The trouble with new buzzwords is that they tend to make things sound more complicated than they actually are.

The term ‘podcast’, for example, might initially sound futuristic but, in reality, all it means is that people are making their own audio or video programmes and using the web as a platform to distribute them rather than the TV or radio.

If that still seems daunting, then Avanquest WebPod Studio promises to simplify the whole process and provide many automated functions.

The blurb on the box suggests that it’s just a question of plugging a microphone or a video camera into your PC and letting the program handle the rest.

Start WebPod Studio up and you’ll find its interface takes the form of a series of wizards, the idea being to guide you step by step through everything from setting up your equipment and recording your show to publishing your work online.

The only problem is that you’ll still have to deal with quite a lot of technical details and that can get quite confusing, particularly given the program’s relatively skimpy online help pages.

Information such as what bit rate to use for audio recordings, for instance, needs to be entered manually.

And, at the end of the process, publishing a video or audio podcast requires the appropriate web server space to have been arranged separately and the relevant details added to WebPod Studio before the show can be physically launched online.

Those wanting to get creative by adding effects or cuts to their recorded audio or video will have to use a separate editing application, as WebPod Studio provides little option for refinement within the program itself.

Plus, since most audio/video editing software programs come with their own recording tools, many users may decide that they’re better off sticking with their editing program for the entire production of their show.

That said, while it isn’t perhaps as straightforward as it makes out, WebPod Studio does provide many useful features for would-be media moguls.

It has a built-in telepromper (like the autocue that newsreaders use), integrated RSS support and a handy iTunes tagging utility.

Finding interesting or original subject material for your podcast is, however, up to you.

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X-oom Podcast Studio
Verdict: Not for novices, but some will find it a useful and cheap bundle of software for podcast creation
Rating: 3
Price: £20