This article is part two of a two-part series on podcasting. Part one introduces the idea of podcasting, and explores its potential for preaching.

So by now I guess you have figured out that this whole podcasting thing isn't just some crazy new fishing pole. I will show you how you can create a podcast of your own in three simple steps. If you have digital recordings of your sermons and your computer has an Internet connection, then you are ready to start your journey into the podcastsphere.

Step 1—Recording your podcast

You need to record your sermon in MP3 format, or in some format that you will convert to MP3 with an audio software program.

There are a bunch of free MP3 recording software solutions available online, such as Audacity, HarddiskOgg, Freecorder, MuvAudio, and Free Audio Recorder 1.0.

Once you have recorded your content, you need to save or export the file in MP3 format. Or if you have an audio file in some other format, you need to open it and then save or export it in MP3 format. Another option with non-MP3 files is to use a software program such as dBpowerAMP (a free, shareware program) to convert the audio files to MP3.

When you save, you need to change the settings on the file to keep the size down. That way your podcast subscribers don't have to wait forever for your podcast to download. The settings that I have chosen are a bit rate (the number of binary digits streamed per second.) of 56 kbps (kilobits per second), quality at medium, a sample rate (the rate at which samples of an analog signal are taken in order to be converted into digital form) of 32.000 Hz, and channels at stereo. The lower the bit rate and sample rate, the lower the quality of the audio. You can tweak these settings to get the quality you want, remembering that you trade off quality for a smaller file. I try to keep the file under 10 MB. For more information on the technical aspects of an MP3, check out http://encyclopedia.laborlawtalk.com/MP3

Step 2—Get a host for your site

Now you need a place online to host your podcast. You need Web space, to which you will upload your MP3 sermon files and your RSS feed (more on this file in step 3).

There are a couple of ways to get an online host for your podcast.

One of the easiest is to use a site like Audioblog.com, which for a small price ($50 a year) will host your MP3s, create your RSS feed, and publish a post to a blog with the push of a few buttons.

Another way, which requires someone with computer expertise, is to use your current website or, if you don't have one, purchase Web space from a host such as DreamHost or DomainPeople.

Step 3—Creating an RSS feed

Now that you have your MP3 files created and your webpage set up, you need to upload your files to your Web space.

If you go the route of putting your podcast on your own website, your Web host should provide information on how to upload files via FTP (file transfer protocol).

Once you have your MP3 files on your own site, you need to create an RSS feed. An RSS feed is an XML coded file on your site that informs podcast subscribers and podcast directories such as iTunes and iPodder what MP3 sermon files you have available on your site. You update the RSS feed each time you add a new sermon or MP3 to your site.

You can create an RSS feed yourself. You can script it by hand (lots of work; for coaching, see http://audiofeeds.org/tutorial.php), or you can use a tool called Feed Editor or The Podcast RSS Buddy (download at http://www.download.com/The-Podcast-RSS-Buddy/3000-7241_4-10417408.html). These tools are easy to use and worth the pennies to register it. They will make an XML RSS feed file for you so that all you have to do is stick the file on your site. (I also recommend using Feedburner.com for this method. There are a lot of great tools and informational pages on Feedburner.com that can help you with podcast. For example, see http://www.feedburner.com/fb/a/popup-quickstart-podcast).

That's it! Once you have your RSS feed, post a link to it on the iTunes directory. To do this, you will need to download free iTunes software at iTunes.com, then in iTunes click on the Music Store, then click on podcasts, then click on "submit a podcast."

Don't stop now. Keep posting your feed elsewhere, on your site, your friend's site, everywhere you can!

Welcome to the podcasting universe!

Dave Clark is pastor of media, National Community Church (theaterchurch.com), Washington, D.C.