casting at The U. - FAQ



What is webcasting?
Webcast is a term derived from "web" and "broadcast." It is a method for distributing live and archived audio and video over the web. Most commonly, the media is available through "streaming." Streaming is an efficient method for listening or viewing a webcast while it is simultaneously being downloaded. Another method is downloading an actual copy of the media file from the web. In both cases, the media can be played using your computer's media player. The download method also allows you to save the media and play it on your portable media player.

What is podcasting?
Podcast is a term derived from "iPod" and "broadcast." It is a popular technology for distributing audio and video files over the web. It differs from webcasting in that you need not visit a webpage to download media. By subscribing to a podcast, the media will automatically download to your computer whenever new media is available. Once downloaded, you can play the media on your computer or portable media player. Podcasts are generally denoted by displaying the word "podcast" or any variation of images similar to these: .

I click download, but the media just starts playing. How do I download media?
Depending on the browser, you may be prompted to download media or it may just start playing. If you would like to download a media file, you may need to right-click (Windows) or option-click (Macintosh) on the download link. Then, select the "Save Target As..." or "Save Link As..." option. This will allow you to download the media to a desired location on your computer.

What media types are used for casting at The U?
The U. is currently using the following formats for audio and video. Our goal is to supply our audience with the most commonly supported media formats. Links to player downloads can be found in the bottom right corner of our casting page.

Type		Format		Method
Audio		.mp3		stream
Audio		.mp3		download
Video		.wmv		stream
Video		.wmv		download
Video		.mp4		download

How do I subscribe to a podcast?
Websites that supply a podcast will provide a URL to the podcast. Your podcatcher will need this URL to subscribe. To get our podcasts, simply visit our casting page and find the area entitled "Podcasts." Next, right-click (Windows) or option-click (Macintosh) on the link provided and copy it to your clipboard. Then, open your podcatcher and paste in the URL.

What is a podcatcher? How do I get one?
The term "podcasting" can be misleading in that you do not actually need an iPod to take advantage of it. You simply need a tool called a podcatcher (also called a podcast client or aggregator) that will receive and interpret the podcast. This tool will automatically download media from the web. After the media is downloaded, you can play it on your computer or take it with you on a portable media player. A podcatcher is software that you install on your computer. iTunes is a very common example. For a comprehensive list of podcatchers, visit podcasting news. After setting up your podcatcher, you will be ready to use The U's podcasts. Follow the instructions for your particular podcatcher to subscribe to our podcasts. Our podcasts are listed on our casting page.

Can I make my own content available on the webcasting site?
For more information on making content available for the webcasting site, please contact University Relations at 677-5759 or email them at urelate@usd.edu.


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