Everybody’s podcasting, at least it sometimes feels that way. There are so many different categories, niche subjects, regular news and updates, true crime, comedy … the list goes on and on.
If you’ve got something to say, and you’re thinking about recording your own podcast, here are some tips and tricks to get best sound quality, and create a fantastic audio experience for your listeners.
So, yeah, you could record it using your smart phone, but consumers are coming to expect better quality in their regular pods, so no matter what you’re saying, you may as well make it sound as good as you can.
At Image On Line, our podcast studios were designed with decades of audio production experience behind us. Of course, you’re welcome to hire our studios, but if you’d rather set yourself up at home there are a few things to consider.
Quality Microphone
First up, a quality microphone. You can spend thousands on your mic, but there are several options that are great quality as well as affordable. Head to a specialist retailer and tell them what you’re hoping to achieve. Bear in mind that if you’re planning on doing a panel-style show, you’ll need more than one mic to make editing easier.
Topic Outline
It’s also worth mapping out what you want to cover in your show. It doesn’t have to be an exact script, but if you have some points and info ready to hand, you’ll find things flow more easily, and you’ll spend less time editing out dead air or realising you’ve forgotten to cover something important.
Audio Editing Software
Now, let’s look at your recording and editing software. This will vary, depending on how many people you’ll have participating in your pod. Software capable of multi-track recording is the way to go if there are more than one of you. Again, there are all sorts of options available from open source, to eye-wateringly expensive, it’s all down to what you’re trying to achieve. If you’re just starting out, maybe start with something basic, and level up down the track if you need to.
Now, when you’re recording, you want to minimise “room ambience”. Maybe there’s a building site up the road, you live on a main street, or you just have noisy neighbours. With the right set-up you can keep ambient noise to a minimum. Have a walk-in wardrobe? That’s a great place to do your recording as all those clothes and things absorb most of the noise that is just part of everyday life.
Few Tips
You can also invest in accessories for your mic to keep your vocal sounds as clean as possible. Pop guards, bafflers, and mic stands that allow you to record comfortably will all work towards creating a better overall sound. Good quality headphones are also worth having so you can hear what you sound like and identify any strange background noises you may want to edit out.
It’s also worth looking at your competition. If you’re planning on doing a football podcast, for example, have a listen to what others are doing and decide what you’ll do differently or better.
As you get further down the track in your podcasting career, you’ll discover more and more about what works and what doesn’t, legal ins and outs of using somebody else’s material or music, and just what it takes in terms of time and energy to put a show together. Most of all, have fun! After all, that’s why you’re doing it.
