Producing a podcast can be a bit overwhelming. You have to choose the right team, topic and guests. But more important than that is what happens when the microphones are recording and you are in the process of capturing the raw audio. Here are 10 podcast recording tips that will help you sound like you’ve been doing this for years!
These tips are easy to apply and can make a big difference in the audio quality of your podcast.
#1 Bring your mouth to the microphone
This is one of the simplest but most important podcast recording tips.
A big problem I see with new podcast creators is that they don’t put their mouths close enough to the microphone. The sound comes out of your mouth and that’s where you want the microphone to point, but the reason is deeper than that.
By placing your mouth close to the microphone it is able to capture the richness of your voice much more easily. It will sound warm and full. This is also true for cheaper microphones!
How close is the perfect distance?
Whenever I have guests on our podcast I tell them to point at a distance of one hand from the pop filter or microphone windscreen. This can be uncomfortable for new podcasters or guests who don’t have much podcasting experience.
In most circumstances (especially with cheaper microphones) closer is better. If the filter or windscreen rubs the tip of your nose a little, the microphone picks up the explosives (p and b) a little too much at really short distances.
#2 Reducing Echo
One of the things that separates good audio from bad is the ability to reduce the echo during recording. However, don’t spend hundreds of dollars on fancy soundproofing foam. There is a way to do it (almost) for free.
Echo is when the microphone captures sound by reflecting and overflowing. It can be from the walls of the room in which you are recording and also the sound of people talking into another microphone.
Getting close to the microphone, as mentioned above, can help and keeping the recording levels low will also help.
The first thing I see people do is run out and buy acoustic foam. Not only is this expensive, but it doesn’t work very well unless the whole room is covered by it. Don’t do it!
I have tried hanging heavy curtains or comforters around the microphone to stop the echo and have had relatively good success.
However, these DIY Perks panels on YouTube are by far the best way to reduce the echo in a room – they can look good and are cheap as anything!
Check out this video:
#3 Set Your Levels
Each recorder has the ability to set levels during recording. Levels can be displayed on the device and are usually seen as a bar that bounces up and down in response to volume.
There is really only one rule of thumb in this tip: Give yourself plenty of room to turn up the volume on your podcast recording. I have found that during a sound check people do not speak as loudly as during the actual recording.
If in doubt, reduce the recording level so that the audio does not “catch on” when the person recording gets excited. Clipping is when the maximum recording limit is reached and the recorder has just cut the top of the audio waveform.
More podcast recording tips below!
#4 Be a good listener
This is particularly important for podcasts with multiple regular hosts.
While a podcast is being recorded it can be easy to enter your experience and comments. To be honest it is one of the most difficult things and something I am always trying to improve.
When someone is speaking, give them space to speak openly and freely. You can support them by agreeing and making “yes” noises. But give them space to explore their thoughts fully.
Before you jump in with anything you want to add, wait a couple of seconds. This will not only ensure that the person finishes saying what they have to say, but will also give them a clean editing point.
You can always cut off the silences but it is very difficult to isolate a single voice when people are talking over each other.
#8 Use a pop filter, always!
A pop filter is a magic piece of equipment that can make a big difference in the quality of your audience’s listening.
Pop filters are really cheap and are used to stop the explosives of sounds like “p” and “b”. They can also prevent saliva from reaching the microphone, which is good.
The good news is that you can create your own with stockings and wire or anything round. In fact, this group made a pop filter entirely out of paper:
#9 Working from an outline or script
Producing an impressive podcast is not just a matter of technology. Whenever I record Publish, Perish or Podcast I always prepare an outline of what I want to cover in the recording.
This advice is to make sure you really record everything you want. You will be surprised at the amount of time I thought I had covered everything and then, just when the microphones are turned off, I think of that topic I should have covered.
It doesn’t matter the order in which you record your sections. But consider moving the last section of your podcast to the first or second thing you record. In fact, I have a video that explains why you would do that.
#10 Use headphones for everyone
This is very important and the same reason why musicians use in-ear monitors or folding speakers while playing.
Make no mistake, this is also a performance and being able to hear yourself is important if you and your guests are going to sound their best!
When people talk, they naturally use the volume and intonation of their voice. Sometimes, when people get excited, the volume of their voice can be a little loud for the microphones, causing a “clip”.
The opposite is also true. People can turn down the volume of their voice when they are embarrassed or shy.
Being able to hear yourself when you are picked up by the microphone allows people to self-adjust their voice. Self-adjustment is something that occurs naturally for beginners and that is why you would make the extra effort to provide each person with a set of headphones!
Podcast Recording Tips You Need to Follow
Producing a podcast is a little bit difficult work to do. You have to settle on the proper team, topic and guests. The most important part of podcast is audio recording. You need to consider certain technical aspects while recording your audio. Here are 5 podcast recording tips which will assist you sound like you have been doing this for years!
These tips are easy to use and may make an enormous difference within the audio quality of your podcast.
#1 Keep your Mouth Close to Microphone
This is one among the only but most vital podcast recording tips.
A big problem I see with new podcast creators is that they do not put their mouths close enough to the microphone. The sound comes out of your mouth and that is where you would like the microphone to point, but the rationale is deeper than that.
By placing your mouth on the brink of the microphone it’s ready to capture the richness of your voice far more easily. it’ll sound warm and full. this is often also true for cheaper microphones!
#2 Reducing Echo
One of the items that separates good audio from bad is that the ability to scale back the echo during recording. However, don’t spend many dollars on fancy soundproofing foam. there’s how to try to to it (almost) for free of charge .
Echo is when the microphone captures sound by reflecting and overflowing. It are often from the walls of the space during which you’re recording and also the sound of individuals talking into another microphone.
Getting on the brink of the microphone, as mentioned above, can help and keeping the recording levels low also will help.
#3 Set Your Levels
Each recorder has the power to line levels during recording. Levels are often displayed on the device and are usually seen as a bar that bounces up and down in response to volume.
There is really just one rule of thumb during this tip: Give yourself many room to show up the quantity on your podcast recording. I even have found that in a sound check people don’t speak as loudly as during the particular recording.
If unsure , reduce the recording level in order that the audio doesn’t “catch on” when the person recording gets excited. Clipping is when the utmost recording limit is reached and therefore the recorder has just cut the highest of the audio waveform.
#4 Be an honest listener
This is particularly important for podcasts with multiple regular hosts.
While a podcast is being recorded it are often easy to enter your experience and comments. To be honest it’s one among the foremost difficult things and something I’m always trying to enhance.
When someone is speaking, give them space to talk openly and freely. you’ll support them by agreeing and making “yes” noises. But give them space to explore their thoughts fully.
Before you jump in with anything you would like to feature, wait a few of seconds. this may not only make sure that the person finishes saying what they need to mention, but also will give them a clean editing point.
You can always stop the silences but it’s very difficult to isolate one voice when people are talking over one another.
#5 Use a pop filter
A pop filter may be a magic piece of kit which will make an enormous difference within the quality of your audience’s listening.
Pop filters are really cheap and are wont to stop the explosives of seems like “p” and “b”. they will also prevent saliva from reaching the microphone, which is sweet.
The good news is that you simply can create your own with stockings and wire or anything round. In fact, this group made a pop filter entirely out of paper:
#6 Performing from an overview or script
Producing a powerful podcast isn’t just a matter of technology. Whenever I record Publish, Perish or Podcast I always prepare an overview of what i would like to hide within the recording.
This advice is to form sure you actually record everything you would like. you’ll be surprised at the quantity of your time i assumed I had covered everything then, just when the microphones are turned off, i feel of that topic I should have covered.
It doesn’t matter the order during which you record your sections. But consider moving the last section of your podcast to the primary or second thing you record. In fact, I even have a video that explains why you’d do this.
#7 Use headphones for everybody
This is vital and therefore the same reason why musicians use in-ear monitors or folding speakers while playing.
Make no mistake, this is often also a performance and having the ability to listen to yourself is vital if you and your guests are getting to sound their best!
When people talk, they naturally use the quantity and intonation of their voice. Sometimes, when people get excited, the quantity of their voice are often a touch loud for the microphones, causing a “clip”
The opposite is additionally true. People can turn down the quantity of their voice once they are embarrassed or shy.
Being able to listen to yourself once you are picked up by the microphone allows people to self-adjust their voice. Self-adjustment are some things that happens naturally for beginners which is why you’d make the additional effort to supply everyone with a group of headphones!
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