Contents
What is Podcasting?
How to Listen to Podcasts
How to Build a Podcasting Studio
How to Plan a Podcast
How to Record a Podcast
How to Edit Your Podcast
How to Publish Your Podcast
How to Promote Your Podcast
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How to Record a Podcast
Recording a podcast is the process of using audio recording software to get the raw material of your podcast onto your computer.
How to Record All at Once or in Pieces
Before you begin recording your podcast, you need to decide whether to record your show all at once or in pieces:
- Recording all at once: With this option, you hit the Record button, record your entire podcast from start to finish, then stop recording. Recording all at once will make your editing job much easier because you don’t have to edit together multiple tracks, but it will also give you less flexibility.
- Recording in pieces: With this option, you create each segment separately, then combine them into one audio file later in the editing process. Recording in pieces will give you more control but will also require more editing time.
As you experiment with podcasting, you’ll gradually get a feel for the method you prefer.
How to Configure Your Recording Program
Next you’ll need to configure the preferences (settings) of your audio recording program to make it record in the file format you prefer and produce files of reasonable sizes. You can usually change preferences by clicking on Preferences in the File or other menu along the top bar of your audio recording software. Under the Quality tab, set the following:
- Sample rate: 44,100 Hz for a podcast that consists mostly of your voice. Use a higher setting (96,000 Hz or so) for podcasts that include a lot of music.
- Sample format: 16-bit for podcasts that are mostly voice; higher (24- or 32-bit) for podcasts that include music.
- Channels: If you’re using only one mic, set the channels to mono. If you’re using more than one mic, set the channels to the number of channels you’ll be recording.
It’s best to use the lowest settings that produce a sound quality that you consider acceptable. The higher the settings, the larger the files and the more time it will take to upload and download them. In general, a 30-minute podcast can range from about 30 MB for an all-music show to 15–21 MB for a talk show with some music. In addition, on the File Formats tab of the Preferences window, make sure that the uncompressed export format is set to WAV (Microsoft 16-bit PCM).
How to Record Audio Files for Your Podcasts
Most recording software has intuitive controls that you’ll recognize from any CD, DVD, or media player:
- Click the Record button to begin recording.
- If you need to stop in the middle of recording, click the Pause button. Click it again to continue.
- When you’re finished recording a segment (or the entire show), end the recording by clicking the Stop or OK button.
Monitoring the Levels
As you record, the software will display a chart or line graph of your sound levels on a scale that typically ranges from -32 to +6. As you record, aim to keep the sound levels at or just below 0. You never want the levels to go above 0, as that will cause distortion. If the levels are well under 0, the sound will be too soft, though you can increase the volume during editing if your original recording volume was only somewhat low.
To adjust the levels, move the input volume control either up or down. The input volume control often appears next to a small mic icon.
How to Save the Audio Files of Your Podcasts
When you’ve finished recording, save the file in .wav format. A .wav file is the best file format for editing sound. Only after you’ve edited your podcast should you save it as an mp3 file. If you’re saving multiple segments, name each one so that you’ll be able to easily identify your various segments later.
How to Organize Your Saved Podcast Files
To organize your saved podcast files, create a podcasts folder and, within that folder, separate folders for each episode.
How to Archive Your Podcast Files
Along with building an organizational system for your podcast recordings, you should also have a system for saving your old podcast material long-term, in case you want to reuse material down the road or handle a dispute about something you said or did in your podcast. If your computer doesn’t have the memory to save your podcasts, burn the data onto CDs or DVDs.
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