Can You Take a Podcast on Soundcloud and Upload It to Other Platforms

SoundCloud comes up when people talk about podcast hosting. Technically, though, SoundCloud isn't a podcast host like Libsyn or Blubrry, only rather a streaming sound platform. They do host media, both on free and paid plans, and they have a pretty nifty actor and subscription model. Just, similar everything else, you have pros and cons to the service. We desire you to be able to brand the  well-nigh informed decision you tin can, and so let'south go ahead and dig into SoundCloud.

Pros for SoundCloud

It'due south a Social Platform

Probably the biggest positive in SoundCloud'south favor is that information technology isn't simply a streaming sound platform. It'south a social audio platform. In the same way that people interact with pics and videos on Instagram, that's how yous interact with tracks, albums, and users on SoundCloud. When information technology comes to music and podcasts both, people love to share what they love. They desire to talk almost what they honey. If your podcast is centered around a community more than an idea, and you get lots of interaction, SoundCloud might be a cracking place for you to wait.

Dedicated Apps

Despite podcasts having been around for a adept long time (the termpodcast was coined in 2004 past Ben Hammersley ofThe Guardian), finding a proficient app for listening to your subscriptions is nonetheless kind of a pain. Features many listeners want aren't included beyond the board, even in the default, industry-standard Podcasts app that Apple includes in iOS. And Android doesn't even have a standard podcast player.

While there are complimentary options out there that work well, they all behave differently for different people. Overcast, Pocket Casts, Stitcher, and others all have different UIs, which can obfuscate leaving reviews, among other things. With SoundCloud, if you publish on their platform, your listeners tin download your episodes through the official SoundCloud app. (Which solves the Android podcast app trouble that plagues and so many 'casters.)

Unlike other podcast hosts, SoundCloud doesn't rely on simple RSS to disseminate your podcast (though it does that, too, so you tin can exist listed everywhere). It lets listeners connect direct with you, socially and passively. It's easy for people to find you and interact with yous on SC because they use the service like a search engine. Absurd, correct?

Kind of Pro, Kind of Con

Information technology'south Free

Sort of. I volition utilise this as a transition between the pros and cons because where this one falls will depend on who yous inquire. I've used both sides of the platform, personally. That'south why I put information technology hither in this grey area. I am personally ambivalent about it, and so is the residual 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. Hither'southward the breakup of their tiers:

SoundCloud Basic (the free tier) is great for new podcasters who don't know if they can stick with it. 3 hours of podcasting a calendar month is perfectly acceptable for weekly shows that run thirty-45 minutes each. And as a new 'caster, that's plenty. The bones stats are just that. And the embeds are what you've probably seen on every SC player ever. However, if yous are intending to do more than record a few short shows a month, you will need to upgrade.

The biggest reason to upgrade to eitherProorPro Unlimited is for two features:replace tracks andscheduled releases. Equally a podcaster myself, these ii features are invaluable. Because I'm homo. I take a hectic schedule similar yous folks practice which makes scheduling podcast releases the most of import feature I can accept. I make a lot of silly, careless mistakes (similar maybe 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 become off the rails. Your listeners will be confused. If they're dislocated, they may leap ship.

Then in this gray area, the near-universal ambivalence comes because the free tier is really good for a lot of people, and when combined with the social features and dedicated, cross-platform app, make SoundCloudreally appealing for many people. However, the paywall for two of the most basic features that come with other podcast hosts for free (or at their lowest tiers, rather than the highest) gives a lot of people pause.

Cons for SoundCloud

Uploads are by Fourth dimension, not File Size

Now, in terms of downsides to SoundCloud, one of the biggest is that they limit your podcasting by hours. Other hosts practice information technology by file size. This is important. For podcasting, it's okay to skimp on bit rate and sample ate because the quality differential is generally unnoticed. From the NPR website (royalty amidst podcasters):

We recommend encoding these files at a lower flake charge per unit of 24-64kbps. Also, the sample rate should be a standard kHz charge per unit of eleven, 22, 33 or 44 kHz. This will let your users to download files more than apace and result in lower bandwidth usage for the station. Continue in mind people mind on figurer speakers, head phones and then higher quality is not appreciated.

They become on to outline the fourth dimension, quality, and file size ratios, as well.

5 minutes encoded at 24kpbs is approximately i MB, 48kpbs is approximately i.7 MB, and 64kpbs is approximately two.5 MB

30 minutes encoded at 32kbps is approximately seven MB, 64kbps is approximately 14 MB

ane hr encoded at 32 kbps is approximately 13 MB, 56 kbps is approximately 22 MB, and 64 kbps is approximately 25 MB

When looking at SoundCloud versus Libsyn or Blubrry or others, you can become the same upload of a huge lossless WAV file as you do a minimal 24kbps MP3. Equally a prolific podcaster, yous can run out of time very hands if yous're not on the unlimited plan. A lot of people hate this because you tin get a lot more than 3 hours packed into your audio if you lot 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 first and foremost for music, which is why they limit you by the 60 minutes instead of file size. You can get a lot more loftier quality songs on your account than you tin can podcasts.

They Might Be in Trouble

Depending on where y'all wait, who you talk to, and what you read, SoundCloud is either in tremendous financial trouble or is doing only fine, thank you very much. When SoundCloud laid off over 40% of employees in 2017, there was a kind of exodus from the platform to other hosts by podcasters. Independent musicians tended to stay, simply it became the main host of far, far fewer podcasters. After all, transferring hosts for your media while keeping the aforementioned RSS feed consistent is pretty serious concern.

Of grade, since the layoffs, the company has said that it'due south fine (but every company tends to say that until the very end) and that it has no intentions of closing. However, the general consensus is to use SC equally a syndication tool like Stitcher or TuneIn, but apply someone else for your main media host.

I included this in the piece because it is kind of the dark cloud hanging over SC in regard to podcasting. Information technology'southward non a maybe-con and a full-on one because I want you to know what y'all're going into. Even potentially sinking has made people totally avoid the company, and I don't want to make it audio similar it'due south a black-and-white issue. It'south not. No one wants to get caught unaware and lose their work or have to redo it. Continue with caution and with all the info you lot tin then you can make an informed determination.

Is SoundCloud Right For You?

Perhaps. It is absolutely a identify you want to include your podcast. It but depends on what kind of needs you have for this to be your main host. For many podcasters, SoundCloud is merely some other tool they can use to go their podcast out at that place. With iTunes beingness the 800-lb gorilla of the podcasting earth, you will still go over 90% of your downloads through at that place. But SoundCloud does offer a lot of cool toys and gadgets for y'all. Plus, it'southward a skillful idea to have a few % come from the SC searches. But it's upwardly to y'all to take all this info and decide which host is the all-time. SoundCloud is definitely a viable option, though, especially for the more audiophiliac among you.

What have 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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