How to make a tech podcast when remote working

We first had the idea for making our own podcast several months ago and were hoping this was something we could run from our office on a monthly basis. We even went as far as ordering some nice microphones. Sadly, these are currently locked in a cupboard in said office due to the pandemic. We had to adapt our plan of how the podcast would be made and learned a lot about basic audio production in the process. And this is something I wanted to share.

For this blog I want to talk about the software we’ve used to launch our own podcast. If nothing else, it should prove how good a show you can put together without having to invest in an over-priced piece of kit. There are various bits of hardware which are necessary in an ideal world – I will explore these in a separate blog.

The best podcast recording software

The initial thing you need to decide on is the format for your podcast. If, like Babel’s, it is going to be conversation between a host and one or more guests, a good option is Squadcast.

The most significant benefit of Squadcast is that the software has excellent audio quality. For podcasting, this has to be what you prioritise above all else. Even when we are using the built-in mic on our laptops, the audio still sounds great.

This software allows you to record a two-way video or audio conversation, and crucially allows you to record the audio as two separate tracks. This is hugely beneficial as if there is any form of issue on one person’s end, it is easier to rectify than if the conversation was recorded as one audio file.

It’s also very easy to use – your guest doesn’t need to download anything; they simply click the link you share, and you are good to go! Some podcasters opt for Zoom for its ease of use. I love Zoom and its various competitors for what they have offered us all in the last year for staying connected. However, in my view – they are not the ideal choice for podcasts.

Editing your podcast

I think it would be fair to say that Adobe Audition is probably the most used podcast software. I even attended a training course in which I was taught the basics of Audition. However, my instructor also described an alternative that sounded really cool and intuitive. Descript is a program which you can either record directly into or you can use to upload your recording after the fact – this is what we do with the audio file from Squadcast.

The really nifty thing about Descript is that it transcribes your audio into text. You can then edit by cutting, pasting or deleting the text and thus changing the audio. This becomes incredibly handy for removing ‘filler words’ – such as ‘errrm’, ‘sort of’ and ‘like’. Descript really shines a light on how many filler words we all use. The free version highlights the filler words so you know where they are –  the paid version (which you have to get to continue using post-trial) on the other hand can automatically delete the filler words of your choice. Definitely worth paying the extra for!

It’s an incredibly useful piece of software that I can’t recommend enough.

How to share your podcast and build an audience

Once you’ve recorded your podcast, you’ll be keen to get it out there so the general public can luxuriate in your dulcet tones. The best way of getting it to as many ears as possible is to use an RSS feed. We use a feed called Simplecast.

This enables you to get your podcast to the different platforms – the big three are Apple, Spotify and Google. The first time you upload an episode, you will need to go through the slightly elongated process of uploading your show to each of the big three feeds – after the first time it should be an automated process.

Want your own podcast?

Every business should have a podcast. Proportionally not that many do. It is such a useful tool for a whole host of reasons – you can promote yourselves as thought leaders, elvate the topics that matter to you, and engage with influencers. It’s also a great tool for recruitment to show what an interesting workplace you have.

Getting a good podcast off the ground can be a time intensive process. Our first episode consisted of three separate interviews, an advert for an upcoming event, as well as an introduction and closing statement. As well as this, you need to budget for a shed load of editing time.

We are here to help. If you want a podcast but don’t have the time to do it justice, please get in touch with us at newbusiness@babelpr.com and we can discuss what we can offer.

You can listen to our most recent podcast here and also download from iTunes and Spotify.