One of the vital vital traits of a profitable podcast is consistency. Maintaining with a publishing schedule is significant for constructing followers who ultimately make it a routine to hearken to your present.
Sadly — and I do know this from expertise — touring can throw off your podcast recording schedule bigtime.
So what’s one of the simplest ways to unravel this downside?
Hit the report button when you’re touring! And never simply since you need to sustain with that schedule, however as a result of a number of the greatest conversations you’ll ever have are when you’re on the street and in particular person with folks.
These are golden alternatives typically wasted, however not anymore, as a result of I’m going to let you know every little thing you want to make it work, and make it simple.
[Full Disclosure: This article contains affiliate links. As an affiliate, I receive compensation if you purchase through these links, at no extra cost to you. You can read my complete disclosure statement here.]
Tools
Earlier than you head out, it’s vital to assemble and pack the suitable gear on your on-the-go recording periods. Most often, you’re not going to convey your regular, at-home podcast setup with you on the street.
With that stated, in case your regular setup features a comparatively small, all-in-one manufacturing console such because the Rodecaster Professional II, then that could be price packing together with a few microphones and an SD card to satisfy your wants.
Most often, nonetheless, a conveyable however highly effective recording setup is what you’ll be on the lookout for. Listed below are some choices:
Rode SmartLav+ with Cellular Interface
The smallest and least expensive possibility combines a wired lavalier microphone and an interface to a tool you doubtless have already got entry to: your cell phone.
Whether or not you’re an iPhone or Android consumer, a Rode SmartLav+ microphone setup can join on to your gadget. As a result of it’s small, you’ll be able to even connect it to a t-shirt or shirt and it’s fully out of the best way.
I take advantage of this setup whereas on the go for each solo episodes and interviews. In case you’re going to be doing an interview, you’ll want to get a twin cell interface so you’ll be able to plug in two microphones to report concurrently.
This setup is restricted in post-edit functionality because it all data onto one observe, nevertheless it’s the best and most versatile.
For a fast demo, watch this video that I recorded with my son a couple of years in the past:
Zoom H6N
The Zoom H6N is the last word moveable recorder that permits you to seize the perfect sound high quality when you’re out. There are built-in microphones (and ones which you could swap out for various recording kinds), and 4 microphone inputs for various XLR or TRS cables, which is superior for group interviews.
This implies you’ll be able to have as much as 4 totally different folks, on 4 totally different microphones, recording into 4 totally different tracks on the similar time. As a substitute of utilizing your telephone to report, this gadget makes use of an SD card to report your information, and it’s simple to import again into a pc if you get house or again to your resort room.
That is the gadget I sometimes use once I’m on the go. I convey two microphones — such because the Samson Q2U — that join through XLR, hit report, and the present is on. You should definitely additionally convey a few XLR cables as these are usually not often included with USB-specific microphones which have XLR compatibility.
I don’t do any including of intro songs or voiceovers whereas recording on this gadget — that every one is available in post-edit. The convenience of use and handheld portability is superior. Additionally, I like the flexibility to see the tracks and the sound ranges from every microphone so I do know one isn’t too loud or too delicate.
Fast tip: don’t overlook your SD card! Belief me.
Headphones
Headphones are often neglected in terms of recording on the go, however as a result of you’ll doubtless not be in a sound sales space or studio, and doubtlessly in a crowded or trafficked space, it’s vital to have headphones to have the ability to monitor the sound.
Is it too loud? Too delicate? Is there an excessive amount of background noise? The one option to actually know is by listening to the audio because it’s coming in.
My absolute favourite are the Beyerdynamic DT 770 Professional studio headphones. I take advantage of these in my house studio, and in addition whereas I’m out and about.
They’re delicate, comfy, and sound superb. They aren’t noise canceling, however they do the job in terms of monitoring your sound in an atmosphere that you just won’t be conversant in or have lots of management over.
It’s as much as you if you wish to preserve the headphones on whereas recording, however on the very least, take a look at your audio with headphones on earlier than you hit report. It could be a disgrace to have poor audio high quality in your podcast when it may have been prevented with one fast take a look at.
Video Digital camera
I gained’t go too in-depth right here, however video podcasts have gotten so in style, it’s fairly customary to activate the digicam when conducting an interview on the go. The audio is already taken care of, which is sweet, however a pleasant shot with one digicam (or extra) can can help you repurpose that chance — typically in an attention-grabbing and visually interesting atmosphere — onto a platform like YouTube, or maybe in an internet course.
The most important concern for video is unquestionably lighting, and we don’t actually need to convey heavy responsibility lights with us, can we?
In case you’re going to be indoors, the perfect state of affairs can be to arrange the interview area near a window with oblique gentle and have the digicam pointing away from it. This may put a pleasant wash of sunshine on you and your interviewee.
In case you’re outside, someplace that has fixed shade is sweet. Nevertheless, the atmosphere and climate could make it tough to maintain every little thing constant. However filming outside is fairly superior, so it could be well worth the sacrifice.
Lastly, so far as which digicam to make use of, use one that you just’re conversant in already, if potential. A telephone may work, or a point-and-shoot digicam like a Sony ZV-1 with a tripod to screw it into (perhaps even a SwitchPod).
Planning
When potential, attempt to plan an interview or recording session forward of time. I can’t let you know what number of occasions I’ve been to occasions the place a buddy and I say we’re going to report “sooner or later,” solely to have it by no means occur as a result of the time received away from us.
Right here’s a fast order of operations:
- In a really perfect state of affairs, join earlier than the journey or occasion occurs. Sure, you’ll be able to at all times meet new folks and plan a podcast session advert hoc, however for the sake of your time and calendar, planning forward is at all times greatest.
- Coordinate a time and place to satisfy. Scope out the areas accessible so that you can report which can be as quiet and as echo-free as potential. Make sure you’ve gotten permission to report in these areas if they’re in occasion areas. I as soon as discovered an empty breakout room at an occasion, which was nice, till a crowd of individuals got here in mid-interview to arrange for the following presentation in that area.
- Get your interviewee’s contact info. This manner, if plans change or somebody is having bother discovering the opposite particular person, contact could be made and an answer could be discovered.
A few of my colleagues have gone as far as to hire an area for interviews. This could possibly be a convention room, resort room, or devoted studio area on the facility that’s used all day only for this goal.
Michael Hyatt, considered one of my mentors, as soon as interviewed a dozen folks, one after one other, in a single resort room. It took all day, however afterward, he had 12 interviews filmed and recorded for later use. It was an ideal use of his time.
Fast tip: convey spare batteries or a battery financial institution! The very last thing you need to have occur is run out of energy for the interview(s) you’ve gotten scheduled.
Fast tip #2: Generally environmental noise is definitely nice for a podcast; it provides a distinct taste and really feel to the listening expertise. If you’ll be able to seize the sound of the area you’re in earlier than your scheduled periods, make a take a look at recording first with the intention to decide whether or not or not it’s going to work.
Recording the Dialog
Whether or not it’s a single recorded dialog or a dozen interviews in a single day like Michael Hyatt, it’s vital to recollect who you’re recording for. Your podcast listeners will quickly hit play and interact (or disengage) with the dialog you’re having at that second. So, be within the second!
The explanation I say it’s because it may be very simple to develop into distracted when recording in a distinct atmosphere, particularly if it’s unfamiliar to you. So right here’s the trick:
Be curious, and benefit from the dialog.
I at all times begin my interview at house, earlier than I hit report, by saying this to myself: “It’ll be like the 2 of us are at a espresso store, simply having a dialog.” You’ve gotten the chance to do exactly that!
(Though I’ve realized that espresso outlets are not truly the perfect for interviews. The espresso maker is a typical nuisance that tends to dominate the dialog.)
The very best factor about assembly and speaking with folks in particular person is that there’s a stage of vitality that you just simply can’t get in an interview over the web. If you’re within the second, the viewers will really feel like they’re there with you. Now, with a microphone in hand (or connected to a shirt) you’ll be able to have a incredible dialog, in real-time, and seize all of that nice vitality for them.
After the Interview
There are some gadgets to care for after the dialog is over. Sometimes, I do my greatest to add information to Dropbox as quickly as I can, that method they’re protected and might’t be stolen or misplaced.
Second, I additionally take notes from the interview itself (or dictate them) so I can bear in mind the highlights. That is vital as a result of sometimes I’m recording the intros and outros to those episodes at house; if I wait too lengthy, I’ll overlook all the nice stuff we chatted about.
Past the tech and the audio information, there’s yet another vital side of podcasting whereas touring that I need to go away you with.
It’s simple to complete an interview, say your goodbyes, and transfer on. However right here’s the factor: you simply sat and had an in-depth dialog with somebody in particular person! Actual relationships could be constructed from that, particularly for individuals who you’ve by no means actually met earlier than.
So don’t finish the dialog when the report button will get pressed. Preserve the dialog going when you’ll be able to, maybe throughout a espresso the following morning, dinner afterward, or follow-up on-line later. Use this chance to nurture the connection you made — it would develop into one thing superb!