How To Record A Podcast | Musician Nerd

Podcasts are one of the easiest & most entertaining to get information while doing just about anything. If you're someone who multitasks a lot, you probably love listening to podcasts. And if you don't, the probability that you will love them is extraordinarily high.

If you do listen to podcasts, you may imagine that it takes grit, imagination, and determination to create something of value. And you're right.

The fact that podcasts end up sounding so great means that many people think they can't make them. But that's wrong. It won't be easy, and you may feel like breaking your equipment at some point, but it's not impossible. This guide will work you through creating an amazing podcast that you would want to listen to, not just something you'd hope others want to listen to.

But to create an amazing podcast, you'd have to start at the very top. And what's that very top? Deciding the topic of your podcast.

Choosing A Topic

While most podcasters have nice voices that you would want to hear over and over again, their voices aren't the reason they are successful. They are mostly successful because people are interested in what they are saying. But even that is only one part of it. People are interested in what they are saying because they know what they are saying.

Group Of People Recording A Podcast

Now, this doesn't mean everyone recording a podcast is an expert and a genius in their respective fields because that's not the case. It just means that successful podcasters know what they are talking about.

Anyway, the starting point of any podcast topic is knowledge. You can't just be spouting what you do not know about. Even if you're going to be talking about conspiracy theories, you must know something about them before talking about it.

This may seem like basic advice, but there are so many podcasts out there without a direction; unsurprisingly, these podcasts often fail. You don't want that, do you?

So how do you come up with a topic, and how do you make sure you know enough about it to be on a podcast in the first place?

The easiest way to get this topic is to evaluate your hobbies. It's important that what you're going to be talking about on your podcast is something you're interested in, and what are you more interested in than your hobbies? Do you love sports? Well, consider a podcast on that. Music? Do that. Arts and crafts? Do that. If you try to talk about something you don't have a genuine interest in, the audience will sense your disinterest and will be turned off. So, you need to talk about something you're completely interested in.

It's also nice to talk about your hobbies because podcasting may seem fun, but it can become dreary very quickly if you don't enjoy it. Picking and speaking about a hobby means you'll never be bored talking about it.

Podcasting With Mic And Popfilter

But you can't just pick any of your hobbies and start talking about them. You also need to evaluate your goals. If you want to teach and inform, you can't just talk about mundane topics that interest you— you have to inform. Likewise, if your goal is to entertain, you should probably go with the hobby’s thing. You only need to make sure it's entertaining.

After applying these guidelines to choosing a topic, you should also consider whether you'll have guests on or not. You could choose not to, but having guests is a great way to bring new perspectives and content to your podcast, so you should give it some thought.

Lastly, you should decide what sets you apart. Whatever topic you choose, there are going to be a lot of people talking about it already. So, you need to be aware that you have competition and need something to set you aside. To do this, you should probably listen to a few podcasters in your niche and find out how you can do what they do differently.

Choosing A Camera

Many people are into filming their podcasts, while many others are strictly audio guys. While it's easier to just go the audio way— why not make a video as well? This way, your podcasts can reach a wider audience, and it would be easier for you to publicize your podcast if you ever want to.

Laptop With A Camera For Podcasts

So, let's get to it. How do you choose a camera?

First off, do you want a DSLR camera or a mirrorless one? Both types are great, but they stop recording every thirty minutes or so. This isn't a problem because you could just walk up to them and press record. However, that can get annoying, especially if you don't want to disturb the flow of the recording. You could get one of them if you have someone behind the camera recording, though.

If you don't, you could also get a camcorder. It may not be the highest-level camera, but it can get the job done. You do have to make sure whatever camera you use can record up to 1080p (or even 1440p), as that's the benchmark for quality video content. If you have extra cash, you should also consider getting multiple cameras because people would like to watch your video from different angles.

Choosing A Microphone

Up next, we've got sound. You already know how important it is for a podcast to sound good. What you probably don't know is that sounding good is rather complex. You have to take a lot of factors into consideration when choosing the best microphone for podcasting.

Using A Podcast Mic At Laptop

First off, do you get a dynamic or a condenser microphone? Many factors play into this decision, but for those focusing on a more affordable microphone as a start, let’s cover the important facts. For starters, condenser microphones are often higher in quality as they are more sensitive and pick up a greater range of frequencies in your audio.

If you live in a home where there’s a ton of background noise, that sensitivity will play against you. It may also require a microphone preamplifier, if the condenser microphone requires phantom power, as many do. That being said, there has been a huge rise in USB condenser microphones that get their power from your computer.

Dynamic microphones, on the other hand, pick up much less background noise. They are also often designed for vocals, with mid-range emphasis on vocal presence, crisp highs, and warm lows. The best microphones for podcasting were specifically designed for that single job. This isn’t to say choosing a dynamic over a condenser, as they both have their pros and cons.

It’s also worth considering the polar pattern on your microphone. This controls what part of the microphone can record audio (front, sides, back), and while many microphones only offer a single pattern, some let you cycle between numerous options. Cardioid is the most popular for podcasting, as it only records directly from the front of the mic where you’re speaking. Bi-directional (records from front/back only) is good if you plan to do 1 on 1 interview with a single mic, and omnidirectional (records from all sides) is good if you plan to be in a group.

Finally, we need to decide between a USB or XLR microphone, which determines how we connect it to our device. USB is a simple choice, as it’s often plug-and-play, without the need for a microphone preamplifier. That being said, many XLR microphones may be more relevant for your needs and offer better quality. It’s up to you and what your budget can allow for.

Recording & Uploading

And now, it's time to record your podcast. You've introduced yourself and your guest and teased the topic. You've bounced several interesting ideas off your guests, and now you're on a roll. After thirty minutes or so, you call it a day and end the recording.

Two People Recording Podcast In Livingroom

Now, you have a podcast recording. But how does it sound? If you're honest, it probably doesn't sound as good as you thought it would. Why's that? You've not edited it. Like many things posted on social media or anywhere, podcasts are usually heavily edited— don't let anyone lie to you. If your podcast will ever sound as good as the ones you hear, you have to edit it.

Thankfully, many apps and websites exist for precisely this sort of problem. If you don't like the audio editing jargon that you may have to deal with, you can just upload the recording to a podcast editor online. There are many of these apps available for free download, and they will help you take care of the audio cleanup, add music, and help you piece together segments of your podcast.

Once you're done with any of these easy-to-use apps, your podcast would be ready for posting.

Now that you have a podcast recording, you've to decide what platform to release it on. Ultimately, this choice of platform isn't about the best or the worst platform, it's about the platform that makes it easier for you to work and connect with your audience. The best way to figure this out is to carry out heavy research, find out the peculiarities of each platform, and decide the right one for you.

Summary

Making a podcast isn't easy. It requires grit, imagination, and determination. If you're armed with this guide, you'd be able to create an amazing and even popular podcast in no time. Why don't you start recording today?

Article Written By: Badmus Ayobami