We use Squadcast to record our interviews. We use video so we can see each other for monitoring body language and cues when one person is going to talk and the other person will listen. WE DO NOT RECORD VIDEO.
We clean up the audio files so that the end result is great sound. Some past episodes did have minor issues with echo and background noise. Those have all been resolved.
CHECKLIST:
1) Use a computer and proper web browser
Do not use a mobile device. Computer will offer a better connection. The latest versions of Chrome, Firefox, Opera, Brave, & Edge all support SquadCast, while Safari does not yet.
2) Find a quiet environment
Record in quiet places that minimizes noise. Prioritize your connection to SquadCast by closing other tabs, apps, & devices. If your network disconnects, everything will be fine. Click the gold Reconnect button & continue recording.
IMPORTANT!!: Don't sit in a swivel or noisy chair. Try not to move when speaking, don't type on keyboard, ruffle paper, set down anything on the table when speaking. You microphone can pick up sounds you may not notice, and some of those sounds cannot be easily removed.
3) Check your equipment
Computer internal microphones will work, but external microphones are recommended to record quality audio. I recommend a Blue Yeti, Samson Q2U, or similar. Ear buds or cell phone headset will also work if plugged into computer, but the audio quality will suffer. Headphones are mandatory to eliminate echo.
NOTE: Even though we will not be recording video, you will also need a video camera for non-verbal communication. This helps us read each others body language and get cues of when to speak and listen.
4) Join the session
We will provide you with a Guest link to join the recording session directly or via an email from SquadCast. Allow browser permissions & click the gold Join Session button. You will see your name in the lower left with a settings icon that allows you to choose your equipment.
Microphone and Interviewing Tips
(see video below)
- Use a good microphone such as a Blue Yeti or Samson Q2U, and practice recording yourself with the microphone to develop the correct technique and distance from the microphone to prevent plosives. The sounds that are generally associated with the letters p, t, k, b, d, g in English words such pat, kid, bag are examples of plosives.
- Use headphones so that you can easily hear your host and yourself. Don’t use the speakers on your computer, because this could produce an echo that will be hard to edit out.
- Be aware of tongue slaps, sounds where your tongue hits the top of the pallet, causing a horrible clicking sound. The prevent tongue slaps, drink plenty of water before the interview. These usually happen at the beginning of sentences and each one has to be edited out.
- Be aware of in-breaths, and how far or close you are to your microphone to help limit or eliminate these. Each has to be edited out individually, and in some interviews, there are sometimes 500 or more to remove.
- Try to limit filler words such as um, ah, like, you know, etc. These all have to be edited out. If you don’t know what to say, just pause and gather your thoughts. Dead air can be edited easier than filler words.
- Keep voice volume consistent. Try not to have your voice volume go top and down a lot, because the higher volume could produce distortion and that’s hard to edit out.
- Keep your voice cadence consistent. If you are constantly slowing down and speeding up words and sentences, the listener may begin to tune you out.
- DO NOT TALK OVER YOU HOST! This is a big problem. Let the host ask a question, and then provide the answer. Constantly agreeing with the host with a yeah, yes, exactly, etc while they are talking only creates a bad listener experience. On a podcast interview, it’s best if only one person is talking at a time. Listeners will appreciate the show more.