Are you thinking about starting a podcast? Once you start researching it, it can seem
really overwhelming But it's actually not difficult at all, and
in this video, I'm going to break down the entire process for you step by step. So stick
around until the end, and you'll be ready to start a podcast that sounds great and does
justice to your ideas.
Welcome to the Pod Sound School, here we cover all things podcasting, we make it fun and
provide up-to-date, actionable info to help your podcast shine.
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Okay SO:
In order to start a podcast you'll need 5 things:
1- Your Idea and Your Voice
2- A microphone
3- An Audio Interface
4- Recording and Editing Software
5- Podcast host
The quality of each one of these elements will determine the quality of your podcast.
Now you might be thinking, what about using
my smartphone, would I still need all those other things?
Actually, your smartphone contains all those
things. It has a microphone, an audio interface, and recording and editing apps.
You might also be thinking: What about USB
Microphones?
Well, USB Microphones are both a Microphone, and an Audio Interface combined into one thing.
However, to get the highest sound quality
for your podcast is best to separate these elements - to purchase a microphone, an audio
interface, and to use a DAW or an audio editing APP on a computer to record your podcast.
When it comes to starting a podcast, the choices
are endless. There is so much information out there that it can seem overwhelming and
confusing. This is why so many people give up before even starting. But starting your
own podcast is easier than you think. By the end of this video, you will have a roadmap
and the confidence to start podcasting. This quick video will save you from many hours
researching the web, and the best part will keep from making rookie mistakes.
A lot goes into starting, creating, editing,
and finally publishing and sharing your podcast with the many different podcast players.
The easiest way to understand the whole process
of podcasting is to simply break down each of the 4 elements I mentioned earlier.
Number One.
Your Idea and Your Voice.
This is a big one. The first thing you need
is an idea. You don't have to have the idea all figured out. It can just be a feeling
or a conversation that you'd like to have. A story that you want to share. Or a subject
that you want to learn more about.
Often, our podcast ideas come from our greatest passions, or because we feel a calling to
spread a message.
Whatever your idea is, there is a reason that you have it. There is a reason that you are
watching this video. There is an empty space in the world of podcasting that is waiting
to be filling by your voice and your ideas.
The best way to really uncover and refine your idea so that it can really shine is by
planning, developing, and researching the idea.
This can take some time and effort, but the
work you put into developing your idea will help ensure that your idea will reach listeners.
Here are some quick tips for developing your
idea into a strong podcast topic and theme.
Conduct Keyword Research.
There are some great tools for this: Answer The Public
Keyword Surfer Google Trends
These tools will help you to see what people
are searching for. They'll give you insight into how your ideas can be most helpful to
your future audience.
And to finish off this Element.
Let's talk about your voice. This refers to your performance, your tone, and your confidence.
Confidence comes with practice. For some of
us, this comes easier. The best place to start is by plugging in that microphone or opening
an app on your phone and start practicing.
One technique I like to use with my clients is to role-play. To read your podcast script
or talk about your podcast topic with a character. The more outrageous, the better.
The thing to remember here is that you are
a badass! There is no one in the world, exactly like you. Try not to compare yourself too
much to others.
The other important aspect of your voice is the microphone technique, this is how you
speak into the microphone. I've decided to include some simple and effective mic techniques
at the end of this video, so stick around for those who won't want to miss them.
Okay, let's move on to number 2:
A Microphone
This is the real tool of the trade. As I mentioned above, smartphones have built-in microphones.
And these microphones will actually achieve pretty good recordings. More and more people
are getting into podcasting using their phones.
We actually did a fun video all about podcasting entirely from your phone that you can find
by clicking the info icon.
But as I also mentioned, when we start separating all the elements of audio production we start
achieving higher quality recordings.
And here at the Pod Sound School, we believe that your ideas deserve the best audio. And
luckily, getting pro sounds for your podcast isn't very difficult and really not that expensive.
So the next step up from the microphone on
a smartphone, is a USB Microphone.
There are many popular USB microphones on the market. And there are many podcasters,
both independent and professional, that only use a usb microphone and get great results.
Some of the most popular USB mics for podcasting
are
The Samson Q2U The ATR 2100X
The Blue Yeti and the Rode Podcaster
We did a really fun video where we compare
and contrast some USB microphones and make recordings through each to help you find the
perfect fit. You can also find that video right here.
And finally, the next step up from a USB microphone.
It is an XLR microphone.
Now there are two different types of microphones. There are dynamic and condenser. Dynamic mics
are more durable and are the most common choice for indie podcasters. They get better results
when you're recording in a room that isn't sound treated. The other type is condenser.
Condenser microphones are more sensitive, and they get a truer-to-life sound. But they
are the best choice if you're in a nice quiet room with sound treatment on the walls, like
foam panels or curtains. This is why you'll always see condenser microphones used in recording
studios.
There are countless choices of microphones on the market, but here are my top picks for
podcasters.
The Shure SM58
This is a great all-around vocal microphone.
The MXL BCD-1
The Rode Pod Mic
The Shure SM7B
This is arguably the most popular podcasting microphone
Okay, let's move on to number 3.
The Audio Interface.
This Element is very important because it does many things. First, it gives power and
flavor to our microphone. And second, it captures the sound going into the microphone and transforms
it into a digital signal that can be recorded by our computer or an app on our phone.
This is where you will notice a HUGE quality
improvement from phone recordings and even USB microphones when you use a dedicated audio
interface separate from a microphone.
The other big thing that audio interfaces allow for is to record more than one microphone
at a time. They also will have outputs for headphones and speakers.
There are also countless audio interfaces
on the market. And you'll want to choose one with the right number of inputs.
Inputs are what you will plug your microphone
into. So if you plan on recording 3 or 4 people at the same time, you'll want an interface
with 4 inputs. But if you know that it's just going to be you, that an interface with one
or two inputs is perfect.
Here are my top picks for audio interfaces:
Focusrite Scarlett
These come in many input variations.
Steinburg UR RT2
This bad boy gets really great sound.
Apogee Element24
Apogee is a pro company with trusted audio interfaces used by industry pros.
Universal Audio Apollo
Universal Audio is also a top company for
audio interfaces.
Okay, now let's move on to the last Element.
Number Four.
RECORDING AND EDITING SOFTWARE or APPS
So like we've discussed already, there are apps you can use on your phone to record and
edit your podcasts. anchor.fm is probably the most popular, and Spreaker Studio is a
close 2nd.
These APPS are great for starting out, and They're free.
There are many limitations to these APPS,
but there are also some really cool features.
The main reason you will eventually graduate to using a computer has a lot to do with the
size of the phone. The screen size is a little too small to make advanced editing and applying
effects possible.
You will save A LOT of time by using software on a computer to edit your podcast.
This Element of podcasting is one that really scares a lot of people. On the surface, these
DAWs or Audio Editing Programs seem very complex and intimidating.
But they are actually very user friendly and
not that hard to learn.
There are also free options.
The most popular free option is Audacity, but I particularly recommend Audacity because
it has too many limitations and workarounds.
There is also GarageBand that comes installed on Mac computers, but GarageBand is more suited
for music production.
The best FREE DAW is most certainly Pro Tools First.
But even Pro Tools FIRST has limitations.
My all-around recommendation for indie podcasters
is REAPER.
Reaper has a 60 day trial period, and then after 60 days, it's a one-time 60 dollar.
Reaper is very user friendly and has great
plugins and features for podcasters.
I teach students step-by-step how to edit their podcast using Reaper and all the skills
they need to know to record and edit their podcasts in our course Smart & Sexy Podcast
Launch. Our program is designed to help beginners to launch their podcast in seven weeks. We
cover everything from market research and planning, to audio production and social media
promotion. To get on the waitlist, click on the link in the description below. Registration
opens in a few weeks.
Once you're done with your podcast recordings,
you will need to host them online so that they can be shared with the podcast directories.
There are many different options for this as well.
We have a video that breaks down the different
podcasting hosting sites that you can find here.
And finally, let's finish up with number 5.
Apple Podcast, Spotify, Google Podcast, and the other existing podcast players DO NOT
physically hold your audio files. Before your listeners can download and listen to your
podcast, you need to take a few extra steps. These steps take your podcast episodes from
your computer to your listeners' ears. First, you will need a hosting site. A hosting site
allows you to upload the audio files that you create. You can also add artwork and share
your podcast with Apple, Spotify, Google, and all the other podcast players via RSS.
They will also give you analytics and tell you how many people are listening to your
show. Second, once you have uploaded your podcast to your web host, you have to submit
your podcast RSS feed to the different podcast players. And if you are confused by what an
RSS is or wants to learn more about web host services, we have these two videos on our
channel covering RSS and web host in detail.
So, before we finish up, and as promised,
here are some quick mic techniques that will have you podcasting like a pro.
First, Where You Record.
This is a big one and often overlooked. Take some time to make sure the room you’re recording
in is quiet and free from any noise. Also make sure that it’s not too reverberated
and that it doesn’t have to much echo. This is caused, a lot of times, by hard surfaces
like hardwood floor, tile, windows, and walls. You can use curtains, you can use all sorts
of different things to soften the surfaces of your room and get a better sounding room,
before you even step in front of the microphone.
Number two. Find the Sweet Spot and Stay in it.
What I mean here is: speak only a few inches in front of your microphone and make sure
that you don’t move your head very much. Stay in that sweet spot so you get a nice
level going into that microphone.
And number three, Know Your Angle.
One of the problems that happens with our voice is something called plosives. These
are the harsh “P” Sounds that come out of our mouths whenever we pronounce words
with the letter P in them. What happens with these plosives when we’re directly facing
a microphone is little puffs of air go into the microphone and they make an annoying popping
sound. If we simply point the microphone to our mouth at an angle, that allows the air
to pass by the microphone, but our voice is still in the sweet spot of the front of the
microphone. Those three tips will really get you started. Another thing I really like to
do is practice finding the sweet spot by moving my head around the microphone in a few different
ways while wearing headphones. And then you’ll actually train yourself to HEAR when your
voice is in the sweet spot.
And that does it. You can see that there is a lot that goes into having a podcast.
Even if you start on your phone, you'll still
want to make sure that you record in a nice quiet room. And also, take the time to research,
plan, and develop your idea, topic, and all of your episodes.
Okay, friends. I hope you're feeling encouraged and ready to start a podcast! There is a lot
more information on each one of these topics and we have a ton of videos here on our channel
so make sure that you subscribe and come visit our channel and learn as much as you can about
podcasting, your ideas deserve it. Alright, we’ll catch you on the next video.