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Blue Snowball
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Blue Yeti
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Monoprice Isolation Shield
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MXL 990
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Sony ECM-44
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Sony MDR7506
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ZOOM H6
If you’ve ever listened to UNT Health Science Center’s business podcast, Innovate Fort Worth, you’ve not only heard insightful conversations with local entrepreneurs and innovators; you’ve also heard the work of Rob Upchurch, a podcast producer, who — dare we say it ourselves — does a pretty stellar job making the show sound clear, effective, and professional.
Thankfully, he’s not keeping that knowledge to himself. Here, Upchurch shares his top tips and gear for a better podcast.
TIPS
Setting realistic expectations is the most important thing for starting a podcast. Consistency is key in the world of podcasting — shows should strive to have a consistent length and distribution schedule. Don't start out trying to make two-hour long podcast episodes if you can only reasonably commit to 30 minutes in the future.
Your body is like an instrument — treat it well. Drink water, sit up, and breathe. It will make a world of difference in your voice. Similarly, don't start “cold.” If you are recording first thing in the morning, warm up by singing in the shower or in the car. Get your guest(s) talking before the recording starts.
Build a community through social media. Your fans are the biggest asset in getting your show out there. Do acknowledge this community, but remember, podcast listening is often a solitary act. Speak directly to the listener with “you” rather than “you guys,” “folks,” etc. Make calls-to-action to follow on social media at the beginning or end of the show.
Editing in a digital audio workstation such as Audition or Audacity will work wonders for putting a polish on your podcast. You can remove “ums,” “ahs,” blank space, etc., which will make your and/or your guests or cohosts sound more professional. An audio-only product makes this a lot easier, as video will show jump cuts.
Emulate then innovate. Don't reinvent the wheel. Think about what you enjoy about podcasts you like. Make the show you would want to listen to.
Recommended Gear
1. Blue Snowball. This is what we have been using since taking Innovate Fort Worth remote. It's a simple plug-and-play USB microphone that should work on any computer.
2. Blue Yeti. Similar to the Snowball but with a little more functionality. This could work for a bare bones production in that it has an “interview” setting, which will record from two different directions. Just set it in the middle of a table and talk to the guest.
3. Monoprice Isolation Shield. Isolation shields like this are the simplest option for soundproofing — no dedicated studio required. Heavy blankets also work well. Don't record near windows or around hard surfaces.
4. ZOOM H6. This is where you get into a little bit more technical work, though it can render a better product. XLR inputs are generally higher quality than USB mics, and this recording device allows you to control the levels of each microphone independently. (Honorable mentions include the ZOOM PodTrak P4 and the ZOOM H4n. There are many other recording interfaces available, but my experience is personally with ZOOM products.)
5. The MXL 990 is the mic I personally use in conjunction with the ZOOM H6. It's at a good intersection of functionality and affordability. (The RODE Procaster and AudioTechnica AT2020 are also well-regarded XLR microphones.)
6. Lavalier mics such as the Sony ECM-44 work great for some scenarios, particularly because the performers do not have to worry about moving or turning away from the microphone.
7. High-quality headphones like the Sony MDR7506 are great for monitoring your performance and for editing. (Editing note: It’s often recommended to listen to your audio through multiple speakers. Edit with headphones, then listen back on your computer speakers. Some people even do “the car test” where they listen to their show in their car.)
Other Necessities
1. Zencastr. This is the platform we have used to great success recording Innovate Fort Worth remotely. In a nutshell, it records each person's audio directly to their computer, then uploads it to the platform after the fact, meaning there is no VOIP compression like you would get with Skype or Zoom. Another option is Squadcast.
2. Podcast file hosting. This is necessary for uploading and distributing your podcasts. Libsyn is arguably the gold standard, though others such as Anchor and Transistor have their benefits. There are more companies doing this than I can list here, all offering different price points and functionality.
3. Music licensing. It is very important to license your music to avoid lawsuits and properly compensate the artist. AudioJungle is an a la carte music licensing platform. There are many others out there. I use Soundstripe, which is subscription-based but likely isn't necessary for someone producing a single podcast. Another option would be hiring someone to compose your music through a service like UpWork or Fiverr.