Podcasting Recording Tips
By Sharon Housley,
sharon at notepage net
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Before you begin podcasting
develop a plan and a format for your show. Determine
the focus of your podcast and what types of guests
you would like to
interview. Time spent planning your show will contribute
to its success.
Location, Location, Location
When you are producing a podcast on a regular basis
it is important that you select an appropriate location
for the recording to take place. The location should
be free of external distractions and relatively quiet.
It is easiest if you use the same location each time,
that way the equipment can remain in place and will
not require moving or setup each time you produce
a show.
The room should have a carpet or furniture
that will absorb echoes and dampen the sound. The
room should also have a door, so that you will not
have
unexpected interruptions. Reduce extraneous noise
by turning off fans or any equipment. Consider hanging
a note on the door, so that you will not be
disturbed while recording.
Recording Away from Home
When taking your podcast on the road it is equally
important that the quality of the podcast is not compromised
for the sake of portability. Consider using a directional
microphone or finding a quiet alcove for interviews
when on the road.
Equipment
Make every effort to minimize background noise, at
the very least use software that will allow you to
edit out extraneous noises that occur while recording.
While Recording
Before you begin recording sample different volumes
and microphone distances and determine what levels
result in the best recordings. To save time, do a
test recording and listen to it prior to every show,
this will help you catch anything that was inadvertedly
unplugged. Spending a little more money on your microphone
goes a long way.
Permissions and Contracts
The legalities surrounding audio recording are a bit
muddled. Regardless of what the legalities are in
your region, it is best that you request permission
prior to recording anyone!
When requesting an interview with
a specific individual, be sure to tell them the topic
of the show and give them an idea what types of questions
to
expect. Let them know how long the interview is planned
for and the format of the show. Let prospective interviewees
know whether the broadcast will be
edited or will the interview be broadcast live. It
is always a good idea to provide interviewees a link
to previous interviews. If the interview will
require any specific equipment or software, provide
them ample notice and do a test run to ensure that
everything is working properly.
Interviews
A little preparation goes a long way; if you have
an interview scheduled, be sure to adequately prepare.
Make sure that you can accurately pronounce the interviewee's
proper name, and ask them prior to the interview how
they would like to be addressed. Research the interviewee
and come up with a list of questions. In some cases
it might be appropriate to provide the interviewee
the list of questions prior to the interview, this
will not only help them prepare but help them relax
and prepare for their on-air debut. If you prefer
not to tip your hand in providing the questions prior
to the interview, then be sure that you have an idea
of what their reaction and responses will be. Follow
up questions should based on the interviewee's reactions
to your queries. While broadcasting, use your research
notes as talking points to direct the conversation.
When your guest is talking let them explain their
point of view; don't interrupt them unless there is
a point to clarify.
Biographies of show guests should
be included in the show notes or on the show's website.
Request the interviewee send a photo to be included
along with
the biography. After the show is published be sure
to thank the interviewee and provide them a link to
the finished interview along with instructions on
how they can listen to the show.
Have Fun
Use voice inflections to add emotion and passion to
your comments and questions. Use music between segments
- not only does theme music create a brand and audio
identity, it also helps transition of one segment
to another. Intro and outros can soften a podcast
and give it a little extra polish. Introduce your
podcast at the beginning and end of the show. Remind
listeners who and what they are listening too. This
is your opportunity to establish your audio brand.
And finally have fun - listeners will be able to tell
if your podcast is a labor of love or a painful rendition,
so keep your spirits up and your mood light!
About the Author:
Sharon Housley manages marketing for FeedForAll http://www.feedforall.com
software for creating, editing, publishing RSS feeds
and podcasts. In addition Sharon manages marketing
for NotePage http://www.notepage.net
a wireless text messaging software company.
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