XP Home to Zune Podcasting Tutorial

[Icy Mt.]

I have a bunch of compilation albums that I have put together over the years. I wanted to gather them all in one place on my new Zune 80. I didn't want to rip them to files because then the MP3 tags spread them all over the place, you have to make new playlists, blah, blah, blah. Why can't I just rip them each as one big MP3 and file them all in one folder as an Icy Mt. Podcast? Because Microsoft, in their infinite wisdom, has decreed that you must enter a URL to get a podcast, that's why. Enter, Icy -> problem solved.

Software requirements (what I used):
Microsoft XP Home
Notepad
Apache HTTP Server (I used apache_2.2.8-win32-x86-no_ssl.msi, available at http://httpd.apache.org/download.cgi)
Zune exe version 2.3.1338.0
Zune 80 Verson 2.3 (1145)
Your choice of Web Brower

First, we're going to install Apache. Don't panic, setting up a web server is easy. Keeping knuckleheads from breaking it is the hard part. We're not going to broadcast ourselves so that shouldn't be a problem. Do make sure that your firewall and AV software are up-to-date and you have the latest security updates from M$.

Run the apache_2.2.8-win32-x86-no_ssl.msi
Click through all the NEXT buttons accept the license, do a Typical installation and click Finish. If you change stuff, remember that for later because I’m using the defaults.

If the install goes properly you should get a little feather icon in the taskbar. Double-click that and you should see this window with a green light next to Apach2.2. Congratulations! You are running an HTTP server.



Open a Command Prompt
Start—All Programs—Accessories—Command Prompt
Type ipconfig
Write down (or remember) the number to the left of IP Address, in this case 192.168.1.47


Now open your preferred browser and enter the URL using that number.
http://192.168.1.47
You should get an “It works!” message:


That was the easy part.
Open your folders and browse to C:\Program Files\Apache Software Foundation\Apache2.2\htdocs
This is the root directory for your HTTP server.
Create a new directory here called podcasts:
C:\Program Files\Apache Software Foundation\Apache2.2\htdocs\podcasts
This is where we will put all of our podcast files.

We are going to create a .RSS file that has all of the required information to load and describe your files in Zune. RSS and XML are very powerful languages. There’s a lot more tags that do all kinds of great stuff but Zune ignores most of them. I’m just going to give you the basics that Zune will use. I found most of this information on:
Podcast411.com http://www.podcast411.com/howto_1.html
And
The University of Washinton’s Catalyst website http://catalyst.washington.edu/help/web/podcasting/

The next part of the tutorial is in the comments for the code so you don’t have to go back and forth. Use Notepad to edit this file. Note that comments aren’t supported in RSS files so you will have delete them or use the file below.

<!-- Save this file in your C:Program FilesApache Software FoundationApache2.2htdocspodcasts directory -->
<!-- For this example it Will be saved as ZuneExamplePodcast.rss -->
<!-- You should delete all of these comments enclosed in left arrow, exclamation point, right arrow -->
<!-- Comments don't work in RSS files!! -->


<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<rss version="2.0">
 
<channel>

<!-- This portion describes your overall podcast folder -->
<!-- So it would be Stephen King Books if you have a dozen audiobooks by the master -->

	<title>Zune Podcast Example</title>
		<!-- This is the title that will appear on the first podcasts screen on the Zune80 -->
		<!-- and under your podcast art on the left side of the Zune software in Collection--Podcasts -->
		<!-- under Details in Collection--Podcasts -->

	<description>Zune Podcast Example Description</description>
		<!-- This is the description that will appear on the right side of the Zune software under Details -->

	<link>http://192.168.1.47/podcasts</link>
		<!-- The link to your podcast directory --> 

	<pubDate>Fri, 11 Apr 2008 21:00:00 -0500</pubDate>
		<!-- The date and time of your last update to this file -->
		<!-- Days formats = Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Sun -->
		<!-- Month Formats = Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec -->	

<!-- Next is the image tag for the PODCAST ART -->
<!-- It will show up to the left of your title on the podcast screen on the Zune80 -->
<!-- It will also be displayed while you are listening to audio podcasts -->
<!-- It is also displayed to the left of the Title on the left side of the Zune software -->
<!-- You need to fill in the width and height in pixels that you get from Right Click--Properties--Summary--Advanced -->

	<image>
		<url>http://192.168.1.47/podcasts/ZunePodCastJPG.jpg</url>
		<width>98</width>
		<height>100</height>
	</image>

<!-- These are the individual files that will show up on the list when you select this podcast on the Zune80 -->
<!-- They will also be displayed in the center of the Zune software -->
<!-- I have two in this example, just copy, paste and change the data to add more. -->

<item>

	<title>Zune Item Example 1</title>
		<!-- Title that is displayed on the Zune 80 and in the center of the Zune software -->

	<description>Zune Item Example 1 Description</description>
		<!-- This information is displayed on the Zune80 play/send screen after you select a podcast. -->
		<!-- It is also displayed on the left side of the Zune software when you select a podcast in the center. -->

	<guid>http://192.168.1.47/podcasts/ZuneItemExample1MP3.mp3</guid>
		<!-- Unique identifier for the podcast, we can just use the filename since we're not broadcasting -->

	<enclosure url="http://192.168.1.47/podcasts/ZuneItemExample1MP3.mp3" length="1020422" type="audio/mpeg"/>
		<!-- This is the most important part, the location, size and type of file -->
		<!-- Get the size from Right Click--Properties, no commas and don't use disk size -->
		<!-- YOU NEED ALL THOSE QUOTATION MARKS, LEAVE THEM IN -->
		<!-- File types are: -->
		<!-- .mp3	= audio/mpeg -->
		<!-- .m4a	= audio/x-m4a -->
		<!-- .mp4	= video/mp4 -->
		<!-- .m4v = video/x-m4v -->
		<!-- .mov = video/quicktime -->
		<!-- .pdf = application/pdf -->

	<category>Podcasts</category>
		<!-- Hopefully this is self explanatory at this point -->

	<pubDate>Thu, 10 Apr 2008 12:00:00 -500</pubDate>
		<!-- This date is important for sorting order of the individual items -->
		<!-- It will also be displayed on the Zune 80 and Zune software when you select a podcast -->

</item>

<item>
<title>Zune Item Example 2</title>
<description>Zune Item Example 2 Description</description>
<guid>http://192.168.1.47/podcasts/ZuneItemExample2MP3.mp3</guid>
<enclosure url="http://192.168.1.47/podcasts/ZuneItemExample2MP3.mp3" length="1431242" type="audio/mpeg"/>
<category>Podcasts</category>
<pubDate>Fri, 11 Apr 2008 12:00:00 -500</pubDate>
</item>

</channel>
</rss>

Here’s an uncommented version that’s easier to change. When you are done editing, save this in your podcasts directory:
C:\Program Files\Apache Software Foundation\Apache2.2\htdocs\podcasts\ZuneExamplePo dcast.rss

Move your files (items) into the podcasts directory. Don’t bother with MP3 tags, Zune podcast ignores them.

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<rss version="2.0">
 
<channel>

    <title>Zune Podcast Example</title>
    <description>Zune Podcast Example Description</description>
    <link>http://192.168.1.47/podcasts</link>
    <pubDate>Fri, 11 Apr 2008 21:00:00 -0500</pubDate>
    <image>
      <url>http://192.168.1.47/podcasts/ZunePodCastJPG.jpg</url>
      <width>98</width>
      <height>100</height>
    </image>

<item>
  <title>Zune Item Example 1</title>
  <description>Zune Item Example 1 Description</description>
  <guid>http://192.168.1.47/podcasts/ZuneItemExample1MP3.mp3</guid>
  <enclosure url="http://192.168.1.47/podcasts/ZuneItemExample1MP3.mp3" length="1020422" type="audio/mpeg"/>
  <category>Podcasts</category>
  <pubDate>Thu, 10 Apr 2008 12:00:00 -500</pubDate>
</item>

<item>
  <title>Zune Item Example 2</title>
  <description>Zune Item Example 2 Description</description>
  <guid>http://192.168.1.47/podcasts/ZuneItemExample2MP3.mp3</guid>
  <enclosure url="http://192.168.1.47/podcasts/ZuneItemExample2MP3.mp3" length="1431242" type="audio/mpeg"/>
  <category>Podcasts</category>
  <pubDate>Fri, 11 Apr 2008 12:00:00 -500</pubDate>
</item>

</channel>
</rss>

Don’t forget to put your Podcast Art in there, too.

So now your podcast directory should look like this:

Directory of C:\Program Files\Apache Software Foundation\Apache2.2\htdocs\podcasts

04/12/2008 02:01 AM <DIR> .
04/12/2008 02:01 AM <DIR> ..
04/12/2008 01:36 AM 1,224 ZuneExamplePodcast.rss
04/12/2008 02:05 AM 4,084 ZuneExamplePodcastCommented.rss
04/12/2008 01:10 AM 1,020,422 ZuneItemExample1MP3.mp3
04/12/2008 01:03 AM 1,431,242 ZuneItemExample2MP3.mp3
04/12/2008 01:22 AM 2,428 ZunePodCastJPG.jpg

We’re almost done. Open the Zune software and go to collection-podcasts. Click ADD A PODCAST.
Enter the URL we generated earlier (don't forget to add your RSS file) and click SUBSCRIBE.


BAM!!
Your stuff should now be in your collection. Set your series settings and sync your Zune!

If you get exclamation points and no stuff in your collection, you have an error in your RSS file. Check everything you edited. Now check it again. This works.


I hope this makes sense. It's been a while since I posted a good tut. I have used this a couple times already to organize a set of great big files under the podcasts instead of videos or music. Enjoy!

Duh. You don't need Apache running anymore so right click that icon in the tray and exit.

[Jon]

Icy Mt. next time try to post it all in one post.

[CameleonMK]

Merged.

[Icy Mt.]

After some more testing, I figured out one more tag that Zune will use:
<item>
<author>ZuneItem1ExampleAuthor</author>
</item>
Enter this for each item and it will get picked up and displayed as the "Artist" on the Zune80 when you are playing a podcast.

Thanks to Jon and CameleonMK for the assistance!

[Dizzy]

Or you could, you know, just change the genre to Podcast

[Icy Mt.]

Originally Posted by Dizzy

Or you could, you know, just change the genre to Podcast

That gets your file into the podcast screen, however, it has limited functionality as far as picking up tags and organizing everything under a single podcast folder on the Zune.

The Zune software picks up almost all of its information from the .RSS file and almost nothing from the MP3. For example, if you had 10 audio books by Stephen King, you can use this to add a picture of the Master as Podcast art, descriptions, author info, and then list all 10 books under one folder on your Zune instead of having 10 podcast MP3s listed on the first podcast screen.

Based on reading requests on more than just Zuneboards, it seems like a lot of people would like to be able to do this. I put a lot of work into this and I could have posted it anywhere but I chose to post it here.

[murdockr]

Thank you for this very informative post!

Do you know if there an application (free is always nice) that will take a folder of audiobook files and create the rss out of the file properties/tags? Sometimes an audiobook can have hundreds of files and it would be tedious to code the rss by hand.

Thanks in advance.

[georgexx316@hotmail.com]

this is way too long if you have a lot of stuff in that podcast. Is there a software that automatically do this?

[willyfxp]

IcyMT Hope you can shed some light on this. I've edited my rss file and double checked it, but each time i try to add the podcast to the zune software, it finds the link, but wont find the content. When I click on display error it says the rss feed apears to be valid but no content was found.




Only thing thats different in your tutorial is that i'm using vistas 32

Hope you can help.

[willyfxp]

never mind, got it sorted - excellent tutorial Icy, good job

[willyfxp]

Ok, here's a tip - if like me you have a dynamic IP instead of a fixed IP address which needs to be changed in the rss script each time your IP changes, just type "localhost" in the places you would put the IP address, do the same when subscribing e.g.
localhost/podcasts/examplepodcast/examplepodcast.rss
took me a while to figure this out but it works perfectly.

Also, when i add audiobooks via podcast, I like to add a pic of the book cover, but the images need to be square or they wont display properly on your zune screen, doesn't matter what size they are as long as width x height is equal in pixels.

[murdockr]

Excellent tutorial, Icy Mt., and great tip, Willyfxp, but this still has me tearing my hair out: It does everything successfully except that the Zune device reports duplicates of the files (sometimes all, sometimes some) while the Zune PC software and looking at the Zune (as an external storage device) report the correct number of files.

Also, it still won't put the files in order even though I put the <pubdate> one day apart.

I would still like to know if there is software to automatically read a directory of audiobook/podcasting mp3 and generate the correct <item> listing and determining the length= automatically as well. An added bonus would be to read the mp3 tags to populate the title, description, and use the file dates as the <pubdate>.

Of course, all this could be obviated if Microsoft would just allow us to determine the sort order of podcasts.

Hmmm.