Tips for adapting your podcasting process

Knowing how to keep recording your podcast if it’s trickier to meet people face-to-face might not be the first thing on your mind right now. But for those of you who need to adapt your recording process — and who may not be used to doing so more remotely than usual — we’ve put together a collection of tips and resources.

We’re here to support our creators as much as possible, so don’t hesitate to get in touch with us if you have any questions.

Environment

• For those not used to recording on the go or at home, the first step is to try to find the most soundproof and compact space to record in. Large areas with few furnishings are going to create a lot of unwanted echo — think smaller spaces with more “stuff” around, to help create a form of cushioning for sound.
• A bedroom will generally sound better than a kitchen, and make sure you close your curtains if you’re near a window. Try to be as close to the recording device as possible without making it “pop” (that’s when a plosive sound causes distortion on the recording).
• Be mindful to ask your guest or co-host to find their optimum recording space, too, so you don’t end up with a mismatch in audio quality.

Tools

• There are lots of ways to record interviews or chats remotely, and plenty of our most successful shows do this as normal. It goes without saying that the more stable your internet connection, the better, while free tools like Skype offer a great in-call recording option to capture your conversations.
• If you’re recording a conversation remotely, it’s wise to record at both (or all) ends, so you have options. And, if you can take the feed from each source dry (so you don’t hear the other people) and sync them later, that will sound best. Don’t forget to make sure you have express permission from all parties to record any conversation.
• If you have the budget to invest, consider recording platforms like Zencastr or Squadcast, or portable audio recorders like a Zoom. They have multiple models for varying budgets and will deliver slightly better audio quality.

Equipment

• Audio quality will obviously vary depending on the equipment you have available. If you don’t have or can’t get access to proper microphones, then headphones with a built-in microphone are certainly the next best option. Failing that, test the quality of your computer audio.

Keeping your community engaged

• If the worst happens and you’re unable to record new episodes for a while, think about what you can do to keep your audience engaged. For example, could you put together a compilation of best bits or previously unheard content? Failing that, how about rebroadcasting an older episode, particularly if it has current relevance? If none of these options are possible, be sure to keep your listeners up to date via your social channels.