September 16, 2024 • 11 mins
Hi everyone! In this inaugural episode, we explore the critical role of audio quality in podcast engagement and listener satisfaction. We examine a recent Twitter poll which revealed that over half of the 305 respondents consider poor audio quality the primary reason for abandoning a podcast.
Listener grievances include subpar audio, the perception of amateurism, the annoyance of excessive sound effects, and the frustration with easily avoidable technical issues.
We also talk about:
- The impact of audio quality on the listener experience
- Common audio pitfalls that plague podcasts and alienate audiences
- Simple yet effective strategies to elevate audio quality, regardless of budget
Listen now to discover how prioritizing audio quality can be a game-changer for your podcasting journey!
Mentioned in today's episode
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Equipment:
Recommended resources:
Be a Better Podcaster is a tips and growth podcast brought to you by Jamie and Jaayne. These are AI hosts - their voices are auto-generated, reading content created by Danny Brown, host of One Minute Podcast Tips and 5 Random Questions.
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Please let your friends know they can listen for free on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, as well as their preferred podcast app, or online at Be a Better Podcaster.
This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis:
OP3 - https://op3.dev/privacy
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Jaayne:
Okay, so have you ever like stumbled on a podcast and the topic is totally up (00:00):
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Jaayne: your alley, you know, and you're like, yes, this is what I've been waiting for in there, right? (00:05):
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Jaayne: But then you hit play and the audio, oh, it's just the worst, (00:09):
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Jaayne: like nails on a chalkboard makes you want to chuck your phone across the room. (00:14):
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Jamie: Instant turn off the worst. (00:17):
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Jaayne: And it turns out I'm not alone. We're doing a deep dive today on why good audio (00:19):
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Jaayne: is so crucial for podcasts. It's like even if the content is gold, (00:24):
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Jaayne: bad audio can completely tank it. It's true. (00:28):
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Jaayne: We've got some interesting data to pick apart today. We ran a poll on Twitter, (00:32):
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Jaayne: asked listeners what their biggest podcast pet peeves were. (00:36):
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Jaayne: And we also found this article from a podcasting expert really dug into the (00:39):
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Jaayne: psychology behind why bad audio is so off-putting. (00:44):
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Jamie: This is going to be good. I'm ready to break it down. (00:47):
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Jaayne: Let's do it. So first up, those poll results. We asked listeners what would (00:49):
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Jaayne: actually make them stop listening to a podcast they were otherwise enjoying. (00:54):
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Jaayne: Bad audio, too many inside jokes. (00:58):
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Jamie: Which, let's be honest, can be a slippery slope. (01:01):
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Jaayne: The worst. Or hosts going totally off topic or just like something else entirely. (01:03):
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Jaayne: So what do you think took the top spot? (01:09):
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Jamie: I think we both know where this is going. Had to be the bad audio. (01:11):
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Jaayne: Ding, ding, ding. You got it. A whopping 54% of our listeners said they'd peace (01:15):
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Jaayne: out of a podcast if the audio quality was rough. (01:19):
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Jamie: That's a majority for sure. (01:22):
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Jaayne: It's a landslide. Way more than I expected. It beat out all the other options combined. (01:23):
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Jaayne: Wow. It really goes to show how much even the smallest details matter when you're (01:28):
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Jaayne: creating content, right? (01:32):
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Jamie: It's huge. Yeah. Because it feeds into this whole debate in the podcasting world, (01:33):
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Jamie: right? You've got that raw authenticity on the one hand. (01:38):
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Jaayne: Turn it real. (01:41):
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Jamie: Exactly. Versus that super polished produced sound. (01:41):
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Jaayne: Right. Finding that balance is key. (01:46):
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Jamie: It is. Because listeners want to feel like they're part of the conversation. (01:48):
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Jamie: You know, they want that genuine connection. (01:52):
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Jaayne: Absolutely. But not if it sounds like you're recording from inside a washing machine. Huh. (01:54):
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Jamie: For real. Nobody wants to suffer through that to get to the good stuff. (01:58):
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Jaayne: So how do we find that sweet spot where it feels real and engaging, (02:02):
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Jaayne: but doesn't make people reach for the earplugs? (02:06):
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Jamie: That's what we're here to figure out. And don't worry, this isn't about needing (02:09):
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Jamie: some crazy expensive studio setup. (02:13):
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Jaayne: Because mine is, let's just say it's a work in progress. (02:15):
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Jamie: It's the thought that counts. But honestly, a little effort goes a long way. (02:19):
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Jaayne: I like the sound of that. (02:23):
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Jamie: We're going to give you some super actionable tips today that anyone can use. (02:24):
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Jamie: But first, I think it's important to understand why bad audio is so jarring for us on a deeper level. (02:28):
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Jaayne: Yeah, and you know what? Sometimes just hearing it straight from the source, (02:34):
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Jaayne: like what actual listeners are saying, really drives the point home. (02:38):
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Jamie: Oh yeah, for sure. (02:42):
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Jaayne: And in the article we found some of these listener comments were, (02:43):
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Jaayne: Brutal. (02:48):
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Jamie: No holding back. (02:49):
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Jaayne: No. Like one person said, if a podcast sounds like amateur hour, (02:50):
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Jaayne: and I'm quoting here, if everyone's talking over each other and the volume levels (02:54):
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Jaayne: are all messed up, I'm just turning it off. (02:58):
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Jamie: Ouch. Right. (03:00):
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Jaayne: Straight to the point. (03:01):
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Jamie: They're not messing around. (03:03):
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Jaayne: No. It's like they're giving you one chance. (03:04):
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Jamie: One chance. (03:06):
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Jaayne: And if the audio is rough, they're out. (03:07):
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Jamie: Yeah, it's like a barrier to entry, you know? It doesn't matter how good your (03:09):
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Jamie: content might be if people can't even get past those first few seconds. (03:12):
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Jaayne: Totally. If the audio is janky, they're already clicking away before you've even hooked them. (03:15):
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Jamie: Exactly. And it's not just about making a good first impression either, right? (03:20):
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Jamie: There's a lot going on behind the scenes when we listen to something with bad audio. (03:23):
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Jaayne: Okay, so get all science-y on me here. What's the psychology behind it? (03:28):
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Jamie: So think about it. When you're listening to a podcast, you're basically asking (03:32):
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Jamie: your brain to do a ton of work all at once. (03:37):
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Jamie: You've got to process the sounds, decode the language, and try to make sense of it all in real time. (03:40):
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Jaayne: Which is already like a lot of brain power, even with perfect audio. Let's be real. (03:45):
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Jamie: Exactly. It's a workout for those neurons. Yeah. Now imagine trying to do all (03:49):
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Jamie: of that when the audio is full of static, those weird hissy sounds or the volume (03:54):
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Jamie: is like up and down, up and down. (03:59):
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Jaayne: Oh, the worst. (04:01):
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Jamie: It's like trying to have a conversation at a super loud party where everyone's (04:02):
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Jamie: talking over each other. (04:05):
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Jaayne: The worst. My brain is already fried just thinking about it. Right. (04:06):
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Jamie: Your brain literally has to work over time just to try and filter out all that (04:09):
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Jamie: extra noise. Yeah. and actually understand what's being said. (04:14):
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Jaayne: No wonder I feel exhausted after listening to a podcast with crappy audio. (04:17):
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Jaayne: It's a mental workout for sure. (04:22):
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Jamie: It totally is. And that cognitive overload, as it's called, that can lead to (04:23):
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Jamie: something called listener fatigue. (04:28):
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Jaayne: Makes sense. (04:30):
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Jamie: Yeah. Where you're just mentally spent. Totally. You're not going to be able to focus as well. (04:31):
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Jamie: You're probably not understanding everything that's being said. (04:35):
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Jamie: Right. And honestly, you're just way more likely to tune out entirely. (04:39):
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Jaayne: And then there's that emotional piece of it too, right? Like it's not just about (04:42):
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Jaayne: understanding the words. It's about connecting with the content. (04:46):
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Jamie: Oh, absolutely. Absolutely. And that's where things get really interesting. (04:49):
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Jaayne: Okay. Tell me more. I'm intrigued. (04:52):
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Jamie: So there have been studies on this and they've actually found a direct link (04:53):
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Jamie: between how good or bad the audio quality is and how we emotionally respond (04:57):
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Jamie: to what we're listening to. (05:03):
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Jaayne: Really? So like, even if the content is positive or upbeat, bad audio can actually (05:04):
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Jaayne: make you feel negatively about it? (05:10):
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Jamie: Subconsciously. Yeah. It's kind of like, have you ever judged a book by its cover? (05:12):
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Jaayne: Guilty. (05:16):
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Jamie: We all have. But it's kind of like that for your ears. And on top of all that, (05:17):
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Jamie: there's another layer to this that we can't forget about, and that's accessibility. (05:21):
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Jaayne: Right. Because it's not a one size fits all experience for everyone. Exactly. (05:25):
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Jaayne: So for anyone who has, say, an auditory processing disorder or is hard of hearing (05:28):
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Jaayne: or even just sensitive to sounds, bad audio isn't just annoying. It's a huge barrier. (05:33):
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Jamie: Exactly. And we never want to be excluding any listeners just because it's something (05:39):
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Jamie: we can fix on our end. And, you know, totally. (05:42):
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Jaayne: It's a good reminder that even something we might see as like a minor inconvenience (05:45):
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Jaayne: could actually be a much bigger deal for somebody else. (05:49):
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Jamie: Absolutely. And it all comes back to just being mindful and putting in that (05:51):
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Jamie: little bit of extra effort. (05:54):
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Jaayne: It's true. And honestly, it just makes you appreciate the podcasts that really (05:56):
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Jaayne: nail the audio even more. (06:00):
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Jaayne: Like, you know, they care about putting out a quality product. 100 percent. (06:02):
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Jamie: And the good news is upping your audio game doesn't have to require like a ton (06:05):
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Jamie: of fancy gear or anything. (06:10):
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Jaayne: Okay, because my credit card is a little nervous after that last sound-dampening blanket purchase. Huh. (06:12):
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Jamie: I feel ya. But seriously, a lot of it comes down to some really simple tweaks (06:17):
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Jamie: and knowing a few key things. (06:21):
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Jaayne: Let's get into it. Lay those audio wisdom bombs on us. What are some of the (06:23):
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Jaayne: easiest wins for better audio? (06:27):
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Jamie: So, the podcasting expert we mentioned had a bunch of good advice. (06:30):
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Jamie: First up, your microphone choice. (06:34):
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Jaayne: Okay, now this is where I get lost. is it like condenser versus dynamic help me out here. (06:36):
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Jamie: Don't worry we'll keep it simple you've got the right categories though so dynamic (06:43):
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Jamie: microphones those are like your trusty sidekick we love a good side right they're (06:46):
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Jamie: super durable they're not too picky about where you use them and they're really (06:51):
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Jamie: good at just focusing on your voice even if your recording space isn't exactly a sound booth perfect (06:56):
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Jaayne: For those of us who haven't quite built that backyard studio. (07:02):
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Jamie: Yet exactly condenser mics Mike's, on the other hand, these guys are like the (07:04):
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Jamie: sensitive friend. We all have one. Right. (07:08):
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Jamie: They pick up on everything, which can be awesome for like a super rich detailed sound, but... (07:11):
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Jaayne: But they also pick up on like the dog barking three houses down. (07:15):
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Jamie: You got it. Every little sigh, every car alarm, it's all go in the recording. (07:18):
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Jaayne: Okay, so microphone choice check. But what about the actual recording space itself? (07:23):
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Jaayne: Like, even if you've got a decent (07:28):
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Jaayne: mic, there's always that weird echo or background hum that sneaks in. (07:30):
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Jamie: Ugh, the worst. But you've hit on another super important point, (07:34):
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Jamie: which is treating your space for sound. (07:38):
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Jaayne: Okay, spill the secrets. What are we doing here? Because let me tell you, (07:41):
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Jaayne: my apartment has more echo than a cave right now. (07:44):
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Jamie: More blankets. More pillows. (07:47):
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Jaayne: Hey, I'm ahead of you on that one. (07:49):
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Jamie: You get it. But for real, you can do a lot without spending a fortune. (07:51):
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Jamie: The goal is to reduce those sound reflections that bounce off hard surfaces. (07:54):
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Jaayne: Got it. So like walls, floors, windows, all that jazz. (07:58):
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Jamie: Exactly. And those reflections create that echoey sound that makes your audio sound kind of muddy. (08:02):
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Jaayne: Okay, that makes sense. So what are we doing? Covering everything in pillows like a pillow fort? (08:07):
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Jamie: Close. The blankets, rugs, even like strategically placed bookshelves can help. (08:12):
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Jamie: Basically anything to break up those hard surfaces and absorb some of those sound waves. (08:17):
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Jaayne: It's like interior design for your ears. (08:22):
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Jamie: Right. And you can get creative with it. One of my favorite tips is to use one (08:24):
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Jamie: of those clothing racks, like the freestanding ones, and drape a thick blanket over it. (08:28):
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Jaayne: Like a DIY vocal booth. I love that. (08:32):
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Jamie: It totally works. Okay, so we've got our microphone sorted. Our recording space (08:35):
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Jamie: is looking good. What's the final piece of the audio puzzle? (08:38):
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Jaayne: Hit me with it. (08:41):
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Jamie: Editing, my friend. That's where the magic really happens. (08:42):
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Jaayne: See, now this is where I get intimidated. Editing always feels so technical. (08:46):
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Jamie: I hear you. But it doesn't have to be scary. Think of it as like adding the (08:51):
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Jamie: finishing touches to your masterpiece. (08:56):
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Jamie: And just like with everything else we've talked about, even those little tweaks (08:58):
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Jamie: can make a world of difference. (09:01):
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Jaayne: So where do we even start? art. (09:03):
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Jamie: First things first, trim the fat. (09:05):
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Jaayne: Oh, you're talking about my rambling tangents. (09:06):
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Jamie: Maybe. (09:09):
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Jamie: But seriously, listen back to your raw audio and be ruthless. (09:10):
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Jamie: Cut out any unnecessary stuff, like any dead air, any repetition, (09:14):
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Jamie: those parts where you got totally sidetracked. (09:19):
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Jaayne: So basically channel my inner editor and be brutal. (09:21):
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Jamie: Exactly. Next up, tackle those distracting noises, like any mouth clicks, (09:24):
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Jamie: background hums, traffic sounds, whatever's going to take your listener out of the moment. (09:29):
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Jaayne: I'm so guilty of the mouth clicks. (09:32):
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Jamie: It happens to the best of us. But luckily, most editing software actually has (09:34):
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Jamie: some pretty decent built-in tools for that. (09:38):
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Jamie: Like, noise reduction features can work wonders. Or you can just manually cut (09:40):
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Jamie: out the offending sounds if you need to. (09:44):
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Jaayne: It's like you're a sound surgeon removing all the imperfections. (09:46):
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Jamie: I love that. Okay, and then last but not least, make sure your volume is consistent (09:49):
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Jamie: throughout the whole episode. (09:53):
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Jamie: Like, you don't want people constantly fiddling with their volume knob. (09:55):
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Jamie: Because one host is super loud and the other one sounds like they're whispering (09:58):
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Jamie: from a mile away. Ugh, yes. (10:01):
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Jaayne: Yes. The worst. That drives me crazy as a listener. The worst. (10:03):
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Jamie: But again, easy fix. Most editing software has volume leveling tools that can (10:07):
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Jamie: help even everything out. (10:12):
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Jaayne: Music to my ears. So much easier than trying to yell at my co-host to scoot (10:13):
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Jaayne: closer to the mic. Right. (10:18):
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Jamie: Much less awkward. And honestly, the more you do it, the easier it gets. (10:19):
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Jamie: You start to develop your own little editing style and find those tricks that work for you. (10:23):
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Jaayne: So to wrap it all up, we've learned that if you want to make a killer podcast, podcast. (10:27):
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Jaayne: It's not just about what you say, it's about how you say it. (10:32):
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Jaayne: Picking the right microphone, treating your recording space, (10:35):
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Jaayne: and becoming best friends with your editing software. (10:38):
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Jamie: And most importantly, remember that those little details, they might seem small, (10:40):
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Jamie: but they can have a huge difference for your listeners. (10:43):
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Jaayne: It's like anything else, right? Quality over quantity. So tell us, (10:46):
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Jaayne: what are your biggest audio pit peeves? (10:50):
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Jaayne: Have you ever completely bailed on a podcast because the audio was just too painful to get through? (10:52):
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Jamie: Let's hear those audio horror stories. (10:58):
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Jaayne: Share your pain with us hit us up on social media you know we love a good audio rant until next. (11:00):
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Jamie: Time happy listening (11:05):
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Music: Music (11:06):
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Jaayne: your alley, you know, and you're like, yes, this is what I've been waiting for in there, right? (00:05):
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Jaayne: But then you hit play and the audio, oh, it's just the worst, (00:09):
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Jaayne: like nails on a chalkboard makes you want to chuck your phone across the room. (00:14):
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Jamie: Instant turn off the worst. (00:17):
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Jaayne: And it turns out I'm not alone. We're doing a deep dive today on why good audio (00:19):
undefined
Jaayne: is so crucial for podcasts. It's like even if the content is gold, (00:24):
undefined
Jaayne: bad audio can completely tank it. It's true. (00:28):
undefined
Jaayne: We've got some interesting data to pick apart today. We ran a poll on Twitter, (00:32):
undefined
Jaayne: asked listeners what their biggest podcast pet peeves were. (00:36):
undefined
Jaayne: And we also found this article from a podcasting expert really dug into the (00:39):
undefined
Jaayne: psychology behind why bad audio is so off-putting. (00:44):
undefined
Jamie: This is going to be good. I'm ready to break it down. (00:47):
undefined
Jaayne: Let's do it. So first up, those poll results. We asked listeners what would (00:49):
undefined
Jaayne: actually make them stop listening to a podcast they were otherwise enjoying. (00:54):
undefined
Jaayne: Bad audio, too many inside jokes. (00:58):
undefined
Jamie: Which, let's be honest, can be a slippery slope. (01:01):
undefined
Jaayne: The worst. Or hosts going totally off topic or just like something else entirely. (01:03):
undefined
Jaayne: So what do you think took the top spot? (01:09):
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Jamie: I think we both know where this is going. Had to be the bad audio. (01:11):
undefined
Jaayne: Ding, ding, ding. You got it. A whopping 54% of our listeners said they'd peace (01:15):
undefined
Jaayne: out of a podcast if the audio quality was rough. (01:19):
undefined
Jamie: That's a majority for sure. (01:22):
undefined
Jaayne: It's a landslide. Way more than I expected. It beat out all the other options combined. (01:23):
undefined
Jaayne: Wow. It really goes to show how much even the smallest details matter when you're (01:28):
undefined
Jaayne: creating content, right? (01:32):
undefined
Jamie: It's huge. Yeah. Because it feeds into this whole debate in the podcasting world, (01:33):
undefined
Jamie: right? You've got that raw authenticity on the one hand. (01:38):
undefined
Jaayne: Turn it real. (01:41):
undefined
Jamie: Exactly. Versus that super polished produced sound. (01:41):
undefined
Jaayne: Right. Finding that balance is key. (01:46):
undefined
Jamie: It is. Because listeners want to feel like they're part of the conversation. (01:48):
undefined
Jamie: You know, they want that genuine connection. (01:52):
undefined
Jaayne: Absolutely. But not if it sounds like you're recording from inside a washing machine. Huh. (01:54):
undefined
Jamie: For real. Nobody wants to suffer through that to get to the good stuff. (01:58):
undefined
Jaayne: So how do we find that sweet spot where it feels real and engaging, (02:02):
undefined
Jaayne: but doesn't make people reach for the earplugs? (02:06):
undefined
Jamie: That's what we're here to figure out. And don't worry, this isn't about needing (02:09):
undefined
Jamie: some crazy expensive studio setup. (02:13):
undefined
Jaayne: Because mine is, let's just say it's a work in progress. (02:15):
undefined
Jamie: It's the thought that counts. But honestly, a little effort goes a long way. (02:19):
undefined
Jaayne: I like the sound of that. (02:23):
undefined
Jamie: We're going to give you some super actionable tips today that anyone can use. (02:24):
undefined
Jamie: But first, I think it's important to understand why bad audio is so jarring for us on a deeper level. (02:28):
undefined
Jaayne: Yeah, and you know what? Sometimes just hearing it straight from the source, (02:34):
undefined
Jaayne: like what actual listeners are saying, really drives the point home. (02:38):
undefined
Jamie: Oh yeah, for sure. (02:42):
undefined
Jaayne: And in the article we found some of these listener comments were, (02:43):
undefined
Jaayne: Brutal. (02:48):
undefined
Jamie: No holding back. (02:49):
undefined
Jaayne: No. Like one person said, if a podcast sounds like amateur hour, (02:50):
undefined
Jaayne: and I'm quoting here, if everyone's talking over each other and the volume levels (02:54):
undefined
Jaayne: are all messed up, I'm just turning it off. (02:58):
undefined
Jamie: Ouch. Right. (03:00):
undefined
Jaayne: Straight to the point. (03:01):
undefined
Jamie: They're not messing around. (03:03):
undefined
Jaayne: No. It's like they're giving you one chance. (03:04):
undefined
Jamie: One chance. (03:06):
undefined
Jaayne: And if the audio is rough, they're out. (03:07):
undefined
Jamie: Yeah, it's like a barrier to entry, you know? It doesn't matter how good your (03:09):
undefined
Jamie: content might be if people can't even get past those first few seconds. (03:12):
undefined
Jaayne: Totally. If the audio is janky, they're already clicking away before you've even hooked them. (03:15):
undefined
Jamie: Exactly. And it's not just about making a good first impression either, right? (03:20):
undefined
Jamie: There's a lot going on behind the scenes when we listen to something with bad audio. (03:23):
undefined
Jaayne: Okay, so get all science-y on me here. What's the psychology behind it? (03:28):
undefined
Jamie: So think about it. When you're listening to a podcast, you're basically asking (03:32):
undefined
Jamie: your brain to do a ton of work all at once. (03:37):
undefined
Jamie: You've got to process the sounds, decode the language, and try to make sense of it all in real time. (03:40):
undefined
Jaayne: Which is already like a lot of brain power, even with perfect audio. Let's be real. (03:45):
undefined
Jamie: Exactly. It's a workout for those neurons. Yeah. Now imagine trying to do all (03:49):
undefined
Jamie: of that when the audio is full of static, those weird hissy sounds or the volume (03:54):
undefined
Jamie: is like up and down, up and down. (03:59):
undefined
Jaayne: Oh, the worst. (04:01):
undefined
Jamie: It's like trying to have a conversation at a super loud party where everyone's (04:02):
undefined
Jamie: talking over each other. (04:05):
undefined
Jaayne: The worst. My brain is already fried just thinking about it. Right. (04:06):
undefined
Jamie: Your brain literally has to work over time just to try and filter out all that (04:09):
undefined
Jamie: extra noise. Yeah. and actually understand what's being said. (04:14):
undefined
Jaayne: No wonder I feel exhausted after listening to a podcast with crappy audio. (04:17):
undefined
Jaayne: It's a mental workout for sure. (04:22):
undefined
Jamie: It totally is. And that cognitive overload, as it's called, that can lead to (04:23):
undefined
Jamie: something called listener fatigue. (04:28):
undefined
Jaayne: Makes sense. (04:30):
undefined
Jamie: Yeah. Where you're just mentally spent. Totally. You're not going to be able to focus as well. (04:31):
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Jamie: You're probably not understanding everything that's being said. (04:35):
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Jamie: Right. And honestly, you're just way more likely to tune out entirely. (04:39):
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Jaayne: And then there's that emotional piece of it too, right? Like it's not just about (04:42):
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Jaayne: understanding the words. It's about connecting with the content. (04:46):
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Jamie: Oh, absolutely. Absolutely. And that's where things get really interesting. (04:49):
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Jaayne: Okay. Tell me more. I'm intrigued. (04:52):
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Jamie: So there have been studies on this and they've actually found a direct link (04:53):
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Jamie: between how good or bad the audio quality is and how we emotionally respond (04:57):
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Jamie: to what we're listening to. (05:03):
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Jaayne: Really? So like, even if the content is positive or upbeat, bad audio can actually (05:04):
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Jaayne: make you feel negatively about it? (05:10):
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Jamie: Subconsciously. Yeah. It's kind of like, have you ever judged a book by its cover? (05:12):
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Jaayne: Guilty. (05:16):
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Jamie: We all have. But it's kind of like that for your ears. And on top of all that, (05:17):
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Jamie: there's another layer to this that we can't forget about, and that's accessibility. (05:21):
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Jaayne: Right. Because it's not a one size fits all experience for everyone. Exactly. (05:25):
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Jaayne: So for anyone who has, say, an auditory processing disorder or is hard of hearing (05:28):
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Jaayne: or even just sensitive to sounds, bad audio isn't just annoying. It's a huge barrier. (05:33):
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Jamie: Exactly. And we never want to be excluding any listeners just because it's something (05:39):
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Jamie: we can fix on our end. And, you know, totally. (05:42):
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Jaayne: It's a good reminder that even something we might see as like a minor inconvenience (05:45):
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Jaayne: could actually be a much bigger deal for somebody else. (05:49):
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Jamie: Absolutely. And it all comes back to just being mindful and putting in that (05:51):
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Jamie: little bit of extra effort. (05:54):
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Jaayne: It's true. And honestly, it just makes you appreciate the podcasts that really (05:56):
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Jaayne: nail the audio even more. (06:00):
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Jaayne: Like, you know, they care about putting out a quality product. 100 percent. (06:02):
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Jamie: And the good news is upping your audio game doesn't have to require like a ton (06:05):
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Jamie: of fancy gear or anything. (06:10):
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Jaayne: Okay, because my credit card is a little nervous after that last sound-dampening blanket purchase. Huh. (06:12):
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Jamie: I feel ya. But seriously, a lot of it comes down to some really simple tweaks (06:17):
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Jamie: and knowing a few key things. (06:21):
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Jaayne: Let's get into it. Lay those audio wisdom bombs on us. What are some of the (06:23):
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Jaayne: easiest wins for better audio? (06:27):
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Jamie: So, the podcasting expert we mentioned had a bunch of good advice. (06:30):
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Jamie: First up, your microphone choice. (06:34):
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Jaayne: Okay, now this is where I get lost. is it like condenser versus dynamic help me out here. (06:36):
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Jamie: Don't worry we'll keep it simple you've got the right categories though so dynamic (06:43):
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Jamie: microphones those are like your trusty sidekick we love a good side right they're (06:46):
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Jamie: super durable they're not too picky about where you use them and they're really (06:51):
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Jamie: good at just focusing on your voice even if your recording space isn't exactly a sound booth perfect (06:56):
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Jaayne: For those of us who haven't quite built that backyard studio. (07:02):
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Jamie: Yet exactly condenser mics Mike's, on the other hand, these guys are like the (07:04):
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Jamie: sensitive friend. We all have one. Right. (07:08):
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Jamie: They pick up on everything, which can be awesome for like a super rich detailed sound, but... (07:11):
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Jaayne: But they also pick up on like the dog barking three houses down. (07:15):
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Jamie: You got it. Every little sigh, every car alarm, it's all go in the recording. (07:18):
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Jaayne: Okay, so microphone choice check. But what about the actual recording space itself? (07:23):
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Jaayne: Like, even if you've got a decent (07:28):
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Jaayne: mic, there's always that weird echo or background hum that sneaks in. (07:30):
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Jamie: Ugh, the worst. But you've hit on another super important point, (07:34):
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Jamie: which is treating your space for sound. (07:38):
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Jaayne: Okay, spill the secrets. What are we doing here? Because let me tell you, (07:41):
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Jaayne: my apartment has more echo than a cave right now. (07:44):
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Jamie: More blankets. More pillows. (07:47):
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Jaayne: Hey, I'm ahead of you on that one. (07:49):
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Jamie: You get it. But for real, you can do a lot without spending a fortune. (07:51):
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Jamie: The goal is to reduce those sound reflections that bounce off hard surfaces. (07:54):
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Jaayne: Got it. So like walls, floors, windows, all that jazz. (07:58):
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Jamie: Exactly. And those reflections create that echoey sound that makes your audio sound kind of muddy. (08:02):
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Jaayne: Okay, that makes sense. So what are we doing? Covering everything in pillows like a pillow fort? (08:07):
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Jamie: Close. The blankets, rugs, even like strategically placed bookshelves can help. (08:12):
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Jamie: Basically anything to break up those hard surfaces and absorb some of those sound waves. (08:17):
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Jaayne: It's like interior design for your ears. (08:22):
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Jamie: Right. And you can get creative with it. One of my favorite tips is to use one (08:24):
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Jamie: of those clothing racks, like the freestanding ones, and drape a thick blanket over it. (08:28):
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Jaayne: Like a DIY vocal booth. I love that. (08:32):
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Jamie: It totally works. Okay, so we've got our microphone sorted. Our recording space (08:35):
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Jamie: is looking good. What's the final piece of the audio puzzle? (08:38):
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Jaayne: Hit me with it. (08:41):
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Jamie: Editing, my friend. That's where the magic really happens. (08:42):
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Jaayne: See, now this is where I get intimidated. Editing always feels so technical. (08:46):
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Jamie: I hear you. But it doesn't have to be scary. Think of it as like adding the (08:51):
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Jamie: finishing touches to your masterpiece. (08:56):
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Jamie: And just like with everything else we've talked about, even those little tweaks (08:58):
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Jamie: can make a world of difference. (09:01):
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Jaayne: So where do we even start? art. (09:03):
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Jamie: First things first, trim the fat. (09:05):
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Jaayne: Oh, you're talking about my rambling tangents. (09:06):
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Jamie: Maybe. (09:09):
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Jamie: But seriously, listen back to your raw audio and be ruthless. (09:10):
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Jamie: Cut out any unnecessary stuff, like any dead air, any repetition, (09:14):
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Jamie: those parts where you got totally sidetracked. (09:19):
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Jaayne: So basically channel my inner editor and be brutal. (09:21):
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Jamie: Exactly. Next up, tackle those distracting noises, like any mouth clicks, (09:24):
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Jamie: background hums, traffic sounds, whatever's going to take your listener out of the moment. (09:29):
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Jaayne: I'm so guilty of the mouth clicks. (09:32):
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Jamie: It happens to the best of us. But luckily, most editing software actually has (09:34):
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Jamie: some pretty decent built-in tools for that. (09:38):
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Jamie: Like, noise reduction features can work wonders. Or you can just manually cut (09:40):
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Jamie: out the offending sounds if you need to. (09:44):
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Jaayne: It's like you're a sound surgeon removing all the imperfections. (09:46):
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Jamie: I love that. Okay, and then last but not least, make sure your volume is consistent (09:49):
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Jamie: throughout the whole episode. (09:53):
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Jamie: Like, you don't want people constantly fiddling with their volume knob. (09:55):
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Jamie: Because one host is super loud and the other one sounds like they're whispering (09:58):
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Jamie: from a mile away. Ugh, yes. (10:01):
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Jaayne: Yes. The worst. That drives me crazy as a listener. The worst. (10:03):
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Jamie: But again, easy fix. Most editing software has volume leveling tools that can (10:07):
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Jamie: help even everything out. (10:12):
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Jaayne: Music to my ears. So much easier than trying to yell at my co-host to scoot (10:13):
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Jaayne: closer to the mic. Right. (10:18):
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Jamie: Much less awkward. And honestly, the more you do it, the easier it gets. (10:19):
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Jamie: You start to develop your own little editing style and find those tricks that work for you. (10:23):
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Jaayne: So to wrap it all up, we've learned that if you want to make a killer podcast, podcast. (10:27):
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Jaayne: It's not just about what you say, it's about how you say it. (10:32):
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Jaayne: Picking the right microphone, treating your recording space, (10:35):
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Jaayne: and becoming best friends with your editing software. (10:38):
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Jamie: And most importantly, remember that those little details, they might seem small, (10:40):
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Jamie: but they can have a huge difference for your listeners. (10:43):
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Jaayne: It's like anything else, right? Quality over quantity. So tell us, (10:46):
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Jaayne: what are your biggest audio pit peeves? (10:50):
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Jaayne: Have you ever completely bailed on a podcast because the audio was just too painful to get through? (10:52):
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Jamie: Let's hear those audio horror stories. (10:58):
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Jaayne: Share your pain with us hit us up on social media you know we love a good audio rant until next. (11:00):
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Jamie: Time happy listening (11:05):
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Music: Music (11:06):
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