How This Podcast Is Produced

How This Podcast Is Produced

I've written this short article as a combination between an FAQ page and a ‘how-to' guide.

If you're thinking of setting up your own podcast, this might be helpful.

Similarly, if you're an experienced podcaster already, you might be able to send a few tips my way!

Here's how the Self Publishing Journeys podcast is produced.

Tools used

Much as I would love to have a mixing desk and super quality microphone set-up, that is all too expensive at the moment.

So, I've gone ‘belt and braces' on podcast production.

Calls are recorded via Skype at https://www.skype.com/en/download-skype/skype-for-computer/ and, most of the time, it's pretty reliable.

I don't record with video, I save all the bandwidth for the audio.

Calls are recorded via Amolta Call Recorder at https://amolto.com* and I have upgraded to the paid edition.

I use an AT2050 microphone, it was expensive (I bought it 5 years ago) and you certainly don't need to pay that much: https://paulteague.com/AT2050*

Here is my recommendation for the cheapest, most basic level of microphone & headphone combo if it’s time to invest in a bit of decent equipment ?

There’s much better available, of course, but this will make sure that you’re sounding good when you start your podcast: Logitech H390 USB Headset

You'll need to edit your audio file, if only to ‘top and tail' the interview to get rid of the chat at the beginning and end.

I use Camtasia for this, it's actually a video recording and editing tool, but I use it to process my audio too: https://paulteague.com/camtasia*

Most people use Audacity, which is free at https://www.audacityteam.org/ but I've never been a big fan.

I paid for Camtasia several years ago and barely a week goes by without me using it.

I use Libsyn to post my audio and that is a paid service.

I love the scheduling options in Libsyn – I can also auto-post to social media/YouTube whenever I publish a new episode – see https://selfpublishingjourneys.libsyn.com/

I have used Easy Video Suite at https://paulteague.com/evs* for video processing for many years, so purchased the audio version a few years ago, always mindful that I wanted to set up a podcast – one day!

The audio version is Audello, which can be found at https://paulteague.com/audello*

I started my podcast using Audello, but to my great sorrow, the scheduling optins are not specific enough, so now I use it for back-ups only.

Audello allows me to create audio players for the main Self Publishing Journeys site, it auto-generates share pages like this so that you don't even have to run a website if you don't want to.

You can also add share/embed/email/social media buttons too – and some very cool, sales-oriented functionality, which I'll be using once the podcast is more established.

I always load up my edited interviews on Audello and the audio is hosted on my Amazon S3 account – that's my backup if I ever cancel Libsyn 🙂

A new trick that I've just discovered, is to run the audio through https://auphonic.com first, it evens out the levels, improves the quality of the audio and allows me to add metadata and visual info, using a template which I can just apply and tweak for each interview.

I also get detailed analytics about plays, downloads, abandon rates and so on.

I create my RSS feed in Feedburner I get better analytics when I use Feedburner and it seems to be more reliable and portable around the web.

Branding

I use PremiumBeat Royalty Free Music whenever I need music for promo reasons: https://www.premiumbeat.com/

You can't just help yourself to music, you must make sure that you have the correct rights.

PremiumBeat makes licensing really easy and they have an amazing selection of tracks.

You have to spend ages working through all of the variations until you find the music that reflects the correct mood and tone for your broadcast.

For Self Publishing Journeys, I used Breeze: https://www.premiumbeat.com/royalty_free_music/songs/breeze

It's catchy, not abrasive, great to talk over and it has a ‘surge and fade' which works well for the end of the podcast.

When figuring out the podcast format, I used my own voice for the voiceover at first, but decided to add contrast with a female voice.

I paid for a Fiverr voiceover for that job: https://www.fiverr.com/reddhorrocks/record-a-professional-voiceover-in-a-british-or-american-accent

I paid for two gigs to get several intro and outro options, which I then edited using https://paulteague.com/camtasia*

The podcast graphic was also purchased from Fiverr: https://www.fiverr.com/emilyroyal/design-a-logo-for-your-podcast

My own attempt, as you can see above, was lamentable.

I've never done a podcast before, so this is very much a proof of concept exercise.

I'll consider paying more for graphics and podcasting equipment once the podcast has had some time to settle and build an audience.

Ninja Trick

I use ScheduleOnce to book in interviews for my podcasts: https://www.scheduleonce.com/

This allows me to offer potential interviewees timeslots when I'm available, and they can just book in a good time.

ScheduleOnce handles all of the diary links, the pre-recording reminders and the post-recording thank you.

You could waste a lot of time to-ing and fro-ing over availability, this cuts straight to the chase and gets the job done.

I have an FAQ page for interviewees answering all of the regular questions, so this also saves on time and makes the experience much more efficient for everybody.

So far, all guests have turned up on time and it's just been a case of connecting Skype and recording the interview.

Exciting!

I managed to get a vocal insert recorded by the king of podcasting, John Lee Dumas, host of Entrepreneur On Fire

You'll hear this drop-in mixed with music on my diary features.

*Affiliate links, please see my Disclosure and Endorsements policy here: https://clixeo.com/disclosure/