How To Record Your Podcast

Recording a podcast is like most things, you get better by doing it, so let’s get started now!

Recording your first episode can be intimidating but don’t over think it, we’ll be here to walk you through it. Your first episode may not be “shiny” but you have to start somewhere - your first episode. 

In this blog tutorial, we will cover:

• Setting up your internal microphone
• Tips while recording your first episode
• Setting up your recording environment
• How to choose your recording software
• How to record 
• Other recording software recommendations

​Setting up your internal microphone:

Without a mic, you’re not going anywhere. Most computers nowadays come with an internal mic. Let’s help you find your basic computer mic so you can test it. 

For Mac users:

1. Click on the apple logo on the top left part of your screen.
   
2. Click on "System Preferences".
   
3. Click on the "Sound" button/icon (if you do not see it, try searching "sound" in the upper right search bar.
   
4. Say something into your mic/computer to test input level (see image below). Make sure when you speak normally, that the levels are not too low or too high.

​

Once you're in, select the "input" tab on the top of the menu. Then, make sure that your Input Volume and Output Volume are set in the middle of the bar for each for a balanced mic input/output balance. Make sure to check off the box for "Use ambient noise reduction". 

You should then be good to go with your internal mic settings.

For Windows PC users:

1. Click on the start menu on the lower left side of your screen.
2. Click or search for "Control Panel".
3. Click the "Sound" option/icon.
4. Click on the "Recording" tab.
5. Select the appropriate microphone.
6. After the microphone is selected, click on "Properties" and then the "Listen" tab and check the box for "Listen to this device" and click "OK". 
7. Lastly, speak normally to check if the levels are picking up the sound of your voice. You'll want to make sure that you're right in the middle of the input level bar (no clipping).

If for some reason you are still unable to locate your mic, or if your computer does not include one, you can find an acceptable mic on Amazon for relatively cheap. ​

Here are some do’s and don'ts to consider before you record: 

Do’s:

• Talk with a clear voice to make sure people can hear you.
• Do a test recording for five seconds of you talking and then play the sound back to ensure the audio sounds good. Make sure to listen with headphones on.
• If you have a guest recording alongside you when using the app, make sure that they're right next to you so that your computer can pick up both of your voices​.

​
Dont’s:

• Yell into the computer.
• Chew gum while talking/recording.
• Be conscious of any sighing/yawning.
• Type on the keyboard while recording.
• Avoid long pauses.

It’s also a great idea to prepare some notes before you start recording. Like anything else, you don’t want to be reading off the notes, you just want to have them there for reference. 

There’s no rules to making a great podcast, but sometimes having more “participants” makes for a more entertaining episode. If possible, we recommend having a friend (or enemy) join you for a “richer” show.

Setting up your recording environment:

You're just about ready to go, so let’s now talk about your recording environment. Not everyone has a multi-million dollar recording studio (or even needs one!), but some things that you might want to consider:

• Is everything charged up? Make sure your computer has enough “juice” to record for an extended period of time.
• A little ambient noise is okay, but if your audience can’t hear or understand you, that may be a problem.
• Let others in your environment know you’re recording so as to avoid disruptions.
• Make sure you have something to drink. Water is great (but beer is better ;)).

​How to Choose your Recording Software:

There’s almost no limit to your options when it comes to recording software. For the purposes of just starting out with zero recording experience, we've chosen to suggest and demonstrate "Online Voice Recorder" by 123apps.

​By no means is this the only software out there, but we think it might be the easiest recording software for you to start out with. Most importantly, it's free to use! If you're looking for more advanced software, be sure to check out our recommendations at the end of this article.

How to Record:

To access the Online Voice Recorder, go here (and be sure to have Flash enabled on your browser): https://online-voice-recorder.com/ 

You can check if you have Flash downloaded, along with it's version here, in case you're not sure.

Here are the few steps you need to complete the recording:

• Click on the red button to start your recording. 
• A pop-up will ask you to allow access to your internal mic. Select yes. 
• The recording will then begin. 
• When finished recording, select the green stop button (with the square  in the middle).
• Press the Play button (with the triangle in the middle) to play the recording.
• If you're satisfied with the recording, click on the blue "save" button on the right hand side.
• If not, you can select "Record again" until you're satisfied.
• After you click "Save", you'll be asked to name the file, select the file type, and the location of where you want to save it. Select .mp3 as your format. We'd also suggest saving it to your desktop for easy access.

We found this helpful Youtube tutorial on how to use recording software if you'd like to learn more: 

Congratulations on your first recording, you are now a podcaster! Remember, don’t sweat it if your first episode wasn’t perfect, they’ll get better as you go. 

We'll be posting a follow-up article on how to publish your recording as a podcast episode on Podomatic, but for now, you can upload the recording and publish it here.

​Other recording software recommendations:

For those of you who may be more “tech savvy”, check out Audacity (It's free!). Most podcasters eventually grow into using this software.

Audacity is great because it's an open-source software that's consistently being updated. You can use the system regardless of the operating system your machine is running. 

There are also a number of plug-ins and libraries that you can install to give your recordings more effects. Overall, if you're looking to invest early on in a software you'll likely use your entire podcasting career, it's worthwhile to sit down and become familiar with the program. 

Here's a helpful tutorial on recording your podcast with Audacity:​ 

Mobile recorder considerations:   

We found a couple of apps out there for both iOS and Android that are excellent for recording if you're on the go or prefer a more "mobile" approach to doing things. 

For iOS: 

Check out the Voice Recorder Pro app. After you open the app, simply select your recording quality and press the record button.

When you're finished recording, send the final .mp3 version of the file to your email, where you can then download it onto your computer and upload it onto Podomatic. 

For Android: 

Check out the Voice Recorder app. The app is straightforward as well, and allows you to adjust the bitrate, format, and sample rate. 

When you're recording is finished, email the final .mp3 version of the file to your email, where you can then download it onto your computer and upload it onto Podomatic. 

​Other software: 

If you're a Mac user, you may be pleased to know that a fully built-out digital audio workstation is included on your Machine: GarageBand. The software includes different vocal options giving you more control over the sound and atmosphere of your podcast. GarageBand is also noted for it’s mixing capabilities.

Adobe Audition CC is another popular recording solution that is a bit more "professional" both in terms of using the software and in the quality of the recording. If you have many tracks included in your recording, Audition makes editing and combining tracks simple and straightforward.

The software provides a wide number of effects you can apply, along with various equalization options, so there’s a lot of creative things you can do with your podcast. If you have a video podcast, Audition provides professional tools here as well. Adobe Audition CC is a paid option to consider. Their current price for their product is $20.99 a month, which you can find here.