Douglas E. Welch talks New Media with BiggSuccess.com
Originally appeared on BiggSuccess.com
Career Success with New Media
We were happy to visit with Douglas E. Welch today on The Bigg Success Show today. Douglas is an expert on building the career you deserve and spreading the word about your talents using social media. Among other things, he’s the host of two great blogs and podcasts: Career Opportunities and Careers in New Media. Here’s a recap of the conversation:
Read Douglas talks with George & Mary-Lyn on The Bigg Success Show! with complete text transcript.
Listen to Douglas talk with George & Mary-Lyn on The Bigg Success Show!
New Media Office Hours
Much like a professor at a university will have set office hours for their students, I have been offering up ad hoc meetings at the Corner Bakery in Encino for people to drop by, chat and ask questions and about New Media like blogging, podcasting, video sharing and streaming and more.
My schedule changes each semester due to my spouse’s changing schedule, so I don’t have a hard and fast time for them, but Wednesdays at 1pm seems to be a good time.
If you would like to come and talk about New Media, drop me a line via Twitter or email to let me know you are coming. Follow my Twitter feed at @douglaswelch, to get notices of upcoming meetups.
Elsewhere Online: [Tip] New Media Assignment: Capture your great ideas
From Careers in New Media…
When I am talking New Media, one question that always arises is, “…but what do I have to say that people will be interested in?” That fact is, we all have something interesting to say. We just don’t take the time to recognize it for what it is. We let it slip away instead of turning it into the powerful new media it is.
Assignment #1: Capture your great ideas!
Everywhere you go, take notepad or journal. This is both your capture device and your reminder to be aware of opportunities to gather great ideas. The act of carrying it around, setting it on the table when you sit down at the cafe, putting it your bag is like tying a string to your finger or snapping a rubber band on your wrist.
Now, whenever you are talking with someone, be aware of when you and they are particularly enjoying the conversation. Are you laughing out loud? Are you ranting? Are you commiserating over some lost opportunity, job, lover?
Now, write down in your journal the topic of your conversation. It doesn’t have to be a detailed reconstruction of the conversation, just a quick line noting the topic and perhaps why it was so interesting.
Before you know it, you will have a whole series of pre-vetted ideas for blog posts, audio podcasts, videos and even books. You already know these topics are interesting to you and at least one other person, so you can turn them into something more without worrying about whether they are interesting enough — a common pitfall of folks just getting started in New Media.
Do you accept my assignment? Start doing it today! Share your stories about how it works for you as comments here on the blog of on the New Media Interchange Community site. I’d love to hear what your are capturing and how this tip works for you.
Upgrade WordPress to 2.9.2
Keeping your self-hosted WordPress blogs up to very important to prevent technical issues and to close security holes that have been discovered. WordPress.com users don’t need to concern themselves with these upgrades as WordPress.com handles that internally for all its users.
I just completed the upgrade on 4 of my WordPress sites with no problems. I use the automatic upgrade feature built into WordPress which basically consists of pushing a button.
Log into you WordPress sites today and keep them upgraded for trouble free operation.
Budget-Conscious Podcasting Microphone
This article originally appeared on the Steve Riekeberg blog on February 2nd, 2010.
After having been producing Geek Cred for over three years (at the time of this writing), people come to me for advice and recommendations for podcasting equipment on a budget, whether they’re just getting started, or are looking to improve their sound. Now I’m a college student. When I started podcasting Geek Cred, I used a very modest setup: just a $30 USB headset microphone that I already owned, and my computer—and it got the job done just fine. There should be no shame for using “just” a headset. Now, over the years, I have accumulated (compared to most podcasters) a relatively high-end setup. I admit, if three years ago you had even suggested that I would have spent nearly as much as I have on equipment, I probably would have insisted you were out of your mind—I can totally understand and identify if budget is a concern.
And you know what? If you’re just looking to get started, even if you are somehow made of money, I wouldn’t recommend spending hundreds of dollars on the latest and greatest equipment. Many can start off with a gung-ho, full steam ahead attitude, but after a few episodes, the honeymoon wears off, leaving behind the reality of late nights and often grueling work. Podcasting sure isn’t for sissies! The harsh reality is the majority of would-be podcasters never make it beyond Episode #5.
With that said, let’s say you’ve made your decision, and you’re ready to upgrade from that cheap headset you picked up at your local big box store; you’re ready to make your first foray in to the wild world of professional audio equipment. Even as an audio production guy, it can be easy to get lost in the multitude of available options, and some people might have a tough time getting over the initial sticker shock of some items. There are plenty of great options that you really can’t go wrong with on the high end, but most people aren’t made of money, and don’t have hundreds of dollars (or even thousands of dollars) to spend to outfit their home podcast studio to challenge a professional radio station’s. Thankfully, in recent years, the market has exploded with countless affordable low-end options, but when it comes to microphones, I have found it difficult to give a definitive recommendation for those on a tight budget.
Enter the GLS Audio ES-58 Dynamic Microphone.
Visually, the ES-58 bears a striking resemblance to a certain similar microphone you probably see all the time. Essentially, it is a much more affordably priced knock-off of the industry standard workhorse Shure SM-58, which has been used the world over for the better part of the past three decades, especially for live performances. If you’ve ever been to a rock concert, chances are that you were hearing the singer’s voice through an SM-58. However, the downside of the SM-58—at least for us cheapskates—is its street price of $99, which can be a tough pill to swallow. So when I came across this little gem a while back almost entirely by accident, I knew I had to get my hands on my own and try it for myself. Many less-expensive microphones have attempted to take on the legendary SM-58, with varying success.
Upon first listen, with a price tag of just $30, it was easy to understand why the ES-58 has garnered such an underground following among home recording enthusiasts. Rather than trying to write here what it sounds like, take a listen to this test recording, and hear for yourself:
(Pure unedited, unaltered audio, with no post-processing applied.)
Unfortunately, at the time of this writing, I do not have an SM-58 to do a proper A/B comparison with. Does it sound exactly like an SM-58? Maybe, though probably not quite. But does it sound very good? Absolutely! Will it replace a high-priced professional broadcasting microphone? Of course not—but it’s not supposed to.
The ES-58 is professional XLR microphone, and will require a preamp, such as a mixer and/or audio interface. (This is not a USB “plug ‘n’ play” microphone.) It has a relatively high output, so it does not require a lot of gain from the preamp (in my test, I had it set at around only 12 o’clock on my mixer). It does also have some handling noise, which is something to be aware of you’re planning on using it more as an “on the street” interview microphone, but if you’re going to be using it at home, on a stand, that issue becomes moot. Finally, as a dynamic microphone, it is not as sensitive as condenser microphones, and as such is not as prone to picking up unwanted background noise. (Indeed, when I recorded the above clip, the TV was blasting in the next room…)
If you’re on a tight budget, at $30 for a single microphone—or $80 for a three-pack—you probably can’t go wrong with the ES-58. You really can get a quality sound without spending a lot of money.
The GLS Audio ES-58 Dynamic Microphone is available with or without an off switch, and (as of this writing) exclusively available from Orange County Speaker, and can be purchased from them directly, or through Amazon.com. Combined with something like a Behringer Xenyx 502 mixer and Behringer UCA-202 USB interface, you get some pretty darn good quality for as little as about a hundred bucks.
Happy podcasting!
Steve Riekeberg (Ricky-burg) is a twenty-something podcaster, consultant, technologist, audio engineer, writer, and self-proclaimed geek from Southern California, and the host of Geek Cred, the podcast that delivers in-depth, behind the scenes interviews to give you the inside scoop on everything geek.
Douglas E. Welch on New Media Tea Time Ep. 19 – Limoncello, Ning.com and more
From New Media Tea Time…
“Where high tech meets low tech for tea and chocolate. Part 2 talking with the amazing Douglas Welch about Ning communities, how he set his up and how the rest of us can do so too.”
Douglas guests on New Media Tea Time…again!
From the New Media Tea Time web site…
“Our resident New Media Expert, Doug Welch (DouglasEWelch.com) is back! Hosts Tracy Pattin and Danielle Gruen talk about eBooks and eBook trends (good news!) widgets, websites, blogs, themes, and of course tea!”
New Media Chat – February 3, 2010 @ 7pm
New Media Chat – Bring your questions
Time: February 3, 2010 from 7pm to 8pm
Location: Online
Website or Map: http://tinychat.com/newmediainterchange
Phone: 818-804-5049
Organized By: Douglas E. Welch
Event Description
Join us for our twice-monthly New Media Chat where we discuss the New Media questions, issues and trends of the day.
New Media Chat Transcript for January 6, 2010
This is a transcript of our latest New Media Chat, held online on January 6, 2010.
Event: New Media Chat – Wed, Jan 6, 2009 – 7 PM
New Media Chat – Bring your questions
Time: January 6, 2010 from 7pm to 8pm
Location: Online
Website or Map: http://tinychat.com/newmediainterchange
Phone: 818-804-5049
Organized By: Douglas E. Welch
Event Description
Join us for our twice-monthly New Media Chat where we discuss the New Media questions, issues and trends of the day.
A Singer/Songwriter makes good use of New Media
Singer/Songwriter Matthew Moran has figured out that New Media can bring him some big benefits. He has a full featured web site at http://www.matthewmoranonline.com/ and has recently started streaming most of his live shows.
Matthew understands that one of the most important things he can do for his music and his career is allow people to hear it, like it, buy it. It doesn’t matter if they join him live at a venue or watch remotely over the Internet, it only matters that they are exposed to his music.
I am often fond of saying that “music/books/scripts don’t sell themselves in a drawer!” People have to see/read/hear your product in order to decide whether it is something they might buy. Your job is to offer this exposure in as many was as possible. You need to provide people a way to stumble upon your work — whatever form it might take.
Check out Matthew’s site for links to his live streams, recorded video, music samples and more. Even better, buy his CD or attend a live performance and show him you appreciate his work.
Top 11 Posts from New Media Interchange for 2009
Here is a list of the top 11 New Media Interchange posts for 2009
- What’s the differences between a Facebook Group and Fan Page
- Video: SteadyStick CamCorder Stabilizer
- Recently Shared: DIY Camera Stabilizer
- Twitter Software and more! – New Media Answers 015
- New: Zoom Q3: Flip Video-type camera with better audio
- In The Field with Tracy Pattin- New Media and Social Media Travels Around LA
- In The Field….At PresentationCampLA
In The Field… At The Writer’s Guild of America
- News: Where your favorite actress could end up next: YouTube
- In The Field…Another Great Evening of Idea Pitching
- Video: Izzy Video 110 – The Rule of Thirds
- Video: New Media Answers 012 – Facebook
Event: “From Camera to YouTube” – A Workshop
Video: Douglas guests on New Media Tea Time: Part 3
I had a great time recording 3 episodes of New Media Tea Time on Friday with Tracy Pattin and Danielle Gruen. Here is episode 3. You can watch it below or subscribe to the New Media Tea Time podcast in your RSS Reader.
Video: Podcast Double End Recording with MP2 Transfer for Multitrack Editing
NMI Member and longtime fellow podcaster, George Starcher has posted several great technical videos to the New Media Interchange Community Site and I will be highlighting them here in the blog, too.
This first one deals with recording a podcast “double ender” — a remote interview where each person records there end of the conversation and then it is assembled in an audio editor to create a high quality interview.
George is a fellow member of the the Friends in Tech podcasting group, too.
Audio: Live Reading of “A Christmas Carol” – 4th Annual
On Sunday last, NMI Founder Douglas E. Welch, held his 4th Annual LIVE Reading of Charles Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol” and the audio is now available for your holiday pleasure.
Douglas says, :”I think this would be great listening while steaming your Christmas pudding, cooking your Christmas goose or enjoying that refreshing “bowl of steaming bishop!”
Listen to the 4th Annual LIVE Reading of Charles Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol” from DouglasEWelch.com
You can also watch the video captured live on uStream.tv.
Watch the 4th Annual Reading of Charles Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol”
Friends in Tech present A Geek Christmas Story
I have been a member of Friends in Tech, a technology podcasting group, for years and each year we put together several holiday specials specifically for our “Geek-minded” listeners. This year we produced a geekified parody of “A Christmas Story”.
Over the years we have developed a workflow that allows everyone to record their parts separately and then several members, acting as the editors, assemble the final production with music and sound effects. This allows us to put together a complete presentation in just a few weeks, even though we are scattered all over the country.
We also bring in special guest voices from the podcasting community to “share the love” among our fellow new media producers. If you are looking for a project for your group, an audio play can be a great place to start. It energizes your people and also reaches out to the community to increase your visibility. — Douglas
Listen to A Geek Christmas Story
“Mattie Stevens, a young boy of the early 80’s, dreams of owning a Commodore 64. He sets out to convince everyone this is the perfect gift. But, along the way runs into opposition from his parents and everyone around him including old Santa Claus”
Written By:
Kreg Steppe and Douglas E. Welch
Produced By:
George Starcher – Typical Mac User Podcast
Victor Cajiao – Typical Mac User Podcast - – Typical Shutterbug Podcast
Steve Holden – Tech News Radio - Jersey Boys Podcast – AztecMedia.net
Cast of Players:
Narrator: Kreg Steppe – Technorama
Harvey Stevens: Dad – Kevin Devin
Mandy Stevens: Mom – Susie Murph – How to Grow your Geek Podcast
Mattie Stevens: Son – Daniel Devin
Sandy Stevens: Little Brother – Spencer Holden
Curtz Eisenberg: Friend to Mattie – Harrison Steppe
General Beringer: General – Douglas E. Welch
Lieutenant: Steve Holden – Tech News Radio
Mrs. Little: Katie Floyd – Mac Power Users Podcast
Santa’s Helper: Chuck Tomasi – Chuckchat.com
Santa: Larry Pesce – Pauldotcom.com Podcast
Judge: Victor Cajiao – Typical Mac User Podcast – Typical Shutterbug Podcast
Andrew Carnagie: Andy Helsby – Absoblogginlutely!
J.P. Morgan: Grant Bichocco – Mr.Grant.com
UPS Guy: Paul Asadoorian- Pauldotcom.com Podcast
Skipper: Rylie Starcher
Tip of the Hat to the old Christmas Commodore 64 Demo
Previous FiT Holiday Specials:
- Halloween – Server Room of Horrors – 2005
- Christmas – A Geek Christmas Carol – 2005
- Halloween – Server Room of Horrors – 2006
- Christmas – Lucky the Reindeer and the Island of Misfit Geeks – 2006
- Halloween – It’s the Great Server Chuck and Kreg! – 2007
This has been a Friends in Tech Production.
WordPress 2.9 upgrade fails on GoDaddy shared server(s)
(Update 12/19/2009 – 1341 PST – Received links on how to export and import database into new 5.0 version of the database. Working with some knowledgeable others to help me do the process.)
(Update 12/19/2009 – 1024 PST – Looks as if my main database is still in mySQL 4.0 format although GoDaddy support 5.0. Probably never had need to upgrade DB since I moved there. Support email sent in on how to upgrade database)
Hmmm. Upgrading your WordPress installations is typically a part of good system management, but when trying to install the latest version of WordPress 2.9 this morning I received the following error.
Upgrade WordPress
Downloading update from http://wordpress.org/wordpress-2.9.zip.Unpacking the update.
The update cannot be installed because WordPress 2.9 requires MySQL version 4.1.2 or higher. You are running version 4.0.27.
Installation Failed
I am not sure if this effects all of GoDaddy’s shared servers or just mine, but it could effect a lot of people if their default install of mySQL is this version.
What are you experiencing with WordPress 2.9 installs on shared servers?
Video: Douglas guests on New Media Tea Time – Part 2
I had a great time recording 3 episodes of New Media Tea Time on Friday with Tracy Pattin and Danielle Gruen. Here is episode 2. You can watch it below or subscribe to the New Media Tea Time podcast in your RSS Reader.
Sampler: Tracy Pattin and Voicebank.net’s VoiceRegistry Blog
One of the great uses of New Media is education. Not just standard, school and college-based education, but genuine, person-to-person, master-to-apprentice-style learning. In this vein, I present NMI Member, Tracy Pattin and one of her excellent shows, Voice Registry Blog and Podcast. In this show, Tracy focuses on the realities of voiceover work by interviewing some of the biggest names in the industry.
In this show, Tracy interviews Bob Bergen and Bill Holmes on physicalizing while performing voiceover.
Check out this sample show and then subscribe to the blog directly or using iTunes.
iPod Ready Video
Transcript of New Media Chat from December 8, 2009
douglaswelch: Welcome everyone to tonight’s New Media Chat. This will be our last chat until 2010. Watch the event listing at the New Media Interchange Community site – http://community.newmediainterchange.com
douglaswelch: for information on upcoming chats
douglaswelch: You can also read the New Media Interchange blog or subscribe to the NMI Mailing mailing list at http://newmediainterchange.com
j_oliveroconnell: Hi Marylynn
douglaswelch: If you wish to see my smiling face, I have my still picture web cam up at http://douglasewelch.com/webcam/
douglaswelch: With that said, welcom everyone!
douglaswelch: Just before some of you arrived Jennifer had a great question about blogging. I will get to that in just a moment
marylynn3: Hi j_oliveroconnell
douglaswelch: First, though, a client of mine found out their WordPress blog had been hacked, and I wanted to issue a word of warning.
douglaswelch: Just like your computer, WordPress blogs (those you host yourself on your own web site) need to be updated on a regular basis.
douglaswelch: When you log into your WordPress blog, you will see a notice that it is time to upgrade and usually a few clicks will
douglaswelch: do it.
j_oliveroconnell: Oh, okay.
j_oliveroconnell: So just click on that update button and that does it?
douglaswelch: If you don’t upgrade your WordPress installations, you can get hacked and people can insert
marylynn3: Ugh, I tend to wait a while b/c of plugin issues that can arise with WP updates
douglaswelch: bad things into your blog and use it to try and infect other people.
j_oliveroconnell: Thanks for that.
j_oliveroconnell: I wasn’t sure what the benefit was.
About
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NMI Community Activity- Jennifer Oliver O'Connell Coffee-IV enabled & Tues w-Transitioners--talking about unemployment extensions & off-book work, plus check in with each other's searches. March 9, 2010
- Jennifer Oliver O'Connell Injecting the coffee-IV and plotting the day: Will get in some research before taking hubby to Drs. Appt and more X-rays. March 8, 2010
- Anne Gallagher is now a member of New Media Interchange March 8, 2010
- Bigg Success Great find of the week: A Social Media policy generator for companies (and it's free!) http://policytool.net/ March 5, 2010
- Jennifer Oliver O'Connell Coffee-IV enabled and trying to get back in the swing w-CareerCampLA follow-up with potential sponsors! www.careercampla.wordpress.com March 5, 2010
- Jennifer Oliver O'Connell Coffee-IV enabled and ready for Tuesdays with Transitioners with Danielle Gruen as our guest speaker! www.tuesdayswithtransitioners.ning.com March 2, 2010
- Jennifer Oliver O'Connell Coffee-IV enabled and revved up for the day. Finalization of the ARRL newsletter & CareerCampLA follow-up: www.careercampla.wordpress.com March 1, 2010
- Jennifer Oliver O'Connell Dr. Dobson airs final broadcast w-Focus on the Family. Fresh Examiner articles-http://ping.fm/HMMjL February 27, 2010
- Jennifer Oliver O'Connell Injecting the coffee-IV--needed this morning. Plans to complete articles & CareerCampLA stuff; join the fun-www.careercampla.wordpress.com! February 25, 2010
- Jennifer Oliver O'Connell Injecting the coffee-IV & TCB: Articles to write & CareerCampLA follow-up. Check out all the happenings www.careercampla.wordpress.com. February 24, 2010
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