Recording Podcasts During Self-Isolation

A How-To Guide for Podcasting During Covid-19

It is a weird time in the world right now and a lot of us are self-isolating so that we do not risk the health and wellness of ourselves and others. It has impacted our jobs and the ways that we communicate and distribute information.

The tiny-thread of good news is that we can still find ways to create and listen to podcasts. I originally fell in love with podcasting because it allowed me to connect to online communities in a deeper way than any subreddit or forum. I fell in love more when I realized how easily they can be made from your home.

During this time, I also expect that podcast listenership will increase, as people will have more time in isolation where they are looking to the media for distraction and to keep them informed.

This is a beginner’s tutorial on how you can create high-quality content from your self-isolation location.

The first sections are on setting up your space for an ideal recording environment and understanding your microphone’s levels. The second section is on how to actually record whether that be a monologue style recording on your own or a conversation with multiple guests (joining together online).

During these times distributing information, providing levity and engaging with our online communities can be extremely powerful.

SECTION 1: SETTING UP YOUR SELF-ISOLATION RECORDING ENVIRONMENT

Equipment

It’s hard to get a good quality recording without good quality hardware. Here are some of our favorite tips and microphones for recording on the go!

Headphones

During every recording, you should wear headphones instead of using your computer’s built-in speakers. If you do not wear headphones there will be feedback from other speakers (and maybe your own voice) and it will be impossible to edit.

Mics

Best Quality: The best recordings will come from an XLR mic like a Shure SM7B or a cheaper alternative like a Shure SM58. Because these are XLR mics, they will need to be connected to an interface before connecting to your computer. We recommend the Scarlett 2i2 as an affordable interface. It can have two microphones connected to it locally using XLR cables. If you already have a portable recorder like a Zoom H6 or Zoom H4n you can use either of these as an interface as well.

Easiest Option: If you do not want to use an XLR cable and an interface, your next best option is using a USB microphone. This will plug into your computer directly and because of that it is a more portable and easier solution. We recommend the Rode NT-USB microphone.

The I’m Really In A Pinch Option: As we mentioned, you should always be wearing headphones during a recording. Most headphones nowadays have a built in microphone so that you can use them to talk on the phone. This microphone is not great sounding but it is 100 times better than using your computer’s built-in microphone because it is closer to your mouth. This will reduce echo and make your voice clearer. So if you have apple earbuds or a gaming / conference headset, pull it out and plug it into your laptop! Again, this is absolutely not an ideal recording situation and not something I would recommend during normal times, but things are not feeling very normal right now!

Noise reduction equipment

Get a pop filter for your mic. If you are recording indoors, you should always use a pop filter with your microphone to avoid plosives/breath sounds, especially when you’re close up to the mic. Here’s an example of one.

Recording Spaces

It’s unreasonable to think that recording from home is going to sound the same as a recording in a professional studio! Though that’s not totally possible, there are a few things we can do to turn a makeshift recording space into a beautiful recording environment. We’ve outlined some of them below:

• The smaller the better. Choose the smallest and most quiet room to record in.
• Room placement. Place yourself in a comfortable part of the room that’s furthest away from other human noises/traffic etc. The desk beside the window is not your friend here!
• Ensure there aren’t interruptions. Turn off appliances like ACs/fans to avoid any white background noise, move away from your fridge’s hum. Change your phone and computer notifications to silent. Keep your dog in the other room!
• Clutter is good. All soft and pillowy objects absorb sound, that means the more of these that are in the room, the less echoey the recording will be. Choose spaces with carpets and soft furnishings. If you have time, hang blankets/surround yourself with pillows to absorb sound.
• If there’s a closet with clothes/blankets in it, you don’t have to get into it, but we recommend it! Sitting in its doorway, facing into the clothes will form a soft barrier, so your voice doesn’t bounce off the wall
• You can ‘upgrade’ this by buying/constructing one of these DIY booths, and then using that in front of you, with the clothes in your closet behind you — like the final point of this article. You could also replicate this ‘cube’ with pillows around you.
• Strapped for time, don’t worry! If you’re in a pinch, record with a blanket over your head. You’ll feel a bit like you’re in a (very warm) last-minute halloween costume, but it’ll improve the sound A LOT. Just make sure that you don’t rub the mic against the fabric.
• If it’s a show with more than one person obviously you can’t be under blankets or facing into closets, so make sure that you have a blanket over any hard surfaces like the table you’re sitting at, and if possible, surround the mics/hosts with cushions.

Recording Technique

A great space and a good mic will only get you so far. Here are things you can do in every recording to ensure your levels are on-point and your voice is coming through at its clearest!

• Distance. This really depends on the kind of mic that you are using, but a general good practice is to speak into the mic about a hand’s distance away from the mic — imagine you were signalling the number ‘5’ turned 90° so your thumb is at your mouth and your little finger is at the mic.

• Levels. This is a good barometer to know how close or far you should move from the microphone. In your recording software, there should be a scale for the loudness of your recording signal. When you speak, you want the levels to be hovering around -17db. The peaks of your recording should fall between -12 and -6 on the display. When you start a recording, speak into the microphone and explain what you had for breakfast (or something from memory). While doing so, adjust the gain levels to be within these parameters and understand if the signal is too quiet/loud.
• It’s not ideal but you can reduce background noise by getting closer to the mic. In doing so, your vocals will come in louder than the hum in the distance and your editor will ideally be able to remove all distant sounds.
• To counteract the volume change by being closer, reduce the gain accordingly. It should still fall under the same parameters.

* further reading check out this video with loads of little tips (and explanations as to why echo occurs) here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xgL51PXBd1A

SECTION 2: RECORDING WITHIN YOUR ENVIRONMENT

For a solo, monologue style recording:

Your computer may have a built in DAW (like Garageband) or it may not. We recommend using this free software, Audacity. It works on Mac or PC and is very easy to navigate. To use it:

1. Open Audacity
2. Ensure your USB, Interface or headset-mic is selected. To do so, click the drop down menu to the right of the microphone image (Saffire is the name of the interface that is connected):

3. To the right of that, ensure that the audio is coming out through the headphones you have (or plug your headphones into your interface and monitor that way). You should never have your speakers selected.

4. Test your microphone. When you click “click to start monitoring” you should see the levels go up and down. Reminder, the peaks of your recording should fall between -12 and -6 on the display. If you’re seeing this level meter go into the red zone, that means you are too loud and are clipping! Move away from the mic or turn down the gain.

5. When you are ready to record, click the red button and start speaking!

6. You should automatically start seeing waveforms in the track area like this:

7. When you are finished recording, click the stop button or spacebar to stop the recording. Navigate to File > Export Audio> and choose your export settings. If you are going to edit the audio (or we are, please export as an .aiff or .wav file to maintain the quality).

8. Click Command + S or File > Save to save the audacity project (in case something goes wrong and you need to re-export.

For an interview style, multi-person recording:

If your guest is tech-savvy, ask them to follow the above instructions. If you both record your end of the conversation locally, it will be easy and high-quality to sync them in the editing stages. If not, there are a few software options below.

Regardless of the software you use, there are a few things you should communicate to your guest(s) before recording.

1. Ask them to use headphones. This is not optional.
2. Ask them to use a microphone. If they have a usb mic or xlr mic, that’s ideal. If not, ask them to use a headset or pair of apple earbuds.
3. Ask them to be in a quiet room / setting. It’s a hard ask, but it is SO worth it.
4. Before the recording, ask them to put their phone on silent.
5. Before the recording, ask them to check their software’s settings (instructions below) to ensure their mic and headphones are connected.

OPTION 1: USING SKYPE

1. To use Skype for an audio recording, both you and any guest will need to download Skype. You will need each other’s usernames or emails associated with their account. If your guest is not tech-savvy and cannot download Skype, you could call their mobile number and record that conversation using Skype (for a minor fee). You (and only you) will also need to download and pay $39.95 for Ecamm Recorder.
2. Once you have downloaded and installed Ecamm Recorder you can very simply record your audio. Steps to follow:
3. Open Skype.
4. Add your guest as a contact.
5. Ensure your mic and headphones are connected. To do so go to Skype> Preferences > Audio & Video > Select your mic from the drop-down menu. Select your headphones from the “speakers” drop-down menu.

7. Next ensure that Ecamm call recorder is set up properly. Click the settings wheel on the ecamm pop-up window

8. Ensure you are recording with “aac compression” and “multi-track video”. This is ESSENTIAL. Click the box to “Keep Recording Controls in Front” and choose where you’d like the files to save.

9. Now you’re set to start your call! Navigate back to your skype screen, call your guest on audio or video and click the record button. You should see levels on your side and your guest’s, as well as the clock for the recording’s run time.

10. The files will automatically save to the folder you selected once your call ends. You can send those to an editor, or work with them yourself. You will have an individual track for each speaker, which will allow you to EQ and noise-gate accordingly!

OPTION 2: USING ZOOM.

1. Zoom is a great, free resource! It allows you to speak with multiple people and a lot of people in the business and academic world seem to prefer it to Skype. Both you and your guest will need to download Zoom before your call. The flaws of using zoom is that using the free-account, you can only record for a maximum of 40 mins. You can see paid plans, starting from $20/mo here.
2. To start, download Zoom here.
3. Open Zoom.
4. Ensure your microphone and headphones are selected by clicking the arrow beside the microphone icon (bottom left)

5. Next, ensure your recording is set up for success. Go to Zoom.us (top right) > Preferences >Recording. Then:

• Choose where to store your recordings
• Ensure “record a separate audio file for each participant” is checked off
• Decide whether you’d like to record video or not
• Check off “Keep temporary recording files”.

6. Now you’re ready to record. Click “Invite” at the bottom of the screen and add the guest’s you’d like to speak with. They will also be prompted to Download Zoom if they do not already have it.

7. Once they join the call, click “record”. When you do so there will be a notice across the top of the call that you are recording, and you will be able to see green-levels on the microphone image.

8. When you are finished the recording, click Stop Recording.

9. When you are finished the call, click “End Meeting” (bottom right). When you do so, you will see a file-conversion for your recording, with a progress bar while it exports.

10. Send to your editor or edit yourself! Enjoy.

OPTION 3: USING RINGR

Ringr is a great in-browser (computer) or app-based (phone) software. You can use it from any device, anywhere. It will record high-quality calls. In order for it to work with more than 2 people (yourself and one guest), you will need to have a premium account ($18.99/mo).

To use Ringr:

1. Sign up for an account: https://account.ringr.com/#dashboard
2. Login
3. Go to My Account > Audio Settings. Where it says “none” click “change”. Set to “Raw Tracks”. Click Save.

4. To start a call, click “Conversations”. Click “Add/Join A Conversation” and set the time or invite your guest by email.

5. Once it is set, click on the conversation and a drop-down menu will pop-up. Click “join call”.

6. Your browser will open a new window. Click the button that says “Open on Ringr Desktop”.

7. A new window will open. It will prompt you to select your correct microphone and headphones. Please do so.

8. Once your guest joins, you will have to click “start recording”. You will be able to see both your own and their audio waveforms.

9. When you are finished with your call, click “Stop”. The recording will stop and you will see your files exporting. DO NOT close the window before your files are done exporting.

10. You can find your files in your inbox, and the desktop page of Ringr.

Further Learnings.

You can find a video tutorial on using ecamm with Skype here.

You can find a video tutorial on using Zoom to record here.

You can find a video tutorial on using Ringr here.

If you have any questions or want to send a test of your audio quality for review, please send me an email at steph@editaud.io.

I hope that you can find some comfort in this how-to document. Podcasting is one of the many ways that we can continue to engage and contribute to our communities while self-isolating!

Love, Steph and our team of womxn producers at Edit Audio.