It Starts with "Record": Podcast Recording Checklist for the Life Meets Money Podcast
September 3, 2020
By Matt Miner
I flailed with my recording process and technology in my interview with Brian Larsen of RestoraPet.com. It was the perfect storm of host-driven screwups. I’ve recorded more than twenty interviews so far and this was the first one with multiple disasters.
Mash the Button
First, I didn’t hit record at the start of the conversation. For like seven minutes. I was mortified. We had to go back and re-record. Javier Leiva of the Pretend Radio podcast notes that when you hit record you “summon the lawnmower and leafblower demons.” These guys also show up, blowing directly outside the conference room, during client meetings.
Electric Clothes Dryer End of Cycle Signal Too Loud
Second, while I’ve learned that the ongoing dull roar produced by my three children – conversation, piano practice, and even watching TV – does not usually affect my recording, it turns out that the end-of-cycle signal from the electric clothes dryer (sorry MMM! In the south they just get funky) is very, very audible for me, for my interview guest, and in the audio. Face palm. At least this part got edited successfully in post-production.
Scratch the Mic Head
Third, though I coach my guests on their audio input device in my guest onboarding sheet, I failed to test my own audio input device at the start of the Brian Larsen Interview episode. The result was I recorded the entire show via my webcam, even though my Audio-Tecnica ATR100-USB was directly in front of my face. So while Brian sounds like he knows what he’s doing when it comes to creating high quality podcast audio, I sound like I’m inside a tin can recording with this bad boy.
Brian was gracious throughout, but I’m making these notes today, and plan to add to this list in coming weeks and months.
Life Meets Money Getting Ready to Record Checklist:
Hit record before you ask the first question or begin show opening. This captures the audio. If you don’t hit record, you don’t get the audio!
Turn clothes dryer signal off
Test audio input of each presenter by gently scratching the mic head and asking my interview partner whether he/she can hear a sound. Then switch! If we both hear the sound, we’ve got the input source we think we have (Steve Stewart pro tip: Don’t tap, as other mics in the area can pick up a loud tap, but not a soft scratch).
Once connected with my guest, put iPhone on Airplane Mode.
Post sign on door: Recording in progress! Check back in an hour! Don’t reset the router!
Luckily, one of the themes of my interview with Brian is recovering from setbacks. I’ll take this one in stride, do what I can to prepare for the future (this checklist), and roll on.
Thank you, constant listener.
Love,
Matt