Frequently Asked Questions
Q: I am clueless to what a podcast is.
A: That's okay. Go to http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Podcast
Q: Can I listen to a podcast if I do not own a portable mp3 player?
A: Yes. Since a podcast is an mp3 file a it can be downloaded and played back on any computer with audio player software.
Q: How long does it take The Podcast Refinery to produce a podcast?
A: Typically we'd like to have 3-5 business days to put a 12-minute podcast together. During this time we are working with you over the phone (or via e-mail) tweaking the script, choosing production music, and selecting the right voice for your podcast. If you have a rush job with a strict deadline to meet we can certainly work with you in that regard. We've got a Starbucks nearby and have been known to burn the midnight oil. G'on and cry on our shoulders. We'll listen.
Q: Does The Podcast Refinery produce ONLY business podcasts?
A: No. We'd love the opportunity to put a quote together for your project. These would include podcasts for religious groups, school systems, non-profit organizations, museums, clubs/hobbies, and political causes.
Q: What is an RSS feed?
A: When grandma wanted to subscribe to a magazine she circled a number on that silly card that always fell on the floor when she'd open the magazine. An RSS feed is that silly card. Without a way for someone to subscribe to web content a podcast is just an audio program. It's the RSS feed which makes podcasting the powerful marketing tool that it is. When someone wants to subscribe to a podcast they simply click the orange RSS icon at the website. Then, forever and a day, an iitty bitty software called an aggregator inside their computer grabs and pulls in the new episodes. Poor old grandma never had it so easy.
Q: What is an aggregator?
A: Unlike the gators which inhabit the ponds near our humble audio facility here in sunny Florida, an "aggregator" never has to be fed. An aggregator (aka 'feed reader' or 'podcatcher') is the brain inside iTunes and other audio player software. An aggregator ventures out onto the Internet and 'fetches' podcast episodes for you. Once episodes are captured by an aggregator they are stored inside the player in a queue for the user to enjoy at their convenience.
Q: What is meant by 'hosting'?
A: No, not Regis Philbin. Hosting simply means a podcast is 'parked' on a server and that RSS feeding is enabled. The server is the host and the podcast (an mp3 file) is parked on it. A podcast is 'published' the moment it hits the Internet. You can sleep well nights knowing your podcast is parked safe, cozy, and with its favorite blankie on a server and that humans the world over can subscribe if they so desire.
Q: We are slammed and don't really feel like tackling the hosting thing. Besides, our IT guy says there is no room on our server for a podcast. Help!
A: The Podcast Refinery is a one-stop podcasting shop. We can host your podcast for you. The 'distribution' phase follows once your episode is completed. To host and distribute your podcast we build a landing page for it, upload episodes, generate RSS feeds, monitor stats, and generally maintain podcasts for a specified time period. If your podcast is external we can get it listed on iTunes if you require. Hosting / distribution pricing is not listed here at our website so contact us for rates.
A: That's okay. Go to http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Podcast
Q: Can I listen to a podcast if I do not own a portable mp3 player?
A: Yes. Since a podcast is an mp3 file a it can be downloaded and played back on any computer with audio player software.
Q: How long does it take The Podcast Refinery to produce a podcast?
A: Typically we'd like to have 3-5 business days to put a 12-minute podcast together. During this time we are working with you over the phone (or via e-mail) tweaking the script, choosing production music, and selecting the right voice for your podcast. If you have a rush job with a strict deadline to meet we can certainly work with you in that regard. We've got a Starbucks nearby and have been known to burn the midnight oil. G'on and cry on our shoulders. We'll listen.
Q: Does The Podcast Refinery produce ONLY business podcasts?
A: No. We'd love the opportunity to put a quote together for your project. These would include podcasts for religious groups, school systems, non-profit organizations, museums, clubs/hobbies, and political causes.
Q: What is an RSS feed?
A: When grandma wanted to subscribe to a magazine she circled a number on that silly card that always fell on the floor when she'd open the magazine. An RSS feed is that silly card. Without a way for someone to subscribe to web content a podcast is just an audio program. It's the RSS feed which makes podcasting the powerful marketing tool that it is. When someone wants to subscribe to a podcast they simply click the orange RSS icon at the website. Then, forever and a day, an iitty bitty software called an aggregator inside their computer grabs and pulls in the new episodes. Poor old grandma never had it so easy.
Q: What is an aggregator?
A: Unlike the gators which inhabit the ponds near our humble audio facility here in sunny Florida, an "aggregator" never has to be fed. An aggregator (aka 'feed reader' or 'podcatcher') is the brain inside iTunes and other audio player software. An aggregator ventures out onto the Internet and 'fetches' podcast episodes for you. Once episodes are captured by an aggregator they are stored inside the player in a queue for the user to enjoy at their convenience.
Q: What is meant by 'hosting'?
A: No, not Regis Philbin. Hosting simply means a podcast is 'parked' on a server and that RSS feeding is enabled. The server is the host and the podcast (an mp3 file) is parked on it. A podcast is 'published' the moment it hits the Internet. You can sleep well nights knowing your podcast is parked safe, cozy, and with its favorite blankie on a server and that humans the world over can subscribe if they so desire.
Q: We are slammed and don't really feel like tackling the hosting thing. Besides, our IT guy says there is no room on our server for a podcast. Help!
A: The Podcast Refinery is a one-stop podcasting shop. We can host your podcast for you. The 'distribution' phase follows once your episode is completed. To host and distribute your podcast we build a landing page for it, upload episodes, generate RSS feeds, monitor stats, and generally maintain podcasts for a specified time period. If your podcast is external we can get it listed on iTunes if you require. Hosting / distribution pricing is not listed here at our website so contact us for rates.
Q: Uh, er, Dear Podcast Refinery, Please don't take this the wrong way, but we know of some FREE hosting sites on the web. Why would we pay to have you host our podcast when we can opt for a FREE service? In fact, we plan on taking the podcasts you produce for us and uploading them to such a site. |  |
A: There are many free hosting websites where you can not only park your podcast you can indeed customize a landing page to your podcast. PodOMatic, myPodcast, PodBean, and CyberEars are just a few of such free (or nearly free) podcast hosting websites. Customers of ours who have gone that route seem to be quite happy with such free hosting services. Note, however, that free hosting sites are ad supported. If you haven't a problem with (tasteful) banner ads and such appearing on your landing page then a free hosting site might be in your future.
Q: Which mp3 kbps setting does The Podcast Refinery use to master finished podcasts?
A: We prefer to use 128 kbps. This setting is CD-quality audio yet still yields a small audio file. There are times, however, when we will use other settings. Some podcast hosting services, for example, ask that uploaded podcasts be 96 kbps mp3. This setting is still sufficient quality for corporate podcasting though we do not recommend kbps settings lower than 96. Prior to shipping your completed podcast The Podcast Refinery will indeed ask you which setting your hosting server requires.
Q: Can my podcast be mastered as a wav file?
A: No. The beauty of mp3 files is that they are 10 times smaller that their wav counterparts. To use wav files for podcasts defeats the purpose of keeping podcasting lean and mean, if you know what we mean jelly bean.
Q: We are literally at square one in the planning process. We haven't begun writing because we don't even know which direction to take. We need a little push and some creative input.
A: You may contact us as early in the process as you wish. We don't charge for pre-production consulting so grab the phone and let's have an idea pow wow. Allow us to work up a written treatment for you. Our creative runs the gamut from buttoned-down traditional to zany. You may not know today what your podcast should ultimately sound like but you'll know it when you hear it, right?
Q: Charlie in payroll can record our podcasts for us. At home he's got a mic plugged into his computer. So, why would we go with you?
A: We adore Charlie. It's all the Charlies from payroll who make it possible for The Refinery to make its payroll.
Q: My podcast's audience is in the UK. Besides male and female American voice talent, do you have British voices available?
A: By Jove, I think we've got it! Blokes or otherwise, they all mind the gap and are quite 'round the bend enjoying bangers and mash. Translation: Yes.
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Q: Which mp3 kbps setting does The Podcast Refinery use to master finished podcasts?
A: We prefer to use 128 kbps. This setting is CD-quality audio yet still yields a small audio file. There are times, however, when we will use other settings. Some podcast hosting services, for example, ask that uploaded podcasts be 96 kbps mp3. This setting is still sufficient quality for corporate podcasting though we do not recommend kbps settings lower than 96. Prior to shipping your completed podcast The Podcast Refinery will indeed ask you which setting your hosting server requires.
Q: Can my podcast be mastered as a wav file?
A: No. The beauty of mp3 files is that they are 10 times smaller that their wav counterparts. To use wav files for podcasts defeats the purpose of keeping podcasting lean and mean, if you know what we mean jelly bean.
Q: We are literally at square one in the planning process. We haven't begun writing because we don't even know which direction to take. We need a little push and some creative input.
A: You may contact us as early in the process as you wish. We don't charge for pre-production consulting so grab the phone and let's have an idea pow wow. Allow us to work up a written treatment for you. Our creative runs the gamut from buttoned-down traditional to zany. You may not know today what your podcast should ultimately sound like but you'll know it when you hear it, right?
Q: Charlie in payroll can record our podcasts for us. At home he's got a mic plugged into his computer. So, why would we go with you?
A: We adore Charlie. It's all the Charlies from payroll who make it possible for The Refinery to make its payroll.
Q: My podcast's audience is in the UK. Besides male and female American voice talent, do you have British voices available?
A: By Jove, I think we've got it! Blokes or otherwise, they all mind the gap and are quite 'round the bend enjoying bangers and mash. Translation: Yes.
.
 | Q: Once our first podcast is on the web we plan to continue with the same show, updating it with fresh news from the home office. It will be an ongoing project. Do we get a special price? A: You betcha. Podcasts running at least 3 months get yummy episodic rates. Learn more about it here. |
Q: Each of our episodes will run longer than typical 9 to 12-minute podcasts. Do long duration podcasts get a price break ?
A: Yes. Long-duration discounts kick in at the 15-minute mark. These special rates apply to all podcasts; episodic or otherwise. Our pricing page has all the details.
Q: What is licensed music and why do you use it?
A: Licensed music is music a production company can legally use. Unless a piece of music is very old and in the public domain, all other music is owned by an entity. Licensed production music is 'safe music' as it is music The Podcast Refinery has already paid for and therefore can offer its clients. Our library is continually updated with fresh tracks from various stock music suppliers. If we don't have what you require within our hundreds of music tracks we can get it for you.
Q: Can I get cooties from wearing someone else's ear buds?
A: Probably.
Q: Besides English which languages can The Podcast Refinery provide finished productions in?
A: French (translation through narration) and Spanish (narration only).
Q: Do people listen to podcasts while driving?
A: Yes. The in-dash stereo systems of late-model cars are 'plug ready'; having a special input for portable mp3 players. As more new cars hit the road podcasting can only grow. (We do not advise the use of any headphone-like device while operating a motor vehicle.)
Q: Are there any kinds of podcasts The Podcast Refinery will not produce?
A: We reserve the right to refuse to do business with entities we feel are not in keeping with everyday acceptable behavior. Examples would be pornography, libelous audio, racism. hate topics, and devious marketing schemes.
Q: I am using Internet Explorer to view this site and some web pages look funky. What's the deal?
A: Customers using IE have alerted us to the fact that they have problems with our website (sorry). For example, some of the tabs in the above nav bar may not be visible in IE. Elsewhere, some green fonts 'fall apart' in IE. Thorough testing at our end has shown that this site functions wonderfully using every browser except Internet Explorer. We apologize for the inconvenience.
Q: What happened to your old logo? When did you retire it and why? May we please see it one more time?
A: We get asked this all the time. Our old logo served us well up until about 1958, but it was not environmentally friendly so we had to toss it. The entire staff at TPR has gone green in a very big way. We are not your father's podcast provider. Go on and get the kids out of bed because we're posting that musty old logo one more time for old time's sake. Thanks for asking!
