First of all I’m sooo embarrassed that it’s been sooo long since the last post. Well, moving country and starting a new life in the very depths of the Portuguese countryside hasn’t helped. The Internet here is sooo slow – it’s been driving us mad! For the moment we’re using a dongle (don’t ask) attached to the laptop but that doesn’t work very well where we’re living now (in temporary accommodation until our house gets rebuilt…) and so we have to drive to places that have better reception – most of my work is done sitting in the car!

Anyway, here are some top tips for recording podcasts:
Don’t have the mic too near your mouth. This is what causes the ‘popping’ sounds when you say words with ‘p’ or ‘b’ in. A fluffy cover over the mic helps (a good mic will come with one) so do use that too.
Don’t have the mic too far away either; you’ll sound too distant and less clear. 20 to 30 cm usually works well.
You need to make the room as quiet as possible. Some background noises are fine but what you don’t want is the background hum of a fridge or computer throughout the recording. Turn off as many electrical things as possible, including any strip lights or air-conditioners that are buzzing. Before we bought the Walkman we used to have problems with the laptop fan coming on during a recording – impossible to get rid of at the editing stage!
So you’re recording directly onto a laptop, eh? Then I suggest you do the recording before you think it’ll get too hot. (If anyone reading this does record on a laptop and doesn’t have a problem, or has solved the problem, let us know!)
You also want to try and remove as much echo as possible. This can be difficult in a classroom (speaking nearer – but not too near! – to the mic helps a lot) but aim to be in the most curtained, carpeted room in the building! I have a friend who has hung duvets up on the walls of his spare room…
You want to sound as relaxed as possible so think about what you want to say beforehand, and have some notes ready. But remember this isn’t live! You can stop and start again because the next stage is the editing. I think it’s better that the two people talking are sitting side by side with the mic between on a table. This means that both people are being picked up equally (no-one is behind the mic or further away) and also the mic isn’t being passed from interviewer to interviewee. This can make people feel nervous, the mic on the table can almost be forgotten about.
Professional actors on the radio stand up when they’re being recorded – it allows you to breathe better and have a clearer voice. This is something you may like to try, although we prefer sitting down with a cuppa.
The more recordings you do of course the better you’ll get at it – good luck!