What is the worst that can happen when you go to watch a movie in a cinema is experiencing the quality of the video which you could have gotten on any video shot from a phone in 2003. You will be very disappointed, to say the least. We should have the same mindset around podcasts. Podcast production is an art of audio and if we can’t get the best audio quality it is the biggest turn-off for the audience as well as me. Within the first few seconds it is possible to tell that the audio is poorly recorded and if so, I am out.
Your content is the most important element of your podcast, but even if a listener has a keen interest in your topic, you’ll turn them off if they struggle with bad sound. Conversely, if you provide them with excellent audio quality, people will listen for longer and more often. Quality sound will let your audience know that they have an ease of hearing you in mind and will encourage them to tune in to your next show.
What is a good podcast audio quality?
There are a number of factors that determine the quality of the audio your audience is getting.
- Each speaker is talking audibly into its microphone.
- Each microphone is picking up an authentic vocal recording that doesn’t sound muffled or cracked.
- Distortion-free sound (no cracking, interference, or handling noise).
- Low level of ‘noise floor’ – no intrusion of any built-in background noise or hiss on speech.
- Consistent volume level, no matter how many speakers.
- A vowel free from excessive resonance or resonance.
Importance of the podcast Audio Quality:
What do they all have in common? The number of podcasts available in the Apple directory is increasing every day and with their increase, new audio qualities and editors are also being introduced. A good podcast audio quality should blend perfectly in podcast mixing. So if you are just 2 friends in a basement trying to get an audience with poor audio quality then let me break it to you that it will be a disaster as the listeners will notice and complain altogether. They all sound like they are well recorded with a consistent standard in sound quality. The dialogue is clear and without distraction, sound effects can be used tastefully, and the music is appropriate where necessary. Sometimes a misunderstanding arises that the quality of the audio will distract the listeners from the original purpose of the podcast but let me clarify that for you as the good audio quality doesn’t distract the audience but make them enjoy the process of listening to entertainment and learning. The newly available technology has been improved at the same pace as the rise in the number of podcasts.
Factors affecting the podcast audio quality:
Control your recording environment. Before hitting the record button, it’s important to look at your recording environment. You want to filter out as little noise in your recording space as possible.
- Mic position:
Use a boom arm or stand. Maintain a reasonable distance between the mic head and your mouth (about 3-5 inches) – experiment to find your mic’s unique sweet spot. When the speaker uses one of a variety of consonant combinations, using a pop filter reduces the chance of picking up pop or plosive resulting from a burst of air.
- Reduce outdoor noise:
One of the fastest ways to reduce outdoor noise in a public area is to use the Crisp Tool. It is a new technology that offers noise reduction functionality, which dramatically reduces ambient noise in a room. We have been using this technology in the past from a time when training webinars while dialing it from an airport or some café was a thing and gave a different and noticeable experience.
- Different channels:
If your show featured multiple speakers, ask each to record themselves on their own separate channel (sometimes called a “double-ender”). As an alternative, we would recommend you to use multi-tracking software that enables different recording capabilities. This way you will be able to control the speaker’s audios separately and continentally which includes editing the noises and profile.
- Levels of gains:
You need to get the level of sound on your subject before you can start recording. You want to make sure that your level meter doesn’t ‘peak’, i.e go into the red. You’ll want to stick to the green to get the best overall audio quality. However, you can go with orange color for louder sound sources. In an ideal situation, we would recommend you find a sweet spot near the level of the meter’s center.
- Editing:
Your audience will be frustrated by pauses of thought, hedging, or sentence resumes while listening to your podcast. You should focus on editing, even if you find it time-consuming and difficult. Good editing will make the difference between a poorly recorded conversation and a great, memorable interview.
Striving to get high-quality audio should be your standard because it tells your audience that you take your show seriously, and they will too. Good content is a secondary thing. If your listeners or your audience isn’t getting a clear sound, trust me no matter how good your content is your audience will decrease by the day. Another important aspect is podcast music, when your audio quality mixes well with the music, your podcast will become clear and immersive. Most people or audience look for podcasts or listen to podcasts on their way to somewhere, while they are commuting. So, if they can’t hear you they will not listen to you again.
