Quality Audio in Podcasting
Podcast audio has many advantages in that it gives listeners a variety of topics without having to set aside time to read or watch a video. Podcasts also offer listeners the opportunity to hear articles in bite-sized chunks, perfect for daily commutes or busy routines. Podcasts are readily available, and listening requires close to no preparation as anyone with a smart phone can listen to a podcast, or alternatively you can listen to many podcasts through a website.
Although it is possible to record podcasts at home, a professional recording studio can offer more than a clean recording. It has a professional sound engineer on hand to make you sound your best, and even look your best if you’re investing in video recording services. Sound engineers are trained and knowledgeable so when it comes to microphone choice, microphone placement, they will coach you on microphone etiquette. They handle the recording process and even the post production. It can be liberating in the sense that all you have to do is prepare your content and show up! It allows you to focus on making the podcast.
It is possible to record using a remote session if you have a home studio but you have to make sure you’ve got all your routing prepared and tested. The last thing you want is to waste time wondering why your playback for talkback mic isn’t reaching Zoom or Source Connect! It’s also a good idea to talk with the supervising sound engineer about what mic they’d like to use. The room needs to be large enough but also dead enough because if the room hasn’t been treated enough it’s going to sound very “boxy.” Stay the same distance from the microphone during the recording session; moving your head away from the microphone not only changes your volume, but also changes your tone. When recording its important to get the record levels right. One way to manage this is through mic placement. It’s not about how much the mic is turned up, rather how far you are away from it. Once the position that gives the best sound is achieved, remember it.
Studios are a place where audio creativity is at its heart and being in such an environment can help podcasters to get into the right mindset and deliver their best results. You can also impress your guests by arranging to meet them in studio! Going to the studio becomes your place of work, meeting guests, and harnessing creative energy. This can be great for work life balance, and even for mental health, especially for podcasters who need a clearly defined, safe space to regroup and re-energize.
One thing that cannot be denied is the quality you can achieve by using a professional studio. By recording in a studio, you are guaranteed to produce a standard of quality that would be otherwise unattainable. A trained ear, experience of the engineer, and industry standard gear only end up proving the age old adage true, that you get what you pay for.
