Ready, Set, Record!

You’ve followed our guides for recruiting guests for your podcast and preparing them for a successful interview, now it’s the big day and you want to make sure your interview goes off without a hitch. Self-recording can appear intimidating, but it doesn’t have to be if you follow our step-by-step podcast recording checklist.

Recording Remotely with Zoom/Riverside/Squadcast/Zencastr

1. Check that your microphone and headphones are plugged in.
2. Make sure your microphone is powered on, if applicable.
3. If you’re recording with Zoom, make sure you have it configured to record a separate audio file for each participant.
   • Don’t want to search through settings screens? Watch our 2 minute how-to video
4. Select your microphone as your input device, and your headphones as your output device.
5. Ask your guest to wear headphones just in case they have a notification during your interview.
6. Ask your guest to use a microphone, if they have one available.
7. If you’re recording with Zoom, remind your guest to avoid using the mute button, as it can cause your audio files to fall out of sync with each other.
8. Press record and begin your interview!
9. If you’re using Riverside/Squadcast/Zencastr, once you finish the interview and stop recording, make sure you keep your guest on the line until their side of the recording has finished uploading.
10. If you’re using Zoom, once you finish the interview, stop recording, and close the meeting, make sure you keep your computer turned on until the audio from your meeting is finished converting.

Recording Locally with an Audio Recorder or Audio Interface

1. Check that your microphone and headphones are plugged in.
2. Make sure your audio recorder or interface is powered on.
3. Check that you have the correct channels armed for recording.
4. Press record.
5. Check your levels: you should be averaging between -6dB and -12dB; adjust your gain (input volume) up or down as appropriate.
   • If your recording unit doesn’t have a precise volume readout, watch for your signal/clipping indicator. Most units without a live volume readout use a green-light/red-light system, where green means you’re getting picked up, and red means you’re clipping and need to turn your volume down. We suggest turning your input volume/gain up just until you start occasionally clipping, then turning it back down by about 10%.
6. Begin your interview!
7. Once you’re finished and you stop recording, be sure to make a backup of your files right away. You don’t want to lose your episode and be forced to ask your guest to re-record.

Now that you’ve had a successful podcast interview, make sure you set expectations for your guest about what comes next, and show your guest how much you appreciate them by promoting their appearance on your podcast.

Need Some Extra Help?

We’re here for you! Book a consultation or reach out to us by email to discuss a potential audit of your podcasting practices and how you could take your podcast to the next level.