Naaaa Na nana NaAaAAaA! The ZU Podcast

[Anime_Queen]

('d you like ma wee intro tune? =D )

*coughs*

Ok.

I'm sure that all of you are aware of the Voice Thread in the GCC. For those of you who haven't been keeping up with it, Galedeep brought up an EXCELLENT idea of having a ZU Podcast.

Now, of course, I've ranted about it and think it's a fantastic idea. I want to tell you MY vision, expectations and ideas, and then I want YOU to put forth ideas of your own, agree with me or disagree but say WHY. Let's have a discussion and possibly add a new dimension to ZU!


Ok, MY ideas are as follows :

Firstly, I think we can all agree that ZU's strongest point is it's community. The people that make it what it is, or have MADE it what it is now but are no longer active. That is why I propose-


- It be a solely community thing. I.E not Zelda-centered. By the community for the community. I, personally.. am not really interested in Zelda (ZOMG! Banzorz! >_> ) and I wouldn't be interested in hearing..er.. just zelda-related things. Talking to a variety of people, I have found that to be the same for a lot of them =X

- It be weekly

- Have several different "programmes" or bits .. uhm, I really need to upgrade my terminology. I mean to say, have fixed slots/sections. Such as:

- "The News on the Drama Front" - where community news from around ZU that week is given as headlines. It can be about ANything during that week. Can range from the latest controversial stuff happening in serious business to the idiotic happenings that subsequently got so 'n so banned - and be done in a really fun way!

- "The Fuhrer Speaks" - where Either the Benevolent Evil Overseer Scott or Jason give a faux serious update on something. It can be either ridiculously complex or an announcement that has also been made on the forums. Well.. it's just the "Queen waving from Balcony" thing and addressing the subjects really xD


- "Question Time" - this one I'm really looking forward to if it generates support! Basically, as I mentioned above - I believe that ZU is ZU by merit of the people within it that make it so. So, this is a thingy where we'll choose an influential ZU'er every week, announce it a week or so before, then accept questions from ZU'ers (in a thread within the forums somewhere) to be posed to that influential personality during the "Interview". People I had in mind are like Lars, Peefy, Capn, andi, Hind, Lioness, Mad Hatter, Josh .. xD
Seriously though. And it can either be semi-serious or completely bonkers


- "Get to Know your Mods" - it was something that's been done before on the forums, but I don't think it worked very well on text; so, I thought that maybe .. well.. you know :3


- And there can be a .. Topic of the Week or something with a group discussing it. Can be anything - -either choose a topic already generating much interest ina thread, or the feedback arena or .. how about ZU is in decline and will probably die off in a month's time *laughs* but it be a discussion. Live discussions can be fun

Note : the above are all just ideas and suggestions, and nothing is set in stone

- We have a committee responsible for the production of the Podcast. Which will be split into 2:
- Those in charge of actual recording (and obtaining/chasing up the relevant recordings from people) and sound editing of the Podcast (please say if you have experience! ^___^ )

- Those in charge of compiling the actual material together for recording. Those I'll call "The ZU Journalists". Of course, I also want for there to be a flexibility so that anyone from the community interested in participating or has an idea or a contribution can also take part. So, the Journalists will be in charge of sorting through that kinda stuff


Oh! and maybe have a competition with who can come up with a ZU anthem or something! xD

Ok, that's some of my thoughts.
I'll now leave the podium and you can share yours =D

[Panique]

ojeez.

Do want, Asia. :D

I hate ma voice, but it'd be fun to compile stuffs. :3

[Forseti]

This would be fun, great ideas Asia. And if this thing actually flies then sign me up.

"programmes" or bits .. uhm, I really need to upgrade my terminology. I mean to say, have fixed slots/sections.

You had programs right. No worries

[Future]

I would be willing to lend my voice for this.

[Iroas]

I support this idea!

This could take the ZU awards to a higher level too :]

Though I don't think I'll ever join in the podcast eventhough I have a microphone. Hates meh voice Dx

[Anime_Queen]

Yay! =D
100% support so far!

Dudes and dudettes who want to have a hand in this and interested to contribute --

specify in which bits you'd like to contribute.
As a presenter? Journalist? editor? Programme compiler/planner?

Also - any disagreements with the ideas proposed so far? or tweaks?
Can you think of anything else that could possibly be very fun?

EDIT - Jaap - you're not allowed to take part till you post a wee voicefile with how you pronounce your name first xD

EDIT2 - Iroas, elaborate on the awards thing =O

[Cody]

Australian accent program go! I'm happy to help with this. I'm pretty used to talking with a microphone, and we can use teamspeak or ventrilo for "programmes" with multiple people in it.

[Scott]

Jason was doing something or another on the front of "recording a podcast," meaning figuring out how to make it so that we can talk back and forth and have it recorded and not sound like hell.

Specific content of that podcast hasn't really been discussed in detail, but my general idea was that we'd spend a moment mentioning recent Zelda news (and, all considered, that is not very much. I, for one, would not want to talk about details, as that's just a waste of space), and spend a while talking about community things, and a bit where we go back and forth about different events or games or what-not. (While keeping it interesting, of course.)

And I will bake you cookies and mail them to you if you can come up with a winning anthem, record it, and post it.

[Anime_Queen]

Brilliant stuff, Cody! ("Reporting live from Singapore." << (hah. Nice)
Though Skype's been suggested as the better choice for that kinda thing. i wouldn;t know though! =D

Scott - ah .. do you think the 2 podcast ideas will merge into one? or keep the zelda/gamer-y podcast seperate to the community one?
That can be a question for YOU guys to answer actually - to have game discussions and stuff as part of it or not? (notnot.. that would be boring >_>)

You also bring up a good point for the de-bugging thing .. there'll probably be quite a few trials and such before the first is released. Because if we're going to make one, it caNNOT be crappy

Issue of time - I was thinking approximately 10 minutes-ish. Again, all is open for discussion, so jump in and suggest stuff!

AlsO..
Scott - I'm going to hold you to that :p
We'll launch that competition with the advent of the podcast, and the prize WILL be that you bake 'n send 'em cookies ^__^

[|)ÅRKLINK]

huh nice idea i support this idea

[musical zombie.]

AMAZING IDEA GET

I'd help out with a heartbeat, but I don't have a mic. :[ Nice idea, though, Asia; YOU, MA'AM, ARE AN INNOVATOR OF THE HIGHEST DEGREE!

Ten minutes seems like a good time. It could be like a CNN news type thing, or Channel 8.

ZUNW!

ZU NEWS WEEKLY : D

EDIT: Also. Maybe we could have a "Member of the Week" type function or a "Member of the Month" type thing where, on the Podcast, every week/month (like, at the end of 3 podcasts), one member would be selected by the podcast committee and they would present themselves, telling things they like, don't like, their musical tastes, etc. Maybe "Getting to Know Your Fellow ZU'sers". If they didn't have a mic, they could write out their thing and someone who does could say it for them?

[sugarpoultry]

I really enjoy listening to "Show me your news" podcast on Smashboards, so this is a great idea for ZU. Very valuable. Good luck! I'll check back.

[Galedeep]

Well since I was the one who brought this up, I guess I should chime in.

Firstly, I am a strong believer that a podcast needs to have one or two central "hosts." They are people who have to be willing to commit to be there and participate every time. This is because you need people who are there to move things along, and secondly, so that there's a consistant air of familiarity. Of course, it could be as many as say, three or four people who regularly participate, though not every week, but just cycle in and out. That's all stuff that has to come in the later planning. Plus, if it's an idea people don't like, then just disregard it. It's just a personal preference for me.

Secondly, there's the method. The most commom (and easiest) method I could find when it came to recording a podcast over long distance is to use a Skype conference call, and then for each use to be recording their end of the conversation using the free program Audacity (along with an Mp3 encoder, which is also free). Then they all send their sound files to one person, who will use Audacity to edit it together. I am familiar with Audacity, so I am willing to edit it together.
In terms of hardware, this means anyone who wants to participate will need a headset, or a microphone (if you're using a mic, you'll need to use headphones as well, so the mic doesn't pick up an echo of everyone else's voice). This is the most common way I was able to find. If anyone else knows of a better way, then speak up.

Nextly, I think that it would be best if there was a specific recording time and date. Because this is obvoiusly going to take place across time zones, this is going to be pretty key. Also, a specific date for when each Podcast should be released.

And on the subject of releasing, I'm really unsure of how to get a podcast available through iTunes. I know it has something to do with RSS, but have no idea how to work anything like that. Also, hosting. While I have a little bit of space on my Google account, and there's those free hosting services, they aren't really reliable or consistant enough if people want to go back and get old "episodes." So that needs to be worked out.

mmm What else? OH! In terms of content, while I'm in agreement that I'd like for this to be mostly community oriented, this is a Zelda site, so a little bit of time set aside for any current news is a-ok by me. Also, I'm a big fan of just letting conversations happen, so I would say, for just a regular non-interview program, have a couple topics set aside, but don't go in with the aim to get to them all. At the same time, I think many will find ten minutes to be rather a short amount of time, so I would say that should be what we aim for, but if we go over by a handful of minutes, then it's no big deal. Let the conversations happen, don't cut them short unless they are getting way too long.

For theme music, is this guy still around?

And finally (for now), the NAME. In my first post on the subject, I called it "ZUCast." Even if that turns out to be the name, this is speech, and people would pronounce it differently! I know me and Asia call it "zed-you," and most others call it "zee-you," while some just call it "zoo." So do we want some uniformity, or do we want to name it something completely different?

In any case, since this is "my" brain child (bah, don't like taking credit), I am, of course, only too willing to participate. By taking part in the actual 'cast, by editing, by pretty much anything.

[Margar]

I have all the technology available to me for sound editing. Internet, editing software, professional training...

I'd gladly be the sound editer. people can send the files to me, and I will put it all together into a nifty package. plus, on some weekends, I will have access to skype, so I can do the conferences. I am also willing to lend my voice for anything else. maybe we could do a fake, parody commercial or something, for a new silly zelda game (whose sig was it that said "The Legend of Delza: Mop of Somehow"?). I am good at writing, but not so good at comedy writing.

So there you go- Margar volunteers for sound editer/anything else.

[Future]

I had an idea come to mind a little while ago. If this thing does indeed happen I thought it would be fun (for various reasons mentioned soon) to have a reoccurring.. how should I call it.. bit. sort of a one line, possibly two, part. call it an intermission, or even an end to your podcast.

I could bring an interesting saying, or quote. something meaningful, amusing/entertaining, motivational and/or educational. something completely silly and random, or possibly something to get you thinking about.



that's where I'll leave it for now.

[Peefy]

As I'm stuck on a deserted island in the middle of the pacific ocean I have no way to transport my recorded voice but I can try to help this project out by scribbling down my ideas with what remains of the linguistic skills I once had before I was stranded here, put them into small bottles washed ashore and collected by me over the years and then randomly throw the bottles (now laden with incoherent ramblings) in a direction hoping that they will someday be given to any of you guys. I can also help out by passivly doing nothing but adding my name to credits just to boost my already fading reputation. Just give me the word!

[DK]

I think this could turn out brilliantly. I have every intention of helping out in any way I can. First things frst, I really need to get myself some decent recording equipment, and get myself at least semi-educated about how such things work.

So far, the ideas flowing seem to be spot on, with length, content (news on the drama front! Ha!) and general layout are sounding great. As for what kind of role I could play, I so far have next to know idea. If any space would need filling, I'd be more than happy to give it a shot.

Wow, Peefy!

[Anime_Queen]

*laughs at the above and gets it out of her system*
OK!

Right, whatdowehavehere..

Originally Posted by Mooziks

I'd help out with a heartbeat, but I don't have a mic. :[ Nice idea, though, Asia; YOU, MA'AM, ARE AN INNOVATOR OF THE HIGHEST DEGREE!

U MEAN GALEDEEP IS! BUTS I REFUSED AND AM HIJACKING THE THOUGHT INTO REALITY! xD

Originally Posted by Mooziks again

EDIT: Also. Maybe we could have a "Member of the Week" type function or a "Member of the Month" type thing where, on the Podcast, every week/month (like, at the end of 3 podcasts), one member would be selected by the podcast committee and they would present themselves, telling things they like, don't like, their musical tastes, etc. Maybe "Getting to Know Your Fellow ZU'sers".

BRILLIANT IDEA GET!
Fully supported.
Having these wee feature-y things to break up longer chunks of programmes be a really good idea, AND .. people will look forward to wHo the highlight of the week is every time, since we won't reveal that before hand ^_____^
Brilliant stuff.

Originally Posted by Galedeep

Firstly, I am a strong believer that a podcast needs to have one or two central "hosts." They are people who have to be willing to commit to be there and participate every time. This is because you need people who are there to move things along, and secondly, so that there's a consistant air of familiarity. Of course, it could be as many as say, three or four people who regularly participate, though not every week, but just cycle in and out. That's all stuff that has to come in the later planning. Plus, if it's an idea people don't like, then just disregard it. It's just a personal preference for me.

First of all - yay! you're here =D
Secondly, compLETELY agreed, and yes, we'll need a central 2 presenters or so. Maybe a couple of others who'll present different or one-off "programmes" that they've prepared, but these will be the "dj's" who tie it all together.
I personally have some ideas of who we can use.
They need to be fun and not grating as well as easily understood and such. Like I said, I have a couple of ideas on who, but why can't we have "auditions"?

As for the Method - aye, of course we'll have to make sure our "guests: for the different "shows" have mics and such available. If they don't .. well.. hopefully we'll have a LARGE pool of people resources to draw from ^____^

all the software IS pretty much free. As for Editing it together, and I realise that you want to be part of how it's put together -- but at the same time we have Margar who's got the whole shebang at her disposal and has professional experience. So, would it be possible for you two to collaborate on editing the final thing together? =)

As for echoes and such if some people record that way .. for me, the firsrt thought is "so what? xD" I mean to say -- we don;t want this to be tOO polished; and let's allow for some silliness and organicness to be retained. So, if there's a "phone-in" and the person has a thitty (hurhurhur) recording thingy, let it be xD ... make fun of them on air **laughs**

Originally Posted by Galedeep

At the same time, I think many will find ten minutes to be rather a short amount of time, so I would say that should be what we aim for, but if we go over by a handful of minutes, then it's no big deal. Let the conversations happen, don't cut them short unless they are getting way too long.

Completely agreed =)
The 10 minute thing was just a guide figure, and I have NO idea if it's too short or long. But, as I stated above (disagree if necessary), I want to shy away from being all rigid and stuff. If it takes longer, fine, if it takes shorter, also fine. So long as the outcome package is great =D

as for the Name ... let's just enforce our "zed you" on them, Galedeep *laughs*

(oh and for releasing it - I really have no idea. I just assumed that Jase will go "sure! we'll host it on ZU and make it downloadable. And archive all the episodes into a page off the main site"
..
am I being too much of a dreamer? :p )(Jase? *pokes*)

Originally Posted by Jaap

I could bring an interesting saying, or quote. something meaningful, amusing/entertaining, motivational and/or educational. something completely silly and random, or possibly something to get you thinking about.

I wholeheartedly support something like this. a "Quote of the week" or a "thoughtcast" or something. It will add meaning and an extra quality to something that will be primarily in fun and jest and, hopefully, balance it out.
Anyone who disagree?

Jaap - I take it you want to be responsible for this wee bit, no?
Let's see how things flow along, but so far *makes note*

PEEeeEeEeeEeFFFyYYyy! - Mr. Ideas Man and Aweomeness Incarnate, it would be an HONOur to clean the wee bottles out of seaweed and read the messages inside xD
It would be an HONour to have you onboard the planning team on all fronts! :3


One more proposition for das admins out there - Is it possible to make a wee forum/subforum thingy for the Podcast Project? This seems like it's going to generate a lot of feedback constantly and we need a place for people to discuss the podcasts later and a place where they can post their ideas or proposals for upcoming episodes. Maybe even have a .. uhm.. secret one where all the organisers can keep up with the production and such and sorting out all the material and shaping it into the final product.
What say you?

[Λύσις]

Sounds like an interesting idea.

[Comrade]

I give it a yay.

My sexy voice is in your hands.

As long as I get 6 seconds each cast to sing some Marvin Gaye.