Low tech person making podcast
June 24, 2021 7:14 AM Subscribe
I need to make a single podcast that will be used in both North America and Europe. I planned to use my Iphone. (I do not want to spend a lot on tech and prefer to use what I have, which is iphone/macbook air, though can supplement).
What is the best way to do this? Thanks in advance.
There are a number of how-to's online (I looked into this awhile ago), my main suggestion is to check out your local library - some libraries have a limited number of tech (like good recorders) for limited loans. You can do an iphone, but if you plan on doing many "in the field" recordings, it's not ideal (they don't screen out background noise well, and that can be hard to edit out in basic programs).
posted by coffeecat at 7:25 AM on June 24, 2021
posted by coffeecat at 7:25 AM on June 24, 2021
Just to clarify, by "single podcast", you mean a single audio recording (perhaps with edits) that you can then share with the world via the internet?
Clarifying because some old pedants like myself might read "single podcast" as an entire show series, with multiple episodes, ability to subscribe to it, etc. Does it have to appear in the Apple ecosystem directories, or is it good enough to just end up with an mp3 file that you can share via a website?
posted by intermod at 7:29 AM on June 24, 2021 [1 favorite]
Clarifying because some old pedants like myself might read "single podcast" as an entire show series, with multiple episodes, ability to subscribe to it, etc. Does it have to appear in the Apple ecosystem directories, or is it good enough to just end up with an mp3 file that you can share via a website?
posted by intermod at 7:29 AM on June 24, 2021 [1 favorite]
Transom is worth a look for technical tips, though they target people who are trying to go into this as a profession rather than a one-off thing.
Starting out with your iphone mic is worth a try. But, making an understandable, cheap phone call and making high quality audio are different goals. A decent microphone can make a huge difference. Even a cheap USB computer mic, headphone mic, or the mic on a webcam can be a real improvement. Do you know anyone with stuff you could borrow? Students with access to film or anthropology equipment libraries? (A field recorder and a closet full of clothes is better, but will set you back at least one or two hundred dollars, unless you have a friend who can loan it to you.)
When it comes to software, audacity seems to me like like a nice balance between capability and ease of use. It's free. I haven't tried anchor, which may be better.
posted by eotvos at 7:37 AM on June 24, 2021
Starting out with your iphone mic is worth a try. But, making an understandable, cheap phone call and making high quality audio are different goals. A decent microphone can make a huge difference. Even a cheap USB computer mic, headphone mic, or the mic on a webcam can be a real improvement. Do you know anyone with stuff you could borrow? Students with access to film or anthropology equipment libraries? (A field recorder and a closet full of clothes is better, but will set you back at least one or two hundred dollars, unless you have a friend who can loan it to you.)
When it comes to software, audacity seems to me like like a nice balance between capability and ease of use. It's free. I haven't tried anchor, which may be better.
posted by eotvos at 7:37 AM on June 24, 2021
When you say, "used in" N. America and Europe, do you mean participants will be calling in from both regions? If so, Ringr is cheap, easy, and great. We use it in my org for recording interviews that become podcasts.
posted by late afternoon dreaming hotel at 8:35 AM on June 24, 2021
posted by late afternoon dreaming hotel at 8:35 AM on June 24, 2021
Audacity is an opensource software program available for free download online. Support for Audacity may not be available for too long, but it does the damn thing and if you're just looking for a simple short-term option it should do the trick. Also offers bells and whistles if you'd like to play around.
Available for Windows/iOs laptops, compatible with USB mics, exports in several formats including mp3 and wav. (Using a mac with the M1 chip is an added bonus because there is no fan to kick on while recording- huge, huge bonus)
posted by j0rdan at 11:26 AM on June 24, 2021
Available for Windows/iOs laptops, compatible with USB mics, exports in several formats including mp3 and wav. (Using a mac with the M1 chip is an added bonus because there is no fan to kick on while recording- huge, huge bonus)
posted by j0rdan at 11:26 AM on June 24, 2021
Seconding anchor.fm. Record / edit / publish your podcasts from your phone, free hosting. Ability to upload your own sound files too, if you want to do a future upgrade with mics / record in audacity and upload to anchor.
posted by WedgedPiano at 12:59 PM on June 24, 2021
posted by WedgedPiano at 12:59 PM on June 24, 2021
I would consider editing in GarageBand. It is free and may already be installed on your Mac. Although I love Audacity, it can be a bit terse. GarageBand on the other hand has easy to use tools to make your podcast just that little extra bit better. You have free to use sound effects/bumpers/etc. to spice up the episode. You can transfer your iphone recordings to the Mac and edit them further in GarageBand as audio tracks. GarageBand has presets to elevate the quality of your voice. Other tips:
- Record your voice in an acoustically clean place if you can. Sitting on a chair with drapes closed behind you can help. You can even pull something like a coat or blanket over your head if you want to deaden the acoustics. Sitting in a car can also be a good quiet place to record.
- The internal mic of the typical iPhone is not that good. If you have an older iPhone, you can use something like a Zoom iQ6, which doesn't break the bank but is much better than the internal mic.
- When you opt to buy a mic (like a USB mic, suggested above), be sure to test a few recording positions before you commit to the whole podcast. In general, talking a stretched hand away from the diaphragm is good. Use a plop filter (which you can DIY)
- Don't record too loud! If you record straight into GarageBand, choose 24 bit audio (as opposed to 16 bit) and be sure your loudest peaks are several decibels below 0 dBFS. It used to be so that recording louder meant better, but that was in the old analog days. In 24 bit audio, you can easily record with peaks at something like -12 dBFS and boost the volume later on without any loss in quality. In fact, recording too loud (over 0 dBFS, which fails) will ruin the recording.
- If you record with a stereo mic, throw away one channel, unless you record a dialog or something with interesting surroundings. If it's "you walking in the woods" or "you in the beautiful acoustics of a church", then, yes, stereo is good. But in most cases, it is preferred to have a stable center where the dialog audio emanates from.
- Record when your voice is at its best. Drink water, have fun.
Hens Zimmerman
posted by hz37 at 1:23 PM on June 24, 2021
- Record your voice in an acoustically clean place if you can. Sitting on a chair with drapes closed behind you can help. You can even pull something like a coat or blanket over your head if you want to deaden the acoustics. Sitting in a car can also be a good quiet place to record.
- The internal mic of the typical iPhone is not that good. If you have an older iPhone, you can use something like a Zoom iQ6, which doesn't break the bank but is much better than the internal mic.
- When you opt to buy a mic (like a USB mic, suggested above), be sure to test a few recording positions before you commit to the whole podcast. In general, talking a stretched hand away from the diaphragm is good. Use a plop filter (which you can DIY)
- Don't record too loud! If you record straight into GarageBand, choose 24 bit audio (as opposed to 16 bit) and be sure your loudest peaks are several decibels below 0 dBFS. It used to be so that recording louder meant better, but that was in the old analog days. In 24 bit audio, you can easily record with peaks at something like -12 dBFS and boost the volume later on without any loss in quality. In fact, recording too loud (over 0 dBFS, which fails) will ruin the recording.
- If you record with a stereo mic, throw away one channel, unless you record a dialog or something with interesting surroundings. If it's "you walking in the woods" or "you in the beautiful acoustics of a church", then, yes, stereo is good. But in most cases, it is preferred to have a stable center where the dialog audio emanates from.
- Record when your voice is at its best. Drink water, have fun.
Hens Zimmerman
posted by hz37 at 1:23 PM on June 24, 2021
I have a podcast and use the Anchor.fm app. Everything is ready to go. You can record in it, add background music, introduce, outros, switch elements around. It's all there for you. It's almost too easy. I personally want a bit more control with editing and mixing levels so I record into my phone, export into an audio editor then import into the Anchor app. They also publish the podcast on multiple platforms for you although I don't know what that means for any potential ad revenue but you didn't ask about that.
posted by ihaveyourfoot at 3:14 PM on June 24, 2021
posted by ihaveyourfoot at 3:14 PM on June 24, 2021
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posted by past unusual at 7:21 AM on June 24, 2021 [3 favorites]