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Podcasts at UC San Diego


At UC San Diego, "podcasts" typically refer to recordings of classrooms using integrated cameras, microphones, and screen capture software. 

All classrooms managed by the Registrar are podcast-capable, so you can fill out our Podcasting Agreement form to request to have your lectures automatically recorded and uploaded to the Podcast website where students can watch or subscribe to the recordings, to your Kaltura account ("My Media" in Canvas), and/or to the class's Media Gallery in Canvas.

FAQs

What is a podcast?

At UC San Diego, "podcasts" typically refer to recordings of classrooms using integrated cameras, microphones, and screen capture hardware.

All classrooms managed by the Registrar are podcast-capable, so you can fill out our Podcasting Agreement form to request to have your lectures automatically recorded and uploaded to the Podcast website where students can watch or subscribe to the recordings, to your Kaltura account ("My Media" in Canvas), and/or to the class's Media Gallery in Canvas.

Is this free?

Yes. There are no charges to faculty or students for podcasts.

What rooms are podcast-ready?

As of the time of this article's publication, there are over 150 classrooms at UC San Diego that support podcasting. View the Classroom Details for Podcast-Ready Rooms to see which rooms are podcast-ready, as well as to learn about other room attributes such as environment (windows, darkenability, ventilation) and available equipment.

Additionally, the full list of podcast-ready classrooms and lecture halls can alert you to which rooms will incur a delay before podcasting can begin, as some podcast-ready rooms need some equipment installed before they can be used.

How do I sign up?

If your course is scheduled in a podcast-ready lecture hall or classroom, you can sign up for the Podcast service by signing the Podcasting Agreement.

What is required to create a podcast?

Ensure your class is scheduled in a podcast-ready lecture hall and sign the Podcasting Agreement.

Whom do I contact if I have podcast issues?

For classroom assistance, contact Classroom Support at (858) 534-5784 or classroom-support@ucsd.edu.

For signup and scheduling questions, contact ITS at (858) 822-3315 or podcast@ucsd.edu.

If you have questions related to managing your podcast recording in Kaltura ("My Media" in Canvas), contact kaltura@ucsd.edu.

What if I only want to podcast specific days?

If there are specific class dates that you don't want recorded, please email podcast@ucsd.edu and they will remove the recording from the schedule.

You can also leave the wireless microphone off and no audio will be recorded.

Is a smartphone required for playback?

No. Although the name 'Podcast' originally referred to the iPod, a mobile media device similar to smartphones, using an app to automatically download lectures to a computer, phone, or media devices is optional. It's more likely that you and your students will view the recordings in the Canvas Media Gallery or on the podcasting website, both of which work in any desktop or mobile browser.

How do students find podcasts?

By default, students can always view or subscribe to podcasts at podcast.ucsd.edu, they can also view your recordings directly from your Canvas course's "Media Gallery" tool. Ultimately, however, where your students can find your podcasts depends on your selections in the Podcasting Agreement.

How soon is a podcast available to be watched?

This can vary depending on a variety of factors, such as the length of the class, the recording type, and server load.

  • Screencasts (recordings of just what's on the room's projector) in low-usage rooms may be available within 30-60 minutes.
  • Dualcasts (recordings of the projector feed side-by-side with camera footage of the instructor) may be available within 2 hours.
  • Long lectures in rooms that have already recorded multiple successive classes may not be available until the end of the day.

When will my podcast be available in my course’s Media Gallery?

A completed recording passes through several steps before it is published to the course Media Gallery. The recording is processed locally to produce a file suitable for uploading to Kaltura, which then re-processes the file. Once Kaltura reports the file is 'Ready', it will be published to the course Media Gallery in Kaltura, which makes it available for viewing in Kaltura/Canvas.

The amount of time required depends on the length of the recording and what content was recorded. A 50-minute screencast will typically be available in 20 minutes; an 80 minute DualCast is typically available within 65 minutes. Factors beyond our control can delay processing.

Who can access my podcast?

This is determined by your selections in your podcast agreement. Generally speaking, though, podcasts may be viewed on the podcast website and in your Canvas course's Media Gallery (using Kaltura).

On the podcasting agreement, you can elect to:

  • Restrict viewing to enrolled students in the class
  • Restrict viewing to anyone with UCSD credentials (Active Directory credentials)

Note that if the camera in the room is recorded (i.e. a dualcast or camera-only recording), access to the podcast is only available to enrolled students in the class to protect student privacy.

By special request, you can keep your recordings private (available only to you). Submit the podcast agreement and then email us at podcast@ucsd.edu.

  • Recordings will be auto-published to your Canvas course's Media Gallery, which makes them visible to all members of the Canvas course. Note that you can choose not to publish them to the Media Gallery, in which case they will remain private to you in your Kaltura media repository ("My Media"). Please email us at podcast@ucsd.edu to make this adjustment.

How long does my podcast remain available?

The files will be available until the end of the quarter. You may elect to leave them online indefinitely on the Podcast Agreement.

Selections made when signing the Podcast Agreement can control when or if your podcasts are taken off of the Podcast website. Additionally, since your recordings may also be visible via the Media Gallery in your Canvas course, students may be able to access your recordings via Canvas even after the term ends (unless you hide the Media Gallery or unpublish your videos).

Podcast recordings remain accessible and available to the owner of the recordings (the instructor) for as long as they have access to their UCSD account. Do note, however, that Kaltura's data retention policy dictates that if a video isn't watched for 4 years, it will be deleted. You can reset this "countdown" by watching the video for 10 seconds.

Can I request to have a podcast removed from the podcasting site?

A recording will be hidden from students automatically on the podcasting site when you unpublish it from your course's Media Gallery in Canvas. If you need it removed entirely, or want it off the Podcast site but available in Canvas, please send your request to podcast@ucsd.edu.

What microphone should I use in my classroom?

Use the wireless microphone that is located inside the Media Station in order for your voice to be recorded. This is often the same microphone that will project your voice on the classroom speakers. Note that the wired microphone connected to the wall is NOT connected to the podcast recording equipment.

Many smaller classrooms have a permanently-wired ceiling microphone that is always recording. The audio quality from these microphones is significantly worse than lapel microphones, and cannot be disabled during conversations with students, but has the advantage that batteries never need to be changed.

The Classroom Details Search Tool can help you determine which rooms have ceiling microphones and which rooms have lapel microphones, if you wish to schedule your class according to your preference.

Where should I clip the microphone?

Clip the wireless microphone to your shirt about 8 inches from your mouth. Try to clip it right in the center, and not to the side.

How do I start recording?

You don't need to do anything special. Just wear and turn on the microphone and transmitter, if applicable. Recording will start at the lecture's scheduled start time and stop at the scheduled end time.

How do I get the start time right?

Your podcast starts at the beginning of your scheduled lecture time regardless of when you turn the microphone on. The podcast start time will most closely match with your cell phone's time, NOT the clocks in the lecture halls (which are sometimes a few minutes off). The recording will stop at the end of your scheduled lecture time regardless of when you turn the yellow wireless microphone off.

I often go over the end of my scheduled lecture time - how can I record longer?

The Podcast Agreement allows you to schedule your recordings to last up to 5 minutes beyond the scheduled end of class. For a class where you have already submitted the agreement, contact podcast@ucsd.edu and we can schedule future recordings to continue a few minutes longer.

What do the lights on the microphone indicate?

The light on the wireless microphone will be green when the battery is good and red when the battery is low. When the light is red, we recommend changing the battery. There are new batteries available inside the Media Station and battery recycling on top of the Media Station.

What if my voice is not loud enough over the room speakers?

Please do not adjust the volume control on the wireless microphone. The volume level for the podcast is preset. If you feel your voice over the room speakers is not loud enough, please call the Media Services' Help Desk at (858) 534‑5784 and we will send a technician ASAP.

Why don't I hear the audio of a clip I played in class?

In some classrooms, if you play a movie or audio clips through the Media Station during class, the audio will not be captured. Your podcast will be silent when a video or audio clip is being played.

Why is my screen not recording?

Most computers now support encrypted video, called HDCP, which prevents that video from being recorded. While many computers will only encrypt their outgoing video while you are showing copy-protected content (e.g. from Netflix or a DVD/Blu-Ray), many popular laptops and tablets will automatically encrypt video any time they connect to our systems.

Since our projectors know how to display copy-protected video and can legally do so, you shouldn't notice any difference while you're lecturing. However, our podcasting screen recorders must respect the DMCA and aren't able to record copy-protected video. This may result in the screencast recording a black screen during your lecture.

If you are projecting from a Mac, iPhone / iPad, or Microsoft Surface and would like to screencast, use the podcast tab on the room's control panel to monitor your recording and ensure that the screen is not blank. If it is blank, call classroom support (858-534-5784) and a technician can troubleshoot the issue.

Why are they called "Podcasts?"

The system was originally built to share lectures on the iTunes Podcast platform. The original name has stuck around even as the system has expanded and changed.

What if I want to remove parts of my podcast?

Once your podcast has made its way to Kaltura, it will be available in your "My Media" in Canvas. Once it's there, you can use Kaltura's video editor to trim off whatever you need to.

If you've chosen to allow students to watch your video on the podcasting website, you'll need to ensure that you click Save and NOT Save a copy when making your edits. Clicking Save will make the edited video overwrite the original - so be certain about your edits - but the video that plays on the podcasting website is the original copy of the video. If you save a new copy of the video, your changes won't be reflected in the podcast site video.