Broadcasting Your Message: Posting Online

There are lots of options out there for actually putting your message online.  I’m only going to cover one method for now: Posting to a blog.  It’s the easiest solution “out of the box” as they say.

To get started, you’ll need a blog if you don’t already have one.  Or maybe you want a new one just for sermons.  I recommend WordPress for blogging, but there are other alternatives available to you.  Here are some of the major free ones:

• WordPress by Automattic
• Blogger by Google
• Live Spaces by Microsoft

This tutorial will focus only on WordPress.  You can sign up here for a blog.

Once you’re signed up, we can get started.  There are two options for adding the audio to your post.  The first should be used if you don’t have your own file hosting ability (like your own website at www.YourUniqueSiteHere.com).  The 2nd option assumes you know how to upload files to your website.

Option 1: A Hosting Service
The Status Joe has a good tutorial to cover how to add audio to your blog if you don’t have your own hosting.  I followed the steps he posted and was able to get it working.  Some of the directions for the external hosting site (MusicWebTown.com) include pictures of the old interface, but it’s close enough that you’ll be able to figure it out.  Also note that when Joe tells you to click the “Code” tab, he means the HTML one.  It’s been changed in the current version.  It produces this:

Option 2: Self-Hosted

• Upload your MP3 to your website.  You may need to use an FTP (File Transfer Protocol) Client to do it.  I recommend FileZilla.  Your website hosting company can provide the necessary settings to connect if you don’t already have them.
• In the “write new post” screen, click the HTML tab and insert the following line, enclosed in brackets [], adapted for your audio file:
  • audio http://www.YourUniqueSiteHere.com/my-message-title.mp3
• Click back to the Visual layout

You can add text before or after the [audio] line, but don’t change that line at all.  If you’ve done it corrcetly, you’ll see the same small audio player as above.  Make sure there are no spaces in the [audio] line except for the space between audio and the web address.  Preview the post to make sure you’ve got it right and then click Publish.

Broadcasting Your Message: Recording

Now that you’ve got the hardware, it’s time to start recording.  Meet Audacity.  It’s a free alternative for sound recording that will work for most people.  First, you’ll need to download and install the program.  Here’s how:

1. Go to the Audacity website.
2. Click Download Audacity 1.3.6 (Beta)  (It’s ok, this beta is pretty stable).
3. On the left sidebar, click the version you want to download.  Most people will need the Windows version, which should be the default.
4. The first bullet in the Recommended Download section contains the link you’ll want.  Click “Audacity 1.3.6 installer” next to your version of windows.  Most people will be in the first bullet.
5. Save the file to disk.
6. Double-click the downloaded file.
7. Follow the install instructions, using the default options.

Next, download the LAME MP3 Encoder.  There are directions on this page at Audacity’s site.  The first LAME page you land on will warn you about needing a license.  If you aren’t selling your sermons or other media, you do not need a license.

Once this is done, you’re ready to start recording.  Turn on the mics, plug them in and start Audacity.  Here’s a quick video walk-through of Audacity for you:

Up next, we’ll look at how to publish your audio file to the web.

Video Conference Calling

Need to set up a meeting between multiple parties and prefer video conferencing over a more traditional phone call?  Tony Morgan suggests using ooVoo.  Here’s an excerpt:

If you’re trying to implement a successful multi-site strategy, you already know that communications with your various campuses are critical. Here’s one easy and free tool we’ve started using at NewSpring to make that happen. The solution is called ooVoo. It’s a web solution for video chat that allows you to connect face-to-face with up to six people.

I’ve not tried it before, but it looks interesting.  Some ideas for using ooVoo in ministry other than conference calls:

• Small group Bible studies or discussions with your college students.
• Form a regular support network from around the country and meet online.