The end of the month will be the Web Hosting Show’s third year of production. Hard for me to believe that hundreds of people have been tuning into me week after week, but I appreciate any and all of them more than they would ever know. To do my best to pay something back to the community I thought I would share some of the podcasting tips I have picked up on over the past three years so maybe you can get your own audio podcast project off the ground.
Try moving the mic around!
That is the number one audio recording tip I would give anybody. You would be amazed how differently you can sound depending on where the mic is. Most will tell you to put it under your chin so you don’t “pop your p’s” but for me, I like to keep it at a distracting eye level (that is with a headset mic).
Move in a little closer…
You don’t want to sound like you are in an empty room, echoing around – unless you are pretending to be the booming voice of god in your audio podcast. Make sure your close enough to the mic to where you don’t sound too loud but your not sounding too far into the background either. This will take some time to find the exact spot that is right for you.
Try to speak from the heart!
Having a guide or show notes is good for a base, but don’t be afraid to go off on your own. Often times I’ll pre-write my show notes and as I record get off when I had wrote down. Why? Well after hearing it out loud I think to myself, “Well it would be better if I go off in this direction instead”. Then I’ll update my notes later to reflect that.
Stick yourself in the Cone of Silence?
Try your best to eliminate any and all background noises. That means if you have a loud heater in the winter months, turn it off to record. If your air conditioner’s buzz is being caught by your mic, turn it off in the summer months. Suffer for your art so your listeners aren’t left wondering – what was that noise I just heard?
The last ‘bit of advice I would have for you is have fun! Don’t think of your show, audio recording or any other side project like this as a job. Treat it like a hobby. Audio podcasting might not be for everybody, but there is no way to find out if you like it unless you try. As long as you try to have fun with it, your listeners will pick up on that positive energy and will tune in again to hear more.
Where Are You in the Green Hosting Debate?
Check out podcast 151 for yourself and join the debate. Is green hosting good or just another sales gimmick to get you in the door?