Learn how to File a Podcast Whereas Touring – Good Passive Earnings

One of the crucial essential traits of a profitable podcast is consistency. Maintaining with a publishing schedule is significant for constructing followers who ultimately make it a routine to take heed to your present. 

Sadly — and I do know this from expertise — touring can throw off your podcast recording schedule bigtime. 

So what’s the easiest way to resolve this drawback?

Hit the document button when you’re touring! And never simply since you need to sustain with that schedule, however as a result of a number of the greatest conversations you’ll ever have are when you’re on the highway and in particular person with individuals. 

These are golden alternatives typically wasted, however not anymore, as a result of I’m going to inform you all the things you want to make it work, and make it straightforward. 

[Full Disclosure: This article contains affiliate links. As an affiliate, I receive compensation if you purchase through these links, at no extra cost to you. You can read my complete disclosure statement here.]

Tools

Earlier than you head out, it’s essential to assemble and pack the precise gear to your on-the-go recording periods. Most often, you’re not going to convey your regular, at-home podcast setup with you on the highway.

With that mentioned, in case your regular setup features a comparatively small, all-in-one manufacturing console such because the Rodecaster Professional II, then that could be price packing together with a few microphones and an SD card to satisfy your wants.

Most often, nevertheless, a conveyable however highly effective recording setup is what you’ll be searching for. Listed here are some choices:

Rode SmartLav+ with Cellular Interface

The smallest and least expensive choice combines a wired lavalier microphone and an interface to a tool you doubtless have already got entry to: your cell phone.

Whether or not you’re an iPhone or Android person, a Rode SmartLav+ microphone setup can join on to your system. As a result of it’s small, you’ll be able to even connect it to a t-shirt or shirt and it’s fully out of the best way. 

I exploit this setup whereas on the go for each solo episodes and interviews. When you’re going to be doing an interview, make sure to get a twin cellular interface so you’ll be able to plug in two microphones to document concurrently. 

This setup is restricted in post-edit functionality because it all information onto one observe, but it surely’s the simplest and most versatile. 

For a fast demo, watch this video that I recorded with my son a couple of years in the past:

Zoom H6N

The Zoom H6N is the final word transportable recorder that means that you can seize the very best sound high quality when you’re out. There are built-in microphones (and ones you can swap out for various recording types), and 4 microphone inputs for various XLR or TRS cables, which is superior for group interviews.

This implies you’ll be able to have as much as 4 completely different individuals, on 4 completely different microphones, recording into 4 completely different tracks on the similar time. As a substitute of utilizing your cellphone to document, this system makes use of an SD card to document your recordsdata, and it’s straightforward to import again into a pc whenever you get dwelling or again to your lodge room. 

That is the system I sometimes use after I’m on the go. I convey two microphones — such because the Samson Q2U — that join through XLR, hit document, and the present is on. Make sure to additionally convey a few XLR cables as these are usually not normally included with USB-specific microphones which have XLR compatibility.

I don’t do any including of intro songs or voiceovers whereas recording on this system — that each one is available in post-edit. The convenience of use and handheld portability is superior. Additionally, I like the flexibility to see the tracks and the sound ranges from every microphone so I do know one isn’t too loud or too gentle. 

Fast tip: don’t overlook your SD card! Belief me. 

Headphones

Headphones are normally ignored on the subject of recording on the go, however as a result of you’ll doubtless not be in a sound sales space or studio, and doubtlessly in a crowded or trafficked space, it’s essential to have headphones to have the ability to monitor the sound. 

Is it too loud? Too gentle? Is there an excessive amount of background noise? The one strategy to actually know is by listening to the audio because it’s coming in. 

My absolute favourite are the Beyerdynamic DT 770 Professional studio headphones. I exploit these in my dwelling studio, and likewise whereas I’m out and about.

They’re gentle, snug, and sound wonderful. They aren’t noise canceling, however they do the job on the subject of monitoring your sound in an atmosphere that you just won’t be accustomed to or have a number of management over. 

It’s as much as you if you wish to preserve the headphones on whereas recording, however on the very least, take a look at your audio with headphones on earlier than you hit document. It might be a disgrace to have poor audio high quality in your podcast when it might have been averted with one fast take a look at.

Video Digital camera

I received’t go too in-depth right here, however video podcasts have gotten so standard, it’s fairly commonplace to activate the digital camera when conducting an interview on the go. The audio is already taken care of, which is sweet, however a pleasant shot with one digital camera (or extra) can assist you to repurpose that chance — typically in an fascinating and visually interesting atmosphere — onto a platform like YouTube, or maybe in a web based course.

The largest concern for video is certainly lighting, and we don’t actually need to convey heavy responsibility lights with us, will we?

When you’re going to be indoors, the very best situation could be to arrange the interview area near a window with oblique mild and have the digital camera pointing away from it. This may put a pleasant wash of sunshine on you and your interviewee. 

When you’re outdoor, someplace that has fixed shade is sweet. Nevertheless, the atmosphere and climate could make it troublesome to maintain all the things constant. However filming outdoor is fairly superior, so it could be definitely worth the sacrifice. 

Lastly, so far as which digital camera to make use of, use one that you just’re accustomed to already, if attainable. A cellphone might work, or a point-and-shoot digital camera like a Sony ZV-1 with a tripod to screw it into (possibly even a SwitchPod). 

Planning

When attainable, attempt to plan an interview or recording session forward of time. I can’t inform you what number of instances I’ve been to occasions the place a good friend and I say we’re going to document “in some unspecified time in the future,” solely to have it by no means occur as a result of the time bought away from us.

Right here’s a fast order of operations:

1. In a perfect situation, join earlier than the journey or occasion occurs. Sure, you’ll be able to at all times meet new individuals and plan a podcast session advert hoc, however for the sake of your time and calendar, planning forward is at all times greatest.
2. Coordinate a time and place to satisfy. Scope out the areas out there so that you can document which can be as quiet and as echo-free as attainable. Make certain you could have permission to document in these areas if they’re in occasion areas. I as soon as discovered an empty breakout room at an occasion, which was nice, till a crowd of individuals got here in mid-interview to organize for the subsequent presentation in that area.
3. Get your interviewee’s contact info. This manner, if plans change or somebody is having bother discovering the opposite particular person, contact might be made and an answer might be discovered.

A few of my colleagues have gone as far as to lease an area for interviews. This might be a convention room, lodge room, or devoted studio area on the facility that’s used all day only for this goal. 

Michael Hyatt, considered one of my mentors, as soon as interviewed a dozen individuals, one after one other, in a single lodge room. It took all day, however afterward, he had 12 interviews filmed and recorded for later use. It was an excellent use of his time. 

Fast tip: convey spare batteries or a battery financial institution! The very last thing you need to have occur is run out of energy for the interview(s) you could have scheduled.

Fast tip #2: Generally environmental noise is definitely nice for a podcast; it provides a unique taste and really feel to the listening expertise. If you’ll be able to seize the sound of the area you’re in earlier than your scheduled periods, make a take a look at recording first to be able to decide whether or not or not it’s going to work. 

Recording the Dialog

Whether or not it’s a single recorded dialog or a dozen interviews in a single day like Michael Hyatt, it’s essential to recollect who you’re recording for. Your podcast listeners will quickly hit play and have interaction (or disengage) with the dialog you’re having at that second. So, be within the second! 

The explanation I say it’s because it may be very straightforward to develop into distracted when recording in a unique atmosphere, particularly if it’s unfamiliar to you. So right here’s the trick:

Be curious, and benefit from the dialog. 

I at all times begin my interview at dwelling, earlier than I hit document, by saying this to myself: “It’ll be like the 2 of us are at a espresso store, simply having a dialog.” You’ve gotten the chance to do exactly that!

(Though I’ve realized that espresso outlets are not really the very best for interviews. The espresso maker is a standard nuisance that tends to dominate the dialog.)

One of the best factor about assembly and speaking with individuals in particular person is that there’s a stage of vitality that you just simply can not get in an interview over the web. While you’re within the second, the viewers will really feel like they’re there with you. Now, with a microphone in hand (or connected to a shirt) you’ll be able to have a implausible dialog, in real-time, and seize all of that nice vitality for them.

After the Interview

There are some gadgets to maintain after the dialog is over. Sometimes, I do my greatest to add recordsdata to Dropbox as quickly as I can, that method they’re secure and may’t be stolen or misplaced.

Second, I additionally take notes from the interview itself (or dictate them) so I can bear in mind the highlights. That is essential as a result of sometimes I’m recording the intros and outros to those episodes at dwelling; if I wait too lengthy, I’ll overlook all the good stuff we chatted about.

Past the tech and the audio recordsdata, there’s yet another essential facet of podcasting whereas touring that I need to depart you with.

It’s straightforward to complete an interview, say your goodbyes, and transfer on. However right here’s the factor: you simply sat and had an in-depth dialog with somebody in particular person! Actual relationships might be constructed from that, particularly for individuals who you’ve by no means actually met earlier than. 

So don’t finish the dialog when the document button will get pressed. Preserve the dialog going when you’ll be able to, maybe throughout a espresso the subsequent morning, dinner afterward, or follow-up on-line later. Use this chance to nurture the connection you made — it’d develop into one thing wonderful!