I take a look at Spotify's recent announcement of their rebrand to 'Spotify for Creators' for podcasters and its impact on audio podcasting. I review the new monetization requirements on Spotify, comparing them with YouTube's more lenient YouTube Creator Program and monetisation options for audio-only shows.

I discuss the potential shift towards video podcasting, the challenges smaller creators may face, and the different revenue models of Spotify and YouTube. Featuring insights from an interview with Spotify CEO Daniel Elk that Colin and Samir did on their podcast, we'll examine the pros and cons of Spotify's approach and what it means for the future of podcasting.

Resources Mentioned:

Colin and Samir interview Daniel Ek

Spotify for Creators

Captivate

Spotify Revenue Share

Imgur

BAMBY MEDIA LINKS:

Podcast Content Calendar

Book A Consultation

Free Podcast Audit Service

YouTube Channel

GEAR WE USE HERE AT BAMBY MEDIA:

SE Dyncaster DCM8

Rode Boom Arm

XLR Cables

Sony ZV E10

Elgato Camlink

Aputure Amaran 200d LED Video Light

Aputure Light Box Min

Pre-Amp/Mixers we recommend

Focusrite Clarett+

Rode Streamer X

Rodecaster Pro II

Rodecaster Pro Duo

As the festive season approaches, the question of whether to take a break from releasing podcast episodes over Christmas and New Year often looms large, especially for podcasters. 

It's a time when many are eager to unwind, enjoy family time, and perhaps forget about their usual routines. But is a break the best move for your podcast? I’ve trawled through the data we collect from our own client roster and the podcasting industry more broadly to give you my take.

Podcasting is an evolving and growing medium, drawing people away from algorithm-driven platforms to more meaningful interactions with the content they love. By staying consistent, especially over the Christmas period, you'll be ready to leap into the New Year, taking advantage of the increased listener engagement. 

I hope this gives you the clarity and confidence to keep those episodes rolling, even through the holiday season. I know it’s a lot of work, and I also appreciate that you simply might need a break.

It’s okay if you don’t take my advice and instead fall in a heap for a couple of weeks. I get it.

At the end of the day, it’s your show so you can do whatever you want. That’s the beauty of the medium. I’m just here to give you a bit of a push if you’re open to it.

Resources Mentioned:

PodPoll - Deadset Studios

Podcast Landscape 2024 - Sounds Profitable

The Podcast Election - Scott Galloway

BAMBY MEDIA LINKS:

Podcast Content Calendar

Book A Consultation

Free Podcast Audit Service

YouTube Channel

GEAR WE USE HERE AT BAMBY MEDIA:

SE Dyncaster DCM8

Rode Boom Arm

XLR Cables

Sony ZV E10

Elgato Camlink

Aputure Amaran 200d LED Video Light

Aputure Light Box Min

Pre-Amp/Mixers we recommend

Focusrite Clarett+

Rode Streamer X

Rodecaster Pro II

Rodecaster Pro Duo

As the wireless microphone offerings expand, so does my need to review them. Traditionally, the wireless microphone space was a bit lacklustre. They had clunky receivers that you had to try to hide under your clothes, the connections would drop out and the ability to connect seamlessly to a smartphone was rare.

Today, that is no longer the case. 

We’ve got Rode, DJI, Hollyland and Sennheiser as well as many others all putting their hats into the ring and today I’m putting the DJI Mic 2 to the test.

As a podcast producer with over 60 clients globally, I'm always on the hunt for audio and video equipment that can simplify our client workflow while delivering top-notch quality. If you're in the same boat, or perhaps just curious about whether this kit holds its ground against competitors like the Rode Wireless Pro, keep reading.

I've spent the last month and a half putting the DJI Mic 2 through its paces across a variety of environments—from the roaring waves of the beach, to the tranquil hinterland of Byron Bay, and within the confines of my home studio. My aim? To see how this system performs under different conditions and with varying sound profiles.

BAMBY MEDIA LINKS:

Book A Consultation

Free Podcast Audit Service

YouTube Channel

Apply to Join PodCoach

GEAR WE USE HERE AT BAMBY MEDIA:

DJI Mic 2

sE Neom

SE Dyncaster DCM8

Rode Boom Arm

XLR Cables

Sony ZV E10

Elgato Camlink

Aputure Amaran 200d LED Video Light

Aputure Light Box Min

Pre-Amp/Mixers we recommend

Focusrite Clarett+

Rode Streamer X

Rodecaster Pro II

Rodecaster Pro Duo

In the words of Mariah Carey, “All I Want For Christmas Is…Microphones”.

I’m sure when she originally sang “you”, Mariah was actually thinking about a particular microphone that she had her eye on. Perhaps swooning over a rather special condenser microphone that highlights the sparkly frequencies in her voice.

It’s plausible and I won’t let you tell me otherwise. I am not being ridiculous.

Today we’re jumping into an extensive list of podcasting equipment to help you stop analysing all the potential options that are available on the market, and just purchase something already.

I hope it helps!

BAMBY MEDIA LINKS:

Book A Consultation

YouTube Channel

Apply to Join PodCoach

GEAR I MENTIONED:

Rode NT USB Mini

SE Neom

USB/XLR Hybrid Microphones:

Rode PodMic USB XLR

Shure MV7+

XLR Microphones:

SE DCM8

Shure SM7dB:

Going Wireless

Rode Wireless Pro

Cables & Accessories

Mogami

Rode

Elgato

Pre-Amps

Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 4th Gen

Rodecaster Duo

Rodecaster Pro II

Stands & Arms

Rode PSA1

Elgato Wave

Headphones: An Essential

Audio Technica ATH M20X

Beyerdynamic DT 990

Cameras & Visual Equipment

Sony ZV E10 Mk II

Elgato Cam Link

micro to HDMI

Webcams:

Elgato Facecam Pro

Insta360 Link 2

Lighting Options

Aputure Amaran 200X combined with a Light Dome Mini

Elgato Key Light Air

SmallRig stands

Oh my, do I have a lovely microphone to show you today! 

The sE Neom microphone presents an intriguing option for podcasters seeking USB-only solutions. 

With its distinct design, on-brand red meshing, gunmetal colouring and unique features, the sE Neom aims to carve out a niche in a crowded USB microphone market. 

I have been testing this microphone now for about 6 months in a variety of locations and use cases. As a podcaster myself and a producer of over 50 podcasts, I’m always looking for microphones to recommend to my community.

So I decided to put this one to the test. 

Thanks to Chris from Sound-Music for sending me this microphone! They’re a great bunch of humans based out of Melbourne who distribute the best gear to audio/production stores around Australia.

—

00:00 Introduction to SE Neom Microphone

00:31 Microphone Features and Controls

01:59 Sound Quality and Pop Filter Issues

04:08 Microphone Performance in Different Settings

06:13 Proximity Effect and Singing Test

09:14 Final Thoughts and Recommendations

11:23 Conclusion and Upcoming Comparisons

BAMBY MEDIA LINKS:

Book A Consultation

Free Podcast Audit Service

YouTube Channel

Apply to Join PodCoach

GEAR WE USE HERE AT BAMBY MEDIA:

sE Neom

SE Dyncaster DCM8

Rode Boom Arm

XLR Cables

Sony ZV E10

Elgato Camlink

Aputure Amaran 200d LED Video Light

Aputure Light Box Min

Pre-Amp/Mixers we recommend

Focusrite Clarett+

Rode Streamer X

Rodecaster Pro II

Rodecaster Pro Duo

I used to be quasi-famous. 

It was a long time ago and not a place I particularly want to revisit, but as I reflected on how I built Bamby Media into the successful business it is today, there has been one key ingredient.

An unfair advantage.

This podcast episode is my origin story. I hope you enjoy it.

BAMBY MEDIA LINKS:

Book A Consultation

Free Podcast Audit Service

YouTube Channel

Apply to Join PodCoach

GEAR WE USE HERE AT BAMBY MEDIA:

SE Dyncaster DCM8

Rode Boom Arm

XLR Cables

Sony ZV E10

Elgato Camlink

Aputure Amaran 200d LED Video Light

Aputure Light Box Min

Pre-Amp/Mixers we recommend

Focusrite Clarett+

Rode Streamer X

Rodecaster Pro II

Rodecaster Pro Duo

Have you ever wondered what it's like to listen to 200 AI-generated podcasts? 

“No. That’s ridiculous. Why would anyone do that?” I hear you say. 

I’m flaky on the “why” myself, but the thing is, I did it and those are hours of my life I will never get back.

I listened to 200 fake podcasts generated with NotebookLM to see for myself whether the podcasting industry is about to come crumbling down.

Although I went slightly insane throughout this experience, I feel it was well worth it. I definitely never want to hear the phrase “deep dive” again, but other than that I’ve ventured out of this mess mostly unscathed.

00:00 Introduction: Overwhelmed by AI Podcasts

00:32 The Rise of AI-Generated Podcasts

02:32 Deep Dive into AI Podcast Content

03:23 The Banter and Repetition Problem

04:49 Lack of Authenticity in AI Hosts

07:55 Potential and Future of AI Podcasts

10:13 Conclusion: Final Thoughts on AI Podcasts

BAMBY MEDIA LINKS:

Book A Consultation

Free Podcast Audit Service

YouTube Channel

Apply to Join PodCoach

GEAR WE USE HERE AT BAMBY MEDIA:

SE Dyncaster DCM8

Rode Boom Arm

XLR Cables

Sony ZV E10

Elgato Camlink

Aputure Amaran 200d LED Video Light

Aputure Light Box Min

Pre-Amp/Mixers we recommend

Focusrite Clarett+

Rode Streamer X

Rodecaster Pro II

Rodecaster Pro Duo

You’re about to start a podcast and you’ve decided you want to edit it yourself.

At first, this seems like it should be fairly straightforward.

Get the audio/video, make a few adjustments, cut a bit of the nonsense out and you should have something that’s good enough to release.

But then you start researching online what software you should use to edit your show and everybody and their dog has an opinion on what software to choose.

And for some reason, the editors of the world are quite adamant that their tool is the best one to use. There can be no other winners. 

Unfortunately, a lot of the information you find online may lead you down the path of complex editing tools that make you want to throw your computer out a window. 

And as a long-time editor myself with almost two decades of experience working with audio and video, I can sometimes be a bit of a snob too. 

I do have clear favourites and if I’m amongst other seasoned editors, no doubt we would have a healthy debate about why what we use is supreme. 

But that’s not the purpose of today dear reader.

Today, I want to help distil the endless possibilities that you’re presented with as a DIY podcast editor, into a comparison of two tools that there has been quite a lot of discussion about online. Descript vs. Riverside.fm.

You’ve probably heard of Riverside.fm with its super convenient virtual meeting capabilities. It’s been a trusty sidekick for recording interviews remotely. It wasn't long ago that Riverside started offering editing capabilities too. Smart, right? If you're already using Riverside, you might think, "Hey, why not just edit here too?" 

But is it as good as it sounds?

On the flip side, there's Descript – an editing tool that, truth be told, had a rough start years ago as it was a pretty bad user experience. But time has been kind to Descript, and now it’s a pretty solid choice in the podcasting world. 

So, let’s see how these two stack up against each other based on a few key factors: ease of editing, customisation, speed, AI tools, and learning curve.

There seems to be quite a lot of buzz about Google’s new AI tool, NotebookLM and how it can potentially impact the world of podcasting. 

As a podcast producer and founder of podcast production agency, Bamby Media, I’m always testing new tools to see how they can benefit (or hinder) the industry I love so much. 

Armed with a healthy dose of hope and scepticism, I decided to give Google NotebookLM a whirl to see whether the podcasting world should be worried. 

BAMBY MEDIA LINKS:

Book A Consultation

Free Podcast Audit Service

YouTube Channel

Apply to Join PodCoach

GEAR WE USE HERE AT BAMBY MEDIA:

SE Dyncaster DCM8

Rode Boom Arm

XLR Cables

Sony ZV E10

Elgato Camlink

Aputure Amaran 200d LED Video Light

Aputure Light Box Min

Pre-Amp/Mixers we recommend

Focusrite Clarett+

Rode Streamer X

Rodecaster Pro II

Rodecaster Pro Duo

Why does recording audio have to be so difficult?

If you’re trying to record audio of a very high standard, you’re often met with a barrage of choices you have to make.

What microphone do I need?

Is my location too noisy?

What am I going to plug my microphone into?

How do I record multiple people at once?

What software am I going to use to record it?

In the consultations I have with content creators, this line of questioning is one of the first topics we cover and I often see their eyes glaze over when I start listing all the options. 

I can confirm, there are too many options.

But my advice is to focus on one thing at a time, and today I’m focusing on the software that you use to record.

For the audio-only folks out there, there is very simple piece of software that will make your life easy. At least this portion of your life. I can’t guarantee the rest of your life will fall into place based on this decision. Sorry.

Today I’m excited to share a game-changer in the world of audio recording - Shure Motiv Mix, which at time of writing is currently in its Beta phase and it’s completely free to use.

BAMBY MEDIA LINKS:

Book A Consultation

Free Podcast Audit Service

YouTube Channel

Apply to Join PodCoach

GEAR WE USE HERE AT BAMBY MEDIA:

Shure Motiv Mix

sE Neom

Shure Mv7+

Rode Boom Arm

XLR Cables

Sony ZV E10

Elgato Camlink

Aputure Amaran 200d LED Video Light

Aputure Light Box Min

Pre-Amp/Mixers we recommend

Focusrite Clarett+

Rode Streamer X

Rodecaster Pro II

Rodecaster Pro Duo