Podcasts continue to be very popular and more and more people are getting involved. Even if you're not a podcast creator, at some point you may find yourself being interviewed or contributing to someone else's podcast. In this case, it's not enough just to be ready to talk about your topic – you also want to make sure your voice is clear and crisp.
SummaryIs it better to use my phone's mic or use my Bluetooth headset?Should I record the podcast?If I'm using a phone to record, what's the best way to set it up?Should I buy a microphone ? What type of mic would you recommend?Audio-Technica ATR2100x-USB
We asked for I/O means Andrew Marino, Senior Sound Engineer, if he had any audio tips for people who are about to participate in a podcast. Here are his answers to our questions.
If it's a live show, the quality of the call is important because there can't be any editing afterwards, so you want to get good sound. (We'll cover a recorded podcast in a minute.)
In most cases, your phone's mic will be better. Obviously, this depends on your phone model versus your Bluetooth headset, but I haven't come across a scenario where I'd prefer the sound of someone's Bluetooth headset. We do a lot of headphone and wireless headphone audio testing in our Edge reviews, and I don't see any that compare to the average smartphone's microphones.
Another thing to watch out for is the battery of the wireless headphones. You don't want your headphones to die in the middle of a recording. For this reason, I always prefer headphones that you can plug into your device - the sound you get from the mic is usually better, and you don't have to worry about the battery dying or the Bluetooth connection going bad. suddenly crashes.
Don't use your phone on speakerphone if you can help it. If you use your phone to communicate, hold the phone to your ear or use a headset.
The best thing to do if you're not sure which microphone sounds best is to test your headphones against your phone beforehand by recording your voice on both and listening to the results.
If it's not a live broadcast, it's a good idea to record the end of the conversation for the podcast, then send the recording to your host or the podcast engineer. The audio quality of the podcast will be significantly better if edited with your local recording instead of using the Zoom or phone call recording they may have on the other end. So let the person hosting the podcast know that you're ready to do so.
For example, I usually ask guests interviewed on Zoom to also check in separately on their phone or with another device. If you don't have a good mic, it's better to record using your phone's app rather than not recording at all. Many phones have a default voice recording app (Apple Voice Memos, Recorder on Android Pixels), but if you need to download one, I recommend Rode's Reporter app.
Many producers want you to hold the phone close to your ear the same way you would on a phone call. Phones are designed to pick up voice this way, so it's nearly foolproof.
But if you just use your phone to record your end of the conversation (rather than using it as your primary means of communication during the podcast), I recommend placing the phone about 6-12 inches from your face. That might mean placing the phone on top of a stack of books on your desk, on a desk, or whatever else you have available.
Also, if you're using your phone to record, it would be ideal to have your phone in airplane mode so that no notification sounds interfere with the recording. And be aware that phone calls that come in during a recording usually pause the recording app on your phone.
If this is the only podcast recording you're going to do and you don't want to spend money, use your phone's microphone. That being said, I always prefer a guest to have an external microphone. Most USB microphones sound better than what you can get with your smartphone mic, and many of them can plug directly into your phone if you need to.
It really depends on your budget.
What I have been recommending to customers lately is Audio-Technica's ATR2100x-USB Cardioid USB/XLR Dynamic Microphone. It's affordable (it costs around $99) and very flexible; you can upgrade it with more hardware or use it for other audio projects. I know a lot of people recommend the Blue Yeti, but I prefer the sound of dynamic microphones for podcast recordings over condenser microphones like the Yeti. They are less sensitive to unwanted noise and have a sound that is not so different from that of professional equipment.
Audio-Technica ATR2100x-USB
$99
A versatile content creation microphone designed for live performance, podcasting and voice-over use.
