How to Record a Podcast Interview

Though podcasters often thrive in a controlled studio space, many others feel that this strategy can feel overly staged and limiting, and vie for a more reporter-like approach by recording out in the field. If this feels appropriate to your content, then by all means, go for it! Just bear a few things in mind: like everything in the wild, the outdoors can be a bit unpredictable, and it’s no different when it comes to audio. If you’re recording outside, then be aware of background noise: powerful winds, cars whizzing by, planes flying overhead, crying babies…just about any noise you can think of, because there’s a lot of it out there. You'll also want to consider your microphone placement and set up. It may be difficult to find a flat surface to place a table-top microphone. Try one of our clip on mics and pick from our collection of the best mics for interviews.

If you’re up to braving the noisy outside world, be sure to record clean audio with a quality wireless mic, as well as a quality recorder (you can read up on wireless microphone recommendations here). Tascam and Zoom are two of the top-rated brands of recorders, and both deliver an array of models that can fit any and all of your outdoor podcasting needs to keep your audience on the edge of their seat while they listen during lunch break.

Podcasters frequently find themselves reaching to the far corners of the internet for guests or content to present on their show, and subsequently face the dilemma of figuring out how to effectively host people from around the world. Although this isn’t always the cleanest or easiest option, it is often a necessary one.

Luckily, there is a program out there with us lost podcasters in mind. While Skype, Zoom or Google Hangouts might get the message across for free, Zencastr gets the same message across with an array of amenities (some requiring the $20/mo. payment) that cater specifically to podcasters through a smooth and accessible interface. Zencastr features a simple Hangout-esque group session for your podcast guests, separate tracks for various voices, lossless WAV recordings, Dropbox integration, text chat options, and live editing soundboards.There’s even the (paid) option to have the software perform automatic post-production to clean up noise, but take your chances with this feature as it’s anybody’s guess how their algorithm is going to manipulate your audio (sometimes that peak audio of laughter should stay in!).

So there you have it, podcasting in a nutshell. Even though there are endless topics and ways to structure your podcast, audio production can be quite simple once you’ve got the right tools in your possession, and the right mindset for producing. No matter your content, production always boils down to proficient equipment, clean-captured audio, and quality editing, and may not come with as hefty of a price tag as you might think. So, what are you waiting for? Grab a mic and get to podcasting!