Even though #podcasts are edited and produced and usually not done live, many of us get flustered when a microphone is set in front of us.
If you’re not sure how to use a microphone (and reluctant to host or guest on a podcast because of it) here are a few tips that can get you started:
Have a real microphone.
These days, we spend a lot of time on Zoom, so investing in a good mic isn’t a bad idea anyway. You can get a decent USB microphone for under a hundred bucks, though there are definitely mics that are better than others. But do listeners a favor and don’t count on your computer’s microphone. They are tinny, unreliable, they pick up everything, distort most of it, and generally don’t do you or your host any favors! (If you’re ready to invest in a mic, we’re happy to help you figure out what you need at info@audiotocracy.com.)
Get comfy.
Physically, that is. Make sure you’re in a comfortable chair with back support. Wear comfortable clothes with jackets or sweaters you can add or remove easily (not over your head) if you get too cool or warm. Not only will you feel more confident in front of the mic, you’ll squirm less, meaning less chance of bumping the mic and making other unproductive noises.
Practice with your mic.
People get really slick with the tools of their trade because they use them all the time (watch a gifted chef prep veggies or a rock climber climb). Download Audacity (if you need help with that, info@audiotocracy.com) and record yourself. Send the mp3 file to a friend for feedback.
Be aware of how sensitive your mic is!
The more you learn in advance about your mic, the more you can tune it out in the actual recording. If you have a mic standing on your desk, try not to thump the desk too much; if it’s hanging from a boom arm, maybe don’t rattle your notes around in front of it. If you’re wearing a microphone on your clothes like a lavalier or are using the mic on a pair of wired earbuds, be aware that your clothes, hair, necklaces, etc., may all bump or scrape against the mic. This is particularly true of earbud mics, so consider holding those away from your body during the interview. Mics that are attached to headphones (think helicopter pilot) are often too close to your mouth, so if you can move it away a few inches, that will help with breath sounds and plosives (see pop screen/filter below).
Be sure you have water handy.
If you’re talking a lot AND nervous, you’ll dry out sooner than you think, and suddenly you’re aware of those weird mouth noises you make when you’re dry and not concentrating on what you’re saying. On recording day, NO ICE. It clinks in the glass and the mic will likely pick it up. I’ll briefly channel my high school chemistry teacher: “No gum, no eatin’ — I don’t need to hear or see that.”
Know the right distance from your microphone.
Ask your host or a knowledgeable friend (info@audiotocracy.com, just sayin’) so you know the proper distance from a mic. It may well depend on the type of mic you’re using, but if you spread out your hand, your mouth should be at the tip of your thumb and the mic (or pop screen, more on this in a sec) should be at the tip of your pinkie. Again, practice will help you nail this.
Wear headphones.
The editor will love you for this. Your headphones mean that the other voices on the podcast won’t be picked up on your microphone. Wired earbuds are OK though not ideal. Bluetooth earbuds may well interfere with the mic, so please don’t count on those. By far the best option are padded headphones that are connected by a wire to your computer.
Keep your head still(ish).
Not so much as to become robotic, but be aware that microphones have a sort of cone-shaped sweet spot. If you move your head a lot, your volume can change accordingly. This may feel funky at first, but you’ll quickly feel comfortable with it.
Invest in a pop screen/filter.
Record yourself on a mic, then play it back. You may notice that “p,” “b,” “t” and other sounds are a bit distorted. That’s because when we say “Peter” or “baseball,” we release a puff of air on those hard sounds. They hit a sensitive mic pretty directly and cause what we call a “plosive.” You can reduce those by moving back from the mic a bit more, speaking over the mic or sideways to it, and investing in a pop screen. The inexpensive kind are basically a couple bits of nylon on a ring that sits between you and your mic. The screen disperses the air so it doesn’t hit the mic all at once.
Remember that podcasts are edited.
If you’re not happy with how you phrased something, or if you needed time to sort out your thoughts, just call it out on the recording. “I’d like to do that over,” or “I’m going to start again,” are great signals to the editor/producer to fix that bit in post. Knowing that you have “do over” power, you can relax and enjoy the experience!
Go ahead and laugh.
If everyone in the interview is recording on their own tracks, you don’t have to be silent while others are speaking. Laughs, mmmms, all those noises we make to show we’re listening and agreeing, etc., are fine. In fact, they’re usually encouraged because they make the interview sound like a conversation.
There’s certainly more to learn about microphones and the etiquette thereof, but these will get you out in front of the pack for most podcast guests!
If you’re curious about having a podcast for your business or just for fun, contact us at info@audiotocracy.com for a free consultation!