Caveat Academy course · Grades 8 to 12

Podcasting and Audio Production

A semester of podcasting and audio: finding a show worth hearing, how sound and microphones work, setting levels and recording clean, interviewing and telling stories in audio, editing and mixing to a loudness target, and publishing with the right licenses. Six modules at your own pace, all doable with a phone or a basic USB mic and free software, with a certificate at the end.

Start the courseSee the modules
$19one-time · every device you sign in on
Buy · $19

Included with the Caveat Academy pass and Whole-school licenses. Or get it in the Arts & Creativity collection, $69 for 23 items.

6 modules · 18 lessonsabout 12 hours$19

Six modules, eighteen lessons

Each module ends with a practice set that tracks mastery, an explain-it-back prompt, a short written response and a module exam. The final opens when every module is proficient; passing it earns a certificate with a verification code.

  1. Module 1: What makes a podcast worth hearing

    Design a show around a clear listener promise, choose a fitting format and plan an episode with a timed run of show written for the ear.

    • Formats and what each does well
    • Finding your idea and your listener
    • Planning an episode
    about 2.1 h

  2. Module 2: Sound and microphones

    Explain frequency, decibels and the effect of distance, and choose microphones, placement and a recording space to suit a room.

    • What sound is
    • Microphones
    • Your recording space
    about 2.1 h

  3. Module 3: Recording clean audio

    Set safe recording levels, compute file sizes from sample rate, bit depth and bit rate, and record interviews and remote guests with consent.

    • Levels and gain
    • Digital audio and file formats
    • Recording interviews and remote guests
    about 2.1 h

  4. Module 4: Interviewing and storytelling

    Prepare and conduct ethical interviews with open questions and follow-ups, and structure an audio story with scenes, tape and track.

    • Preparing an interview
    • Conducting the interview
    • Telling a story in audio
    about 2.1 h

  5. Module 5: Editing and mixing

    Edit for structure and rhythm, mix with EQ, compression and ducking, and export to a loudness target without clipping.

    • Editing the conversation
    • Mixing: EQ, compression and noise
    • Loudness and export
    about 2.1 h

  6. Module 6: Publishing, the law and careers

    Evaluate music licenses and copyright, publish a show with an RSS feed, accessible notes and privacy protections, and use analytics as evidence.

    • Copyright, music and permission
    • Publishing your show
    • Growing a show and audio careers
    about 2.1 h

Try it before you start

This is how every lesson works: step through a worked example at your own pace, then answer a check and get the reason right away. Nothing here is saved; the course keeps your progress.

Module 3 · Digital audio and file formats

Worked example: how big is an hour of audio?

  1. A mono WAV at 48,000 samples per second and 24 bits stores 48,000 × 24 = 1,152,000 bits per second.

A lesson check from each module

The checks need JavaScript turned on. The course itself works the same way.

What you get

Enrichment · Arts & Creativity$19 · included with the Academy pass and Whole-school licenses

What you finish with
A finished semester of audio production: you can plan a show around a clear promise and a timed run of show, choose and place a microphone for your room, set safe levels and work out file sizes, record interviews and remote guests with consent, structure a story with scenes, tape and track, edit and mix to a loudness target without clipping, and publish legally with licensed music, accessible notes and your privacy protected. Passing the final earns a Caveat certificate of completion.
Who it is for
Students in grades 8 to 12 who want to start a podcast, join a school media or radio club, or explore audio, journalism or sound design careers; homeschool families who want a complete semester unit. No purchase is needed: a phone voice recorder and free editing software are enough for every exercise.
Format
An online self-paced course: 6 modules and 18 lessons with worked examples you reveal step by step, 144 practice and exam items (multiple choice, numeric, fill-in and ordering), an explain-it-back prompt and a rubric-checked short response in every module, module exams with one retake, a 24-question final and a certificate with a verification code. About 12 hours in all; works on a phone or a computer.
Access
$19 one-time, yours on every device you sign in on; the course opens once you are signed in with it. Included with the Caveat Academy pass and Whole-school licenses. Also in the Arts & Creativity collection ($69) and the Enrichment Suite pass ($119), and 1 more bundle. Progress is saved in this browser on this device, and the certificate page lets you download your record.
Where it lives
The Arts & Creativity space in Caveat Enrichment.
Support
Access, a receipt, a refund or a correction to the course: team@caveatacademic.com.

How it works

  1. Open the course and start Module 1. Each lesson takes about 25 to 35 minutes; two or three a week finishes the course in about a semester.
  2. Answer the checks as you read. Every answer shows the reason, and a miss links you back to the lesson that covers it.
  3. Finish each module with its practice set and exam. Proficient on every module opens the final; 70 percent passes it.
  4. Print or download your certificate and record from the certificate page.

Start the course

Sources and accuracy

The lessons are original writing by Caveat Academic Services. Facts were checked against these free, open references, which are also good places to read further.

  1. U.S. Copyright Office, copyright basics, fair use and the public domain: copyright.gov
  2. Creative Commons, about the licenses: creativecommons.org
  3. Apple Podcasts for Creators, artwork, audio and loudness requirements: podcasters.apple.com
  4. NPR Training, guides to interviewing, writing for the ear and audio production: training.npr.org
  5. National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, noise-induced hearing loss: nidcd.nih.gov

Podcasting and Audio Production is a self-paced course from Caveat Academic Services. It follows the sequence of a typical one-semester podcasting or audio production elective but does not replace a school course or award credit. It gives general information about copyright and recording consent, not legal advice; rules differ from place to place, so always ask everyone before recording and use only music you have the right to use. Technical targets are common industry starting points. Support: team@caveatacademic.com.