Podcasts

A podcast is an audio file name available for downloading to a computer/ smartphone. Podcasts are  typically available as a series and new episodes are received weekly by subscribers automatically.

Sound in podcasts: 

• You can make your own via different softwares such as garage band.  Making your own sound effects can be "free", but can also be time-consuming and take away from actually working on the content.

• Keep it simple, so it's not overcrowded for listeners. 

• Regular jingles need to be simple, especially if the editing is with fast turnover - weekly . 

Top tips:

- Copyright free jingles

- Good natural sound VS bad natural sound 

setting up an interview:

- Don't talk too closely into the mic

- Don't put speakers too close to the mic (echo) 

- Find a good location - it needs to be silent!

- Get "too much" content, so you can edit it down!

what listeners hate/ what to be aware of:

- Watch your Skype audio quality - if people phone into the podcast

- Get your sound levels right 

- Edit our any distracting sounds 

- polish the edits at the end so that all the content flows 

- make sure its interesting content 

How not to lose listeners with poor sound quality - The Podcast Motor

Sound quality matters - bad audio will make listeners more likely too unsubscribe. For example interview sound quality, skype calls that cut in and out and volume levels were the two biggest complaints. 

Skype calls are the standard for remote podcast recording although there are new web-based options like Zencastr that are gaining traction. Skype calls cut in and out due to poor wifi connections, using an ethernet cord and hardwiring your computer and router can prevent this and keep the sound consistent throughout the call. 

volume levels - uneven volume levels seem to make people unsubscribe.

Recording in stereo - when a host records a guest in stereo and doesn't split the stereo track into two separate mono tracks or mixdown to mono when they create the mp3 file. 

Background music and transitions: having an introduction to a show, background music needs to be included in a way that adds and not detracts from the show quality. 

Conventions of sound podcast:

- Mention the word "download", " subscribe" and the platforms your podcast is available on. 

- Solo commentary 

- Sponsors 

- 1-1 interview 

- Jingles - fade ins/outs