No matter how interesting your podcast content is, you will lose essential listeners without quality audio. The reason is that they won’t stay around for long if they can’t hear you.
Nevertheless, creating excellent audio can be difficult, mainly if you’ve never worked with audio. We understand how aggravating this might be if you’ve ever made an audio file.
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We have compiled a collection of helpful podcast recording ideas to assist you in producing high-quality audio. From the microphone to podcast recording software, there are several steps you can take to ensure high-quality podcast sound.
Check out our advice on setting up the ideal podcast recording setup to enhance the audio quality of your podcasts.
Record in a suitable setting
The location you choose for your podcast recording could make all the difference. Set up in a permanent position, so you don’t have to set up your equipment when you need to record constantly.
It would also be preferable if the place were calm because you wouldn’t want your recording to be interrupted by annoying outside noises like automobiles, dogs, or other sounds. Even though some noises might be removed in post-production, it can be a challenging procedure, and some noises might not be able to be done away with.
Secure a peaceful recording space to install your equipment there permanently. In the future, you can turn them into a specialized recording studio.
Recording should be done in an environment where speaking into a microphone will seem natural and at ease. Being alone when recording an episode is ideal if you’re feeling self-conscious to enhance your confidence.
Wear headphones
You don’t hear your voice when you speak. You can listen to a snippet of it in your brain. The version that everyone else hears is not what you hear.
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When you wear headphones to record, your ears are practically in front of your mouth, allowing you to hear your actual voice. This enables you to assess your speaking style and modify it to suit your listeners better. You will know to soften that sound if, for example, you hear a POP whenever you pronounce a word with a hard constant like”p,” “b,” “k,” etc.
Get Soundproofing Equipment
Equipment upgrades would be a definite approach to improve your podcast’s audio quality. Another valuable addition to your complete set is soundproofing. You can better absorb sound and stop outside noises from being audible in the finished track by using soundproofing panels.
Use panels to attach to your walls or permanently install soundproofing. Look for techniques to muffle noise from the areas around doors and windows.
Take thoughtful breaks.
You do not need to record your episode all at once. In fact, taking intentional breaks during the recording is beneficial for many podcasters. These are worthwhile moments to hydrate, eat, stretch, talk to your guest about what comes next, and listen for auditory problems.
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Check for issues by listening to the previous recordings that you’ve made. If you follow our above recommendation for recording a podcast, there shouldn’t be any issues, but it’s wise to double-check.
You’ll need to conduct a lot of editing before publication if a problem arises and is allowed to linger throughout the entire episode.
Microphone placement
Once your microphone is ready, you can decide where to place it in your podcasting environment. As most podcasters use a condenser mic, be careful where you place it, as the condenser mic is sensitive, and putting it right in front of your face will cause it to pick up insignificant sounds like breathing and lip-smacking.
You can capture your voice and eliminate background noise by placing the mic off-center and at a distance. Do some test recordings to hear how the audio sounds from various vantage points or mic positions.
Volume levels
During your session, pay attention to the recording software’s volume level. Most recording software shows your volume on a scale from green to red. Keep your volume levels in the green by modulating your voice. Stray into the yellow, but avoid the red when you want to emphasize anything.
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Regarding recording software, we recommend Camtasia, an audio recording for podcasting with Screen Capture, Voiceover, Audio Track Recording, and Text Overlay features that enable instructors and students to record lectures, tutorials, and presentations directly and demos into video format.
Use DAW for Post-Production
You can record, mix and master your audio session with the help of digital audio workstation software, or DAW for short. This procedure is simple by providing drag-and-drop workflows and a single-window user interface. Professional plug-in effects, like as EQs and compressors, contribute to improving the audio and bringing the mix together:
Compression:
By reducing the loudest parts of the audio, a compressor is a type of processor that balances the dynamics of your audio file. The threshold is set to accomplish this. The signal’s threshold determines how much it will be compressed.
Equalization:
To better shape each signal in your podcast, you can use EQ, or equalization, to amplify or cut a particular band of frequencies.
Noise Gate
Accidents can occur no matter how quiet your podcasting space is. For example, the air conditioner startup sound. If these appear in a section of the audio where you are not speaking, you can cut them out. If not, noise gates can be employed to silence all audio below a specific threshold of decibels.
Bottomline
The most important step is to listen to what you are recording, ideally on speakers and through headphones. Learning anything new might be overwhelming, but remember the above pointers, and you will be fine. You can learn more about DAW and its functions as you get used to recording, giving you more expertise to produce professional-level audio.
Furthermore, here is an excellent way to learn more about podcast audio. Check out our Podcast episodes, where you can find interesting topics and engaging interviews for reference.
