Never miss another episode of Spark by subscribing to any of our totally free podcasts. All you need to listen is a computer with an internet connection. You can use your favourite podcatcher, or download individual episodes. More information and full instructions on CBC Radio podcasts at cbc.ca/podcasting
There are two different feeds you can subscribe to:
1. Regular Podcast (one episode weekly)
This feed includes weekly episodes of Spark, as heard on the radio. Subscribe directly using iTunes, or copy and paste this URL into a podcasting tool:
Find a full list of past episodes available for download on the Spark blog.
2. Spark Plus (bonus audio)
This feed includes additional audio (like full interviews) found on the Spark blog.
Click here to subscribe directly using iTunes, or copy and paste this URL into a podcasting tool:
You can find many full interviews in the Interviews category of this blog.
Hey! Where did Spark Lite go?
We introduced Spark Lite three years ago, in November 2008, as a low-bandwidth version of our weekly episodes. When we launched Spark Lite, we called it an “experiment” and made sure to point out that it might not last forever. It didn’t. Here’s why: for the past three years, Spark Lite has been powered by blip.tv, not on the CBC’s servers. Like I said, it was an experiment. In October 2011, blip.tv announced the shuttering of mp3 uploads to their service. With that, the Spark Lite experiment ended and its feed was redirected to the regular podcast feed. Thanks for subscribing.
where's the free eco font download???
You can download the Ecofont here: http://www.ecofont.eu/ecofont_en.html
This was linked from the show notes for today's episode: http://www.cbc.ca/spark/2009/02/episode-65-februa…
You can download the Ecofont here: http://www.ecofont.eu/ecofont_en.html
This was linked from the show notes for today's episode: http://www.cbc.ca/spark/2009/02/episode-65-februa…
Not sure if it is new or not, but I really like the 3 different podcasts, esp the extended SparkPlus. Thanks!
Shouldn’t the pic for spark+ be in colour, while the sparkLite should be a 5k jpg?
tOM
SparkLite is still pretty hefty. Why not use Lame like this:
lame.exe –priority 0 –verbose -V 9 -q 2 -m m –resample 8000 –highpass .15 –add-id3v2 –pad-id3v2-size 254 –tg Podcast “%Source%” “%NewFileName%”
::——- copy over metadata from original file to new one ————
“C:\Program Files\id3cp.exe” -2 “%Source%” “%NewFileName%”
(Do this on your original file, not the Lite)
This reduces the kpbs to about 20kpbs. Then a lot can fit on a small cheap MP3 player, as well as downloading quickly.
This would reduce Lite from 12.5MB to a nice sounding 8MB for an hour show. Compare how it sounds!
I actually do this for all my podcasts. Juice can run a program on each download. I run this batch file:
prompt $t $p$g
@echo on
@cls
@echo %0 – used to reduce size of speech MP3s and add date to filename – can be used for podcasts or audiobooks
@ECHO .
@echo eg %0 “C:\Documents and Settings\Tom\My Documents\Podcasts\ITM.TN-MichaelCrichton-2008.11.27.mp3″ “In the middle – Tech Nation”
@echo becomes 2009.01.07-13.52-Inthemiddle-TechNation-ITM.TN-MichaelCrichton-2008.11.27.mp3
@ECHO .
@echo Using parms podcast file:1:%1 podcast name:%2
@echo a.Uses LAME to reduce size of podcast by reducing bitrate and frequency range and VBR, setting Genre tag to Speech, year to download year
@echo lame params: hi-compression VBR hi-quality mono
@echo b. Renames to include file date/time stamp at front (for display by dumb mp3 players) – also copied to Comment tag
@echo c. Sets id3 v1 tag defaults by filename, podcast name, puts file date in comments tag, sets genre to speech
@echo d. Use id3cp to copy over original tags
@echo e. Puts copy in \data\podcasts directory
@echo f. if no errors, erases original
@echo –assume param 1 includes ” ” around it; params 2+ do not
@echo ————————————————
@echo using %0 %1 %2
@if exist %1 goto DoIt
:help
@echo check errors!
@echo Param 1 – a file path/name or specification, eg, “c:\podcasts\abc.mp3″ You entered %1
@echo Param 2 – any words to include in the metadata eg, podcast name, place, in quotes, eg “science podcast”. You entered %2
dir %1
@echo err(s) 1-%ERRLame%-%ERRTagCopy%-%ERRFile%
pause
exit /B 1%ERRLame%%ERRTagCopy%%ERRFile%
:=============================================
:doIt
@setlocal
set DestDir=”E:\My Documents\Podcasts”
e:
@md %DestDir%
cd %DestDir%
:::—– assumes date in form yyyy-mm-yy hh:mm————
FOR %%V IN (%1) DO set InFileName=%%~nV
set ErrFile=%ERRORLEVEL%
@echo file date format in windoze is yyyy/mm/dd HH:MM
@echo params 2-8 used in name; params 2-infinity used for default album tag
:: %%J – year
:: %%K – month
:: %%L – day
:: %%M – hour
:: %%N – minute
:: %%~tV – complete datetime stamp
:: %%~nV – filename, w/o path
:: %%V – filename.ext
FOR %%V IN (%1) DO FOR /F “tokens=1-5 delims=/:.- ” %%J IN (“%%~tV”) DO set Year=%%J
FOR %%V IN (%1) DO FOR /F “tokens=1-5 delims=/:.- ” %%J IN (“%%~tV”) DO set FileDate=%%J.%%K.%%L-%%M.%%N
if %2.==. set %2=”%0″
Set NewFileName=%InFileName%-%FileDate%.mp3
@”C:\Program Files\id3info.exe” -n -w %1
:::::::::::::
“C:\Program Files\lame.exe” –priority 0 –verbose -V 9 -q 2 -m m –resample 8000 –highpass .15 –add-id3v2 –scale 2 –pad-id3v2-size 254 –tg Speech %1 “%NewFileName%”
set ERRLame=%ERRORLEVEL%
::——- copy over metadata from original file to new one ————
“C:\Program Files\id3cp.exe” -2 %1 “%NewFileName%”
set ERRTagCopy=%ERRORLEVEL%
::——- show metadata ————
“C:\Program Files\id3info.exe” %1
“C:\Program Files\id3info.exe” “%NewFileName%”
@dir %1 | find “.mp3″
@dir “%NewFileName%” | find “.mp3″
IF %ERRFile% GTR 1 goto help
IF %ERRLame% GTR 0 goto help
IF %ERRTagCopy% GTR 0 goto help
endlocal
sleep 3m
erase %1
exit 00
tOM
Will check into it Tom. Thanks for your suggested settings.
Looking for episode that had the story about 2 girls traveling and blogging across Canada as compared to Queensland Australia campaign?
Thanks
-cd
Hi Chris,
I think I remember hearing part of that story, but it wasn't on Spark. As It Happens, maybe??
why do I need a 'podcast'? I just go to the web and listen to the show or bits whenever? I'm a mainly homebound zoomer!
Seems like the Full Interview with Andrew McAfee never made it to the RSS feed… I can find it elsewhere (if I Google hard enough, CBC your user interface is lacking) and download it, but it didn't show up on the Spark or Spark Plus Feed with the other Full Interviews.
The full interview with Andrew McAfee is available here: http://www.cbc.ca/spark/2010/01/full-interview-an…
where is the community tech support gone too? I loved it!
For the time being, it's at http://www.sparkexchange.ca/
However, The SparkExchange is closing up shop. We decided to start SparkExchange as an experiment back in February 2010. Since that time, StackExchange (upon which SparkExchange is built) has made some changes. So, as of July 13, 2010, the site will no longer exist. Thanks to everyone who tried this experiment out with us. If you're looking for a larger (but similar) community, try Super User.
thanks. too bad it is closing. It was great. Will try your link and thanks for experimenting with life along with us.
hi dan, i found out this site just now. really interesting, still now. Regretfully your link isn't working anymore. Does anybody know where I can find the sparkexchange online now? Is it still online?
Joanna
The SparkExchange was a limited-time experiment, and is no longer running. Thanks for your interest.
yeah I loved that community tech support also. What happened to it?
Wish you guys had the enhanced podcasts. You could separate by chapters, have pics of the people you interview, and links to the sites you are talking about.
really nice. thank for the post.
Why can't I find the regular Spark podcast on the Zune Marketplace? (yes, I am one of the 10 people using the Windows phone) The "lite" one was available there, but since that is no longer being used….what is a Window girl to do? (don't blame me, my silly husband bought the phone!)
Hello, Karen. You should be able to add Spark to your Zune using the following instructions: http://www.zune.net/en-US/support/collection/buil…
To subscribe, you can enter the show\’s RSS feed directly: http://www.cbc.ca/podcasting/includes/spark.xml
Hope this helps.
excellent Dan. Thank you.
Hey Karen
Don't be discouraged. I bought a Zune mp3 player and found it easy to use, and the software was really good. I now have have 3 Zune (which they no longer make) but the software is still really easy to use.
2 weeks ago I subscribed to the Spark Plus podcast because it included everything! No big deal, but I liked the all in one subscription.
Why the change?
Btw, I love this podcast and blog. Easily one of my favorites.
Does the recent change also mean that we don't get the regular Spark episode 2 days early any more? :-O
For some reason, my podcatcher isn't picking up any episodes from the Spark Plus after December 15. It stops at the Baratunde Thurston episode. Today's interview (Ian Cook) isn't there, for instance.
I love the podcast. Smart, witty, and most of all by people that I trust to bring quality information, As for the CBC's desire to lead the pack on tech they have been quite good. I guess that is why I find it so hard to say that it was a real pain in the pututtie to download podcasts. I was Mac before Mac was cool, and so I switched to Linux and Android, I don't use itunes or Quicktime and it is tough to download a single podcast, subscribing is a bit easier. I salute CBC for all their innovation but I hope they don't abandon those who walk a little off the main path.
2 weeks ago I subscribed to the Spark Plus podcast because it included everything! No big deal, but I liked the all in one subscription.
Why the change?
Btw, I love this podcast and blog. Easily one of my favorites.