Podcast with Screencastify

STEP 1 - Create a Google Slide

Before you begin recording, let's create a Google Slideshow with a single slide. This will serve as your background as you record. Keep it simple. Your slide should contain on-topic images and little to no text. The slide should enhance your podcast without distracting your audience from what you're saying.

When you record your podcast with Screencastify, this will be the tab from which you record. That will make your slide the background image that the viewer will see while listening to your podcast.

IMPORTANT - Be sure to turn the volume of the video down on YouTube before starting to record. It should be no more than about 30% volume or it may make it difficult to hear your voice in the recording. We don't want the music to drown out what you have to say!

STEP 1b - Select some Background Music (optional)

Are you up for a little challenge? If you'd like background music in your podcast, look for a video on YouTube that has some instrumental music (no words/lyrics) that fits the mood of your topic. Search for "background music for podcast" in YouTube, and find one you like. Make sure the music is long enough and doesn't contain any ads. Most of your search results will state that the music is copyright free.

Once you've found some music you want, copy the YouTube link. Open your Google Slide, and use the Insert menu and select Video. Click on the "by URL" tab, and paste in your YouTube link.

Resize the video to make it small so it can fit on the margin outside of your slide. You'll just need to get to the play button when you're ready to record your podcast.

You'll be asked some questions to allow the camera and microphone. Give access to the camera and microphone. If asked, save your recordings to Google Drive as recommended. You will be prompted to select your Google account and give Screencastify access to your Drive.

STEP 4 - Time to Record! (select Browser Tab)

Once you have completed your storyboard/graphic organizer and have practiced, you are ready to record! Get yourself onto your Google Slide, then click on the Screencastify exension. We are going to use Tab Recording.

STEP 5 - Crop and Trim

You'll use the crop tool to cut out everything that isn't your slide (margins, video used for music, tools, etc). The crop tool allows you to specify the slide so that is all that shows in your final video.

You'll use the trim tool to cut out the beginning of the video and end of video so you'll have a clean start and stop. You can also use the trim tool to cut out the mistakes/bloobers within your video!