The podcasting trend continues to grow and for good reason. Podcasts are a low-cost way to share your thoughts and ideas with the world, gain new insights from others, and make valuable connections in your field of work. One of the most popular podcast types is remote podcasting interviews where two or more people record their conversation over Skype or other video conferencing software. You can do remote podcast recording from anywhere you have internet access! In this article, we will go over some tips on how to put together a remote podcast.
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Is it Possible to Do a High-Quality Podcast Remotely?
One of the biggest questions people have is whether the audio quality will suffer if you do a podcast remotely. Having everyone in the same place using the same equipment plugged directly into the audio recording device will always produce the highest quality audio and podcast.
But that doesn’t mean you can’t do a high-quality podcast remotely. If you’re using a good quality internet connection, your remote podcast recording will sound just as good as if everyone were in the same room. You may need to do some experimenting with different microphones and audio settings to get the best sound for your remote recording.
The biggest thing to keep in mind when recording podcasts remotely is that you’ll need to make sure all of your participants are well-prepared. Make sure they have a test run of their audio and video equipment beforehand, so there aren’t any surprises on podcast recording day. If possible, do a practice run of the podcast interview over Skype or another video chat program so everyone is comfortable with the remote interview process.
Remote Podcast App
If you’re going to a podcast remotely, you should start with the right app that will allow you to record both parties even though they are not in the same place. A popular podcast app that is free and easy to use on both Android and iOS devices is Zencastr. The other party does not need the podcasting app for it to work; they can simply access your call through their browser or Skype, whichever you prefer.
Zencastr allows up to four people total – each podcast host plus a podcast guest or two – making podcast interviews much easier when done remotely! You’ll only have one file once the recording has finished instead of three separate files like with some other apps. If you’re looking for a simple way to record multiple voices without any hassle, give Zencastr a try.
Remote Podcast Setup
Podcasting is relatively easy, and you can do it with very little equipment. All you need is a computer, some podcast hosting (like Zencastr) and recording software, a USB mic or other external mic for each participant that can plug into your computer, headphones or speakers so everyone can hear what’s being recorded without any echo, and a quiet space. If you’ll be doing your podcast in more than one location or if you plan to record outside of the studio, make sure everyone has headphones!
If you are podcasting remotely with only two people, such as an interviewer and interviewee, it is often easiest for participants to record on their laptops. It won’t produce studio-quality audio, but anyone listening should find it acceptable for podcast purposes. Make sure your headphone volume isn’t too loud so that you don’t get any unwanted sound in your recording.
If you are podcasting with more than two people, use a dedicated podcast recorder, like the Zoom H-20. This will allow everyone to be on separate tracks, which will come in handy when editing later. You can also use Skype or Google Hangouts for podcast interviews, but we don’t recommend it because of the potential audio quality issues and lack of control over what is being recorded.
The Best Way to Interview on a Podcast Remotely
If you’re a podcaster working remotely, one of the best ways to do so is with a remote interview format. This way, both parties can ask questions and get a conversation going. It can be more difficult if one person does all the talking because it’s harder for the listener to follow along.
When doing a remote podcast interview, make sure you have a reliable internet connection. Nothing is worse than having an interview cut out in the middle due to a poor signal. If possible, use a direct ethernet connection instead of relying on wifi; that always provides the best results.
Plan Ahead
As with any type of podcasting, planning is key when podcasting remotely. Ensure everyone involved knows what they need to do to make the recording go as smoothly as possible. This includes knowing what time to be online, what questions they want to ask, and any topics that need to be covered.
By following these simple tips, you’ll be podcasting like a pro in no time – regardless of where you live.
Tips & Tricks
Now that you have the basic equipment, and an idea of some best practices for remote podcasting, here are some bonus tips on how to make your remote podcast interview go as smoothly as possible:
- Test your setup before starting the recording. Nothing is worse than trying to troubleshoot technical problems in the middle of a podcast.
- Make sure everyone is in a quiet space and that there is no background noise.
- Start with some small talk to help people relax and get comfortable talking on the mic.
- If someone gets off track, gently remind them of the question that was asked.
- Take breaks throughout the recording time as needed, but try not to go too long between them, or people will lose focus.
The best part about podcasting remotely is that you can do it anywhere with an internet connection! So, whether you are traveling for work or on vacation, you can still record remote interviews without skipping a beat. You can do your podcast fully remote with high quality audio, thanks to video conferencing and the flexibility of being a digital nomad. Just make sure you have all the necessary equipment and follow these tips to ensure a smooth recording session. Happy podcasting!
