How can you record high-quality audio for a podcast?

It's easy to fall into the trap of thinking that condenser microphones are better than dynamic microphones. The best microphone to use is the one that suits your budget and best fits your scenario. If you're recording in a noisy environment or one not treated with acoustic panels (those cheap foam panels for your walls aren't "sound proofing") consider using a dynamic microphone for best results! A dynamic microphone is going to be less sensitive to far away audio sources and more sensitive to a close voice. Condenser microphones can be clear and allow you flexibility in mic placement, but they are unforgiving. One thing not mentioned by this article is the importance of a good quality audio interface. These are the real core of your setup.

If your podcast format necessitates capturing audio from more than one subject, invest in more than one microphone. It is not advised to share a microphone as it eliminates many audio fixes in post-production. If one of your subjects speaks more loudly than the other, their two signals are immediately baked into one another’s so changing speaker gain independently becomes impossible. Furthermore, if one speaker coughs, moves script papers, or creates any other intrusive noise, having an independent signal from them allows you to reduce the gain of their signal temporarily in editing so as not to impede upon the signal of the other.

Through a lot of research and insight from friends who are more of an expert in the audio-engineering arena than I am, I have learned what works best for me. In addition to a great mic and pop filter, mic placement is equally as important. I have found the best placement is about 8 inches from your mouth at an off-angle (45 degrees) to the direction of your voice, and place the mic above your head ( a boom arm is best for this position). Then (audio engineer friend shared this) adjust your gain so that your audio averages -18 dB on the meter. It might be helpful to make a mark on your interface so that you know quickly every time where your gain needs to sit at in order to hit this -18 dB average.

I agree. When I used to work in radio (and now dubbing) having separate tracks for each element was a huge benefit. The ability to control every aspect and layer of your final production will save you time in the long run. Having multiple cuts to maneuver through, to create the best “take” is the best form of a safety net. I’ve seen the beginner mistake of trying to have voices recorded direct over the same waveform as musical cues etc, only to backfire and add unnecessary time to the production schedule. It’s always best to plan ahead, what may seem like extra steps early on, will save you time later on.

You can use your iPhone to record a podcast with great audio quality using the free app ‘Dolby On’. Record and edit, plus noise reduction and audio enhancements. Has a streaming function with video as well. Cool little app with many uses for a podcaster.

When I hosted my podcast, I found it equally as important to ensure that my guest had a good audio set up on their end. I created a PDF that I would send to each guest prior to recording that listed out where to best record in their environment, ensure that they don't wear any jewelry that can bump up against their headphones, etc. It's one thing to have your environment as the host controlled, but you never know the environment of the other recording guest. I found it best to be as prepared as possible to ensure a great sounding episode!