Intro to Anchor + How to get started

Posted on by cunnia

What is Anchor?

Anchor is Spotify’s free podcasting platform. You can create, distribute, and monetize your podcast and signing up is free. It is a great platform for creators of all levels to start their own audio projects. 

Platforms Anchor can distribute your content to:

  • Spotify
  • Apple Podcasts
  • Google Podcasts
  • Overcast
  • Amazon Music
  • iHeartRadio
  • Castbox
  • Pocket Casts
  • RadioPublic
  • Stitcher

What you can use Anchor for:

  • Class projects
  • Personal projects
  • Record audio
  • Edit audio
  • Create audio from a video file
  • Add transitions 
  • Connect your pre-existing podcast to Anchor
  • Gathering analytics on your podcast

How to get started:

From their homepage, click on “Get Started” or “New Episode” and make your free account. Once you make your account, you can either start recording your audio project on the platform itself, or you can import audio files you already have.  

Anchor can import these type of files with a maximum file size of 250 MB : 

  • MP3
  • M4A
  • WAV
  • MPG
  • MOV
  • MP4

If you already have an existing podcast, you can copy and paste your podcast’s RSS feed into Anchor so that Anchor can make the switch for you.

Once you have finished recording or have uploaded your recording, you can add music if you’d like and/or edit the audio on Anchor’s platform. You can choose from Anchor’s selection of “smart background music” or add songs from Spotify right from the same dashboard. Anchor’s music and music from Spotify have licensing agreements which you can find here.

You can choose to add background music or search for a song on Spotify by clicking the “music” icon.

Once you have recorded and if you’d like to edit the audio, click on the 3 dots next to the audio file and select “Edit audio”. It will then bring you to the audio editing dashboard.

When you’re ready to publish your recording, click “Save” to save any changes you’ve made and you’ll be able to then name your episode, write up a description, and choose when to publish the episode. 

Before Anchor distributes your content though, you have to set up your podcast that the episode will be published under. You can also upload your own logo or podcast cover image. If you need help coming up with a name, Anchor has a great tool and tips page on how to find something that suits you.

Other helpful tips:

If you already have a podcast, you can switch to Anchor and connect yours via their “Switch to Anchor” instructions at the top of their homepage. Your personal Spotify account will remain separate from your hosting account on Anchor.

You can also download an audio file you’ve either previously recorded or uploaded to Anchor by clicking the 3 dots next to your episode and clicking ‘download’. It will automatically download as a .m4a file.

The Basics of Scriptwriting

Posted on by sherbul

There are a few simple things to keep in mind when it comes to writing a script for broadcast or radio. Here are seven tips to get you started.

Let’s begin with formatting.

  • Write narration in ALL CAPS
    • Here is one of Michael Barbaro’s scripts for his New York Times podcast, The Daily:
Notice how he bolds and italicizes certain words so they are read with certain emphases?
  • Quotes are written as they would be in regular text:
    • Example: “I really like the Comm Lab!”
  • Titles Come Before Names
    • Example: “SIMMONS UNIVERSITY PRESIDENT LYNN WOOTEN” NOT “LYNN WOOTEN, PRESIDENT OF SIMMONS UNIVERSITY”
  • Give Pronouncers For Names
    • HOUSE SPEAKER NANCY PELOSI [PEL-O-SI]
    • PROFESSOR ERICA MOURA [MORE-AH]

Now let’s talk about how to write.

  • Write The Way You Speak
    • Nothing sounds worse than a stiff, monotone voice on the air. Be yourself, not a robot–people can hear the difference!
  • Keep It Short and Sweet
    • Listeners want digestible information. Keeping your language clear and simple helps your audience make sense of what you’re telling them. It also keeps your story accessible. Don’t weigh down your script with long, wordy sentences.
      • Pro Tip: If you can’t say the sentence in one breath, make it shorter.
  • Describe The Story
    • There are no pictures in radio, you have to make one with words instead. Precise and descriptive language is key to transporting your audience to the scene and getting them as close to the story as possible.

This is by no means a complete guide on how to write a script but these seven tips should help get you started. Happy scriptwriting!

How To Get Free Sound Effects in Adobe Audition

Posted on by sherbul

Sound effects can easily add life to a dull audio track–finding free, legal, sound effects can be a lot harder. Luckily there is a simple way to access thousands of different sound effect bundles for free from Adobe Audition!

Let’s walk through it.

First open Adobe Audition then hover over the “Help” button at the top of your computer screen.

Next, select the “Download Sound Effects and More…” button.

Your computer will automatically open a new page in your web browser that takes you to Adobe Audition’s download page.

Once on this page, click “View Downloads”

This will take you to the page with all of the available sound bundles. There are thousands of free, downloadable sounds for any of your producing needs–happy hunting!