Recording Tips for Newbie Podcasters
Starting a podcast can be an exciting venture, offering you the opportunity to share your thoughts, ideas, and stories with a global audience. But before you dive headfirst into the world of podcasting, it's essential to get the recording process right. In this blog, I’ll provide you with valuable recording tips, so you can produce high-quality audio content that captures your audience's attention, without any overly-fancy equipment or a studio. We’ll look at the hardware, the software the recording space and the prep involved so you can be ready to hit record, with minimum fuss.
The hardware
Invest in a quality microphone: A good microphone is the heart of your podcasting setup. Consider investing in a USB microphone like the Blue Yeti or Audio-Technica ATR2100x-USB. These are user-friendly and offer great sound quality. Yes you can record audio without a mic, but this is one area where money will be well spent, I promise.
Headphones: Invest in a good pair of closed-back headphones to monitor your recording. This helps you catch any issues like background noise or audio artifacts as you record.
Use a pop filter: Pop filters help reduce plosive sounds like "p" and "b" that can cause distortion in your recordings. Although non-essential, they're reasonably affordable and can greatly improve audio quality.
The software
Recording Software: Use recording software like Audacity (free, opensource recording) or GarageBand (Mac users), which are user-friendly and offer essential tools for recording and editing. You can also explore Adobe Audition for more advanced features. There’s an abundance of tutorial videos online on how to use these tools.
Remote interviews: It’s likely you’ll be interviewing your guests online, so make the most of tools such as Riverside.FM or Squadcast for high quality recordings and in-built scheduling, invites and guest on-boarding. Zoom video conferencing is acceptable as a user-friendly alternative.
Top tip: The sound quality can be optimised for Zoom in the settings, so make sure you do that before your interview (for both parties) before you record. Find out how to do it here.
The recording space
Find a quiet space: Background noise can be distracting for your listeners. Choose a quiet recording environment, and if necessary, use pillows or acoustic foam panels to reduce echoes and external noises. Ideally, you’ll want to avoid large, open-plan areas with lots of hard surfaces such as kitchens.
Test your levels: Proper audio levels are crucial. Aim for your audio to peak at around -6dB to -3dB to prevent distortion. You can monitor your levels on your recording software, but basically, if the graphic reader (the display that shows the volume level) goes into the red, you’re too loud or too close to the mic.
Top tip: Record a few test pieces and listen back for any distortion or background noise. This will also help you get confident with the tech and the set up before you go live with a guest.
The preparation:
Position your microphone properly: Position your microphone at about a fist's distance away from your mouth and slightly off to the side to reduce plosives and sibilance. Experiment with microphone placement to find the best position for your voice.
Get yourself ready: Find a comfortable position that you can maintain for the duration of your recording and avoid slouching! Turn your phone to silent and check your wifi connection is stable.
Script or outline: Create a script or outline to guide your podcast episode. It keeps you on track and ensures you cover all the essential points. Staying organized will save you time in the editing phase.
Practice your delivery: Speak clearly and at a comfortable pace. Remember, it's not about speaking quickly, but about being clear and engaging.
By following these recording tips, you'll be well on your way to producing high-quality podcast episodes. Remember, practice makes perfect, so keep refining your skills as you gain experience. And don't forget to enjoy the process of creating engaging audio content for your audience!
Happy podcasting!