Whisky Podcasts

by **MGillespie** » Fri Nov 11, 2005 7:48 pm

Bernie, that's a great idea! T, you up for it???

Mark

by **rthomson** » Fri Nov 11, 2005 9:19 pm

MGillespie wrote:It'll work both ways...though I'm really hoping people will subscribe through iTunes because it tracks subscriptions and rates podcast popularity that way...

Mark

Then iTunes it is! I just downloaded the player (all 32.8 megs on my slow dialup) and it's installed and appears to be working well. Looking forward to your podcasts.

Ron

by **MGillespie** » Sat Nov 12, 2005 6:49 am

The first episode is now live at http://www.whiskycast.libsyn.com, and to subscribe through iTunes, just enter this link in the "subscribe to podcast" form under the "advanced" link at the top of the page:

http://whiskycast.libsyn.com/rss

Thanks for your interest!

Mark

by **rthomson** » Sat Nov 12, 2005 5:46 pm

Nice job. Initially I was concerned about listening to a podcast via my dialup connection. However, I downloaded it in the background while browsing through the forums. I'm going to keep my eye out for Bernheim Wheat Whiskey and I'm looking forward to the interview with Jim McEwan.

Cheers,
Ron

by **MGillespie** » Sat Nov 12, 2005 6:06 pm

Great...thanks!

Mark

by **Deactivated Member** » Sun Nov 13, 2005 7:01 am

jeffk wrote:- Cigars, and how they might be enjoyed with a dram

1) Grasp the cigar firmly between the thumb and two or three fingers

2) Chuck the cigar out the window

3) Enjoy your dram!

:twisted:

Ah, to each his own...

bernstein wrote:One idea - couldn't we do some cajolery to MrT and persuade him to do some reading of his recent travel-diaries to Scotland?

Yikes! I dunno! Couldn't you get James Earl Jones to read it?

by **MGillespie** » Sun Nov 13, 2005 3:01 pm

My sentiments exactly, T!

And as for James Earl Jones reading your travel diary, keep in mind that this is a low-budget operation...besides, I think it would have more impact if you read it yourself...

By the way, the whiskycast.com website is now online...

Mark

by **Deactivated Member** » Sun Nov 13, 2005 3:14 pm

Really good idea Mark. Keep up the good work. I'm sure there are plenty of isues to report on. Must try a bottle of the Welsh.

by **MGillespie** » Sun Nov 13, 2005 3:19 pm

Thanks, Crieftan, I appreciate it!

As for the Penderyn...I did enjoy it, but it's hard for me to compare it to any of the Scotch regions. Please post your thoughts after you've tried a dram.

Mark

by **MGillespie** » Tue Nov 15, 2005 2:14 am

Episode 2 is now available at http://www.whiskycast.com!

This edition features news of a controversy involving Crown Royal's NASCAR racing team...events, and Jim McEwan discussing the new Bruichladdich Rocks single malt...

Mark

by **mar_mcdo** » Tue Nov 15, 2005 7:49 pm

mike, just finished listening to episodes 1 and 2. great idea, and very well done! cant wait for number three. will have to try and locate some of the welsh whisky aswell.

by **MGillespie** » Tue Nov 15, 2005 8:49 pm

Thanks!

Mark

by **bamber** » Thu Nov 17, 2005 3:52 pm

Is the first one still available ?

by **MGillespie** » Thu Nov 17, 2005 3:55 pm

Of course...just go to http://www.whiskycast.libsyn.com or http://www.whiskycast.com

Mark

by **bamber** » Thu Nov 17, 2005 6:55 pm

Downloaded - will listen tomorrow

by **bamber** » Fri Nov 18, 2005 10:30 am

Listened to both. Very enjoyable and very professional. Thanks Mark

That Jim McEwan is a sharp guy. Really looking forward to hearing the interview about Jimmy Russell. Don't suppose you asked him why their 10yo is being reduced in strength to 90 proof ?

by **MGillespie** » Fri Nov 18, 2005 5:37 pm

Thanks...I appreciate it.

I did not ask Jimmy Russell about the reduction in proof...to be honest, I wasn't aware of it at the time. It was one of those spur of the moment interviews where I really didn't have all of my research together ahead of time.

Mark

by **MGillespie** » Wed Nov 23, 2005 7:43 pm

I've just posted the latest episode of WhiskyCast...this edition was taped live at Monk's Cafe in Philadelphia, and focuses on the recent Malt Advocate Whisky Awards with Malt Advocate editor and publisher John Hansell...

Mark

by **Badmonkey** » Fri Nov 25, 2005 5:19 am

This is an excellent idea, and I regret not exploring this corner of the forum earlier. My downloads commence tonight!

by **MGillespie** » Fri Nov 25, 2005 5:21 am

Thanks! You might also like the Radio Whisky podcasts at http://www.radiowhisky.com...

Mark

by **MGillespie** » Sun Dec 04, 2005 2:50 am

There's a new episode available now...this one focuses on an experiment at The Famous Grouse with aging whisky in Scottish Oak barrels...it's a one-off product being released only in the UK. Also, Simon Brooking of the Dalmore explains a change in the Stillman's Dram from a 30-year-old expression to a 28-year-old version...

Mark

by **Badmonkey** » Tue Dec 06, 2005 7:15 am

Two questions for you about the podcasts, Mark. First, I noticed a contrast in the audio quality between the two interviews on your latest podcast. Is that because you are interviewing by phone and dealing with the vagaries of different phone lines? Second, how long does it take you to put a podcast together from start to finish?

Just curious,
Badmonkey

by **Jeroen Kloppenburg** » Tue Dec 06, 2005 8:51 am

And I would skip the left/right thingy with the stereochannels Mark

It really made it hard for me to understand the interviewed person...

by **MGillespie** » Tue Dec 06, 2005 1:11 pm

Thanks for the comments, guys...

You're absolutely right...the first interview was done by phone using Skype...and the recording software that plugs into it splits the audio into two different channels. I'm still trying to figure out a workaround for that. The second interview was done in-person.

As far as putting the actual podcast together, it takes me longer to write up everything and update the web sites than it does to record the show. Once I have the interviews done, I write everything up in a few minutes, record it, and edit everything together into an .mp3 file. That process takes about 20 minutes if I'm on my game...

After that, I upload the file to both hosting sites and update all of the copy that goes with it...the whiskycast.com site also requires adding links to all of the sites mentioned in the show, moving the oldest show into the archives, and updating all of those links.

That's probably more detail than you wanted. Overall, each show takes about an hour of production time -- not counting the interviews.

Hope this helps...

Mark

by **Jeroen Kloppenburg** » Tue Dec 06, 2005 1:21 pm

Save the file as mono Mark. When you import it into your editting program the problem should be solved. But maybe your editting program even has a plugin for it that does that right away.

Another way would be duplicating the track and switch the channels around for that. But I think this will also double the volume, so you'll have to set the volume for both tracks to 50%

And another thing I noticed: occasionally the volume difference between you and the interviewee is quite different. maybe normalizing the audio files as well will help solve that.

Does it sound like I have been solving such issues myself quite a few times?

HTH,

by **MGillespie** » Tue Dec 06, 2005 1:56 pm

Thanks, Jeroen...I was using new software the other day, and have now dug around in the settings and found some tweaks...

Mark

by **Jeroen Kloppenburg** » Tue Dec 06, 2005 2:50 pm

I dont know what you are using now, but Audacity ( http://www.usefulfreesoftware.com/proje ... dacity.php ) is an opensource (free as well, as it is GPL released) audio editor which has tons of options to expand. Lots of plugins and so available.

I use it almost always for my audio editting needs (even to clean up vinyl recordings and so with hiss filters, which will also be of great help to clean your skype recordings!)

HTH,

by **MGillespie** » Tue Dec 06, 2005 2:56 pm

I use Audacity, but only for compressing my finished files into mp3 files...I use other software to handle the regular editing. The problem was with a recording program designed to capture calls from Skype and Google Talk, etc...if you select stereo instead of mono, it splits the audio between channels and makes it almost impossible to merge the channels back...I've tweaked it so it works better now...

Mark

by **MGillespie** » Wed Dec 07, 2005 9:55 pm

I've taken the suggestions, and hopefully, you'll notice the difference in the new episode of WhiskyCast. There's an interview with Graham Coull of Glen Moray, along with the Malt Maniacs Awards and a childhood memory from Bill Samuels Jr. of Maker's Mark.

Mark

by **Lawrence** » Thu Dec 08, 2005 5:57 pm

I've been listening to back issues while I browse the Loch Fyne Whisky site, very entertaining. I'm enjoying the broadcasts a lot.

Good work.

by **GreyArea** » Thu Dec 08, 2005 9:15 pm

As have I - very enjoyable.

Jim

by **MGillespie** » Fri Dec 09, 2005 4:18 am

Thanks, guys! Lawrence, I hope you enjoyed Episode #5 the most!

Mark

by **Deactivated Member** » Fri Dec 09, 2005 7:52 am

Audio levels seem much better now, Mark.

Mr Picky sez "Elgin" has a hard g, but is impressed you pronounce Glen Moray correctly, which is more than Mr Tattie Heid usually does.

by **MGillespie** » Fri Dec 09, 2005 2:12 pm

Thanks! Not having been to Elgin (yet), I wasn't aware of the hard G...but when you have the guy who runs the place on tape, it's easy to get the Glen Moray pronunciation correct...

Mark

by **Badmonkey** » Sat Dec 10, 2005 2:34 am

I agree with Mr. T. The sound quality on #7[edited] was much better. Keep up the great work, Mark. I'm learning a lot on the broadcasts.

Whisky Podcasts

Would you listen to a whisky podcast?