Notice: Docs in need of an update

Mediacaster makes podcasting and videocasting easier than it ever has been on a WordPress blog.

For reference, the typical approach to podcasting more or less goes:

1. FTP media files to your site in some weird folder
2. Scan for your newly updated media files using an ackward interface
3. Attach the media files to your post using an equally ackward interface
4. Give the media files attributes, e.g. a title, using yet another interface

No more…

Default Usage

Mediacaster requires that you create a media/ folder in your WordPress site's folder, and make it writable by the server (chmod 777).

Thereafter, you can upload media files using the media uploader, which is located beneath the post editor.

Supported formats include: .mp3, .flv, .swf, .m4a, .mp4, .m4v and .mov.

Upon being uploaded, media files are automatically attached to your entry. You can then rename and delete these media files at will.

Attached media files are automatically appended your entry, as a playlist where applicable. In 95% of cases, this is exactly what you'll want to do.

In the event that you want to insert inline media in your entry, a drop down allows you to do so in the WordPress editor when Media files are present.

Media files that were inserted inline are of course stripped from the automatically generated playlist.

You can also type [media:url] anywhere in a post. This syntax further anywhere in a post to insert inline media from third party sites.

And lastly, enclosures are automatically inserted in your RSS feed, for use by iTunes and iPods.

Advanced Usage

mp3 Playlist Cover

Mediacaster lets you add a cover image to your mp3 playlists. To use this feature, upload a cover.jpg (or .png) image to your media folder, i.e.:

/media/cover.jpg

You can override the cover for individual entries later on by uploading a separate cover.jpg (or .png) file using the media uploader.

flv and swf Cover

If you're broadcasting flv and swf videos, you can insert an image (.jpg or .png) named after the video.

For instance, if your video is called myvideocast.flv, you'll want to upload a myvideocast.jpg file.

Admin Screen

Under Options / Mediacaster, you'll find various options related to Mediacaster.

In particular, you can globally set the player's width. The height of videos is automatically adjusted using the standard 320×240 screen size ratio.

You can also set all sorts of options related to iTunes.

To upload an iTunes cover image, you'll want to make your wp-content folder writable by the server (chmod 777).

Compatibility

Mediacaster understands the syntax used by several other podcasting and videocasting plugins to ensure compatibility with legacy versions of Semiologic Pro.

In particular:

• [audio:url] and [video:url] syntaxes
• <flv> tags
• enclosure custom fields

It also plays well with PodPress, in that it leaves the iTunes-related RSS fields untouched when both plugins are active. You'll want to keep PodPress active if you previously used it to insert media.

License Notice

Mediacaster leverages Joeren Wijering's Flash Video Player, which is distributed under a CC-NC-SA license.

If you are using this plugin commercially without being a Semiologic Pro user, be sure send €15 to Joeren.

Frequently Asked Questions

File uploads won't work

More often than not, this means you tried to upload a large file, and your server doesn't allow a file of this size to be uploaded.

Please make sure that you server complies with the WordPress server requirements, and consider switching to one of the recommended WordPress hosts if not.

HELP ME!!!

The Semiologic community forum is the best place to seek support.

Please note, however, that while community members and I do our best to answer all queries, we're assisting you on a voluntary basis.

If you require more dedicated assistance, either hire me or one of the virtual assistants.

Update Notifications

Version checker is the best way to get update notifications. You'll receive them within your Plugins screen directly. You can additionally subscribe to the Semiologic blog or to the Semiologic newsletter.

I usually stick to announcing Semiologic Pro updates in the newsletter. Software from this site invariably gets updated at the same time. I sometimes also organize a webinar on what's new around the same date.

Minimum Requirements

• WordPress 2.0
• The usual server requirements

Manual Installation

To manually install this software, download the zip and upload its contents into your plugins folder, i.e.:

yoursite.com/wp-content/plugins

Then, activate the plugin in your site's admin area.

If you're using the default WordPress editor (TinyMCE) rather than my wysiwyg editor plugin, you'll also want the TinyMCE plugin to insert inline Media. The mediacaster folder goes in:

yoursite.com/wp-includes/js/tinymce/plugins