HOW TO PRODUCE A PODCAST LIKE A PRO
HOW TO PRODUCE A PODCAST LIKE A PRO
So, you want to start a podcast? Fantastic! But hold on now. We’re not just talking about making a podcast; we're talking about producing it like a pro. What’s the difference, you ask? Well, it’s the difference between merely throwing something together and crafting a high-quality, engaging piece of audio content that captivates your audience from start to finish. As a seasoned producer in television and audio, I’ve honed a workflow process that has helped me develop and produce podcasts for both independent and mass-media clients. In this blog post, I’m breaking our process down to four sections to help you learn how to produce a podcast like a seasoned professional.
SECTION 1 - Development
Before you even think about hitting that record button, you need to spend some time in the development phase. This is where you define your podcast's concept, format, target audience, and overall goals. More on that below. First though, here are some initial questions I ask my clients when we begin producing a new project:
What do you want to achieve with your podcast? What topics will you cover, and how will you differentiate yourself from the sea of other podcasts out there? Once we answer these questions, we can move on to developing the shell and arc of the show. There are four main concepts we focus on.
1. Podcast Concept
The podcast concept is the overarching idea or theme that defines what your podcast is about. It encapsulates the core subject matter, tone, and purpose of your show. It's the foundation upon which all your episodes are built.
An example podcast concept could be "Exploring unsolved mysteries from around the world." Each episode delves into a different mysterious event or phenomenon, examining evidence, theories, and possible explanations.
2. Podcast Format
The podcast format refers to the structure and style in which your content is presented. It includes elements such as episode length, segment organization, host format (solo, co-hosted, interview-based), and overall production style.
An example of podcast format could be "Conversational interview." Each episode features a host engaging in informal, in-depth interviews with different guests, discussing their expertise, experiences, and insights on a particular topic.
3. Podcast Target Audience
The podcast target audience is the specific group of people you aim to reach and engage with your content. It involves identifying the demographics, interests, preferences, and needs of your potential listeners. As an example, the target audience for a podcast about personal finance might be young adults (ages 25-35) who are starting their careers and looking for advice on budgeting, investing, and managing debt.
4. Podcast Overall Goals
The podcast overall goals are the desired outcomes or objectives you hope to achieve through your podcast. These goals can vary widely depending on factors such as audience engagement, brand awareness, community building, or revenue generation. For example, the podcast “Science Wise” which we recently launched has three main goals: To help people feel like they belong in science, to serve as a tool for mentorship, and to transfer wisdom from older to younger generations of scientists.
SECTION 2 - The Right Equipment
You don’t need a fancy recording studio to produce a great podcast, but you do need the right equipment. Good audio (and nowadays video) quality is essential for retaining listeners, so don’t skimp on this step. Below are some great equipment options to help you start producing your pro-level podcast.
Pro-level microphone - For a pro-level option in the realm of podcasting microphones, the Shure SM7B stands out as an industry-standard choice. Renowned for its exceptional sound quality, versatility, and durability, the SM7B is favored by professional podcasters, broadcasters, and musicians alike.
Pro-level external (local) recorder - The Zoom H6 Recorder is a versatile and portable audio recorder commonly used by podcasters for its high-quality recording capabilities and flexibility. You can connect up to four external XLR microphones and monitor and adjust the audio levels of each person’s track individually. You can also select your desired recording format, sample rate, and bit depth. The device supports WAV and MP3.
Pro-level headphones - For a professional-grade set of headphones tailored to the demands of podcasting and audio production, the Sony MDR1AM2 Wired headphones are a great pro-level choice. These headphones are widely acclaimed for their exceptional sound quality, comfort, and durability, making them a favorite among audio professionals, including podcasters, musicians, and sound engineers.
Pro-level Camera - While podcasts are primarily audio-focused, some podcasters choose to record video alongside their audio recordings for additional content distribution channels, such as YouTube or social media platforms. For podcasters looking for a pro-level camera to record video podcasts, the Sony Alpha a7 III is an excellent choice. Even if you don’t plan to air full video episodes of your show on youTube, you can still cut shorts or reels for social media from the raw footage you record.
SECTION 3 - The Right Tools
In addition to equipment, you’ll also need the right tools to edit and produce your podcast. There are plenty of software options out there from user-friendly programs to more advanced editing suites with a wider range of features. Find the tool that works best for your needs and take the time to familiarize yourself with its capabilities.
Adobe Audition to edit audio - Adobe Audition is a professional audio editing software widely used by podcasters for its comprehensive features and intuitive interface. It offers robust audio editing capabilities, including multitrack recording, waveform editing, noise reduction, and audio restoration tools.
Premiere Pro to edit video - In premiere we can seamlessly import raw video footage and cut shorts or full-length video episodes, add graphics, titles, music and effects. It’s also easier to switch aspect ratio sizes in premiere so we can take a landscape 16x9 clip and turn it into a portrait 9x16 clip for social media.
Descript & SquadCast to integrate AI into your editing process - If you’re a one-stop-shop kind of person, Descript together with SquadCastfm have mastered the art of recording, editing and exporting your podcast all in one place, and providing transcripts for your show. If you want to keep the production low-effort, this could be the best option for your workflow.
A pro-level hosting provider - To distribute a podcast we use something called an RSS (Really Simple Syndication) feed, this is a standardized format used to publish and distribute your show (among other things) to the many listening platforms out there. Some of the pro-level companies that help you generate and distribute your podcast’s RSS feed are Captivate.fm, Simplecast, Libsyn, and Podbean to name a few. Make sure the hosting provider you choose has unlimited storage and bandwidth. It should also allow you to customize your podcast RSS feed’s metadata, and other elements to maintain a consistent brand identity across platforms. Something else to look for in a provider is advanced analytics so you can eventually use their monetization opportunities to run ad campaigns on your podcast. Responsive customer support is also essential, because at the very least, they should be able to respond to your email within 24 hours.
SECTION 4 - Building your team
Producing a podcast is no small feat, and you may find that you need some help along the way. Whether it’s hiring an audio engineer, podcast manager, story editor or producer, assembling the right team can make all the difference in the quality of your podcast. But what should you look for in potential team members? These are some of the most important skills they should have:
Your podcast production team should have the following hard skills:
Technical proficiency: Look for individuals with a strong understanding of audio production techniques, including recording, editing, and mixing.
Attention to detail: Producing a podcast requires meticulous attention to detail, from ensuring consistent audio levels to eliminating background noise and distractions.
Creativity: Your team should be able to think outside the box and come up with innovative ideas to make your podcast stand out from the crowd.
Your podcast production team should have the following soft skills:
Communication: Effective communication is key to any successful collaboration. Make sure your team members are able to communicate clearly and effectively with each other and with you.
Adaptability: Producing a podcast can be a fluid and sometimes unpredictable process. Look for team members who are adaptable and able to roll with the punches when things don’t go according to plan.
Passion: Last but not least, your team should be passionate about the project and committed to creating the best possible podcast. Passion is contagious, and it will shine through in the final product.
No matter who you hire to help you produce your podcast, you should highly consider joining a supportive community like BIPOC Podcast Creators where you can ask questions and build connections with experienced folks who do this work on a daily basis.
By following these tips and putting in the time and effort to produce your podcast like a pro, you’ll be well on your way to creating a successful and impactful piece of audio content that resonates with listeners and keeps them coming back for more. Or if you want to save time and money, you might be ready to level-up and hire a production team to do all of this for you!