How To Make A Podcast
You know the host’s voice by heart. Radio is the medium where voice rules - in order to win and retain an audience, you must have a great radio voice. It isn’t just tone, inflection, speed, accent, or octave. In fact, apart from speed - which should be slow enough for listeners to understand - those factors may not matter too much.
A speaking style appropriate for your audience. How often do you sit down and crack open the encyclopedia for a little light reading, That’s what I thought. Encyclopedias work hard to present the facts, but avoid individual writers’ voices. Their goal is to become a reference, not entertainment. To make your podcast a hit, be yourself and let your personality show. Somewhere in a world of 7 billion people and counting, there’s an audience waiting to hear YOU. Give them what they want. Your speech style affects your listeners.
People want to feel cozy and comfortable when they listen to a podcast. When you’ve prepared ahead of time, it is tempting to speed through your talk. Talking too fast will make it difficult for your audience to interpret your message. If you decide to read, be sure to eliminate phrases that look good in writing, but sound awkward when said.
Written words are typically more complex than spoken words. Although podcasts aren’t traditional radio, the connection and closeness that radio brought is still sought. Today’s top podcasts are known for their intimate feel….listeners are drawn into a story by a pleasant voice, or excited by a passionate one. Keep your volume and speed the same throughout your recording. If you feel like you are drifting off, take a break and re-record that section.
Don’t talk slow and soft one part, then fast and loud in the next. Maintain the same distance from the mic for the entire podcast. Good mic technique (on great equipment) can make a basement recording sound professional, and add intimacy, too. You can buy an inexpensive podcast starter kit or splurge on professional broadcasting equipment, but until you master mic technique, whatever you buy is worthless. The distance you position yourself from your microphone can make a significant impact on the way your voice sounds and the quality of the recording.
But what is the right distance, Most people think 4”-8” from your face, but it’s a little more complicated…check with the manufacturer’s specifications, and then test, test, and retest until you find the distance that works best for your voice, natural volume, and microphone. Get up close and personal with your mic - but turn down the gain.
The farther you sit from the microphone, the more background noise, reverb, and harsh tones you’re likely to deal with in post-processing. Don’t make out with the mic. Sure, you need to be close, but not Darth Vader breathing close…the last thing your listeners want is to hear you breathing.
If you adjust, tap, or otherwise interact physically with your mic, your recording will suffer. Grab a pencil - not the mic. Talk over, under, or to the side of your mic. NOT at it. Talking directly at it can make your syllables sound like gunshots. Pow, ow, ow…poor listeners.
Record in a quiet (VERY quiet) room. Avoid any potential interferences, like screaming kids, traffic, birds, laundry, or anything else that could interfere with the sound of what matters most - your voice. Skip the painful sound of plosives in your podcasts by using a pop filter or shield when recording. These fun little screens keep Ps and Bs from sending painful air bursts at the mic that cause listeners to flee in panic.
