Reefcast Tutorial

Reefcast is a fun podcast about the hobby. For the past year, Evan and I have been chatting about the hobby while recording it to an mp3 file that you can download to your computer or ipod (mp3 player). Shows vary in length, and content can be varied as well. We want to keep it interesting, that's for sure. The official site is reefcast.com

Please always Right Click & Save As each show. Once downloaded to your harddrive, you can listen to them as often as you like. Our site is not set up for streaming audio; if you just click on a file you'll likely not get the entire episode. Be sure to check the Show Notes for each episode, always available on reefcast.com's Downloads page. In the show notes, we always place links so you can see and visit the same sites that we are talking about.

Below is a basic tutorial about how to navigate and use various sites to get the shows. Via itunes or feedburner, you can acquire the shows via subscription with automatic updates. And here is the page with all the episodes so far.

Reefcast website

Let's start with the reefcast website. Once there, click on Downloads.

On that page, you can choose which episodes you want to download. We have a few episodes per page.

On the page you've selected, you'll see a number of options in the left column. The bottom one is how to download that particular episode. Place your mouse of the icon, right click to open a small menu, and click Save File. Pay attention to the directory it will be saved to so you can find it later.

Please note in the right column are the Show Notes for that particular episode. Follow along with us as we visit various sites and discuss new products.

Feedburner website

You'll also notice the option for RSS, iTunes, Feedburner and Odeo. Feedburner is simple subscription service. Click on it to open their site. Now click on Subscribe. At the top of the Firefox browser, you'll see the icon for Live Feeds and now Reefcast will be on that list!

Using iTunes software

If you clicked on iTunes, it will search to see if you have the iTunes software on your computer. If you own an iPod, odds are you are already using itunes. However, let's assume you don't have it yet. Go to itunes.com, and click on iTunes Store. Click on the Free Download to get the software. Follow the installation procedures. It is free, and will not install spyware. Fear not. :)

Once installed, open up the iTunes software for the first time. It should open up to the store, the main page people purchase music, movies, and more. Now click on Podcasts, as circled below.

In the search field, type in "reefcast" and press ENTER on your keyboard.

Now you should see this page. Click on subscribe at either area. (There is a chance that you'll have to sign up to iTunes with a credit card for some day when you might make a purchase, but there is no charge for our podcast. Since I'm already signed up, I don't know if you'll be prompted for such information at this time. Let me know if you do so I can update this tutorial.)

Now that you are subscribed, when you click on Podcasts in the Library, you'll see a screen like this. It will automatically download any new shows available each time you load the iTunes software on your computer, similar to when you load your email program and it downloads the latest emails. It only downloads subscriptions, nothing more, and ONLY when you run the software. If you see some episodes you don't have yet and the GET button is there, click on it to start the download.

Now that you have our shows on your computer, you can double click on it to begin listening, using the Play and Pause buttons as necessary.

I don't own an mp3 player yet, so I can't tell you how to transfer our shows to another device. But if you are listening to it like I do, turn up your speakers, grab a cold one and enjoy the show! :)