KU Libraries Makerspace: Podcasting

The Makerspace offers a variety of recording hardware and software, including:

• Focusrite Scarlett 18i8 Audio Interface (for recording up to four users)
• Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 Audio Interface (for recording one or two users)
• PreSonus HP4 Headphone Preamplifier
• 6 Shure SM58 Dynamic Microphones (each with stands and pop filters)
• 6 Shure SRH440 Headphones
• 2 AudioPro USB Condenser Microphones (for plugging directly into a personal laptop)
• 2 iMac Computers loaded with:
  • Audacity, a free digital audio workstation
  • The entire Adobe Creative Suite 

What's the Difference Between Gain and Volume?

Gain focuses on the strength of sound as it is input into the system from the microphone.

Volume focuses on the strength of sound as it is output into our ears through the headphones. 

Both are measured in decibels.

Be Careful with How High Your Gain Is!

The higher/stronger it is, the more sensitive the microphone will be to sound. With high gain levels, your speaker's voice will be louder but you may be able to hear unwanted background noises like fans, other voices, or external sounds. When recording in groups, this can be an issue as a higher gain may cause a microphone to pick up the other speakers' voices instead of isolating their voice to their own microphone/recording track.

What's the Difference Between Stereo and Mono?

Stereo audio plays back different audio from the left and right sides of your headphones, making it sound like the sound is moving around you

Mono audio is a less three-dimensional sound that plays the same sound in both the left and right headphones.

Podcasts are typically made/exported in mono.

Ready to make your own podcast? Here are some steps to take and tricks to follow when setting up your own recording:

1. Download Audacity: a free digital audio workstation that allows you to record, edit, and export audio using a variety of different recording hardware. Audacity works with audio interfaces like the ones we use in the Makerspace, USB Condenser Microphones, or even the built-in microphone on your laptop. Access tutorials for Audacity here.
2. Find yourself a small, quiet space. Avoid rooms that echo or have fans/air conditioning running. An ideal space would be a closet or small office/cubicle. Hanging blankets or fabrics up on the walls is an easy way to dampen the acoustics in any room. Fun fact: During the pandemic, Ira Glass of This American Life recorded his podcast in his wardrobe at home!
   1. See: Glass, Ira (@iraglass). “Recording this week’s show (well, I closed the closet doors while I read my narration). @ThisAmerLife.” Twitter, March 22, 2022, 11:05 a.m. https://twitter.com/iraglass/status/1241757912512499713?lang=en.
3. Use an external microphone with a pop filter. The sound quality from the microphones built into your phone or computer is quite a bit lower than you will get from even a USB condenser microphone. A pop filter helps to filter out the airy popping noises that our mouths make when speaking and enunciating letters like "p". (Contact us here in the Makerspace about getting your hands on a microphone!).
4. Speak slowly and clearly into the microphone. Make sure to sit quite close to the microphone's pop filter and adjust the gain accordingly on your microphone. The quieter you are, the higher your gain must be. On average, you want your voice to register between gain levels -18 to -12 dB.
   1. ​​​​​​​See: Brown, Karis. "Microphone Etiquette." March 9, 2023. University of Kansas.
5. Give yourself a few seconds of silence after you hit record and before you stop your recording. This allows you to have some wiggle room when editing and allows for seamless transitions when going from section to section or recording to recording.
6. If you make a mistake, it's all good! Instead of stopping the recording, take a breath and give yourself a second or two of silence and start your sentence again. You can cut out your mistake in editing. Providing that silence will allow you to cut from silent section to silent section, making a seamless transition from your last correct sentence to your next one.

Ready to publish your work, or wanting to use someone else's publication in your podcast? Learn more about Creative Commons Licensing below!