In this episode, I respond to a question from Cheddar Bunny on Reddit, who's just released two podcast episodes and isn't happy with the sound quality. They're recording everything on an iPhone and editing with Ferrite, but their voice track sounds way too muffled. The music sounds fine, but they're asking about Bluetooth microphones and how to improve things on a zero budget.

I get where they're coming from, trying to be frugal and do everything on a phone. I've been there myself—I've filed for bankruptcy in my twenties and know what it's like to count every penny. That said, recording a podcast using only a phone is tough. The screen is small, editing is hard, and everything takes more time. Honestly, every podcaster I know who's tried going phone-only has ended up quitting because it just puts too many hurdles in the way.

Sure, you can try improving your quality by exporting and cleaning up your audio with tools like Adobe Enhancement, but that's still extra steps and time. I really believe you'll save yourself a lot of frustration by moving to a computer. Even if you don't want to spend much, you can pick up something like the Samson Q2U microphone for under $100, and use free software like Audacity (which you might even be able to use at a library).

If you do stick with your phone, here's a tip: speak directly into the phone as you would on a call (with the mic close to your mouth), instead of using speakerphone from a distance. I've done this myself in a pinch and it worked, but it was nowhere near ideal—took a lot of cleanup and definitely wasn't pristine audio.

So while it's technically possible to podcast on a zero budget and just your phone, the end result often falls short of what you'd get with a small investment in some basic gear and a computer. In the long run, you'll thank yourself for making the process easier.

If you want more help, head over to schoolofpodcasting.com—I offer coaching, tutorials, and an amazing community. I've been helping podcasters for 20 years, and I'm always here to help!

Mentioned

Samson Q2U

Audacity Software

Podtrak P4

This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis:

OP3 - https://op3.dev/privacy