PodCraft | How to Podcast & Craft a Fantastic Show ThePodcastHost

Adding a video or live broadcasting element can work well for some podcasters. In this episode, we dig into the tools you'll need if you want to run a successful video series. 

Resources Mentioned


Ultimate Video Podcasting Guide
Best Video Editing Software
How to turn live broadcasts into podcasts that don’t suck
Why Video can't and won't replace audio in podcasting
Alitu – The Podcast Maker
Rode Rodecaster II
Zoom PodTrak P4
Rode Wireless Pro

In this episode we're looking at Audio production software, commonly know as 'Digital Audio Workstations' in the audio production industry. We'll look at the most common options out there to give you an idea of which one might suit you.

Of course, podcast recording and editing software is more than just DAWs these days. There are a lot of great call recorders and podcast making apps too. On this episode of Podcraft, we'll talk you through a range of options, as well as discuss our own personal favourites. 

Resources Mentioned




Alitu: The Podcast Maker App

Audacity

Hindenburg Journalist

Adobe Audition

Reaper

The Complete Podcast Software Guide

Best Podcast Editing Software

Best Podcast Making Apps

The Minimum Effective Editing Approach

Best Tools for Recording a Podcast Online

Best Text-Based Editing Options

Editing Your Podcast With a Stream Deck

Editing Your Podcast With a Video Game Controller

The term “home podcast studio” can mean different things to different people. For some, it means soundproofed walls, a large, sleek, padded table, and multiple mics running onto a mixer. For others, it means a USB mic sitting in a cat bed. The bottom line is that creating a pro-sounding home podcast studio is possible, no matter how small your budget or house space.

Key Resources


How to Create a Silent Podcast Studio
Why Record Your Podcast Outdoors
What is Reverb? (& How to Fix it!)

Cables, stands, jacks, plugs, pop filters – the less glamorous but still utterly essential part of the podcasting equipment pantheon.

It’s common for podcasters to spend three-figure sums on both their mic and their recording device, then link the two together with a cable they’ll spend $5 on.

On this episode, we look to better understand all these different ‘Bits & Bobs’ by running through what they are, what they look like, and what they do.

Types of Audio Cable & Connection

XLR Cables

XLR cables and inputs. XLR cables are commonly known as microphone cables.

They have a male end and a female end and are used to connect microphones to equipment or to create a link between two pieces of equipment (like a mixer to a recorder).

Quarter Inch (1/4”)

The 1/4″ (6.35mm) plug looks like a bigger version of the 3.5mm plug.

They’re commonly used to connect microphones and other gear to recording equipment such as mixers or preamps.

Most mixers and recorders will allow you to connect either an XLR cable or a 1/4″ jack to the same port. These are known as ‘Combo Ports’.

The Standard Headphone Jack

The 3.5mm plug/connection is most commonly found on headphones and earbuds. They’re also found on some smaller microphones too, like ‘lavalier' clip-on mics, and headsets.

TS, TRS, & TRRS Plugs

Audio plugs (like the 3.5mm plug) have markings on them to determine exactly how they work.

These markings come in the form of little black bands that run around the shaft of each plug.

These bands separate each different function of the plug in question.

A plug with one band is known as a tip sleeve or TS jack. That's because the single band separates the tip from the sleeve.

A plug with two bands is known as a tip ring sleeve, or TRS jack, because the bands have separated a ring in the middle, between the tip and the sleeve.

A plug with two bands is known as a tip ring ring sleeve, or TRRS jack, because that has two rings separated in the middle.

So what's the purpose of all these tips and rings, and how do they work differently?

TS plugs are traditionally known as mono plugs, because the tip is feeding all the audio to the source in one dose.

TRS plugs are traditionally known as stereo plugs because the tip is now being used to feed the left channel of your audio to the source, whilst the ring is feeding the right channel.

In recent years, a third option was added to this setup – the TRRS plug.

The extra ring was brought in to accommodate a microphone or video option. The most common use of TRRS plugs is talking through a headset on your PC, or making a hands free call on your phone.

RCA

RCA connectors are also known as phone cables or AV jacks.

Mixers have RCA ports on them, and these enable you to connect and play media through them.

RCA cables are usually Y shaped, with the white and red stereo audio plugs at one end, and a single plug on the other end, such as a 3.5mm or 1/4″ connection.

We also cover microphone stands and pop filters.

Resources Mentioned


The Best Boom Arm for Podcasting
Studio Cable Management for Podcasters
Finding the Best Audio Cables: The (Not So) Fascinating Truth
Best Podcast Microphones on the market
Alitu - Our Podcast Maker App

Podcast listening isn't exclusive to podcast listeners. Podcasters need to listen to their own audio, too - both whilst it's being recorded and whilst it's being edited. We call this type of creator listening "monitoring", and that's what we'll discuss in this episode of PodCraft. Key Considerations


Listen through headphones (even a cheap pair of earbuds) while recording audio to catch any real-time issues.
Use headphones or speakers with a flat frequency response. Don't use gear that'll add extra bass that doesn't exist in your source material, for example.
Use a headphone splitter to give guests their own headphones whilst recording. 
When choosing headphones, consider things like comfort, isolation, sound leakage, as well as cable length and type. 
Headphones are great for mixing voice, but switch to speakers to mix in your music if you have that option in your setup. 

Gear Mentioned


Audio-Technica ATH-M20X Studio Headphones 
Sony MDR-7506 Studio Headphones
Beyerdynamic DT770 PRO Studio Headphones
KRK Rokit 5 G3 Studio Monitors
M-Audio AV40 Studio Monitors
Mackie MR5 mk3 Studio Monitors
HosaTech YMM-261 Stereo Splitter

You most likely already carry an expensive recording device around with you everywhere you go. We're talking, of course, about your smartphone. In this episode of PodCraft, we take a look at the different gear and options available for turning your phone or tablet into a fully functioning podcast studio. Gear & Resources


Are built-in mics any good?
Rode AI Micro
Rode SmartLav + and SC6 Splitter
Shure MV88
Rode Wireless Go
Zoom iQ6
Recording apps for iOS
Recording apps for Android
Recording podcasts with Facebook Messenger
Launch Essentials Course