You have just started your podcast and you want it to be the best it can be. But how can you make sure that all of your content is of the best possible quality? When you are considering starting
a podcast, the first thing on your mind is probably how you will create it.
What audio recording equipment do I need? Do I need to buy an audio interface?
What software should I use? Should I record in a professional studio or do it
at home?
These are all great questions that we hope to answer with this post to ensure that there are no unfortunate mistakes concerning your audio recording. We will also look at a few other things that
you can do to ensure you have a great podcast.
What is Podcasting?
Podcasting is basically the same as having your own radio show – it’s really easy to get involved in, and it’s something that can help you promote your business. Podcasts are a great way to share your knowledge and educate people. It is the process of recording a series of episodes for distribution over the internet, typically with either past episodes or future/proposed ones. You can use it to give out free information or chat about different aspects of your life or business. It’s a
great way of getting yourself known and getting your name out there.
Recording the podcast can sometimes be tricky, especially if you don’t have any experience. To create a great podcast, you need to choose the right podcast equipment and practice good recording techniques. The following tips will help you do just that.
Use the Right Equipment to Get Clear Audio
Along with audio quality, you must use good audio equipment. If you’re not using the correct microphone or recording setup, there’s a good chance your podcast will be incomprehensible.
The best recording equipment is the one that will allow you to capture clear audio in a wide variety of settings.
Recording with an external microphone (in addition to your computer’s built-in microphone) also allows you to adjust the recording settings so that you can maintain a high-quality sound in different environments (crowded vs. quiet rooms).
With a good microphone, you also need to have a pair of headphones handy to monitor the sound quality. (This is especially important if you’re going to do voiceover work for your podcast!)
Stay Quiet While Your Guests Speak to Avoid Distraction
While it may be tempting to talk over your guests, it’s best if you stay quiet while they’re speaking. It allows your guest to be more comfortable and not feel like they are constantly interrupted.
If you want to ask a question, make sure you wait for the right moment in the conversation. It will help keep the flow of the discussion going without breaking up the conversation too much. And if you do interrupt, try to apologize as quickly as possible.
Most of all, you need to listen before you speak. Many podcasters think that they can talk over their guests, but this is poor practice. It’s much better to let your guests talk first and then ask questions when it’s relevant (if not, you will come across as too controlling).
Leave Audio Cues Like Silence for Mistakes
Be aware that there may be mistakes made during your recording process. If you make a mistake when recording, don’t try to cover it up by talking over it. Instead, leave a pause in the audio for your mistake so that you can edit out the mistake later.
For instance, if you’re making a mistake and accidentally say something wrong, just indicate it with another voice cue. Then later on, you can go back and edit it out. It is a much better option than having the mistake go into the final cut of your podcast.
Your guests may do some things that you don’t like during the recording. Things such as coughing or sneezing are perfectly normal, but they can also be quite distracting. Fortunately, you can leave audio cues for mistakes that happen, so they’re easier to fix afterward. Just slow down the recording a bit if anything happens, and you’ll have plenty of time to edit it out before you upload your podcast.
This also works well if you’re looking to include natural pauses like when someone is taking a drink of something or coughing before beginning to talk. You can leave those pauses in and not have to worry about editing them out later.
Stay Hydrated
This one may sound like a silly tip, but it has an important use! Don’t forget that your mouth will also produce some sound (sounds like breathing, swallowing, taking a drink) when you’re recording.
In addition to the small sounds of the body, you’ll hear some natural noise from your mouth as well. When you’re recording because you have questions for your guests, try to find some water or something to drink beforehand as this can help reduce these noises and any other possible distractions.
The best way to prevent any extra noises is to drink some water before you start recording. If you don’t drink enough water, you may end up with a dry mouth or lip-smacking. Record a separate channel for each person – ultimate control over each channel; volumes, mistakes, noise profiles.
When it comes to recording multiple people, it’s important to have enough channels. You need to record each person in separate chunks (usually with a different volume) and edit each chunk later
on more easily.
Keeping your channels separated allows you a lot of flexibility when editing. Plus, this makes your podcast far more accessible for users who are on the go or listening with limited bandwidth as your audience members may be.
A word of caution: when recording more than one person, make sure you’re using the same audio interface. If you’re using two different interfaces to record your guests, it may be difficult to switch between channels and edit multiple people simultaneously.
Content is King
While this may sound obvious, it’s worth mentioning that one of your main jobs while podcasting is to make sure that your content is as good as possible. If you’re looking to start a podcast, you should be starting with something interesting that will attract an audience.
Think of the kinds of things that your community would want to listen to. While this might seem simple, it can be challenging to come up with something fresh and new.
Most people who start on a podcast platform are interested in creating content, and they have an idea about what they want to say.
Before you publish or send your first episode, take the time to do some research about what’s out there already. Do your research to make sure you’re not duplicating something that’s already been
said.
Have a Good Logo to Cement Your Brand
A logo isn’t exactly easy if you’re just starting out. But, if you practice designing it a little bit, you can make a powerful logo that will give your podcast an identity. This may seem obvious, but you’ll
want to have a logo to help promote your show. A logo can include anything from the text on your show’s podcast webpage to an actual clip art image that you can use to promote your podcast.
Conclusion
Podcasting is a very popular form of content marketing. It’s relatively quick and easy to start but also brings a lot of benefits for businesses. The main principle behind podcasting is that you don’t need to have an expert or be an expert to create valuable content. You can literally do everything yourself on most podcast platforms, from recording your first episode to editing and publishing it later on!
If you need a place to create your podcast, why not try out our Podcast room.
Contact us if you would like to find out more about podcasting or are interested in booking our podcast room.
