The great thing about the internet is that you can get your message across by using visuals or audio, or a mix of both. Nowadays, almost all businesses and individuals with an internet presence have their own podcast. While podcasting seems as simple as recording sound onto a computer, there are some things you can do to improve the quality of your podcast.

Improve the sound quality

No matter how great your podcast content is, it won’t be fully appreciated unless the sound quality is crisp. Get a good microphone meant for do-it-yourself audio recording. When shopping around for a microphone, consider looking at cardioid microphones. These are made for vocal recordings, and are cheaper than professional condenser microphones. Don’t forget to add a pop filter to reduce windy and “popping” noises. If your podcast has more than one host, it’s a good idea to get a small mixer that can adjust each mic according to the volume of each host’s voice. This is because different people speak in different volumes, and you want their voices to be projected equally in your podcast.

Learn and practice proper microphone techniques

Speaking one inch away from your microphone may be good enough for karaoke night, but this technique won’t make your podcast audible. The microphone should be slightly above your mouth, and around 45 degrees to either the left or the right. Make sure that you record your podcast in a quiet room with almost no background noise. Some microphones tend to pick up and amplify background noise that seems “important”. Experiment with different set-ups before you choose one that gives you the best audio quality.

Be mindful of how you speak. Keep your voice slow, and make sure that every word you say is understandable. If you’re the type who mumbles, look up enunciation exercises on the internet to improve your speech. In terms of your podcast’s content, it’s good to have an outline on hand, but don’t stick to a formal script – especially if you have guest interviews. Formal scripts sound artificial to the listener, and you miss out on a lot of spontaneous energy.

Get feedback from your listeners

Whether you use survey forms or a poll, make an effort to find out what your listeners want. You can ask for ideas and suggestions for future shows, as well as which podcasts they liked the most or the least. Asking your audience for feedback is very important, especially when you’re working on your first 10 podcasts. But if you make sure that your audio quality is at its best and that you practice proper microphone techniques, your audience is guaranteed to notice the effort you put into your podcasts.

Tags: Podcast, Improve, Audio, Microphone