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One of the essential traits of a profitable podcast is consistency. Maintaining with a publishing schedule is important for constructing followers who ultimately make it a routine to hearken to your present.
Sadly — and I do know this from expertise — touring can throw off your podcast recording schedule bigtime.
So what’s the easiest way to resolve this drawback?
Hit the report button whilst you’re touring! And never simply since you wish to sustain with that schedule, however as a result of among the greatest conversations you’ll ever have are whilst you’re on the highway and in particular person with individuals.
These are golden alternatives typically wasted, however not anymore, as a result of I’m going to inform you all the pieces you should make it work, and make it simple.
[Full Disclosure: This article contains affiliate links. As an affiliate, I receive compensation if you purchase through these links, at no extra cost to you. You can read my complete disclosure statement here.]
Tools
Earlier than you head out, it’s essential to collect and pack the suitable tools in your on-the-go recording periods. Normally, you’re not going to carry your regular, at-home podcast setup with you on the highway.
With that stated, in case your regular setup features a comparatively small, all-in-one manufacturing console such because the Rodecaster Pro II, then which may be price packing together with a few microphones and an SD card to satisfy your wants.
Normally, nonetheless, a conveyable however highly effective recording setup is what you’ll be searching for. Listed below are some choices:
Rode SmartLav+ with Cellular Interface
The smallest and most cost-effective possibility combines a wired lavalier microphone and an interface to a tool you seemingly have already got entry to: your cell phone.
Whether or not you’re an iPhone or Android consumer, a Rode SmartLav+ microphone setup can join on to your system. As a result of it’s small, you possibly can even connect it to a t-shirt or shirt and it’s fully out of the way in which.
I take advantage of this setup whereas on the go for each solo episodes and interviews. When you’re going to be doing an interview, make sure you get a twin cellular interface so you possibly can plug in two microphones to report concurrently.
This setup is restricted in post-edit functionality because it all data onto one monitor, however it’s the best and most versatile.
For a fast demo, watch this video that I recorded with my son a number of years in the past:
Zoom H6N

The Zoom H6N is the final word moveable recorder that lets you seize one of the best sound high quality whilst you’re out. There are built-in microphones (and ones you could swap out for various recording kinds), and 4 microphone inputs for various XLR or TRS cables, which is superior for group interviews.
This implies you possibly can have as much as 4 completely different individuals, on 4 completely different microphones, recording into 4 completely different tracks on the similar time. As an alternative of utilizing your telephone to report, this system makes use of an SD card to report your information, and it’s simple to import again into a pc once you get house or again to your resort room.
That is the system I sometimes use once I’m on the go. I carry two microphones — such because the Samson Q2U — that join by way of XLR, hit report, and the present is on. Make sure you additionally carry a few XLR cables as these are usually not often included with USB-specific microphones which have XLR compatibility.
I don’t do any including of intro songs or voiceovers whereas recording on this system — that every one is available in post-edit. The benefit of use and handheld portability is superior. Additionally, I really like the flexibility to see the tracks and the sound ranges from every microphone so I do know one isn’t too loud or too delicate.
Fast tip: don’t neglect your SD card! Belief me.
Headphones
Headphones are often missed relating to recording on the go, however as a result of you’ll seemingly not be in a sound sales space or studio, and doubtlessly in a crowded or trafficked space, it’s essential to have headphones to have the ability to monitor the sound.
Is it too loud? Too delicate? Is there an excessive amount of background noise? The one solution to actually know is by listening to the audio because it’s coming in.
My absolute favourite are the Beyerdynamic DT 770 Pro studio headphones. I take advantage of these in my house studio, and in addition whereas I’m out and about.
They’re delicate, comfy, and sound wonderful. They aren’t noise canceling, however they do the job relating to monitoring your sound in an surroundings that you just won’t be conversant in or have loads of management over.
It’s as much as you if you wish to preserve the headphones on whereas recording, however on the very least, take a look at your audio with headphones on earlier than you hit report. It could be a disgrace to have poor audio high quality in your podcast when it might have been prevented with one fast take a look at.
Video Digital camera
I received’t go too in-depth right here, however video podcasts have gotten so fashionable, it’s fairly customary to activate the digicam when conducting an interview on the go. The audio is already taken care of, which is sweet, however a pleasant shot with one digicam (or extra) can permit you to repurpose that chance — typically in an fascinating and visually interesting surroundings — onto a platform like YouTube, or maybe in an internet course.
The largest concern for video is certainly lighting, and we don’t actually wish to carry heavy responsibility lights with us, will we?
When you’re going to be indoors, one of the best state of affairs could be to arrange the interview house near a window with oblique gentle and have the digicam pointing away from it. This can put a pleasant wash of sunshine on you and your interviewee.
When you’re outdoor, someplace that has fixed shade is sweet. Nonetheless, the surroundings and climate could make it troublesome to maintain all the pieces constant. However filming outdoor is fairly superior, so it might be definitely worth the sacrifice.
Lastly, so far as which digicam to make use of, use one that you just’re conversant in already, if potential. A telephone might work, or a point-and-shoot digicam like a Sony ZV-1 with a tripod to screw it into (possibly even a SwitchPod).
Planning
When potential, attempt to plan an interview or recording session forward of time. I can’t inform you what number of occasions I’ve been to occasions the place a pal and I say we’re going to report “sooner or later,” solely to have it by no means occur as a result of the time obtained away from us.
Right here’s a fast order of operations:
- In a really perfect state of affairs, join earlier than the journey or occasion occurs. Sure, you possibly can at all times meet new individuals and plan a podcast session advert hoc, however for the sake of your time and calendar, planning forward is at all times greatest.
- Coordinate a time and place to satisfy. Scope out the areas accessible so that you can report which are as quiet and as echo-free as potential. Make certain you might have permission to report in these areas if they’re in occasion areas. I as soon as discovered an empty breakout room at an occasion, which was nice, till a crowd of individuals got here in mid-interview to arrange for the subsequent presentation in that house.
- Get your interviewee’s contact info. This fashion, if plans change or somebody is having bother discovering the opposite particular person, contact may be made and an answer may be discovered.
A few of my colleagues have gone as far as to lease an area for interviews. This could possibly be a convention room, resort room, or devoted studio house on the facility that’s used all day only for this objective.
Michael Hyatt, one among my mentors, as soon as interviewed a dozen individuals, one after one other, in a single resort room. It took all day, however afterward, he had 12 interviews filmed and recorded for later use. It was an excellent use of his time.
Fast tip: carry spare batteries or a battery financial institution! The very last thing you wish to have occur is run out of energy for the interview(s) you might have scheduled.
Fast tip #2: Generally environmental noise is definitely nice for a podcast; it provides a special taste and really feel to the listening expertise. If you’ll be able to seize the sound of the house you’re in earlier than your scheduled periods, make a take a look at recording first as a way to decide whether or not or not it’s going to work.
Recording the Dialog
Whether or not it’s a single recorded dialog or a dozen interviews in a single day like Michael Hyatt, it’s essential to recollect who you’re recording for. Your podcast listeners will quickly hit play and interact (or disengage) with the dialog you’re having at that second. So, be within the second!
The explanation I say it is because it may be very simple to change into distracted when recording in a special surroundings, particularly if it’s unfamiliar to you. So right here’s the trick:
Be curious, and benefit from the dialog.
I at all times begin my interview at house, earlier than I hit report, by saying this to myself: “It’ll be like the 2 of us are at a espresso store, simply having a dialog.” You have got the chance to do exactly that!
(Though I’ve realized that espresso outlets are not truly one of the best for interviews. The espresso maker is a standard nuisance that tends to dominate the dialog.)
The very best factor about assembly and speaking with individuals in particular person is that there’s a degree of power that you just simply can not get in an interview over the web. Whenever you’re within the second, the viewers will really feel like they’re there with you. Now, with a microphone in hand (or connected to a shirt) you possibly can have a implausible dialog, in real-time, and seize all of that nice power for them.
After the Interview
There are some gadgets to deal with after the dialog is over. Usually, I do my greatest to add information to Dropbox as quickly as I can, that method they’re protected and may’t be stolen or misplaced.
Second, I additionally take notes from the interview itself (or dictate them) so I can bear in mind the highlights. That is essential as a result of sometimes I’m recording the intros and outros to those episodes at house; if I wait too lengthy, I’ll neglect all the good stuff we chatted about.
Past the tech and the audio information, there’s another essential facet of podcasting whereas touring that I wish to depart you with.
It’s simple to complete an interview, say your goodbyes, and transfer on. However right here’s the factor: you simply sat and had an in-depth dialog with somebody in particular person! Actual relationships may be constructed from that, particularly for individuals who you’ve by no means actually met earlier than.
So don’t finish the dialog when the report button will get pressed. Maintain the dialog going when you possibly can, maybe throughout a espresso the subsequent morning, dinner afterward, or follow-up on-line later. Use this chance to nurture the connection you made — it’d develop into one thing wonderful!
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