Obsidian Notes Read Aloud: Available as a Podcast Feed

Target Audience

This workflow is ideal for:
- Podcasters: Individuals or teams looking to convert their notes into audio format for podcast episodes.
- Content Creators: Those who want to share their written content through audio channels, enhancing accessibility and engagement.
- Educators and Trainers: Professionals who wish to create audio resources from their notes or teaching materials for students.
- Developers and Automation Enthusiasts: Users interested in automating content creation processes using tools like n8n, Google Sheets, and Cloudinary.

Problem Solved

This workflow addresses the challenge of converting written notes into engaging audio content for podcasts. It automates the entire process, from capturing notes via webhooks to generating audio files and creating a structured RSS feed for podcast distribution. This eliminates manual steps, saving time and ensuring consistency in audio production.

Workflow Steps

Webhook Trigger: The workflow begins when a note is sent to the webhook endpoint. This can be done using the Post Webhook Plugin in Obsidian.
2. Text-to-Speech Conversion: The content of the note is sent to OpenAI's TTS (Text-to-Speech) service, which generates an audio file in MP3 format.
3. Unique Naming: The audio file is assigned a unique name based on the timestamp from the note submission.
4. Audio Upload: The generated audio file is uploaded to Cloudinary, where it is stored and its metadata (like duration) is retrieved.
5. Data Preparation: Essential details (title, link, description, date, duration) are prepared for inclusion in the podcast feed.
6. Google Sheets Integration: The workflow appends the podcast episode details to a Google Sheets document, ensuring all episodes are tracked.
7. RSS Feed Generation: The workflow compiles the podcast feed using the collected data and metadata, creating a structured XML format.
8. Response to Webhook: Finally, the podcast feed is returned to the user via the webhook, ready for distribution on platforms like Apple Podcasts, Spotify, etc.

Customization Guide

Users can customize this workflow by:
- Modifying Webhook Settings: Adjust the webhook URL and parameters in the Post Webhook Plugin settings to match their environment.
- Changing Podcast Metadata: Update the podcast title, description, and other metadata in the 'Manually Enter Other Data for Podcast Feed' node to reflect their branding.
- Customizing Audio Settings: Alter the OpenAI TTS settings to change voice, speed, or other audio parameters according to preferences.
- Editing Google Sheets Structure: Adjust the Google Sheets schema to include additional fields or change the existing ones as needed.
- Extending Functionality: Integrate additional nodes for further processing, such as adding social media sharing, notifications, or analytics tracking.