Skype-Cast ~ The MrManUSA Show!!

So I wanted to do an article on pod casting, how-to blah blah blah. So I started looking at Winamp's Shoutcast, and Icecast as a free way to put yourself on the "air-web" or whatever... Basically it really stunk and had numerous flaws that made it more of a headache than anything. Shoutcast works but the amount of time you have to put in to tweaking it makes it slightly undesirable. And when all is said and done you can only "cast" to the amount of people your internet service will support ie: dial-up = No Way, Broadband = maybe 20 people. In the end... Not very exciting!

So I was updating my Skype software now owned by Ebay. While checking out the new features of Skype I found one called Skype Cast!!! Oh boy! So just messing around with it cause I couldn't sleep I started a "Skype Cast" and in a 15 minute time period I had over 200 people from all over the world tune in and check it out.

If you want to put on a show or just a huge free conference call here is the basics...

Go to www.Skype.com and download the latest version of the Skype software. Once you download the software just sign up for a free Skype account. When your done go to the tab the says Skypecast. Set up your Skypecast call on their site. Go to your volume control in Windows and open it up. Go to Options, then Properties, then Recording. In the recording control window put a check in the Stereo Mixer box. Now every sound that comes out of your computer will go over Skype.

If you just want to play music leave it like that. As people hit your room just shove'em all into Listen Only and they will not be able to say or play anything! One person during my first show IMed me asking if they could play a couple songs so I enabled them to be heard and BAM live from Germany there was some interesting Techno! I was playing MP3's, and Videos from YouTube nothin' big. Wait until I hook this all up to my little home studio!!

This is a very basic and very effective way to put yourself out there. A more advanced set up is possible to enable yourself to produce a more professional show but the set-up described here will get you on there and is a lot of fun! Try it out and see what happens!

At the time of this writing I have been broadcasting a second show to over 300. I will be doing another show tomorrow morning at around 6:15am EST. Get Skype and look for me in the Skypecast directory as MrManUSA.