Welcome to Pocket-Sized Podcasting, brought to you by Alitu: The Podcast Maker. And on this episode, we’re talking about your recording environment. It’s easy to think that your audio quality is determined by your equipment - and, to an extent, that’s true. But the room or place you record in has a much bigger impact on how your content’s going to sound. There are 2 main factors when it comes to your environment affecting your audio. Firstly, there’s the “sound” of the room itself. Echo or reverb can be a real problem for podcasters, and we’re going to take a look at it in more depth in the next episode - including - a tip to kill it in *any* room, for less than $15. The other factor is noise. Now, we’re not saying for a minute that you should have complete and utter silence when you record - very few people have that luxury - and, in the right context, a bit of gentle background noise can add ambience and atmosphere. We’ll talk more about this in an upcoming episode, too. The key is, though, that background noise should never be distracting, or compete with your actual voice. Your listeners should always be able to hear and focus on the content and message they’ve turned up for. If they can’t do that, after all, then the whole thing’s going to fall apart. For a more detailed look at podcast recording environments, go to http://thepodcasthost.com/homestudio

Welcome to Pocket-Sized Podcasting, brought to you by Alitu: The Podcast Maker. And on this episode, we’re going to answer the question “what are polar patterns?” These are also sometimes called “pickup patterns”, and they’re essentially the settings that determine the area a mic will focus on when recording sound. To think about this visually, imagine your mic as a torch or laser. The area it shines light on is the area it’s “hearing” your voice. Most microphones you’ll come across - including the Samson Q2U - have a ‘Cardioid’ polar pattern which means they’re designed to record one person at one time. Other polar patterns include: Omnidirectional - for recording multiple people. Bi-directional, or, Stereo - for recording 2 people. And Shotgun - for a laser-focused pickup of an audio source that blocks out everything else around it. Think of a news reporter, chatting away in a busy street, but you can still hear them clear as day. Polar patterns are represented by easy to understand diagrams. For example, Cardioid is heart-shaped, whilst Omnidirectional is a circle. These are like birds-eye views of where the pattern is picking up sound. To get a look at these diagrams, and to learn more about polar patterns in general, head on over to http://thepodcasthost.com/patterns

Welcome to Pocket-Sized Podcasting, brought to you by Alitu: The Podcast Maker. And on this episode, we’re going to answer the question “what is a Dynamic microphone?”. Dynamic mics tend to be tougher and more durable than their Condenser counterparts. A Dynamic mic can be looked at as something you’d typically use in “live” environments, and rougher “on-the-go” settings. If you record live, on-location, or just like having a mic on you at all times for ad-hoc recordings, then a Dynamic mic is a great option. Most Dynamic mics only have a Cardioid polar pattern, however. This means they’re generally designed for single person use. We’re going to talk more about polar patterns and why they matter on the next episode, so make sure you’re subscribed on your listening app of choice and that’ll be delivered to you, automatically. Bottom line, though, if you’re using Dynamics for in-person interviews then you’d either need to get two, or, hold one in your hand and constantly point it back and forward between you and your guest. Dynamic mics are powered by whatever they’re plugged into, meaning the recording signal isn’t quite as strong as it would be with a Condenser. This means you either need to turn the gain up more, or, bring the recording level up in the editing phase. Either way, that’s going to raise the level of hiss in your audio. But, this is far from a deal-breaker, and often, the pros outweigh the cons with Dynamic mics in podcasting. Our most recommended mic, the Samson Q2U, is a Dynamic model, which means it’s durable, flexible, and doesn’t require a perfect environment to sound good either. That’s what makes it such a good option for beginners on a limited budget! For a deeper dive on this subject, go to http://ThePodcastHost.com/dynamicvcondenser

Welcome to Pocket-Sized Podcasting, brought to you by Alitu: The Podcast Maker. And on this episode, we’re going to answer the question “what is a Condenser microphone?”. “Condenser” and “Dynamic” are two of the most common types of mic. The terms refer to how they’re built, and how they function. We can get really technical with stuff like this, but I’d rather keep things simple. That means I’ll make some generalisations that aren’t *always* the rule – now and then you’ll find exceptions. But here’s a good starting point for differentiating between the two. A Condenser mic can be looked at as primarily something you’d use to record vocals in a professional studio environment. Condenser microphones can often be more sensitive, and easier to break. Their sensitivity means they tend to pick up more sounds from around your recording environment. This can be a pro or a con depending on what you’re trying to do. Most are designed for more permanent setups on mic stands or boom arms, as opposed to being carried around, and shoved in and out of boxes or bags. A Condenser mic is powered either by having its own battery, or by using a function called *Phantom Power* on your mixer, preamp, or recorder. This is why Condenser mics can usually record at a much lower gain than dynamics. Gain is essentially your input recording volume. The outcome is that lower gain means less hiss in your recording. Condenser mics often have multiple polar pattern options, making them versatile for different types of recording needs and setups. On the next episode, we’re going to take a look at Dynamic mics and how they compare to their Condenser alternatives. In the meantime though, for a deeper dive on this subject, go to http://ThePodcastHost.com/dynamicvcondenser

Welcome to Pocket-Sized Podcasting, brought to you by Alitu: The Podcast Maker. And on this episode, we’re going to talk about podcast equipment for recording multiple people, locally. If getting people in the same room together is the key for your podcast, then there are a few different options out there. On the previous 2 episodes, we’ve mentioned the Samson Q2U mic and the Zoom PodTrak P4 podcast recorder. Get yourself a PodTrak P4 and then a Q2U for each person you’ll be recording, and you’ll have a brilliant set up for only a few hundred dollars. With the PodTrak P4 you don’t need a computer as it records independently. If you’d prefer to record into a computer, though, then you could get a USB audio interface and plug your mics into that. Our favourite USB audio interface is the Focusrite Scarlett 2i2, but be mindful that this only runs 2 mics at any one time. A couple of the more high-end options if you have a bit of budget behind you are the Zoom H6 digital recorder, and the Rodecaster Pro podcast recorder. These are premium options and if you pair them with mics like the Rode Procaster or Shure SM7B then you’ll have a better setup than 99% of other podcasters out there. Of course, there’s no need to spend a fortune on your podcasting kit, so for most folks, a handful of Samson Q2Us running into a Zoom PodTrak P4 will be more than good enough. For a more detailed look at choosing the right kit for you and your podcast, go to http://ThePodcastHost.com/equipment

Welcome to Pocket-Sized Podcasting, brought to you by Alitu: The Podcast Maker. And on this episode, we’re going to talk about podcast equipment for online interviews or co-hosts. Typically, the set up here is exactly the same as if you were podcasting on your own. If you listened to the previous episode, then you’ll have heard me talk about the Samson Q2U. This works just as well for remote recordings as it does on the solo podcasting front. You’d then either need online recording software or additional equipment to link up with your guests or co-hosts. We’ll cover software in-depth in a future episode, but you can easily record calls with Alitu, which also does all the cleaning up and volume levelling automatically for you. For a 7-day free trial go to alitu.com, that’s A-L-I-T-U dot com, and check it out for yourself. Back to the equipment though - if you’d rather use hardware than software for remote recording then you might want to check out the Zoom PodTrak P4. This is a great wee podcast recorder that lets you plug in multiple mics, record online calls AND phone calls, and you can even play music and sound effects “as live” in your recordings, too. For most people, though, using call recording software such as Alitu is the best option because of its pure simplicity. But, if you *do* fancy getting yourself a Zoom PodTrak P4, they’re usually available for less than $200 on Amazon. For a more detailed look at choosing the right kit for you and your podcast, go to http://ThePodcastHost.com/equipment

Welcome to Pocket-Sized Podcasting, brought to you by Alitu: The Podcast Maker. And on this episode, we’re going to talk about podcast equipment for solo shows. If you’re podcasting on your own then this makes choosing equipment easy. You’re just going to need a USB mic and some headphones. I say “headphones” but even your trusty earbuds will do the trick here. You’ll use these to “monitor” yourself as you record. That way, you can hear exactly *what* you record, as it’s recorded, and pick up on any sound issues there and then. On the USB mic front, it seems like there are hundreds of quality and good value options on the market these days. This can make choosing one tricky. With that in mind, we’re just going to recommend the one we think is ideal for 98% of aspiring and early-stage podcasters - the Samson Q2U. The Q2U can usually be bought brand new on Amazon for less than $70. You can also buy it in a special podcasting bundle along with headphones and a boom arm for around $95 - which is an excellent deal. Aside from being a great sounding budget mic, the Q2U works in both USB AND XLR form, so, if you want to upgrade to a mixer or digital recorder further down the line, you won’t need to spend more money on a new mic. The Samson Q2U’s availability varies depending on where you are in the world, but an almost identical mic is the ATR2100, so keep that in mind if you have trouble getting your hands on a Q2U. For a more detailed look at the Samson Q2U as the ideal solo podcaster mic, go to http://ThePodcastHost.com/solo

Welcome to Pocket-Sized Podcasting, brought to you by Alitu: The Podcast Maker. And over the next few episodes, we’re going to talk about the gear you need to actually record your show. When we hear the term “podcast equipment” it’s easy to imagine a pro-level studio filled with lots of intimidating and very expensive kit. But for the vast majority of podcasters, this looks nothing like their own recording setup. You can break podcast equipment down into categories, based on how you record and capture your voice, from mic to mixer to recorder to computer. The recording process can be made as simple or as complicated as you like. You can record right into your computer, ridding yourself of the need for a mixer or a recorder. Or you can go the full studio route, and use it all. If you use very little kit, the process will be simple, but you’ll also have less flexibility and control. This isn’t an issue for most aspiring podcasters though, as they’ve no intention of becoming an audio engineer – they just want to get their message out there. There is no “one-size-fits-all” podcast equipment recommendation. As we covered earlier in the series, there are a few different podcast format options, and the format you choose will have a bearing on what gear you need. As will, of course, your budget. So over the next few episodes, we’re going to take a look at some common use-cases and give you some recommendations for each of them. On top of that, we’re going to give you some easy-to-understand explanations of common gear-related terms you’ll likely come across, too. For a more detailed look at choosing the right kit for you and your podcast, go to http://ThePodcastHost.com/equipment

Welcome to Pocket-Sized Podcasting, brought to you by Alitu: The Podcast Maker. And on this episode, we’re talking about your show’s cover art, sometimes known as your artwork or your podcast logo. Just like your episode titles, first impressions are everything. Having attractive cover art that stands out is so vital when your show lines up against thousands of others in apps like Apple Podcasts and Spotify. Your artwork should be at least 1400 x 1400 pixels, in JPG form, and it needs to be under 500kb in size. Apple actually recommends 3000 x 3000-pixel files, but we’ve found because they’re much weightier, those big files can cause issues with your RSS feeds further down the line. So I’d usually opt for the smaller formats to help avoid running into the same problem. Your artwork will normally be viewed as a thumbnail - pretty small on-screen, often on a phone - so don’t cram any small text onto it. In fact, the *only* text on there would ideally be your podcast name. Another reason your name should be descriptive... I often think that simpler is better with artwork. Your podcast title, covering practically the whole space, maybe with your brand colours and a background image, or a really small illustration alongside. You can create decent cover art for free on Canva, which I use all the time. They even have podcast logo templates on there. Or, you might want to hire a freelancer on a platform like Fiverr if you’d like someone to do it for you. The benefit of working with a designer is that they can help you to encapsulate your branding. Cover art is a bit like choosing a podcast name, in many ways. You’re trying to find that balance between descriptiveness, cleverness, and quirkiness, all in one static image - and it all still needs to work well when viewed as a thumbnail on a phone screen. For a more detailed look at designing your perfect podcast logo, go to http://ThePodcastHost.com/art

Welcome to Pocket-Sized Podcasting, brought to you by Alitu: The Podcast Maker. And on this episode, we’re talking about your show’s description. Did you know that this is THE most important thing potential new listeners will judge your show on? This is in that crucial period where they’ve found it, but haven’t hit play yet. By the way, this isn’t my opinion - it’s right from the horse’s mouth, via our Podcast Discovery Survey, which you can find at [ThePodcastHost.com/discovery](http://ThePodcastHost.com/discovery) So, a quick bit of clarity on what’s meant by “podcast description” - this is the summary of your podcast in its entirety. So don’t confuse it with the shownotes that accompany each episode. Podcast descriptions are often written as an afterthought, but they’re worth spending a good bit of time on. In them, you should talk about *who* the show is for and what they can expect from it. We’ve covered this already in our “who” and “why” episodes, so you’ve done the groundwork, here - now, you just need to make it clear to your would-be listeners. You’ll also want to let them know what to expect in terms of format and schedule. Do new episodes drop each Friday? Or do new seasons run every second month? Of course, you probably want to mention a bit about yourself, too. For example, who you are, what your angle is and why you’re doing this show. Credibility is good, but the big key here is to make it all about *them -* the listeners. Just imagine someone reading it and thinking to themselves “what’s in this for *me*?”. For a more detailed look at writing the perfect summary for your show, go to http://ThePodcastHost.com/description