If you ’re a podcaster look to move on from the comfort of GarageBand or Audacity without shell out the Johnny Cash for a pro - tied solution like Apple ’s Soundtrack or Digidesign ’s Pro Tools , Pleasant Software’sÜbercaster 1.0.1 (; $ 80 ) might hit the sweet post between price and capability . Not only is it much cheaper than pro - level packages , but it ’s build from the ground up for podcasters , integrating a issue of podcast - specific feature of speech for which drug user of GarageBand or Audacity have had to turn to other programs .
Like most of those other programs , Übercaster features a multi - track editing environment and , through the purpose of Apple ’s Core Audio technology , it can get at the same AudioUnit issue as GarageBand , such as filters , pitch adjustment , and reverb impression . Naturally , there ’s all the audio - redaction functionality you ’d expect : cut down and fuse audio clip , adjust track volume level via “ rubber bands , ” muting and solo tracks , and so on . And like GarageBand , Übercaster lets you produce enhanced podcasts that use the AAC format and feature of speech artwork , chapters , and hyperlink .
But where Übercaster really shinny is in its podcast - specific feature . GarageBand , Audacity , and even those high - end programme are all primarily designed as general audio - recording apps . Even GarageBand ’s podcast features , which are probably the good of the clique , were added as an second thought . For model , if you want to commemorate a multi - person sound conference using a voice - over - IP service , your only option in GarageBand is to employ iChat ; otherwise you have to record a Skype or Gizmo Project conversation using something like Rogue Amoeba’sAudio Hijackor Ecamm’sCall Recorderand then import that recording into GarageBand . Übercaster , on the other hand , includes an optional patch of software called Pleasant Connect , which adds the capacity to commemorate conversation held in those apps directly in Übercaster .
And while GarageBand allow you add sound outcome in C. W. Post - output , Übercaster allow you prepare sound effects and other audio clips ahead of clip , then trigger eachduringrecording with a shiner click , a fundamental press , or even — via the program ’s “ stealth mode”—by simply hover the cursor over the panel that represent that cartridge clip . ( If you ’re memorialize an audio conference using the Pleasant Connect software , the other participants will be capable to see the sounds too . ) And by enable Übercaster ’s “ exhaustive keyboard crosscut ” option , you may increase or minify the volume of clip , toggle an audio effect , or even disappearance effect in and out , all with a few wide-eyed keystroke .
Besides transcription , Übercaster ’s other forte is in in reality grow your podcast . By nonpayment , GarageBand wants you to export your podcast in AAC data formatting ; a little trickery is required to export in AIFF format . But Übercaster lets you select from MP3 , AAC , or AIFF , with a variety of options for spot charge per unit and encoding quality . Better yet , if you wantbotha vanilla MP3 interpretation and an enhanced AAC version , you’re able to mark up multiple formats and have Übercaster create a filing cabinet in each data formatting at the insistence of a button . you may even enter the information for your FTP / SFTP waiter or .Mac account and Übercaster will manage upload the leave file(s ) for you . Übercaster also has more - robust tagging tools than GarageBand , so people like me , who previously had to import their podcasts into iTunes to aright fill up out all that data before publication , will be saved the electronic trip .
Finally , my favourite feature of Übercaster is its templates . Just as Microsoft Word ’s templates spare you time by providing “ start places ” for common types of documents , Übercaster ’s guide can give you a head - start on producing episodes of your podcast without having to , say , re - import your motif music or occupy in your show ’s tatter each clip . regrettably , Übercaster ’s template let you store only sound clips and tagging information ; they do n’t rent you indicate , for example , where on the podcast timeline each sound clip should play , or adjust track volume if you need the same theme - music fade - in / disappearance - out for each episode .
operation - wise , Übercaster is a demand app , requiring spate of RAM and a knock-down processor ; Pleasant Software urge a minimum scheme of a two-fold - core G5 with 1 GB RAM ; on my 2GHz Core Duo MacBook with 2 GB of RAM , I once in a while ran into whirl beach ball and slowdown when editing a fairly complex podcast . That said , execution is often better than that of GarageBand ; for example , Übercaster adds AIFF files into a project outright , whereas GarageBand can take up to a minute of arc to do the same thing . ( The reason for this particular difference is probable because Übercaster does not make its own written matter of audio Indian file unless you use the “ Save as self - comprise archive ” option in the Save As dialogue . )
As much as I ’d like to recommend Übercaster without reservations , I run into a few problems while using the app to produce several podcasts . For instance , the reinforcement for immortalize audio conference isverytouchy ; you need to carefully accompany the steps in the manual of arms in setting them up . Even doing that , I sometimes end up with feedback blaring in my earphone , and sometimes I could find out the other person , but they could n’t find out me . And I was n’t able to get Pleasant Connect to work properly with Gizmo Project at all . Also , in the process of editing an hourlong multi - track podcast , I often ran into a glitch where Übercaster would decide to barricade playing back a particular audio track for no seeming reason ( rewinding and replaying it wouldusuallyfix the trouble , but it ’s an irritating issue nonetheless ) .
Übercaster is an ambitious program that aims to be a Swiss Army tongue of podcasting functionality . If the developers can work on out some of the kink in next versions , it ’ll be an even strong presence in the podcasting field .
