Viral Podcasting Kerry Lutz

The new Macs utilizing the Apple (Silicon) M1 Arm Chip are truly outstanding for Podcasters. I purchased the Mac Mini, fully loaded with a 2tb harddrive and 16gb of RAM. The increase in speed over the 2018 Mac Mini is dramatic and substantial. For unoptimized programs such as Adobe Audition, waiting times for effects, file saving and copying blew me a way. I’m not much of a video editor, but using iMovie to edit my videos, has resulted in dramatic decreases in rendering times. I estimate that this computer will save me between 50 - 100 hours per year. Even at $100 per hour, the computer more than pays for its $1800 cost. I can’t even imagine what the M1X is going to be like. Unlike many other purchases, I haven’t experienced a moment of buyers remorse.

I was having loads of problems dealing with Skype! during the pandemic. Seems like the call quality had just deteriorated past the point of no return. Video quality was way off, so after participating in a high quality Zoom call, my decision was made. I made the switch. Now I don't like platforms where you can't initiate the call to your guest, which you certainly can't do on Zoom. However, it's great calendar integration made up for some of that control. The quality of their video interface is excellent and their screen flow, where you can set the call to record the video of the person speaking, among other options. So I took the plunge and am happy I did. Skype! does have a few advantages though, their technology for preventing cross-talk is superior as is their ability to block out feed back during a call. But all things considered, Zoom is the better platform.

It's one thing to find your voice, it's another matter to hear it. Recently, I learned how to self-aircheck myself. I had delegated my editing chores to my my producer Melissa. When I started a new daily show, I needed to get my shows posted within 15 minutes of completion. This led to me back to the editor's chair and it has helped my overall show greatly. I got to see my mistakes and correct them first hand. And I found my things I could be doing better. It's a great feedback loop that has helped me grow. And it will help you too. I promise.

June 7, 2020 marked 9 years since I became a full-time professional podcaster. It took me 4 years to start earning a 6 figure income. Here's a few things that you can do to get it done faster. First, hire a coach to help you air-check and up your game. Produce the highest production values you are capable of. Your audience deserves it! Keep improving and find your voice. Once you've found it, start listening to it. You'll be amazed at how fast you'll progress. And of course, whether you're already podcasting or just starting out, make a business plan to compute your break-even point and put a value on your time and services. Then set goals and watch your show take off.

Interview based shows know only too well that the quality of your show is often limited by the quality of the audio connection. If you're using Skype to Skype domestically, sound quality issues are usually minimal. The problem occurs when you're going Skype to Cellphone, Skype to VOIP or Skype to Landline. Fortunately, the folks at Rode thought of almost everything when they released their Rodecaster Pro. And much of what they didn't think of, they've fixed in their firmware updates.

Your cellphone can be paired with the Rodecaster to enable wireless communication through the mixing board with your guest. But there is a quality issue. While it's certainly better than Skype, it still leaves much to be desired. That's why I tried a hardwire connection using a TRRS cable with a 3.5mm male jack that plugs into the Rodecaster. If you're using an iPhone with a Lightning jack, you will need an adapter, which is available on Amazon.

The sound quality improvement was amazing. The connections extremely clear and if you're going Verizon to Verizon, you'll get near HD quality. I'll never use bluetooth again unless I have to.

Next show, we'll discuss Ecamm Live software with green screen/blue screen capabilities.

My book is available on Amazon. Email us with your questions at kl@kerrylutz.com.

Happy Podcasting!

Every now and then a piece of equipment is created that has the ability to change an industry. While the Roadcaster Pro may not quite be in that category, it can help even the most green podcaster sound like a pro. It has a suite of features, including professional effects, bluetooth pairing of your phone, computer and mixer and sound pads to easily mix in those great sound effects. You might not need them all or even most of them, but you’ll come to view the Roadcaster Pro as invaluable to your podcast efforts as I do. And the ducking effect means you’ll never have another guest talk over you again. It’s truly worth every bit of the $599 it cost. I’m sure you’ll agree.