26 November 2020

HOW TO UPLOAD PODCAST TO ITUNES

HOW TO UPLOAD PODCAST TO ITUNES: A STEP BY STEP GUIDE

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    Photo Credit: https://twitter.com/

    If you’re hoping to hit the big time with your podcast, you’re probably going to want to upload it to iTunes Podcasts – which, FYI, has been rebranded to Apple Podcasts.

    ‘That sounds like hard work’, we hear you say. On the contrary, it couldn’t be easier! Start by brainstorming, planning and recording your podcast, then stick to our five easy-to-follow steps below.

    How to Upload Podcasts to iTunes:

    1. Sign Up to a Podcast Hosting Platform
    2. Host Your Podcast and Publish Show Notes
    3. Log into Apple Podcast Connect
    4. Find and Submit RSS Feed to iTunes (Apple Podcast)
    5. Upload Your Podcast to iTunes/Apple Podcast

    Before We Get Started, Cue the Music...

    You may want to consider having background music for your podcast, and signing up to a music library which can offer you flexible licencing.

    You can find all the music you need for your podcast right here at Audio Network!

    We’ve got high-quality podcast music tracks of every kind – from electronic anthems to pastoral compositions, space-inspired songs to ambient symphonies.

    Explore our catalogue of over 200,000 tracks and check out our playlist hub today!

    Best Podcast Hosting Platforms:

    • iTunes (Apple Podcast)
    • Buzzsprout
    • Captivate
    • Transistor
    • Castos
    • Podbean
    • Simplecast
    • Resonate
    • Spreaker
    • Blubrry
    • Spotify For Podcasters

    1. Sign-up to a Podcast Hosting Platform

    The first step to uploading your podcast to iTunes Podcast/Apple Podcast is to sign up to a podcast hosting platform.

    What is a podcast hosting platform? Essentially, it’s a place to store your mp3 files and transform them into podcast feeds.

    Podcast hosting platforms include Buzzsprout, Captivate, Transistor, Castos, Podbean and Soundcloud.

    2. Host Your Podcast and Publish Show Notes

    Now you’ve signed up to a hosting platform, it’s time to upload your mp3 recording and publish any show notes.

    ‘Show notes’ usually contain a summary (or a full transcript) of the episode, alongside relevant links and extra details.

    Seasoned podcasters recommend publishing show notes alongside each and every upload. Why? For two crucial reasons: audience satisfaction and SEO.

    3. Log Into Apple Podcast Connect

    What are the other iTunes podcast requirements? Well, to access Podcast Connect – Apple’s dedicated podcast portal – you must first have an Apple ID.

    Use your Apple ID details to log into Podcast Connect, agree to the terms and you’ll be presented with a page that requests your podcast’s RSS Feed URL.

    4. Find and Submit RSS Feed to iTunes (Apple Podcast)

    Wondering how to create a URL for iTunes podcast account?

    To find your RSS Feed URL, you must return to your podcasting hosting platform.

    Once you’ve located the URL, copy and paste it into Podcast Connect and hit the Validate button. Then, when Apple has validated your link and you’ve checked your podcast details have been inputted correctly, you can press Submit.

    Your podcast is then sent off for review. Once there’s a status update, Apple will send you an email – so make sure to check your inbox!

    How long does it take for iTunes to approve a podcast? The process may take up to 5 working days.

    5. Upload Your Podcast to iTunes (Apple Podcast)

    Your podcast has been accepted? That’s great news!

    Want some better news? Apple automatically uploads your podcast for you, approximately 24 hours after you receive the confirmation email. Which means you don’t need to lift another finger.

    Don’t want your podcast to go live straight away? No worries - you can choose to hide your episode in Podcast Connect after submitting it for review. There, it’ll remain hidden until you log back into the software and choose to unhide it.

    Uploading Podcasts to iTunes FAQ's

    Now we’ve covered the basics, it’s time to answer some of the most frequently asked questions about how to upload a podcast to iTunes.

    itunes logo

    Photo Credit: https://www.apple.com/uk

    1. How to Register a Podcast Name

    Once you’ve decided on a unique name for your podcast, it’s important to secure it by registering a domain.

    You can choose to register your domain with your hosting platform’s registrar service or with an external registrar service, such as GoDaddy and Namecheap.

    Simply type in your desired domain, choose your preferred options and press purchase.

    2. What Are iTunes' Podcast Requirements?

    There are several requirements you need to meet before you submit your podcast to Apple Podcasts. In addition to a Podcast Connect account, you will need:

    • Artwork
    • A unique title
    • A description
    • A language tag
    • A clean or explicit tag
    • At least one category tag
    • At least one completed episode

    3. How Many Podcast Episodes Are Required for Apple Podcast?

    As mentioned above, only one podcast episode is required to be considered by Apple for Apple Podcasts. So, get recording!

    4. How to Publish a Podcast (Other Than iTunes)

    Publishing your podcast elsewhere requires you to take similar steps to the ones above. Take Spotify, for example.

    To publish a podcast on Spotify, all you have to do is log into your Spotify account, visit Spotify for Podcasters, validate and submit your RSS Feed URL and then wait for the team to review it.

    5. Is It Free to Upload a Podcast to iTunes?

    Yes, you can submit your podcast on iTunes for free and gain new listeners.

    6. How Long Does It Take for a Podcast to Be Approved on iTunes?

    It can take 24 to 72 hours for Apple to process the submission.

    The most popular podcast platform is Spotify, with 25 percent of podcast listeners aged 18 or above saying that they used Spotify to listen to podcasts.

    itunes

    Photo Credit: https://www.apple.com/uk/

    Now You Know How to Upload a Podcast to iTunes

    So, there you have it!

    We hope you enjoyed this article! If you did, be sure to check out our blog for more insightful articles, the latest news, inspiration for your next project and industry expertise.

    Need Music for Your Project?

    At Audio Network we create original music, of the highest quality, for broadcasters, brands, creators, agencies and music fans everywhere. Through clear and simple licensing, we can offer you a huge variety of the best quality music across every conceivable mood and genre. Find out how we can connect you with the perfect collaborator today by clicking the button below!

    HOW TO UPLOAD PODCAST TO ITUNES: A STEP BY STEP GUIDE Read More »

    VFX SOFTWARE PROGRAMMES

    A GUIDE TO THE BEST VFX SOFTWARE PROGRAMMES

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      Want to go out of this world or even… destroy it entirely? Take to the high seas without having to hire a yacht (or feel seasick?), create fur effects or a giant dragon’s scales? You need VFX.

      But with so many different VFX software programmes on the market, which are best? We’ve gathered together our pick of the bunch – from Cinema 4D to Adobe After Effects – for all you green screen aficionados and for anyone who wants to create the next MCU, for the visuals to go with your epic soundtrack.

      What Is VFX Software?

      Before we dive into the best VFX software programmes, if you don’t know, VFX is an abbreviation of ‘visual effects’, which means VFX software is, quite simply, ‘visual effects software’.

      It’s what makes you believe that all the animals in Disney’s recent ‘live action’ version of The Lion King are real and the software that enabled the Avengers to smash up cities in order to take down their enemies – not to mention Thanos vaporising half the universe with just a click of his fingers… With VFX, you can travel at lightspeed through hyperspace, or transform an actor into a house elf. Create complex graphics for video games, or collapse whole streets in on themselves a la Inception. The only limits to what you can create are your own imagination.

      Which Is the Best Software for VFX?

      With so many different VFX software programmes available, the ‘best’ one for you all depends on your preferences. Below we dive into the world of how to make special effects to help you make an informed decision.

      Best VFX Software – Our Top Picks:

      • Side FX Houdini
      • Cinema 4D
      • Adobe After Effects
      • Nuke
      • Blender
      • Marvelous Designer
      • Unity Visual Effect Graph
      • ZBrush
      • Adobe Premiere Pro
      • Autodesk Maya
      • Autodesk Mudbox
      • Black Magic Fusion
      • SpeedTree
      • RealFlow
      • Unreal Engine

      1. Side FX Houdini

      Price: Free – $4,495

      Benefits:

      If you’re aiming to create some on-screen magic, we suggest you look to Houdini: the VFX and 3D animation software does just about everything.

      There are pyro effects, fluid effects, destruction effects and much, much more.

      Films and TV shows that have used Houdini: Moana, Game of Thrones, Doctor Strange, Blade Runner 2049

      2. Cinema 4D

      Price: $59.91 a month/ $719 a year

      Films that have used Cinema 4D: Tron Legacy, Pacific Rim, Inception

      Cinema 4D is a powerful software suite, used by professional and amateur content creators, that offers a multitude of tools.

      With its intuitive interface and procedural workflows, the Maxon-developed programme is a prime choice for any creative looking to blow their audience away.

      3. Adobe After Effects

      Price: £19.97 a month/ £238.42 a year

      Films that have used Adobe After Effects: Avatar, Ender's Game, Iron Man 3

      When it comes to post-production, it’s always a good idea to put your trust in Adobe.

      After Effects is Adobe’s VFX software programme adored worldwide for its user-friendly layout, and impressive range of options and affordable price tag.

      4. Nuke

      Price: Free trial/ Purchase from £426

      Films that have used Nuke: The Maze Runner, The Lone Ranger, Twilight: Breaking Dawn

      Nuke is The Foundry’s node-based VFX application that keeps getting better with age.

      Our favourite element of the software? It’s got to be the customisable gizmos. Being able to personalise your layout is always a big plus.

      5. Blender

      Price: Free

      Films that have used Blender: Spider-Man 2, Next Gen, Tears of Steel

      There’s no denying that Blender is one of the best free VFX software programmes around.

      It literally has the same capabilities as some of the paid applications on this list! So, why not try it out?

      6. ZBrush

      Price: From $39.95 a month

      Films and TV shows that have used ZBrush: Westworld, The Hobbit, Edge of Tomorrow  

      ZBrush is a leading sculpting software used in countless film and television productions; so the chances are, you’ve seen it in action on more than one occasion.

      The application comes with an array of brushes and other functions to help you to bring your vision to life – exactly the way you see it in your head.

      7. Marvelous Designer

      Price: $1700 a year

      Films and games that have used Marvelous Designer: The Hobbit, The Adventures of TinTin, Assassin’s Creed Unity

      Marvelous Designer is the go-to cloth-making VFX programme for creatives worldwide, which includes graphic designers working at Disney, HBO and Playstation.

      Used in both live-action and animated content, the software puts users in the seat of a fashion designer, as they use the software to create realistic virtual clothes.

      8. Unity Visual Effect Graph

      Price: From $200 a year

      Games that have used Unity Visual Effect Graph: Last Day on Earth, War Robots, Relative Worlds

      Unity Visual Effect Graph is the VFX software for video game designers that promises to create beautiful, complex graphics.

      Judging by the case studies that Unity can boast about so far, we reckon they live up to their word.

      9. Adobe Premiere Pro

      Price: £19.97 a month/ £238.42 a year

      Films that have used Adobe Premiere Pro: Deadpool, Gone Girl, Terminator: Dark Fate

      As you already know, we’re big fans of Adobe post-production software. And Premiere Pro is another Adobe offering that can be used to create sensational visual effects.

      We suggest that if you’re new to the world of VFX, you make this software your starting point.

      10. Autodesk Maya

      Price: Free Trial/ £234 a month/ £238.42 a year

      Films and TV shows that have used Maya: Transformers Franchise, Stranger Things, Dumbo (2019)

      What software does Hollywood use for VFX? Autodesk Maya. Chosen by Disney, Netflix, Paramount and more, Maya is a first-rate programme that’s responsible for some of the best visual effects in cinematic history.

      11. Autodesk Mudbox

      Price: Free Trial/ £12 a month/ £96 a year

      Films that have used Fusion: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2, The Tree of Life

      The second Autodesk VFX software programme to make it to our list is Mudbox.

      Primarily used to sculpt and paint, Mudbox allows its user to create intricate visuals with its world-renowned precision tools.

      12. Black Magic Fusion

      Price: Purchase from £235

      Films that have used Fusion: Alice in Wonderland (2010), The Martian, Thor, Avengers: Age of Ultron

      Your options feel limitless when using Black Magic Fusion: one of the best compositing software programmes available.

      Why? We think it’s got something to do with the immersive interface that makes you feel like a professional (whether you’re already one or aiming to take your creativity up a notch).

      13. SpeedTree

      Price: Free – £1000 a year

      Films that have used SpeedTree: The Lion King (2019), Black Panther, Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker

      SpeedTree is a vegetation-focused VFX software that makes you feel pretty God-like.

      The programme gives you the power to add life-like greenery, of all shapes and sizes, to your content.

      We think it’s the best in its field…

      14. RealFlow

      Price: Starting from €497.50

      Films and TV shows that have used RealFlow: Once Upon a Time, The Great Gatsby, Vikings

      Just as SpeedTree is the place to go for vegetation SFX, RealFlow is the destination for fluid SFX creation.

      The easy-to-use software creates mind-blowing effects that speak for themselves – so, go and take a look.

      15. Unreal Engine

      Price: Free

      Film and TV shows that have used Unreal Engine: The Mandalorian, War of the Planet of the Apes, Ford VS Ferrari, The Batman

      Video effect freeware Unreal Engine may have initially been developed by Epic Games for video games VFX, but film and television adopted it when they discovered the programme’s impressive capabilities.

      Now it’s used to create some of the most iconic on-screen visual effects.

      Add Music to Your Content

      Once you’ve created VFX for your content, it’s time to start thinking about music. Music can instantly transform any scene, which is why you must choose your tracks wisely.

      Use our search bar and filter by mood and emotion to find the composition for you.

      Need Music for Your Project?

      At Audio Network we create original music, of the highest quality, for broadcasters, brands, creators, agencies and music fans everywhere. Through clear and simple licensing, we can offer you a huge variety of the best quality music across every conceivable mood and genre. Find out how we can connect you with the perfect collaborator today by clicking the button below!

      A GUIDE TO THE BEST VFX SOFTWARE PROGRAMMES Read More »