About a month ago my podcast production client wanted me to move forward with converting his podcasts into enhanced podcasts with chapters. I figured that I’d split the cost since learning how to do so would also teach me for the iGame Radio show as well. I downloaded Chapter Tool and did a little review of it, but today I put my head down and actually worked on it. Ouch.

First off, Chapter Tool is in beta. Secondly, it’s a command line tool…no spiffy “click from the dock and you’re a go” app. Not that I’m a newcomer to using Terminal, but still. Third, though the instructions are fairly good, they are scattered over several documents and websites, and assumed in at least one case the lack of mention of something meant a negative about it. Uh, right.

So, I’ve spent about 12 hours or so trying to get this thing right and finally, after some time of trial and error, succeeded. I now have a fully enhanced podcast, complete with pretty pictures, links, and chaptering. It even works on my iPod mini…well, without the pretty pictures and links, but with the chaptering.

I’m going to write up a step-by-step process for writing an enhanced podcast and post it here, probably tomorrow. But right now I’m busy watching Luke Skywalker get his butt kicked. Is there something wrong with me that my favorite of the first three is The Empire Strikes back?