How To Record a Podcast In 5 Simple Steps In 2023

Podcasting is a powerful communication tool. It’s also quite large. There are around 38 million podcast listeners in the world as of 2023.  From BBC uploading their talk shows to a single creator narrating parts of a story every episode, there’s something for everyone. Podcasting encompasses comedy, sports, news, true crime, and much more.

While talk shows have been around since the nineties, and audio storytelling has been around even longer, podcasting didn’t really take off until around 2004. Podcasting is based on relatively simple technology.

A microphone (even your phone will do), Audio editing software, and an RSS (really simple syndication) feed is all you need to start a podcast. An RSS feed is a web feed that helps podcasting hostings and platforms like Spotify to update your profile. It also can place your podcast on all of the major syndication networks.

If you wish to start a podcast and wondering how to record one, I will help you by taking you through very simple steps. Follow me along and get your show up on Spotify in no time!

Step By Step Guide to Record a Podcast (Working)

So here is the list of the Step By Step Guide to Record a Podcast that is tried, tested, and suggested by professionals.

Step #1 Planning

You must have a strategy. Nobody will create a podcast that people like simply by chit-chatting. Create a script and stick to it if you’re doing a solo podcast. Ensure each guest host understands their role if you’re planning to do a group podcast.

Understand the topic of your show and be familiar with the facts. Good podcasts engage the audience mainly as they focus on a specific topic and their hosts have a distinct voice. 

Step #2: A Place To Record

Imagine you are watching a fabulous well-directed movie but on a low pixel resolution. It sounds downright BAD! Right?

Now put that perspective on your podcast as well. A good podcast with bad sound quality is trash. People will simply quit your show and move on to the next one.

Yes, post-processing and equipment matter, but the place you record at can also affect your podcast sound quality.

Here are some quick tips for choosing the right place.

Sound Waves collide on hard surfaces and create a reverberant. You must record in a place where the echo effect won’t happen. It can be a, 

• A cupboard full of clothes
• A carpeted room of 10 by 10 or 10 by 12.
• A recording studio.

No matter what you choose, ensure that the space is filled with sound-absorbing material and with little to no unnecessary noise. 

Step #3: Equipments

A microphone is the most essential podcast recording equipment. Prices of Microphones can range from a few dollars to a few thousand dollars. You can spend a great deal of money on a microphone, headset,  preamp, and stands. However, for most new podcasters, a USB microphone will is enough.

Ensure your microphone has a pop filter. Hard sounds like B, S, or P sounds) can irritate your listener’s ears. Pop filters also help to muffle the sound of your exhalation.

There are various other kinds of mic you can try

• Built-in Microphone of your Mobile Phones.
• Condenser Microphones.
• Dynamic Microphones.

Step #4: Recording Your Podcast 

You will need audio recording software to record your podcast and post-process it.

Here are the top 3 in the industry right now

1. Audacity: Ideal for beginners due to its ease of use and great functioning. It is also the most used software to record podcasts globally.
2. GarageBand: Garageband is a DAW by apple for apple. iPhone, iPad, and Mac users can use this software to create the podcast of their dreams.
3. Adobe Audition: a product by Adobe.inc, Audition is a paid software. It is loaded with great features. Due to its complexity, we won’t recommend it to people who are just getting into podcasts. 

For this guide, we are giving a demo on Audacity.

Here is how you do it:

• You can download Audacity from Here.

• Audacity records using your built-in microphone by default. Ensure that you select the microphone you wish to record from, from the drop-down menu next to the microphone symbol.

• When you’re ready, click the button with a red circle on it. To begin recording your audio. When you are done recording, press the stop button (the button with a square)

• You can also pause the podcast and continue where you left off whenever needed.

Step #5: Export and Edit

When all the pausing playing is done, and you are ready to export the file, click on File and then on “export audio” from the drop-down menu.

Now you need to select a few parameters before you actually expert the audio.

Choose the File type as M4A (AAC). It is the best format!

If you have recorded different audios, you will be asked to combine them in one single file, and confirm to move forward.

Now, you will be asked to fill in the metadata for your podcast. Fill in all the required info and click on “ok.”

Editing

A podcast sounds best with a touch of editing. Every masterpiece needs to be polished. Editing misspoken words, long pauses, or reducing background noises ensures that you edit your podcast before publishing it.

To edit your audio, click on File > Import > Audio.

Edit your audio as per your preference and save it.

You’re done! That is all that it takes to record a podcast.

You can now leverage AI to your advantage and edit podcasts using AI Tools as well!

Conclusion: How To Record a Podcast

Recording a podcast does not have to be a difficult affair. You can get a good output without a complicated setup. Start with small and gradually increase your investments. Plan and plot the podcast script and execute it with our step-by-step guide.  If you put little extra work on the recording side can save you time in post-processing. 

Did you find our blog useful? Let us know in the comments! Drop your podcast links too, so that we can check your awesome work.

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