![[sticky entry]](http://s.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/entry/sticky_entry.png){kind=small}
This community is for podfic meta -- what's an effective way to use music, are certain stories more podficcable than others, what tagging data is good and where should it go, for instance -- and podfic reviews. The goal is not to come to a single consensus about what makes a good podfic, but to articulate and debate aesthetic theories about podfic, in the same way that we articulate and debate aesthetic theories about television shows, music, movies, and, to a sadly lesser extent, fanfiction and other fanactivity.
This community is not for concrit or recommendations; those are valuable, but they also lead the discussion to a really producer-centered place. This comm is for those who like meta discussion and podfic, without regard to whether they read, edit, or listen.
Chromatic Podfic Challenge
Jan. 13th, 2012 06:45 pm![[personal profile]](http://s.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
troisroyaumes![[community profile]](http://s.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png){kind=small}
chromatic_podfic is running its second annual challenge for podfic that meets any of the following criteria: - recordings of fics for fandoms with chromatic creators
- recordings of fics featuring chromatic characters
- recordings of fics in English dialects associated with chromatic cultural groups (including creoles, pidgins, ethnolects, etc.)
- recordings of fics in non-English languages associated with chromatic cultural groups
Please consider being a pronunciation/language beta. You can give authorial permission in advance for podfics as well.
When Did It All Begin?
Dec. 27th, 2011 07:14 pmaethelI was looking at the Fanlore page on podfic and realized there was no section on how/when podfic developed. I started a history section, but don't actually know enough to fill it in, so I thought I would ask for help here. (I hope that's okay.)
Is there continuity between the podfic community and older forms of fanfic audio recording? Have any current podficcers ever made analog audiofic on tape (or distributed their digital recordings on CD)? When was the term "podfic" coined? (I see the![[livejournal.com profile]](http://s.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-community.gif)
podslash community on lj started in 2005. And it uses the term podcast instead of podfic. Is that the earliest podfic comm? Meanwhile, audiofic, which started in 2006, calls it fic on tape or audiofic.) I speculated a while ago that podfic (the community and the term) came about because of podcasting and didn't have any connection with earlier fanfic recording activity, but I haven't done a thorough study or anything.
Is there continuity between the podfic community and older forms of fanfic audio recording? Have any current podficcers ever made analog audiofic on tape (or distributed their digital recordings on CD)? When was the term "podfic" coined? (I see the
podslash community on lj started in 2005. And it uses the term podcast instead of podfic. Is that the earliest podfic comm? Meanwhile, audiofic, which started in 2006, calls it fic on tape or audiofic.) I speculated a while ago that podfic (the community and the term) came about because of podcasting and didn't have any connection with earlier fanfic recording activity, but I haven't done a thorough study or anything.parakaDay 2 is now in progress over at pod_aware. Today we're talking about blanket permission and there's another podcast, this time by ![[livejournal.com profile]](http://s.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
jenepod, revolutionaryjo and myself (as well as other goodies already streaming in).
Blanket permission is a way for fan artists to let other fans know their comfort with others playing with their works. It's particularly helpful to podficcers when authors give blanket permission for anyone to podfic their works without having to ask first. To find out more on blanket permission with regards to podfic check outpod_aware on LJ or DW.
I've also posted a Round Up of Day 1 posts (LJ|DW), 30 things posted altogether, including lots of podcasts, podfics, recs, meta and more!
Fell free to join in! You don't have to have signed up to take part, you just have to want to share in the podfic love ♥
pod_aware. Today we're talking about blanket permission and there's another podcast, this time by jenepod, revolutionaryjo and myself (as well as other goodies already streaming in).Blanket permission is a way for fan artists to let other fans know their comfort with others playing with their works. It's particularly helpful to podficcers when authors give blanket permission for anyone to podfic their works without having to ask first. To find out more on blanket permission with regards to podfic check out
pod_aware on LJ or DW.I've also posted a Round Up of Day 1 posts (LJ|DW), 30 things posted altogether, including lots of podcasts, podfics, recs, meta and more!
Fell free to join in! You don't have to have signed up to take part, you just have to want to share in the podfic love ♥
Pod Aware and a Tutorial!
Nov. 7th, 2011 08:52 amparaka
Today is the first day of
pod_aware! A full week devoted to spreading awareness about podfic! Today's theme is Podfic 101/Why We Podfic. To kick things off, there's a podcast on the topic. I've also written a podfic tutorial.
Come check out the comm and see what other treasures have been posted and feel free to join in! (you don't need to have signed up to participate, and you can post anything you'd like to help spread podfic awareness, your work doesn't need to be podfic related).
Podfic: it's an audio recording of a fanfic, like an audiobook, how awesome is that? Fans from all over put their voices out there so you can enjoy fanfic on the go or just in a different way. To find out more about podfic, why we do it and how to get started, check out
pod_aware on LJ or DW.the editing process
Oct. 20th, 2011 09:52 amhelens78I'm working on a Big Project and just sent this little note to someone:
I was really wondering what other people think of the editing process in general! Typically, I really enjoy it. My process is to try to get all the raw audio recorded, and then afterward, edit the whole thing (in both cases, it'll often take multiple sessions to complete something).
I prefer to edit using good speakers rather than headphones or my laptop speakers -- more comfortable on the ears, and I've recently upgraded my computer speakers so they put out really nice sound. I'll generally listen, silence out any pops or clicks, and tighten or lengthen any silences as needed, and once in a great while I'll mess with volume. If anything needs re-recorded, I mark it with Audacity's label tool, and write in the label the exact dialogue that needs to be re-recorded. I try to match the tone and delivery of the section if it's just a background noise issue. So far, so good -- it helps that my setup is really stable now, and I don't have to worry about matching equipment and settings anymore.
But I also just wondered if other people get equally excited when they notice a good thirty-second stretch of silence that they can cut right now. "WOO, RAW DATA JUST SHRANK THIRTY SECONDS!" is basically my thought at that point. *g*
I've reached the "OKAY I ONLY HAVE TWO MORE CHAPTERS TO EDIT" point, so it seems like there's so little left! Twelve minutes of raw on one chapter and 16 minutes of raw on the other chapter 26 (three minutes of which are complete). If only editing really only took twelve minutes and thirteen minutes, respectively. XD (I get so excited when I see there's a huge patch of silence and I can take out a full thirty seconds all at once... I wonder if other people are like that when editing.)
I was really wondering what other people think of the editing process in general! Typically, I really enjoy it. My process is to try to get all the raw audio recorded, and then afterward, edit the whole thing (in both cases, it'll often take multiple sessions to complete something).
I prefer to edit using good speakers rather than headphones or my laptop speakers -- more comfortable on the ears, and I've recently upgraded my computer speakers so they put out really nice sound. I'll generally listen, silence out any pops or clicks, and tighten or lengthen any silences as needed, and once in a great while I'll mess with volume. If anything needs re-recorded, I mark it with Audacity's label tool, and write in the label the exact dialogue that needs to be re-recorded. I try to match the tone and delivery of the section if it's just a background noise issue. So far, so good -- it helps that my setup is really stable now, and I don't have to worry about matching equipment and settings anymore.
But I also just wondered if other people get equally excited when they notice a good thirty-second stretch of silence that they can cut right now. "WOO, RAW DATA JUST SHRANK THIRTY SECONDS!" is basically my thought at that point. *g*
New Podfic Comm
Oct. 3rd, 2011 10:03 pmparakaHelp spread the word on podfic (you don't need to be a podficcer to join in!).
pod_aware (Info | Sign Ups) || ![[community profile]](http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/community.gif?v=3){kind=small}
pod_aware (Info | Sign Ups)There are so many people out there that have never heard of podfic or only vaguely know what it is. This comm is designed to spread awareness of podfic and help us share our love with others.
How are we going to do this? For one week (November 7-13) every day there will be a topic to talk about regarding podfic. But! We're not just going to talk about podfic, to help spread awareness we're going to make stuff!
You can make whatever you'd like, it can be a podfic of course but it doesn't have to have anything to do with podfic. It could be a fic, art, icons, pic spam, meta, rec list, vid, anything you'd like! Feel free to get creative in whatever it is you do or would like to do.
Streaming Podfic
Aug. 23rd, 2011 10:44 amparakaSo I just made a post over at podfic_tips about how to embed streams of your podfic but I thought it might be a good idea to talk about why I think people might want to offer streams.
Many of us listen to podfic on portable players so can't imagine why you'd want a stream, but trust me, some people do and there are also benefits to the podficcer.
I don't think streaming is ever going to replace downloads but I think it's a nice addition. There are probably more reasons out there why podfic streaming is awesome but those are the ones I can think of at the moment. There are also reasons why some will object to streaming so I'll now open up the comments and we can get discussing. :)
podfic_tips about how to embed streams of your podfic but I thought it might be a good idea to talk about why I think people might want to offer streams. Many of us listen to podfic on portable players so can't imagine why you'd want a stream, but trust me, some people do and there are also benefits to the podficcer.
- Potential for Increased Feedback
There are a lot of reasons why podfic doesn't get as much feedback as other fan works but one of those reasons is that often people are listening to podfic away from a computer or a away from the page where they can leave feedback. If someone is listening to a stream though, they're never leaving the page and that can increase the chances that they will leave feedback. - Getting New People Interested in Podfics
There are a lot of reasons why we love podfic but one of the reasons I hear cited the most is that you can take fic with you to places where you normally wouldn't have access to fic (out for walks, during house work, at work, etc.). Streaming kinda takes away from that benefit however there are people out there that have heard of podfic (or will hear about podfic) who have never given it a shot. It's not that they have anything against the idea, they just don't really know what it is and downloading something they're not sure they'll be into seems like a lot of effort (or they download it and forget about it, so it sits there gathering virtual dust). But if podfic pops up on their circle/flist/feed and all they have to do is give it a click I think more people will give podfic a shot. And once they realize how awesome podfic is, some of the other benefits can take over. - Ease of Listening to Shorter Podfics
Some of us are prejudice against short podfics. It's not that we don't like them! But by the time we download them, then sync them with our players it's just beginning to feel like too much effort. For a short podfic, listening to the stream can just be easier. This is also great when you see a quirky podfic that you'd like to listen to once but know you'll probably never listen to again. That happens to me a lot duringamplificathon, I'm hugely monofannish so tend not to listen to stuff outside my fandom but amplificathon provides such unique stuff that I want to give it a try. But once I download it, I forget about why I wanted to listen to it and it ends up gathering dust in my unlistened to folder :( (I can't be the only one who does this, right?) - Listening on a Computer You Don't Own
Sometimes people are listening to podfic on a computer they don't own. Historically my own listening was done mostly on my computer at work. I didn't have any problems with downloading the files to my work computer but some of us aren't as blasé about it (especially if you listen to the higher rated podfic). Having a stream lets you listen to the podfic without downloading it directly.
There are also those times when you're stuck somewhere with access to a computer and internet but it's not one you necessarily want to download podfic on (for example, when spending hours at your parents house helping address wedding invitations for your sister >.> Podfic is really helpful in those situations, let me tell you). - Instant Gratification
If you are someone who listens on a computer, streams give you the chance to start listening to the podfic right away rather than waiting for the download to finish. - "Try Before You Buy"
All of us have had that experience where we download a podfic but for some reason it's not a podfic we're able to listen to (sometimes tech issues, sometimes a background noise will drive you batty, sometimes a podficcer's style just doesn't work for you, whatever). If there's a stream available, you can listen to the first couple seconds and see if the podfic will work for you. Or conversely, if there's a podficcer that you've been avoiding because a previous podfic of their's had those issues, you can check to see if those issues were a one time thing or if the podficcer has changed since then.
I don't think streaming is ever going to replace downloads but I think it's a nice addition. There are probably more reasons out there why podfic streaming is awesome but those are the ones I can think of at the moment. There are also reasons why some will object to streaming so I'll now open up the comments and we can get discussing. :)
dodificusConstructive criticism, how do people feel about it?
As a recorder, do you want to hear from someone about how you read to fast/left that blooper in at 12:42/had birds screeching in the background*/whatever? Is it helpful or hurtful? Has concrit ever prompted you to make changes to a specific recording or made you change something about the way you record/read in the future?
As a listener, *do* you leave concrit when you feedback? Do you want to but feel stifled or unsure of the reception? Do you think it's rude/pointless/dull to do so?
*I'm pretty sure there are screeching birds in the background of just about everything I've recorded, even though I don't actually own a bird
As a recorder, do you want to hear from someone about how you read to fast/left that blooper in at 12:42/had birds screeching in the background*/whatever? Is it helpful or hurtful? Has concrit ever prompted you to make changes to a specific recording or made you change something about the way you record/read in the future?
As a listener, *do* you leave concrit when you feedback? Do you want to but feel stifled or unsure of the reception? Do you think it's rude/pointless/dull to do so?
*I'm pretty sure there are screeching birds in the background of just about everything I've recorded, even though I don't actually own a bird
Podfic Meme
Aug. 2nd, 2011 11:07 pmparakaAbout a week ago I stumbled across an old vidding meme from a few years ago and I decided to adapt it for podficcers. I posted it to my journal and want to encourage other podficcers to do it as well (and it would be awesome if someone adapted it the meme even further so podfic listeners could fill it out too! idella was awesome enough to make a podfic listener version).
If you're interested in filling it out, here's the question/code:
For Podficcers
For Podfic Listeners
And here's a list of people (I know of) that have filled it out so far:
anatsuno here
aphelant here
fleurrochard here
intransitive here
jennacorinth here
luzula here
nickelmountain here
paraka here
pennyplainknits here
klb here
reena_jenkins here
revolutionaryjo here
via_ostiense here
weimar27 here
(if you fill out the meme, let me know and I'll add you to the list.)
idella was awesome enough to make a podfic listener version). If you're interested in filling it out, here's the question/code:
For Podficcers
For Podfic Listeners
And here's a list of people (I know of) that have filled it out so far:
anatsuno hereaphelant herefleurrochard hereintransitive herejennacorinth hereluzula herenickelmountain hereparaka herepennyplainknits hereklb herereena_jenkins hererevolutionaryjo herevia_ostiense hereweimar27 here(if you fill out the meme, let me know and I'll add you to the list.)
Multipodicity Sign Ups Close Tomorrow
Jul. 28th, 2011 12:56 pmparakaReminder: Sign Ups for multipodicity close tomorrow, sign up now before it's too late.
Signups (LJ | DW) run from July 16-29.
multipodicity is a multifandom repod community, come check us out!
What does repod mean and what is a Repod Challenge
According to Fanlore: To repod is to make a podfic of a fanfic that has previously been podficced.
This is a challenger to encourage multiple podfics of the same story. Inspired by remix challenges, you're matched to a podficcer and make a new podfic based on the fic of one of their podfics. In return, a different podficcer will make a podfic of one of the fics you've podficced.
multipodicity close tomorrow, sign up now before it's too late.Signups (LJ | DW) run from July 16-29.
multipodicity is a multifandom repod community, come check us out!What does repod mean and what is a Repod Challenge
According to Fanlore: To repod is to make a podfic of a fanfic that has previously been podficced.
This is a challenger to encourage multiple podfics of the same story. Inspired by remix challenges, you're matched to a podficcer and make a new podfic based on the fic of one of their podfics. In return, a different podficcer will make a podfic of one of the fics you've podficced.
Multipodicity Round 2 Open for Sign Ups!
Jul. 16th, 2011 09:29 amparakaSignups (LJ | DW) run from July 16-29.
multipodicity is a multifandom repod community, come check us out!Blanket permission list, and voices
Jun. 18th, 2011 12:16 pmmelannenI've seen several things I wanted to link to or discuss here and realized it was starting to build up, so here:
paraka put a Blanket Permission to Podfic list on the fanlore wiki-- which means anyone can add names. I would love for this to become a really comprehensive resource, so if you want to give blanket permission and aren't on it, or you know of people who have a blanket permission out there who aren't on it, you should add them! And then pass it on.
In other news, there's been some really cool podfic meta coming out ofkink_bingo. sophinisba posted a wonderful essay about the meaning of podfic, especially in a kinky context, to kb_cafe, Kink-bingo and podfic, perfect together, which I think is worth reading even if you aren't into kink bingo. It also links to several older thoughtful posts on podfic.
(both of those people are members of this comm, *cough*. I hope they don't mind me linking.)
paraka put a Blanket Permission to Podfic list on the fanlore wiki-- which means anyone can add names. I would love for this to become a really comprehensive resource, so if you want to give blanket permission and aren't on it, or you know of people who have a blanket permission out there who aren't on it, you should add them! And then pass it on.In other news, there's been some really cool podfic meta coming out of
kink_bingo. sophinisba posted a wonderful essay about the meaning of podfic, especially in a kinky context, to kb_cafe, Kink-bingo and podfic, perfect together, which I think is worth reading even if you aren't into kink bingo. It also links to several older thoughtful posts on podfic.(both of those people are members of this comm, *cough*. I hope they don't mind me linking.)
ladiesbigbang 2011
Jun. 10th, 2011 04:12 pmtrascendenza
ladiesbigbang: a female-centric panfanwork big bang challenge.Optional sign-ups open June 1-30th, final drafts due October 1st.
sign-ups: creators | cheerleaders | betas
info: minimums | rules & guidelines | pinch hitting
One of the categories of creation accepted at the challenge is audiofic; it has a 10,000 word minimum with the option of recording multiple pieces. You can find out more at the audiofic section of the rules & guidelines. All participants are eligible to receive complementary fanwork for their submissions; for audioficcers, that may mean receiving a cover graphic, a piece of art, a fanmix, etc.
Permission policies
May. 18th, 2011 01:54 pmvia_ostienseI've been recording a lot of audiofic lately for amplificathon, and as I've chipped through a lot of my To Do list, which had fics that I'd already asked permission for, now I've been branching out (admittedly with a bias toward the archive's less-/un- represented fandoms/pairings!). I've noticed that I definitely lean toward recording stories of authors who have blanket permission policies. It's not enough to make me record a story on its own, but when faced with two stories I want to record, one with a blanket permission policy and one without, I'll do the former and put the latter on my list of things to request permission for and get to later. It's not that I'm afraid of someone saying no to me, although that's happened before, but that leaving a comment or sending a PM for each individual story I want to record is just enough effort to make me put that fic off until some nebulous time later. What about you?
Fighting For Our Right To Party
May. 10th, 2011 07:58 pmzviSo, I am not actually directing you to go talk to people in an anon meme, but there's a long discussion about posting a story podfic first, text delayed, in the Inception anon meme on LJ.
It raises a few interesting questions which you might care to discuss.
Some questions:
1) How do you convince people to give podfic a try, if they don't intuitively grasp why it might be cool?
2) If a story only ever gets posted as podfic, are you keeping something from people who prefer text?
3) What are the arguments for and against simultaneous release of podfic and text versus podfic first release?
4) How do you present the idea to people of a staggered release without annoying them? How do you let the people who didn't want to listen to the audio that the text is finally available?
5) If a story is released podfic first, is that first podfic of it the canonical version of the text?
6) How do you write a story to be read?
It raises a few interesting questions which you might care to discuss.
Some questions:
1) How do you convince people to give podfic a try, if they don't intuitively grasp why it might be cool?
2) If a story only ever gets posted as podfic, are you keeping something from people who prefer text?
3) What are the arguments for and against simultaneous release of podfic and text versus podfic first release?
4) How do you present the idea to people of a staggered release without annoying them? How do you let the people who didn't want to listen to the audio that the text is finally available?
5) If a story is released podfic first, is that first podfic of it the canonical version of the text?
6) How do you write a story to be read?
parakaI want to know, is there anything specifically people look for when choosing fics to podfic (other than rare pairings/fandoms right now since amplificathon is currently running :P). I mean, obviously people go for fics they like but are there elements of the writing style that will draw you in or have you backing away?
If an author wanted to write something specifically with podfic in mind, how could they go about that?
( Here are some of mine )
Huh, I was able to come up with more than I expected on my own. What do you guys think?
amplificathon is currently running :P). I mean, obviously people go for fics they like but are there elements of the writing style that will draw you in or have you backing away?If an author wanted to write something specifically with podfic in mind, how could they go about that?
( Here are some of mine )
Huh, I was able to come up with more than I expected on my own. What do you guys think?
podcathCaveat: This is a very personal account, and i don't try to tell anyone how to record or whether to include/exclude music. I changed my mind entirely and thought that might be interesting to some of you. I'm also using my own podfic as examples, mostly because I'm talking about motivations and difficulties in choosing certain songs. I hope to make a music-in-podfic rec post for this year's Amplirecathon 2011 (Signups are still ongoing, and we need lots more people on DW!)
( The Beginning: Podfic Music Dislike )
( Epiphany: Violins for Sherlock )
( How to Make that Break )
( Matching Music and Fic )
( The Problem of Overdetermination )
( The Beginning: Podfic Music Dislike )
( Epiphany: Violins for Sherlock )
( How to Make that Break )
( Matching Music and Fic )
( The Problem of Overdetermination )
Meta posted by an author
Feb. 16th, 2011 01:40 pmzvibjewelled has an interesting perspective on podfic.If you don't wish to interact with the OP, feel free to discuss the entry here.
