by Ray aka @podcasthelper on May 10, 2012
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Looking around my studio, I counted almost ten different ways to record a podcast. Over the next few episode of Podcast Quick Tips, I’m going to be using each of these methods to demonstrate how you can produce a quality sounding podcast many different ways.
Recording with the H4n on-board mics about 7-10 inches from my mouth
First up is the Zoom H4n. This digital audio recorder is an amazing little piece of technology and really the only thing you need to record a podcast. You’ll hear how I use the on-board condenser microphones of the H4n to record this episode.
Coupled together with some post production, you can create some fantastic sounding audio. A little compression, a limiter, some EQ and a touch of noise removal can really improve the audio that comes off the Zoom. However, this device is powerful enough to produce a show without using any post production. It can even compress your raw audio file into the mp3 format for you.
I also talk about BlogWorld NYC 2012. I’ll be speaking on two different panels and co-teaching a two part class titled “Podcasting 101″ along with Daniel from The Audacity to Podcast, Dave from The School of Podcasting’s Morning Announcements and Dan from Podcast Like a Radio DJ.
If you’re considering attending this year’s BlogWorld, which will have an incredible podcasting track, make sure to use my promo code: PodRay10 on checkout to save 10% off the price of your ticket. And, if you purchase by May 15, 2012 you’ll save an additional $100 off the price of a ticket.
If you’re going, make sure you let me know so we can meet in person!
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by Ray aka @podcasthelper on March 20, 2012
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If you weren’t already aware, Skype is likely controlling your audio levels. As podcasters, we want to make sure we are in control of all our settings all of the time. This is how you can make sure Skype isn’t changing your audio quality.
Skype just released (03/06/12) a new version of it’s software for the Mac (version 5.6.0.143). In this release they placed a check-box (already found in the Windows version) for controlling Skype’s auto gain control (AGC). What AGC does is listen to the proximity of your voice to the microphone and adjust the volume as necessary so that the person on the other end can always hear you at a decent level. However, as podcasters, we don’t want anyone besides us deciding what our gain level should be and we certainly don’t want it to change during recording.
Now you can simply go into your preferences audio/video settings and uncheck the “Automatically Adjust Microphone Settings” box. Then go into your computer’s settings and set the level you want your mic to be.
When enabled, AGC will constantly adjust the level of your audio based on your relationship to the mic and whether or not you are speaking into it. During times of silence or if you move too far away from the mic, this can cause the “noise floor” to be raised higher thus producing an audible hiss. Disabling AGC will help to prevent unwanted noise.
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Links mentioned in this episode
How to disable Skype’s AGC and EC with HTML code
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by Ray Ortega on September 30, 2011
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Sean Allen sent in a guest Quick Tip detailing how he increases the credibility of his podcast by using voice overs.
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by Ray Ortega on September 6, 2011
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When you insert a link to a hosted audio file into Facebook’s link section above the status box, Facebook will automatically create an audio player.
Below this audio player is a couple areas of information about any particular audio file you link to. They don’t make it obvious that you can actually edit the information that is contained in these fields (title, artist, album) but it’s an easy process once you know how.
Once your file is linked, you see that the fields display “unknown artist” and “unknown album.”
Simply place your mouse over each section and the field to be edited will be highlighted. Click and place whatever text you like into this section. It’s that simple. This also applies for the title of the file seen in bold lettering.
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