record Your First Episode

Okay. You’ve prepared your topic, host, and podcast equipment, and you’re ready to roll!

So in this section, we’re going to go step-by-step through the podcast recording process:

Write Your Script

Podcasting is like giving a speech. It’s best if you plan what you’re going to say before you say it, by writing it out.

You don’t have to write everything word for word, but the more planning you do, the less problems you’ll have later.

You can write out a word-for-word speech, if you like, but remember that when you turn that microphone on, you want to speak as if talking to a friend.

Prepare Your Environment

Before you record your first episode, make sure that you’ve set up the best recording environment.

Remove all distractions (kids, pets, and annoying voice search devices) and choose a room that’s not located near a busy street and doesn’t have many hard reflective surfaces. Use curtains and carpets to absorb noise pollution.

Create Your Intro and Outro

If you plan to create a recurring intro and outro, have that ready to add to your episodes. In your intro, make sure you mention your podcast name, topic, and host name. And your outro is a great place to include your call to action.

Record Your Episode

With your script written and environment set up, you’re ready to start recording!

First, plug in your equipment and open your recording software. Make sure your computer recognizes your mic as the source of audio input, then hit record.

Remember, you don’t have to record a perfect voiceover in one take. Take your time, and feel free to re-record if you make mistakes.

Edit Your Audio (Post-Production)

Editing involves cutting out errors, reducing background noise, balancing sound levels, adding your intro and outro, and making the episode easier for people to hear.

If you used Audacity to record your audio, you can edit your audio file in the programs directly. (To learn how, check out Audacity’s tutorials.)

As always, you can also hire someone to help you with editing, if you prefer.

Save Your Recording

When you’re finished recording your audio, save it as an MP3 file. In Audacity, that means clicking on “File” → “Export” → “Export as MP3”:

Name your audio file using a template, something like “podcast name-episode number-episode name-date.”

If you’re using Audacity, the default standard quality MP3 should be fine. If you’re using a different service, shoot for a bitrate of around 128 kbps and 44.1Mhz (CD quality).

8. Upload Your Podcast Episode

Once you’ve finished exporting your episode as an MP3 file, it’s time to upload your file to your host. Each host has their own way of doing things, so follow their instructions:

How to upload to Libsyn

How to upload to Podbean

How to upload to Buzzsprout

When you do, you’ll be prompted to include ID3 metadata that stores information related to an MP3 file.

You can also include this information when exporting your file from Audacity:

Audacity includes a space for you to add the artist name (in your case, podcast host name), track title (episode title), album title (podcast name), track number (episode number), year, genre, and other comments.

For each podcast episode, you’ll want to prepare an episode title so listeners know what your episode is about. You also want to include show notes, which can include a description of the content (including relevant keywords to make your episode easier to find), timestamps, links to your site, etc.

If this is your first time uploading to your host, you will be asked to include your podcast title, artwork, and description.

Then, once you’ve filled out all the necessary information, your host will pass it on to your podcast directories so that your podcast can be found by future fans.

And speaking of those directories…

9. Submit Your RSS Feed to Apple Podcasts (iTunes), Spotify, and Google/Android

Once you have your podcast created and hosted, submitting it to a directory is easy.

Some podcast hosts have easy one-click-button methods for uploading. If you chose one of those hosts, use their process.

For everyone else, here’s how you submit your podcast feed to the “Big 3” directories:

Uploading Your Podcast to Apple Podcasts

Step 1. Sign in to iTunes Connect using your Apple ID (if you don’t have one, you can create one for free).

Step 2. Click on the Podcasts Connect button.

Step 3. Enter your podcast RSS feed URL (which you get from your podcast host) and click “validate.” Click Submit to continue.

Step 4. Apple will review your podcast and you’ll be notified via email when it is approved.

Uploading Your Podcast to Spotify

Step 1. Go to Spotify for Podcasters and log in to your account (or create one if you don’t have one yet).

Step 2. Once you are logged in, go to the “Add your podcast” page and click “Get started.”

Step 3. Enter your RSS feed and click Next.

Step 4. Add relevant info to the “Add podcast info” page, review, and submit.

Note: It can take a few hours up to 5 days for your podcast to appear on Spotify, so be patient. Also, Spotify requires audio to be in MP3 audio with bitrates between 96-320 kbps and episodes no more than 200MB (about 83 minutes at 320kbps or 200 minutes at 128kbps).

Uploading Your Podcast to Google/Android

Step 1. Go to the Google Play Music website and click Publish.

Step 2. Sign in using your email, and submit your podcast URL.

Step 3. Once you are approved, your podcast will be listed on Google Podcasts.

Other Podcast Directories

While Apple, Google, and Spotify are most popular podcasting directories, you can also upload your podcast to other platforms, including Stitcher, TuneIn, Overcast, etc. The more places you are, the easier listeners can find you.

10. Promote Your Podcast

To compete with 800,000 (and counting!) podcasts worldwide, you’re going to have to do more than cross your fingers for luck to get people to listen.

But good news…

Promoting your podcast is totally doable. Here are some ideas to do just that:

Launch your podcast with a splash!

Before you launch your podcast, generate buzz.

Send an announcement to your friends, family, and followers on your mailing list. Include the announcement in your email signature.

Tell people in real life and on social media about the impending launch of your awesome new podcast.

Create a pre-launch team, like authors do with book launches, to create a snowball effect and enhance anticipation for your podcast.

On Debut Day, launch several episodes at once, ideally 3-5, so that listeners can immediately binge-listen to several episodes without waiting.

Ask everyone you know to subscribe and leave a review, and reward them by reading top reviews or thanking people by name on new episodes of the podcast.

Create audiograms for each episode

An audiogram is a snippet of your podcast episode that you can share on social media to pique the interest of potential listeners.

You can use the Wavve or Headliner app to easily create a visually appealing audiogram to share on your Facebook, LinkedIn, and other social media channels. Both have free plans as well as premium options.

Utilize your website

If you don’t already have a self-hosted website, you should consider creating one because you can leverage that site to share your podcast, blogging content, create and sell products and courses, etc.

(Just be sure your podcast website is SEO friendly so Google will give it some love.)

If you already have a website, make sure you promote your podcast on that site. For example, you can repurpose your podcast episodes into blog posts by transcribing and editing your audio.

Feature your podcast on your homepage and About page, link to specific podcast episodes within your blog posts, and embed a podcast player on your site for visitors.

Be a guest (and invite guests onto your show)

To supercharge your promotion, try to be a guest on other, more established podcasts in your niche, and invite podcast hosts/influencers to be a guest on your show. This will introduce your podcast to an audience that is already interested in your topic.

Podcast listeners often find new podcast recommendations while listening to their favorite shows, so the more you network, the better.

Never stop promoting!

The best way to promote your podcast is by word of mouth.

So bring up your podcast whenever it makes sense. Talk about it with your friends, share it in social media groups, and write about it to your email list.

Most of all, produce a remarkable podcast that people will want to share with their friends. If you consistently create valuable content on a regular basis, your audience will come to you.

Bonus: Podcast Q&A

What equipment do I need for a podcast?

It doesn’t take much to start a podcast:

At minimum, you will need a computer, microphone, and pair of headphones.

For software, you can download Audacity to record and edit your audio, and use Zoom, Skype, etc., to do long-distance interviews.

How much does it cost to start a podcast?

Technically, you can start a podcast for free, if you already have the hardware you need.

But if you want to reap the long term benefits of podcasting, you’ll want to pay for a good podcast host (recurring fee) and decent microphone (one-time fee).

Ultimately, you get what you put into it: If you just want to test out the waters, you can get started for free and see how it goes. If you’re committed for the long haul, do your research and invest in quality.

How long should podcasts be?

When deciding on your podcast length, consider your content, audience, and podcast format.

Don’t stuff your podcast with fluff just because you’re trying to hit an arbitrary time mark, and don’t lop off interesting material because the podcast is getting “too long.”

But do try to keep your episode lengths uniform.

If you want to make a 30-minute podcast, don’t throw in a 3-hour or 3-minute-long episode. Keep each episode at similar lengths so readers know what to expect.

How often should you publish a podcast?

Podcast episode releases range from daily (NPR’s Here & Now) to once in a blue moon (Hardcore History with Dan Carlin).

A general rule of thumb is to go with a schedule you can stick to. And be consistent. If you post erratically, you risk losing listeners.

What if I hate the sound of my voice?

Check out Sonia Thompson’s 7 Ironclad Reasons to Podcast (Even If You Hate the Sound of Your Own Voice).

Is there any reason I should NOT start a podcast?

Maybe. You’ll have the most success with podcasting if you’re focusing solely on it. So if you’re still trying to master freelance writing, blogging, or even a YouTube channel, you’re better of mastering it first.

Jon dives into this topic in great detail here: Why You Shouldn’t Start a Podcast or YouTube Channel (Seriously).

Can you make money from podcasts?

The short answer is yes. However, the money doesn’t always come straight from your podcast, but from the awareness and traffic your podcast can create.

That said, with a large audience, you can earn money through sponsorships and affiliate marketing, or by advertising your own products and services to your audience.

Some podcasters also generate income through donations or premium paid audio content.

Go Forth and Podcast!

Most people who think about starting a podcast never get started.

Don’t be one of them.

Just get started, and take it one step at a time.

This article can teach you how to get off the ground, but the passion to spread your message? You already have that.

So what are you waiting for?

We can’t wait to hear what you have to say.

The post How to Start a Podcast in 2020: No Fluff (Just the Essentials) appeared first on Smart Blogger.

from SEO and SM Tips https://smartblogger.com/start-a-podcast/

0 notes

jessicakmatt · 4 years

Text

The 10 Best Lo-Fi Sample Packs

The 10 Best Lo-Fi Sample Packs: via LANDR Blog

You’ve chilled and maybe even studied to them and now you’re looking for a lo-fi sample pack to make a track of your own.

But before you start vibing out in the studio you need to find some lo-fi inspired samples and drum kits.

Here’s the best lo-fi sample packs to help you get started with the best lo-fi sounds.

1. Late Night Lofi Beats

Nostalgic and cozy are the best words to describe Late Night Lo-Fi Beats from Apex Audio.

It’s the perfect palette of sound for driving home after dark, cozying up and reading a book, or burning the midnight oil on a school project.

The pack is full of sensual Rhodes loops, airy ambient sounds, and crispy drums.

Our favorite sample from the pack: AALN Rhodes 05

2. Lo-fi Melodics

Lo-fi beats make use of a lot of melodies.

There’s many lo-fi producers who use interwoven guitar lines, jazzy electric pianos, and chunky bass guitar lines.

A lot of lo-fi producers use interwoven guitar lines, jazzy electric pianos, and chunky bass guitar lines.

In the Lo-fi Melodics sample pack, Skifonix delivers a big library of melodic loops that are ripping chopping up and using in a lo-fi beat.

You’ll find jazzy guitar grooves, reverb-laden synth lines, and entire arrangements to get you started with your next beat.

Each sound is crafted to accommodate the crackling, tinny sound that lo-fi hip hop producers are looking for.

Our favourite sample from the pack: MELODYLOOP Creative 74

3. Goosetaf Presents: Lo-Fi

A lot of lo-fi beatmakers use odd percussive elements to make their lo-fi beats.

Lo-fi beatmakers often use odd percussive elements to make their lo-fi beats.

You’ll hear plinking bottles, clicky wooden blocks, a variety of punchy snares, kicks, and minimal hi-hats.

Creating these sounds to hit hard enough to make heads bob, but not too harsh to kill a chill song’s vibe isn’t always easy.

If you want to add some really good sounding percussive hits to your next lo-fi groove, don’t skip Goosetaf’s new lo-fi collection.

The collection focuses heavily on the percussive elements you need to create a lo-fi beat.

Our favourite sample from the pack: Whoosh

4. Melodic Lofi Hip Hop

Lo-fi isn’t just about moody downtempo beats. Sometimes you might be looking to add a little bit of fire to your lo-fi track.

For a beat that wants to be the life of the party, a great place to look for samples is in Epic Stock Media’s Melodic Lofi Hip Hop sample pack.

You’ll find trap-influenced drums and 808s to go great with the pack’s sunny and up-tempo melodic loops.

It’s the perfect place to start with crossing genres in your lo-fi beats.

Our favourite sample from the pack: ESM Loop 90

5. Torii – Lofi Beats

If you struggle with piecing together a lo-fi drumbeat that you really love, it might be helpful to find a pre-made drum loop.

Torii by Osaka Sounds was created exactly for this purpose. It has 119 drum loops ready to go, all built with awesome sounding lo-fi inspired drums.

It has hi-hat loops, snare loops, and kick loops so you can use the pack to piece together the perfect loop from top to bottom

Alternatively, you can sift through this pack and pick out a pre-made full kit loop that matches your sound.

Our favourite sample from the pack: OSTR Full Drum

6. Organic Lush Lofi 1

A lot of lo-fi beats benefit from added live instrumentation such as a saxophone, vibraphone, or guitar solo.

But actually writing and recording live instruments isn’t all that easy. Not to mention that it’s pretty hard to find someone who knows how to play.

If you think your track could use a ripping sax solo, sunny flute lines, or a tasty vibraphone recording check out Organic Lush Lofi from Highline Audio.

It’s full of live instrument recordings that fit perfectly into the lo-fi hip hop cannon. You’ll find all kinds of solo lines, chord progressions, and drum loops.

The pack is built based on five full construction kits, so you can easily mix and match to create something unique.

Our favourite sample from the pack: Sunrise Sax

7. Lofi Beats Vol. 1

Clean, crispy, and upbeat. Lofi Beats Vol. 1 gives you everything you need to put together the perfect drum beat for your lo-fi track.

Construct your own beat with a variety of one-shot percussion samples, or use the sample pack’s loops to piece together the perfect drum beat.

With Osaka Sound’s Lofi Beats Vol. 1 you get those clicky hi-hats, crunchy snares, and subdued kicks that lo-fi beats are known for.

Our favourite sample from the pack: Full Drum 11

8. Acoustic Lofi

Lo-fi music is rooted in a rebellion against the digital music revolution.

For lo-fi beatmakers, using hissing and crackling vinyl sounds and analog recordings is a way of sticking it to overly produced digital music.

That’s why samples that are based on acoustic recordings are gold in the lo-fi beat-making game.

Samples that are based on acoustic recordings are gold in the lo-fi beat-making game.

But instead of taking the time and trouble to make your own recordings it can be useful to use premade recording samples.

The Acoustic Lofi sample pack is perfect for finding great analog recordings of drums, piano, guitar, and glockenspiel.

Our favourite sample from the pack: Piano 03

9. Lo-Fi Tronica

Who says lo-fi can’t be dancey?

If you’re looking for something that uses lo-fi sound design styles but stays up-tempo, bright and sunny this is a great lofi sample pack to check out.

You get everything you need to make a dancefloor-ready beat with hot vocal loops, impactful one-shots, thumping basslines and more.

Our favourite sample from the pack: Synth Loop 12

10. Raw Lofi

Raw Lofi from Catalyst Samples is all about adding a hard-hitting attitude to a lo-fi beat.

With a long list of synth, bell, piano, and guitar loops the sample pack is great for capturing a variety of feelings and emotions.

The pack also includes a lot of chunky drum samples that will put tons of attitude into any track.

To top it all off, you get a great selection of ambient FX samples to give your track added sonic space.

Our favorite sample from the pack: Synth 20

Select your lofi sample pack

Still looking for a sample that fits your track?

Don’t forget that you can also start a Selector session on any of the samples you find in the LANDR samples library.

So, if you find something that’s close to what you’re looking for hit the selector button and you’ll get great sample recommendations from our AI tool.

We explore its capabilities in our Sample and Hold series.

Now find that sample and finish your beat!

The post The 10 Best Lo-Fi Sample Packs appeared first on LANDR Blog.

from LANDR Blog https://blog.landr.com/lofi-sample-pack/ via https://www.youtube.com/user/corporatethief/playlists from Steve Hart https://stevehartcom.tumblr.com/post/610945467985051648

0 notes