How to Create Your Own Podcast: Recording the Podcast

Once you have your equipment and your script written, the next step in creating a podcast is to record it.

It is advisable to practice your podcast at least once before you start recording it. This will ensure that you sound more like you are speaking instead of reading a script. Make sure you speak slowly and enunciate your words. Notice any areas that are particularly tricky and practice them until they come out smooth and clear. Also, make sure that you pause at commas, semicolons, and periods but do not pause in the middle of a sentence. Do not worry about making long pauses as you can always edit them out later.

It is not necessary to stop if you make a mistake when you are recording. Simply pause and then restart the sentence. The pause will help you locate errors when it comes time to edit. Then, you can simply cut out any mistakes you made.

Experiment with different settings and locations. This includes experimenting the distance you place the microphone from your mouth. Make sure that you turn off any speakers that are attached to your computer or that you position yourself so that your microphone does not pick up any sound from them.

You might find that the sound is better when the microphone is slightly above or to the side of your mouth, as it eliminates some of the breath sounds. You should also consider investing in a microphone windscreen (the little foam balls that cover microphones), which will block out hard P's and S's. You can make your own windscreen by covering your microphone with a sock.

Before you begin, make sure that you have a quiet room free from ambient noises to do your recording. Sit up straight and have a glass of water handy. Try to speak naturally, varying your pitch and tempo whenever possible without yelling into the microphone. Nothing is worse than a long monotone podcast. Imagine that you are speaking to someone in the room rather than focusing on the fact that you are being recorded.

You should also time your recording in case a break in the podcast is necessary. Most people will be focused for about ten minutes. If your podcast is longer than this, you will want to schedule a break for your listeners.

The level at which you record your audio is very important. If it is too quiet, your audio will sound noisy. You will want to record your podcast at a higher level because it reduces the background noise instead of recording soft and turning up the volume later, which will amplify any background noises. Do not turn up the level too high, however, because it will cause distortion.

Whenever possible, adjust your recording software so that it records at a higher bitrate. Most programs default at a bitrate between 48 to 64kbps, which is okay for most talk programs. However, a bitrate of 128kbps is much better, but it will create a much larger file. Try to record your program at the highest setting possible without making your program file too large.

Now that you have the main part of your podcast recorded, your next step will be to edit it and add extras such as sound effects and music.