Podcast listening is growing in popularity. An estimated 100 million people listened to a podcast each month in 2020 and this is expected to reach 125 million in 2022, according to Forbes. Today, with social distancing, most podcasters conduct their interviews remotely instead of face to face. Whether you are starting a podcast or already recording podcast interviews from your home, there are some important things you should know about how to capture the conversation effectively. With clear audio, podcast transcription can help you reach out to a wider audience and make the most of your remote interviews.
- Prepare Well: Contact your guest before the interview and tell them about topics you want to discuss. Think about what you want your audience to hear from them and ask questions to find out what they are excited to talk about. This will help you prepare the questions for the actual interview. Choose a time that is convenient to them for the actual interview. Explain to them what to expect on the day of the recording and also how you’re planning to record the podcast.
- Make sure you have the Necessary Equipment: Whether you are recording your podcast from home or in-person, you need the right equipment to ensure that the interview will sound clear and consistent. First, get a quality microphone and headphones. For superior sound, invest in a plug-and-go microphone that works by plugging the USB cable into your computer. Cost-effective options include Blue Yeti, Rode Podcaster, and Apogee Mic+. Many microphones work on smartphones too. In fact, while smartphones do have built-in microphones, if you want professional sounding audio, get a quality external microphone.
Using a good pair of podcast headphones when recording podcast is important to monitor the audio picked up by your mic and control the sound. Choose your headphones based on requirements as well as budget, comfort level, and audio quality. Make sure your headphones are light weight and come with padding around the ears. Quality headphones will suppress distracting low-level sounds. Ask your guest to wear headphones to prevent echoes and ensure that they can hear you clearly.
- Choose the Suitable Recording Software: When selecting a remote recording software, consider your priorities. Do you want the highest audio quality possible or is video capability more important? Moreover, every remote recording software has its pros and cons. Choose the software that best meets your needs and makes it easy for your guests to take the call. Video is important if you need to post your podcasts on social media or YouTube because people love watching faces. Top quality remote video and audio recording tools to consider include Zoom, Google Hangouts, FaceTime and Skype. Launched in 2020, Record With Friends 2.0 by podcast-making app Anchor allows people to record a podcast from their browser, even without an Anchor account. To start recording, the host has to send an invite link to the participants using the Anchor app.
- Ensure a Favorable Setting: Choosing a quiet place to record the podcast interview is crucial for both you and your guest. If the recording is being done at home, it’s very likely, it is likely that there will be some background noises and this will be picked up by the mic. So do your recording in a quiet place and make sure your guest does so too. Remember that microphones will notice even subtle sounds like shuffling of feet or movements from clothes. Choosing a carpeted room for the recording is a good idea because it will help reduce echoes.
Finally, remember that while it’s important to prepare well, you don’t have to stick to a script. Let the conversation flow naturally. If you keep looking at your list of questions, it can distance you from your guest as well as your audience. Interesting conversations are those that unfold at the moment. Follow-up questions emerge naturally and will be more interesting than those that were prepared in advance. The best strategy to ensure a natural and engaging conversation is to use an easy-to-read bullet point list to remind you about what to say, and just glance down at the list to stay in the moment, while maintaining eye contact with your guest.
Podcasting has come a long way from simply the delivery of content to becoming a tool to meet creative and marketing goals. These tips can help you record remote podcasts effectively during the pandemic. After your podcast has been recorded and edited, transcribe it to enhance visibility on search. Choosing an experienced digital transcription service is important to convert the audio/video recording to text and get the most out of your podcasts.
