Now available from the Tumblr “F’ing Audio Art” is a glossary of podcasting terms “written over many months while waiting for my computer to render and load files and stuff like that” that is in turns both helpful and amusing.
Some examples:
- 1/8th Inch – See “3.5mm.”
- 3.5 mm – The size of the plug for consumer headphones, but everyone calls it “1/8th Inch.”
- Audio Book– A recording of a narrator reading a book. The internet loves to argue about how many sound effects it takes to turn an audio book into an audio drama. The definitive answer is that all definitive answers are wrong.
- Comb filtering – When two versions of the same sound play at slightly different times (measured in milliseconds) and certain frequencies cancel out, usually creating an undesirable effect. In podcasting, this is most common when two microphones record the same voice, such as when one guest is speaking and the other is listening, and can be fixing by lowering level of the listener’s mic. Also called “phasing.”
- Conversational Show – A show where the audience listens to a recorded conversation. Can feature revolving guests, or have the same people on it every week. People who don’t listen to podcasts think all podcasts are conversational shows.
- Editor – 1) In journalism, the editor is the boss, who’s responsible for deciding what stories go into the publication, and for giving a producer feedback and criticism on works in progress. 2) An audio editor, or a “podcast editor,” is the person who assembles a show from raw material, and their boss is the producer. Both senses are used in podcasting, but no one seems to realize this but me.
- Producer – The person who makes a podcast. Can be responsible for anything, up to and including everything. At parties, producers are either the person who can’t shut up about their podcast, or they avoid talking for fear of being that person. Producers like weekends because they can work without being interrupted as much.
- Production – Recording the audio.
- Profit – Making more money then you spend. Good luck.
- Sound Designer – Someone who creates sound design, usually by sitting in front of a computer for endless hours. Sound Designers spend their lives thinking about how hollow core doors sound different than solid wood doors, how long reverb takes to cross a thirty foot room, and how to justify buying more equipment and/or plugins. A conversation between Sound Designers is largely impenetrable to others.
- Spotify – A music streaming service that is trying to take over podcasts by taking money from investors and giving it to Joe Rogan and Alex Blumberg.
Thanks to James Cridland’s Podnews.net for finding this piece.
Read the full “A Podcasting Glossary” here.