Here are some top tips to help you get the most from your audio recording.
Proximity to Microphone: The closer you are to the microphone, the warmer and clearer your voice will sound. A good starting point is about hand's width away.Pop Filter: The microphones have an inbuilt pop filter which will help stop 'popping' from plosive sounds like 'buh' and 'puh.'Microphone Angle: Position the microphone slightly off-axis (at about a 45-degree angle) to your mouth to reduce breath noise and plosives without sacrificing clarity.Room Treatment: The room has been designed to maximise sound quality without the requirement for soundproofing. Provided you don't have the faders up too high you will get a nice warm sound without picking up noise from outside.Consistent Positioning: Try to maintain a consistent position relative to your microphone. Moving around can cause variations in volume and tone. If you have multiple guests, angle yourselves and move the microphone so that you can see everyone clearly to prevent the need for turning to face them.Mic Technique: Speak past the microphone, not directly into it, to avoid excessive breath noise and pops.Test Recording: Always do a short test recording and listen to it with headphones. This can help identify any issues with your setup or technique.Avoid Background Noise: Turn off noisy electronics and alert others not to interrupt during recording.Remember, the key to good audio is consistent technique and practice. Always experiment and adjust based on what sounds best for your unique situation.
Below are some useful guides to help you with editing your audio projects.
Audacity Audacity is a versatile, free open-source software for audio recording and editing. Users can manipulate audio tracks to enhance sound quality, remove noise, apply special effects, and more. It supports multiple file formats, allowing users to import, edit, and export audio with ease. Regardless of your project, Audacity offers the simplest toolset for your audio needs.
We would recommend this for absolute beginners who are new to audio editing.
Download Audacity
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Reaper Reaper is a powerful digital audio workstation (DAW) software known for its flexibility and professional-quality features. It supports multitrack audio and MIDI recording, editing, processing, and mastering. With its extensive plugin compatibility and customizable interface, Reaper is a go-to tool for musicians, podcasters, and sound designers. Its robust functionality caters to both beginners and professionals for an array of audio production tasks.
We wouldn't recommend Reaper for absolute beginners, but if you are looking to get more from your audio projects it is a fantastic resource.
Download Reaper
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Below are some guides for how to distribute your podcast so the world can hear what you've been working on.
Step 1: Finalise Your Podcast File Make sure your podcast episode is edited, finalised, and saved in a commonly accepted format like MP3. It should include everything from your content to intro/outro music and even sponsor messages, if applicable.
Step 2: Find a Podcast Hosting Platform Podcast files can be quite large and require special servers, called podcast hosts, to store and distribute them. Several popular podcast hosting platforms include Anchor , Buzzsprout , Libsyn , and Podbean . Some platforms offer basic services for free, while others may charge a monthly fee for advanced features.
Feel free to do some research and find which will suit you best.
Step 3: Set Up Your Podcast on the Hosting Platform Create an account with your chosen hosting platform. You will need to provide basic information about your podcast like the title, description, category, and cover art. This is also when you'll upload your first episode.
Step 4: Generate Your RSS Feed An RSS feed in podcasting is a file that contains your show's audio files and information, enabling distribution to directories.
After setting up your podcast, your hosting platform will generate an RSS feed for your show. This RSS feed is crucial because it's what you'll submit to podcast directories (like Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts) so they can distribute your show.
Step 5: Submit Your Podcast to Directories Now you need to distribute your podcast to podcast directories. This is a manual process, but you only need to do it once for each platform. The benefits of having the RSS feed means this will happen automatically when you update it on your distributor:
Apple Podcasts : Go to Podcasts Connect , log in with your Apple ID, and submit your RSS feed.Spotify : Go to Spotify for Podcasters , create an account or log in, then submit your RSS feed.Google Podcasts : Google automatically fetches new podcasts from RSS feeds found on the web, but to manually submit, use Google's Podcast Manager .Other directories : Similar processes apply. Look for the "Submit a Podcast" option and provide your RSS feed.Step 6: Promote Your Podcast Once your podcast is available on the various directories, start promoting it. You can use social media, your website, or even word-of-mouth. The more visibility your podcast gets, the more likely you are to garner listeners.
Step 7: Regularly Update Your Podcast Consistency is key in podcasting. Ensure you have a regular schedule for uploading new episodes to your podcast host, which will automatically update them on the directories via your RSS feed.
Remember, every podcasting journey begins with a single step, and it's okay to learn as you go. Good luck!
