This post is by Melanie Hubbard, Digital Scholarship Librarian for Instruction.

The Podcasting Room in The Digital Studio, found on the 2nd floor of the O’Neill Library, provides an opportunity to create your own podcast (and other kinds of audio projects). What makes it a “podcasting room”? It’s the equipment–the mics and the software. There is also the acoustic paneling that reduces sound reflection (reverb). The room’s furniture and size are part of it since it allows people to record podcasts in small groups. (Except for during COVID. Sorry! Only one person can be in the room at a time.)

I love podcasts, and I know I am not alone. (To say they are popular would be a massive understatement.) If you’re similar to me, you like them because you love stories, learning new things, and listening to people having interesting conversations. I’m also drawn to podcasts because I am interested in sound as a creative medium. My background includes a certain amount of professional audio experience, so I have a special appreciation for this kind of work, and I am excited to see (and hear) the projects our students create and the sort of audio-based assignments our faculty design. 

Working with sound can be a little intimidating since it’s easier for us to identify “bad sound” than to figure out how to create “good sound.” The Podcasting Room is here to set you up for greater success as am I, who can consult on your projects. This fall, the O’Neill Library will also be offering an asynchronous workshop, Working with Sound: Introduction to Audio Recording and Editing, which will be available on October 1. You are welcome to join the group or conduct the workshop later on your own, as it will remain online indefinitely.

What’s in the Podcasting Room? There is a Mac with the audio applications GarageBand and Audacity, a well-known and widely-used open-source recording software, two Audio Technica AT2005USB microphones, and two pairs of Audio Technica ATH-M20x headphones. (Read more)

Want to use the Podcasting Room? Visit the Podcasting Room page to make a reservation.

Need Help? Email digitalstudio@bc.edu for questions regarding the Podcasting Room or consultations on audio projects.