Speaker 1: Hello. Today, we'll be discussing the aesthetics and technical aspects of podcast recording – how to capture great sound. This video also assumes that you already have your concept in mind and have thought about what your story is about, whom you intend to interview, and how you want to structure that story. With that, let's talk about sound design. Sound design sets the mood, tone, and atmosphere of your piece. Since you can't rely on images in a podcast, sound design cues the audience to create mental images. It helps you tell a story – beginning, middle, and end – while also punctuating select points. What are the elements of a soundscape? Let's start with narration and dialogue. First and foremost, your narration or dialogue with interviewees or others comprise the bulk of your podcast message. The speaker's voice, whether it's your own or the voice of someone whom you are interviewing, must be clearly audible. That means you must be intentional about how you position your microphone. Let's take a listen to some different microphone placements. This is what it sounds like when my microphone is too close to my mouth. This is what it sounds like when I'm too far away from my mic. Additionally, this is what it sounds like when I'm inconsistent with my distance from the mic. You might want to be closer to the mic in some cases versus wanting to pick up ambient sound in others. If you're in a recording studio or on a call with your interviewee, you'll likely want to be closer to the mic. If you're out in public or on the scene, you might position your mic to pick up ambient sounds to set the scene or capture faraway voices. That said, for ease of listening, you'll want to eliminate interfering sounds and ensure that your sound quality is consistent between takes. That might mean asking a family member or roommate to turn off the TV in the next room for at least until you're done recording. You'll also want to make sure that the sound in the room is consistent for each take, which means that if you have your fan or your heater off during the first take, you don't want to turn it on during the second. Try not to switch positions in the room or switch microphones between takes as well. Listeners can pick up on those subtle or not-so-subtle changes. Next, you may choose to include sound effects. Sound effects like applause, an alarm, or the ringing of a cash register provide emphasis or punctuation. Sound effects can also establish a setting or a location. Maybe it's stormy outside, or you're on a busy street with motorcycles sitting by. Or perhaps you're in an office with phones ringing or at home with a crying infant or a meowing cat. You could be on vacation at the beach or at a ballgame where the batter just hit a home run. For example, if I were doing a piece on the benefits of walking outside, I might want to include the sound of rustling leaves and wind as I'm walking along a trail. Sound effects can also help you convey the mood and tone of the piece, making your listener feel happy, angry, sad, or surprised. You may also include music, but remember to use music sparingly. It should be used to enhance and support the main idea, not to control it. Your ideas should be able to stand on their own without music. So, here's a good way to test. Listen to your audio without the music first. Does it make your point? Is it engaging? Do you understand what mood or tone you're trying to convey? If you can't answer those questions affirmatively, go back and rework your narration before adding music. Keep in mind that if you add your music under the narration, it shouldn't obscure your narration or make it hard to hear or understand what you're saying. Hey, can you turn that down? Next, remember that silence has its own sound. Silence can be used to redirect attention, impact, or offer a moment of reflection. And last, when combining the elements of sound, be sure to control the levels. Follow a sound hierarchy to make sure that your main message, typically your vocal track, is the clearest. And once you start editing, make sure that your cuts are clean and intentional, which means making sure that they don't sound like this. So, how will you record? You don't need a fancy microphone to make a big impact. Most people have all of the tools they need right in their computer or phone. If you choose to use the built-in microphone in your laptop to record, just make a note that the audio quality may not be great. Plugging in a pair of headphones that have a built-in microphone will put the recording input closer to your mouth and eliminate more ambient noise. If you are recording on your laptop, you can record your narration or interview directly into Audacity or GarageBand, two free programs that we'll discuss more in another video. You can also use the Voice Memos app on an iOS device, or download a voice recording app on Google Play if you prefer to use your phone or a tablet. Here are a few more tips as you get ready to record. Record in smaller rooms to avoid reverb. Recording in a larger room might make you sound like this. Unplug electrical equipment that buzzes or hums, and make sure to turn off or silence any notifications on your laptop or phone. Surround yourself with carpets, blankets, or pillows to absorb any extra sound. I've personally found that recording in a closet surrounded by clothing is a great way to absorb sound. Just don't hit the hangers. Beware of squeaky chairs, jewelry, etc., and try not to touch or bump the microphone. Record 30 seconds or more of room tone so that you can keep your silences consistent. Take slowly and clearly. Decide when to breathe, pause, and inflect. Prepare to record multiple takes. Recording narration perfectly on the first try isn't easy. And drink water between takes. Okay, now you have all of the tools you need to start recording your podcast. With these tips in mind, start planning out how you want your podcast to sound in order to best tell your story. Now it's your turn. Locate your favorite book, or any book that's nearby, and pick one page to read. Then, take your microphone, computer, or whatever device you're using to record and find a quiet space. Begin recording. Record for about 5 seconds in silence and then start to read any page in that book. Read for about 30 seconds and then stop recording. Make sure to save your recording before moving on. Next, find a noisy space and once again set up your microphone and start recording. Record for 5 seconds without speaking just to pick up some sound and then read the exact same page of the book that you read in the first recording. Again, record for about 30 seconds. When you're done, turn off your recording device and make sure to save. You can now listen back to your two recordings to hear the differences in sound quality. Thanks so much for listening and happy recording.

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