Mastering The Technical Stuff While Recording Your Podcast – Hubhopper Help Center

Podcasts are an effective way of initiating communication or creating a community or promoting a brand. Hence, it is gaining popularity among the Indian audience recently. There is an increase in the number of podcasters but there are still many people who are afraid of creating a perfectly professional podcast due to lack of knowledge. They are worried about the technical aspects of the podcast.

If you are among those who wanted to start a podcast but the thought of all the technical stuff has been holding you back, then this blog post is for you.

Initially, it might be overwhelming to command these technical aspects but gradually you will become a master.

This blog post will cover what equipment is needed, what kind of software you need and where you can host or publish your podcast. The idea is to provide you with detailed information on how to record a professional podcast.

Let's get started!

Things you need to start a podcast

Here’s all that you need to start a podcast:

Microphones

A microphone is very important to record your podcast as it impacts the quality of your recording directly. Your listeners will pay attention to the quality of your recording and the content. Bad recordings can ruin the game for you. You should focus on buying a quality headphone within your budget. There are a variety of options available in the market.

Recommended microphones:

Recording Software

To create a podcast file you need recording and editing software such as the Hubhopper Studio Editor. You can either use a phone, dedicated digital recorder, or a DAW (Digital Audio Workstations) for recording. As a complete recording software Hubhopper Studio is the go to site for free podcast hosting, editing, free distribution along with detailed analytics.

Headphones

Once your podcast audio file is ready, it is important to hear it and see where it can be improved. This helps you to imagine how it will sound when your listeners will play it. While listening you can make a note of the areas of improvement scope. It will help you to monitor and manage the quality of your podcast. Headphones are also used for phone calls if you receive calls on a podcast to engage with your audience.

Recommended headphones:

pTron Studio Over-Ear Bluetooth 5.0 Wireless Headphones, Hi-Fi Sound with Deep Bass, 12Hrs Playback, Ergonomic & Lightweight Wireless Headset, Soft Cushions Earpads, Aux Port & Mic - (Blue) , boAt Rockerz 510 Bluetooth On-Ear Headphone with Mic(Furious Blue)

Hosting software

If you already have your podcasts recorded using an iPhone, you will now need a place to host your recorded MP3 files. That's where you use Hubhopper Studio. Hubhopper will provide you with your podcast RSS feed that you will submit to iTunes, Apple podcasts etc. Also, take a look at the podcast distribution guide for info on getting more listeners.

Editing tips to create a perfect podcast

Listen your audio once before editing and note timestamps

Listen to your podcast and note the timestamps to ensure where you want to edit the file. This will help to avoid rework on the editing part.

Keep the blank space while editing

It is advised to work on the timestamp in the reverse order otherwise leave the blank spaces wherever you have removed anything from the file. It will make the mapping of timestamps easier to edit the file correctly.

Watch your breath sound. Edit any background noise.

Recording clean audio is tough. Ideally you should isolate yourself in a silent space like under a blanket or in a closet. There are some useful web tools like Auphonic or Twistedwave to remove or reduce the noisy and any hissy audio in the background. To trim the audio and add music, use Hubhopper Studio Editor.

How to edit podcast interview when one person is a lot quieter

Depending on how much quieter the recording is, this is something you may want to fix during the recording process by ensuring your guest’s microphone has a strong signal. If the level is too low then increasing the gain (or volume) in the editing process will result in a lot of background noise which can be hard to remove. It’s always best to start with a good recording level in the first place.

The easiest way to manage this issue in the post is to increase the gain of the lower-level speaker before you begin editing. You can do this by normalizing the audio (a function available in all DAWs) or by adding some compression with makeup gain to increase the loudness.

Create a podcast trailer

Ideally a podcast trailer should be under 2.5 minutes. Pick the best quotes from your episodes to tease what’s new to come and compile them together in a way that excites your potential listener. Tie it together with narration, but make sure to keep it short and sweet. Introduce yourself and the show to your listeners to let them know what to expect in the coming new episodes.

Sound effects

Use sound effects wisely to make an emotional impact in your podcast and keep the audience engaged throughout. But be careful of too much usage as you might lose the original soundscape, if overused. This may help you to create an amazing podcast. The Hubhopper Studio Audio Editor is a great and free tool for adding background music, choosing introduction and closing tunes for your podcast. YouTube Audio Library can also be considered for adding music while recording.

Listen before going live

Give your podcast one final listen before uploading it. Make sure you have cut out everything you can, and that there aren’t any editing, mixing, or mastering errors. Check if it is engaging and interesting to listen to from start to finish.

Choose podcast music wisely

Music definitely creates a deep impact on the listeners. You should make the selection of opening and closing themes thoughtfully. It sets the tone of your show. It should be pleasing to the ears and not like noise. The choice you will make will reflect a lot about your personality.

If you don't know where to start, take inspiration from other shows within the same niche.

Conclusion

To create a perfect podcast, you need to be careful of things that are mentioned above. You can start with budgetary equipment and may invest later on. Once your show is successful, you can check the recommendations and get ready to create a perfect podcast.

Happy podcasting!