SCHWAGCAST FAQ

Three guys with three mics -- and a whole lotta angst -- dedicated to bringing you new and independent music from around the world!

Come for the music, but stick around for the free cheese.

Sleep. Eat. Listen. Repeat.

boB, Jerry, and Kevin provide you with your weekly dose of perfectly flawed entertainment and the best independent music this side of the Internet.

Recorded at Phase One Productions
Produced at Phase Two Productions

Subscribe to the Schwagcast feed by adding the address below to your "podcatcher" client, aggregator, or RSS reader (i.e. NIMIQ or iTunes):

http://feeds.feedburner.com/schwagcast

Subscribe to the Schwagcast in

 <-- Click here for your weekly dose of perfectly flawed entertainment.-->

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1. What is this "podcast" thing that all the kids are talking about?
   • First of all, you don't need an iPod..... just some way of downloading and listening to an mp3 file. A PC with speakers is the minimum requirements, but you can get fancy with all sorts of wireless stereo components, if you have piles of money to burn.
   • Instead of "podcast," I prefer Time-Shifted, Internet Modulated (IM) Audio File. It's like radio, but it's not AM, or FM, or even XM. It's IM!
     "Tsi Maf." See, that's easier to say than "podcast," and you won't think of little pod people when you say Tsi Maf.
   • Think of a podcast like a trade journal, only on the internet and in an audio file rather than in printed text. It's just yet another way of distributing information and entertainment of varying levels of usefullessness to an audience.
     Unlike a trade journal, our podcast is free.
   • A podcast is essentually an audio file that is stored on a public server on the Internet. This audio file is often all talk, but some IM audio files focus on music or comedy skits or an alternative to a museum tour audio. There are several ways to access this public audio file, and it keeps getting easier all of the time. The audio file can be downloaded and saved locally to be listened to either on the computer, any mp3 player, burned to a CD, or even loaded on cell phones that can play mp3s.
     Just like there are trade journals for all kinds of specific topics, podcasts come in a variety of flavours from Zen podcasts to Motorcycle Maintenance podcasts. Somewhere in between lies the Schwagcast.
   • "Personal OnDemand BroadCAST" or "iPOD BroadCAST" .... YOU be the judge!
   • For ever changing information about what this revolution is all about, and for more information on the origin of the word "podcast," check out the Wikipedia article on podcasting. Remember, anyone can edit Wiki articles, so take it for what it is worth.
   
   
2. What does it mean to subscribe to a podcast? Why can't I just listen to it on-line?
   • Well.... you can. That's the beauty of it all. If you have a slow connection (like mine), you could have issues with buffering and such.... and how portable is your computer compared to your mp3 player? What?!? You don't have an mp3 player? Well, then you can still listen at the computer.
   • In keeping with the trade journal analogy, you don't always want to go down to the newsstand each week to buy the same trade journal once you have found one that you like, so you subscribe to the journal. Then, the journal gets magically delivered to your mailbox each week.
     Sure, you can just listen to a podcast on-line so long as you can find a reliable way to always find the new file and know when it is updated. In this digital age, why bother with having to remember schwagcast.com when you can have a computer do that for you? (Who's asking the questions here?)
     Just like a brick and mortar newsstand can go out of business forcing you to find another store that sells the journal, podcasters can change where their audio files are stored.
   • You would subscribe to a podcast for many of the same reasons why you would buy a trade journal subscription. Podcast subscriptions are managed by client software (called an aggregator) that queries each of your subscribed podcast "feeds" looking for updates. When an update is found, the new audio file is downloaded onto your computer so that you can listen to it at your leisure. You can even configure the software to synchronize with your personal MP3 player so you can take podcasts with you much the same way you bring along your Bachman Turner Overdrive digital tracks that you somehow managed to transfer from the old 8-track cartridges in your basement. Boink!! How's THAT for scientific progress?
     The aggregator client (or "podcatcher" -- for catching pods that have been cast) can usually be configured to check your subscribed feeds at any frequency that you desire. The aggregator client and the RSS/XML feeds work together to seemlessly bring you fresh audio content as soon as possible all packaged up ready for stickin' in your ears!
   • String together a half dozen or so podcasts, and you have your very own radio station. On demand! You are the program director of this radio station, and you don't have to worry about losing reception when you drive through the Squirrel Hill Tunnels.
   • Don't like a show? UN-subscribe and you won't automatically download future episodes, but you can always re-subscribe later. Just found a new show you like? Download older episodes!
   
   
3. Great! Now how do I actually subscribe?
   • If you have iTunes, it's S-I-M-P-L-E. Just click this button to subscribe to the Schwagcast:
   • You don't have iTunes? That's okay, no need to run out and download it.
   • The first thing you need is some sort of aggregator client. I recommend NIMIQ to download the audio files. Then, you'll probably want some sort of "library" software to manage the MP3 files, like Q or iTunes. NIMIQ dovetails nicely with whatever music library (eMusic, "Q," or iTunes) you use to manage your music/video files. Another example of an aggregator is Juice, but any aggregator client will do (i.e. Jakarta Commons, Puck, CITA, PodNova).
     Some internet browsers now have an integrated "feeds" feature, like Opera. There are other web-based and stand-alone clients that are not tied to browsers such as the indiepodder client.
   • Since I've not used all of these clients, I will add instructions on how to subscribe using the clients that I have used. I'll update this list as I try new clients, but it will be basically the same method no matter what client you use.
     • NIMIQ
       1. Click the "New Subscription" button (or press CTRL-N)
       2. Copy and paste the feed URL (i.e. http://feeds.feedburner.com/schwagcast) to the "Address" field. Optional: if you want to have NIMIQ create an iTunes playlist for each different podcast, click the iTunes box.
       3. This will automatically check the feed and will begin dowloading the most recent file.
          Older shows are available for download by right-clicking on the feed name, and selecting "View Episodes." Click the check box to the left of the show that you want to download and click "Download."
     • Juice
       1. Press CTRL-N to add a new podcast
       2. Copy and paste the feed URL into the subsequent pop-up box and click "Save". For the Schwagcast, use http://feeds.feedburner.com/schwagcast
       3. This will automatically check the feed and will begin dowloading the most recent file.
          Older shows are available for download by clicking on the "Subscriptions" tab and then clicking in the box to the left of the show name. The "state" column will change from "Skipped" to "To Download".
          If you have iTunes installed, you can configure Juice so that new podcasts will be added to the iTunes library. This uses a scripting interface into iTunes, so if Juice is running and you attempt to shut down iTunes, you may see a warning that some application is currently using the scripting interface.
     • iTunes 4.9 and later
       1. Under the "Advanced" menu, select "Subscribe to Podcast..."
       2. Copy and paste the feed URL into the subsequent pop-up box. For the Schwagcast, use http://feeds.feedburner.com/schwagcast
       3. iTunes will now download only the latest show. You can find it in the "Podcasts" source item in the navigation pane
       4. Older shows are available for download simply by pressing the "GET" buttons next to the desired shows. Might I recommend "The Monkey Show" and "It's About the Music"?
     • Opera Browser
       1. Under the "Feeds" menu, select "Manage Feeds"
       2. Click the "New" button
       3. Copy and paste the feed URL into the subsequent pop-up box. For the Schwagcast, use http://feeds.feedburner.com/schwagcast
       4. Select your desired update frequency and click "OK"
       5. You will see a check in the box for that feed. You can listen to the show by going back to the "Feeds" menu and selecting the new feed that you just added.
   • When you subscribe to a show, most aggregator clients will only download the most recent show. If you find that you like the show, you have to manually download the older shows, but newer shows will be automatically delivered to you. Sweet!
   
   
4. How much does a subscription to the Schwagcast cost?
   • Nothing! It's a free subscritpion. Nice! That's where the trade journal analogy stops making sense. Unlike the yearly subscription fee that you'd pay to a publisher, there is no fee for a subscription to the Schwagcast!
     The only sort of payment I ask for is that you purchase the tracks/albums of the music you like from the show to support the artists. Make sure you tell them where you heard their tunes. If they stop making the sweet tunes, we can't spin them anymore.
   
   
5. How much do you idiots get paid for the show?
   • Not a dime. We do this for the love of the music and for your enjoyment. It's all about the music!
     Support the artists by purchasing their music. That's the only payment we want from Listenervillians.
   
   
6. I'm not sure if I want bother with the Schwagcast. I know it's free and all, but that's not enough to entice me to download one of these files. Do you have a smaller sample track that I can listen to in order to help me decide if I want to subscribe or even download a full show?
   • Funny you should ask. As a matter of fact, we DO have a couple of files that you can take for a test drive:
     1.  Listen to the Schwagcast Promo from October
     2.  "I Went Walkin'" -- The Schwagcast Blues Jam
     3.  "I Didn't Do It" -- Improvised Acoustic Rock by Jerry Mallen
     4.  "Two Bananas" -- Improvised acoustic jam
     5.  "Back of a Truck" -- Improvised acoustic rock
     6. You can check out some other samples at NumberOneMusic or MySpace.
   
   
7. You keep talking about "podsafe" music. What the heck IS THAT anyway?
   • Podsafe music is independent music that has been approved for not-for-profit use by the artist for play on non-commercial podcasts. A growing collection of podsafe songs are available on sites all over the Internets such as the Podsafe Music Network (PMN) and Podsafe Audio.
   • Most tracks that are podsafe are covered by a Creative Commons copyright license to protect the intellectual property of the artists.
     The artists retain all property rights of the music. Even if the artist has some form of licensing agreement with a BMI or ASCAP, the artist retains all rights to distribute and sell their music. This is different than licensing agreements from "commercial" artists. Podsafe artists are also referred to as "independent" artists.
   • Some tracks are deemed "podsafe" on a case-by-case basis by getting specific permission from the artist to play their tracks. The Broken Remotes, perfect example.
   • Other tracks are submitted directly to us by the artist via our SonicBids Drop Box for consideration to be played on the show. These are our favorite type. If you have a band and would like to submit tracks to us, visit our drop box on SonicBids.
   
   
8. Where is that shirt that I lost last Tuesday?
   • You lost your shirt, too? Must've been at the same card game where I lost mine!
   
   
9. What's wrong with boB?
   • It is uncertain at this time. Please ask again later.
   • Why does boB spell his name backwards?
     • He doesn't.

	Visit the Schwagcast at Feedburner
Some of the music played during Schwagcast shows is provided by the PodShow Podsafe Music Network unless otherwise noted explicitly in the show notes. Check out the Podsafe Music Network (PMN) for yourself at music.podshow.com. See show notes above for more information.
	Visit the Schwagcast on the Podsafe Music Network. Listen to a promo or the show right from the PMN.
Unless otherwise stated in the show notes above, the music played on the Schwagcast is licensed under a Creative Commons License to protect the original creations of the artists.
	If you don't yet have an RSS feed aggregator, try this free XML aggregator and then add the Schwagcast feed to subscribe to the show for free
	Subscribe to the Schwagcast at Feedburner

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