Semabox, a new recording studio has been established to enable podcasters and video bloggers to be able to professionally create and publish their content online.
Semabox@Baraza as its called, is located at the Baraza Media Lab, an innovative space for networking, collaborating, and experimenting among Kenya’s media practitioners — journalists, bloggers, writers, artists, filmmakers, cartoonists, social media experts, technologists, and other cross-disciplinary collaborators.
“The podcasting industry is growing very fast in Kenya and we have found that there is a great demand for well recorded and edited creative content that can be published for a global audience,” said Dan Aceda, the Director of StudioTisa, the music and audio recording studio that has recently been known for innovative online live concerts, featuring headliner artists like Samido, Kambua and Kidum.
Launched in a partnership between Baraza Media Lab and StudioTisa, Semabox will help content creators to professionally record their podcasts using broadcast quality equipment, get editing support from qualified sound engineers and benefit from the Baraza Media Lab’s networks and capacity building programmes.
“We are excited about Semabox because we aimed to provide a plug-and-play facility at very competitive rates to budding podcasters,” said Christine Mungai, the curator at Baraza Media Lab. “We will go even further by offering training to creatives on branding, distribution and commercialization of their podcasts.”
The services offered at SemaBOX include:
1. Professional Audio Recording and Editing: providing the space for podcasters to record and edit their content – all at very competitive rates (and a special discount for Baraza members!) We will have a sound engineer on site to help with recording and technical issues. As long as you’re prepared, we can start recording after a brief soundcheck.
2. Audio Production Training: providing podcasters with the basic skills to record and edit their own podcasts, with the help of open-source tools.
3. Content Development Training: partnering podcasters with seasoned media professionals who can provide mentorship and training, and introduce the new podcasters to a content development workflow that can accelerate their success.
4. Media Business Training: offering masterclasses on business development for podcasters and introduce them to existing distribution channels and monetization opportunities.
Semabox will compete PortableVoices, a Kenyan audio production and podcast startup which is also an open space for publishers, broadcasters, entertainers, and business information providers to produce high quality encrypted digital audiobooks, podcasts and radio dramas.