Can You Upload to Both Blubrry and Soundcloud?
SoundCloud comes up when people talk about podcast hosting. Technically, though, SoundCloud isn't a podcast host like Libsyn or Blubrry, merely rather a streaming sound platform. They exercise host media, both on free and paid plans, and they take a pretty nifty player and subscription model. But, like everything else, you have pros and cons to the service. We want you to be able to make the most informed decision you can, and then let'southward go alee and dig into SoundCloud.
Pros for SoundCloud
It's a Social Platform
Probably the biggest positive in SoundCloud'due south favor is that it isn't just a streaming sound platform. Information technology'southward a social sound platform. In the same way that people interact with pics and videos on Instagram, that'southward how you collaborate with tracks, albums, and users on SoundCloud. When it comes to music and podcasts both, people dear to share what they dearest. They desire to talk almost what they love. If your podcast is centered around a customs more than an idea, and you get lots of interaction, SoundCloud might exist a bang-up place for you to wait.
Dedicated Apps
Despite podcasts having been effectually for a expert long time (the termpodcast was coined in 2004 by Ben Hammersley ofThe Guardian), finding a good app for listening to your subscriptions is still kind of a hurting. Features many listeners desire aren't included across the board, even in the default, industry-standard Podcasts app that Apple includes in iOS. And Android doesn't even accept a standard podcast role player.
While there are free options out at that place that work well, they all carry differently for dissimilar people. Overcast, Pocket Casts, Stitcher, and others all have different UIs, which can obfuscate leaving reviews, amid other things. With SoundCloud, if you lot publish on their platform, your listeners tin can download your episodes through the official SoundCloud app. (Which solves the Android podcast app trouble that plagues so many 'casters.)
Unlike other podcast hosts, SoundCloud doesn't rely on simple RSS to disseminate your podcast (though it does that, besides, so you can exist listed everywhere). It lets listeners connect direct with you lot, socially and passively. It's easy for people to discover you and interact with you on SC because they utilize the service like a search engine. Cool, right?
Kind of Pro, Kind of Con
It's Gratuitous
Sort of. I will employ this every bit a transition between the pros and cons considering where this one falls will depend on who yous ask. I've used both sides of the platform, personally. That's why I put it here in this grayness expanse. I am personally clashing about it, and then is the remainder of the internet.
Why's that? Well, considering the free version is severely express. But it works well for a certain demographic of hobbyist podcasters. Here's the breakdown of their tiers:
SoundCloud Basic (the free tier) is great for new podcasters who don't know if they tin stick with it. 3 hours of podcasting a month is perfectly adequate for weekly shows that run 30-45 minutes each. And as a new 'caster, that's plenty. The basic stats are just that. And the embeds are what you lot've probably seen on every SC player ever. Notwithstanding, if you are intending to do more than tape a few short shows a calendar month, yous will need to upgrade.
The biggest reason to upgrade to eitherProorPro Unlimited is for two features:replace tracks andscheduled releases. As a podcaster myself, these ii features are invaluable. Because I'm homo. I have a hectic schedule similar you folks do which makes scheduling podcast releases the nigh important feature I tin can have. I make a lot of airheaded, careless mistakes (similar peradventure uploading the wrong show's media file to the primary RSS feed. Oops.). Without 1 or both of these paid features, at some point, your feed is going to go off the rails. Your listeners will be dislocated. If they're confused, they may bound send.
So in this grey surface area, the near-universal ambivalence comes because the complimentary tier is actually good for a lot of people, and when combined with the social features and dedicated, cross-platform app, brand SoundCloudactually highly-seasoned for many people. Even so, the paywall for two of the most basic features that come with other podcast hosts for gratuitous (or at their lowest tiers, rather than the highest) gives a lot of people pause.
Cons for SoundCloud
Uploads are by Time, not File Size
Now, in terms of downsides to SoundCloud, 1 of the biggest is that they limit your podcasting by hours. Other hosts do information technology by file size. This is important. For podcasting, it'south okay to skimp on flake rate and sample ate because the quality differential is mostly unnoticed. From the NPR website (royalty among podcasters):
Nosotros recommend encoding these files at a lower bit rate of 24-64kbps. Too, the sample rate should be a standard kHz rate of xi, 22, 33 or 44 kHz. This volition allow your users to download files more apace and result in lower bandwidth usage for the station. Keep in mind people listen on computer speakers, head phones and so higher quality is not appreciated.
They go on to outline the time, quality, and file size ratios, too.
five minutes encoded at 24kpbs is approximately 1 MB, 48kpbs is approximately 1.7 MB, and 64kpbs is approximately 2.5 MB
30 minutes encoded at 32kbps is approximately 7 MB, 64kbps is approximately fourteen MB
1 hr encoded at 32 kbps is approximately thirteen MB, 56 kbps is approximately 22 MB, and 64 kbps is approximately 25 MB
When looking at SoundCloud versus Libsyn or Blubrry or others, y'all can go the same upload of a huge lossless WAV file as you lot practise a minimal 24kbps MP3. As a prolific podcaster, you tin run out of fourth dimension very hands if you lot're non on the unlimited programme. A lot of people hate this because you can get a lot more than 3 hours packed into your audio if you follow the NPR standards.
That said, this is what I meant when I said that SC was not primarily a podcasting platform. It is designed commencement and foremost for music, which is why they limit you by the hour instead of file size. You lot tin go a lot more high quality songs on your account than you can podcasts.
They Might Be in Problem
Depending on where you look, who you talk to, and what you lot read, SoundCloud is either in tremendous financial problem or is doing simply fine, thank you very much. When SoundCloud laid off over 40% of employees in 2017, in that location was a kind of exodus from the platform to other hosts by podcasters. Independent musicians tended to stay, but information technology became the primary host of far, far fewer podcasters. After all, transferring hosts for your media while keeping the same RSS feed consistent is pretty serious business.
Of course, since the layoffs, the company has said that information technology's fine (just every visitor tends to say that until the very terminate) and that it has no intentions of closing. However, the general consensus is to utilize SC as a syndication tool like Stitcher or TuneIn, but use someone else for your chief media host.
I included this in the piece because information technology is kind of the dark cloud hanging over SC in regard to podcasting. Information technology'south non a peradventure-con and a total-on one considering I want you to know what you're going into. Even potentially sinking has fabricated people totally avert the company, and I don't want to make information technology audio similar it'due south a blackness-and-white issue. Information technology'south not. No one wants to get caught unaware and lose their piece of work or have to redo it. Proceed with caution and with all the info you tin can and so you can brand an informed conclusion.
Is SoundCloud Correct For You?
Possibly. Information technology is absolutely a place you desire to include your podcast. It just depends on what kind of needs you have for this to exist your principal host. For many podcasters, SoundCloud is simply some other tool they tin can apply to get their podcast out in that location. With iTunes being the 800-lb gorilla of the podcasting earth, yous will all the same become over 90% of your downloads through in that location. But SoundCloud does offer a lot of cool toys and gadgets for you. Plus, it'south a good idea to have a few % come from the SC searches. Simply it'due south up to you lot to take all this info and decide which host is the best. SoundCloud is definitely a feasible choice, though, especially for the more audiophiliac among you.
What accept your experiences been with SoundCloud?
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Source: https://www.elegantthemes.com/blog/resources/pros-and-cons-of-using-soundcloud-for-your-podcast
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