What is a vodcast?
A vodcast, simply put, is a podcast with video content or video files created with the intent of sharing and downloading the video file to other computers or mobile devices. As technology continues to improve and become cheaper, this media format increases in popularity and availability.
Vodcast Format
Recording
A vodcast can be recorded in many different ways. Regardless of the method used, however, various types of equipment and software are typically needed.
Equipment
At the least, some method of video and audio capture is required to produce a vodcast. This could be done using a handheld video recorder or a webcam and microphone. The decision of which to use is important as they will both have different software options available to them.
Camcorders
Camcorders are handheld electronic devices that specialize in recording video. As one of the more expensive pieces of equipment, the camcorders do provide some of the highest potential quality for video capture, as well as audio capture with internal microphones or attachments. Camcorders can be bought for a little under US$200 and up into the thousands of dollars. Camcorders often also require batteries, memory cards (or disks), as well as more optional pieces of equipment like tripods that can add additional costs. It should be noted that one of the advantages of a camcorder is their ease of use in many different environments where computers with webcams may be more cumbersome or impractical.
Examples
Those interested in camcorders can find a range of devices like the Sony HDR CX190 or the Kodak PlaySport which vary in size, shape and features -- such as being waterproof.
Webcams
Webcams are video capture devices that are used in conjunction with a computer that often provides the webcam with power and a hard disk to save any recorded video onto. The cheapest video capture option of the two presented here, webcams can be purchased for under US$20. Many webcams offer high-definition recording (720p+) and have built-in microphones to record audio. These days many laptops will come with integrated webcams, allowing the owner to start vodcasting or doing video calls nearly immediately. While being very affordable, they do have the disadvantages of not being as versatile in their potential recording environments or not being quite as high quality as camcorders.
Examples
Those interested in using a webcam can find a wide variety of products in an equally wide range of prices, like the Logitech HD Webcam 310 or the Logitech HD Pro Webcam C920. The feature list tends to be a bit smaller than that of camcorders, but there is the difference in quality of the video recorded.
Microphones
While many webcams do have integrated microphones, you may wish to purchase a separate microphone in order to increase the quality of the audio being recorded.
Software
The software needed for recording will most likely revolve around the formatting of the recorded video, however if you decide to use a webcam you will also need software to capture the video to your computer's hard disk. Thankfully, most webcams come with their own software that can do this.