It seems like everybody is recording podcasts these days, from Doctor Who fans right through to Ricky Gervais. With so many to choose from, it's no longer enough to just merely make a podcast. Now you have to make sure it's actually worth listening to.
Find a niche
So before you think about recording anything, you need to come up with a concept – one that hasn’t already been done to death, unless you’re supremely confident you can offer an improved take.
It’s best to identify a relatively untapped niche and try to corner it. That’s easier said than done – there are already podcasts on everything from organic farming to videogames based on Star Wars.
You should also strive for complete objectivity and decide whether or not your voice alone is something people could bear to listen to for half an hour. Featuring extra voices (co-presenters or occasional guests) means more natural chat and more scope for improvisation and entertainment.
Expert Opinion
Ex-Radio 1 DJ Gill Mills runs iCast.uk.com, hosting the best new music podcasts and vidcasts from bands such as Bloc Party
Keep your recordings in context. If you’re recording on location, think about your fi nal edit. If it’s a vox pop or interview piece at an event, don’t record it in a sealed, quiet room – it’ll sound weird next to the live sound of the main arena. If you’re providing narrative links on location, make sure you record them in a place away from direct repetitive loud noises (such as a generator or fairground ride) but not so far away that you don’t sound like you’re there! And always make sure you’re out of the wind – even a faint rustle of leaves can sound like a full cacophony on playback.
If you’re making a recording in a room or self-made studio, keep your distance from the mic. It’s much better to be too far away – and then use the gain facility on your recording device or program – than it is to be too close and risk distortion.
Scripting
While having a complete outline for your show in advance means you’re guaranteed something to say throughout and there’s minimal risk of fluffi ng up, unless you’re a professional newsreader it can end up as a breathless, cheerless drone. Your best bet, especially if there are several of you, is to simply have a list of prompts – discussion topics you can pick up and chat about organically.
Form opinions about them in advance, but save the actual discussion for the day of recording. Also, try to keep subjects to just a few minutes each, so that listeners who aren’t enjoying a certain segment don’t tune out.
How you use the technology effects the quality of your podcast, too. Through doing practice recordings, work out the optimum distance to sit from the mic so that you’re loud enough but there’s no distortion.
Recording
You’ll also need a good sound recording program. Windows Vista does have Sound Recorder built in, but it’s intended more for voice memos than lengthy stuff. A pretty awesome free piece of software is Audacity), which handles recording, editing and conversion to file formats such as MP3. You can find in-depth tutorials on using it on their website, or alternatively check out our quick guide on how to make a podcast.
Be discreet with your editing – major coughing fits and awkward silences are good for the chop, but make sure you don’t cut out anything that’s referenced elsewhere in your podcast.
Once you’ve finished, let podcast directories such as podcast.net, iTunes and UK Podcasts know about your show and, hopefully, you’ll attract an audience.
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