04.01 Podcast Recording Instructions

Before Entering the Booth

Do not write a word-for-word script of your planned podcast but you should prepare a bit before recording. As a group, select one topic and identify the driving question that could anchor the conversation. Sketch out a rough overall outline that has a beginning, middle, and end. The outline should support a natural conversation rather than make everyone sound as if they are reading. Also prepare a few potential follow up questions.

Before entering the Recording Studio, confirm the correct pronunciation of names and unfamiliar terms. Everyone participating must also understand the purpose of the recording and give permission to be recorded.

Podcast Production Roles

Host

Your podcast does not need an official host. It can be more collaborative but someone still needs to do the job of a “host”. This role introduces the topic and participants and asks the driving question of the episode. It is the host’s job to listen closely, ask follow-up questions, and redirect the conversation when it drifts away from the topic. The host also needs to leave space for other speakers and to bring the conversation to a clear ending.

Guest or Co-Host

Guests and co-hosts respond to the host with their take on specific ideas, real examples, and interesting stories. It is important for guests to truly listen to other guests and the hosts rather than merely waiting for their turn to speak. In serial media content the guests provide much needed variety of perspectives and experiences that differ from thos of the usual take of the host.

Producer

The producer is responsible for the technical recording. They confirm that the equipment is recording, potentially monitor every microphone through headphones, and watch the levels while listening for distortion, hum, handling noise, or unwanted background sound. During the conversation, the producer should note the approximate time of especially strong moments on a notepad. They should communicate silently whenever possible and confirm that the recording has been saved before anyone leaves.

Microphone Technique

Most people sit too far away from a microphone and don’t position it so it can record well. Look at the way singers and news reporters use microphones. They almost always have the mic right next to their mouth with the recording mechanism pointed toward them.

Have you ever listed to a speaker on stage that did not adjust the microphone to the height of their mouth? It is usually hard to hear them or the speaker needs to bend over into an uncomfortable position to reach the microphone.

Remember these basic microphone techniques and tips:

• Sit comfortably and keep the microphone approximately 3-5 inches from your mouth.
• Aim your voice toward the front of the microphone.
• Keep approximately the same distance throughout the recording.
• Do not lean far back when laughing or turn completely away while talking.
• Speak clearly at a natural conversational volume.
• Wear headphones to monitor what the mic pics up.
• Avoid touching the microphone, arm, cable, table, or paper while speaking.
• Silence phones and remove bracelets, keys, or other objects that may make noise.

Sound Check

Each speaker should say several complete sentences at the volume they expect to use during the conversation. Do not check levels by whispering, tapping the microphone, or repeatedly saying test since that will not give an accurate sound level, because those sounds do not represent how you will actually speak.

Setting the Recording Level

The numbers on the sound meter are measured in dBFS. Counterintuitively, zero dBFS is the maximum recordable level. If the recording level reaches 0 dBFS then it causes clipping and distortion and it cannot be fixed in post production.

While each person speaks in complete sentences at their expected volume, adjust the input gain so that stronger words peak between approximately −12 and −6 dBFS. Quieter parts will fall below that range. Ask the speaker to laugh or deliver a louder sentence to confirm that sudden peaks remain below 0 dBFS and never enter the red. The goal is not to keep the meter at a constant dBFS. Speech naturally rises and falls.

Begin with microphone placement. If someone is consistently too quiet, move the microphone closer before greatly increasing the input gain. The input gain determines the recorded signal level, while the fader primarily balances that voice within the stereo mix. Once the levels are set, avoid continually moving the faders unless a speaker’s volume changes significantly.

Final Pre-Record Checklist

• each person can hear all speakers
• the microphones are connected to the expected channels
• each voice is strong and clear
• stronger words peak between approximately −12 and −6 dBFS
• laughter and other sudden peaks remain below 0 dBFS and never enter the red
• no microphone is muted
• the room is quiet
• multitrack recording is enabled

Recording Procedure

1. Complete a sound check and a test record to confirm everything is working.
2. Double check levels and that everyone can hear in their headphones.
3. Press Record and verify that the timer is moving.
4. Remain silent for five seconds.
5. Record a spoken record of:
   • date
   • group members
   • podcast title or topic
   • take number
6. Pause briefly, then begin the podcast.
7. If someone makes a minor mistake, pause, repeat the complete sentence, and continue. Do not stop the recording.
8. If the group needs to restart a section, the producer should say an identifying phrase such as “pickup” and then identify the question or section before the group starts again. This helps the edit later.
9. If you need a longer break, press pause to stop the recording. Remember to restart the recording before beginning to talk again.
10. At the end of the podcast, remain quiet and record 10 seconds of room tone.
11. Stop the recording by holding the stop button.
12. Confirm that the recording appears in the file list before leaving the booth.

During the Conversation

Open with a concise hook that identifies the topic and explains why it matters. Introduce the driving question early and ask one question at a time. Follow-up prompts such as “Why?”, “Can you give an example?”, or “What changed?” can move the conversation beyond short or predictable answers.

Listen for opportunities to invite quieter speakers into the discussion. When the conversation begins to drift, summarize what has been said and connect it back to the central topic rather than abruptly changing direction. End by returning to the driving question and considering how the discussion answered, complicated, or changed it.

The producer should avoid adjusting the faders continuously. Make a small correction only when a speaker is consistently too loud or too quiet. The goal is a clean, stable recording, not a live performance of the mixer.

If Something Goes Wrong

File Handoff

Copy the entire recording folder from the RØDECaster rather than copying only the first WAV file you see. Keep the original filenames until every file has been identified.

Use an organized folder structure. You can use this example folder structure or create your own.

YYYY-MM-DD Groupname Podcast/
├── 01 Original RODECaster Recording/
├── 02 Premiere Project/
├── 03 Audition Session/
└── 04 Exports/

Place an untouched copy of everything from the RØDECaster in 01 Original RODECaster Recording. Never edit, rename, or delete files inside that folder.

Before Leaving the Sound Studio

Confirm that the recording has stopped and that the file appears in the recording list. Copy the complete recording folder, then open the stereo mix and listen to at least 20 seconds. Make sure every speaker can be heard and that the copied file plays correctly.

Return the booth, microphones, headphones, and chairs to their original condition. Do not leave the studio until your group has verified the copied recording.