One of the vital necessary traits of a profitable podcast is consistency. Maintaining with a publishing schedule is significant for constructing followers who finally 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 downside?

Hit the file button when you’re touring! And never simply since you need to sustain with that schedule, however as a result of among the finest conversations you’ll ever have are when you’re on the street and in particular person with folks. 

These are golden alternatives usually wasted, however not anymore, as a result of I’m going to inform you every little thing it is advisable to make it work, and make it straightforward. 

[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.]

Gear

Earlier than you head out, it’s necessary to collect and pack the best tools to your on-the-go recording periods. Normally, you’re not going to carry your regular, at-home podcast setup with you on the street.

With that stated, in case your regular setup features a comparatively small, all-in-one manufacturing console such because the Rodecaster Professional II, then which may be value packing together with a few microphones and an SD card to fulfill your wants.

Normally, nevertheless, a transportable however highly effective recording setup is what you’ll be in search of. 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 possible 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 gadget. As a result of it’s small, you may even connect it to a t-shirt or shirt and it’s utterly out of the way in which. 

I take advantage of this setup whereas on the go for each solo episodes and interviews. In the event you’re going to be doing an interview, remember to get a twin cell interface so you may plug in two microphones to file concurrently. 

This setup is restricted in post-edit functionality because it all data onto one monitor, nevertheless it’s the best and most versatile. 

For a fast demo, watch this video that I recorded with my son a couple of years in the past:

Zoom H6N

The Zoom H6N is the final word transportable recorder that means that you can seize the most effective sound high quality when you’re out. There are built-in microphones (and ones you can 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 may have as much as 4 totally different folks, on 4 totally different microphones, recording into 4 totally different tracks on the similar time. As an alternative of utilizing your cellphone to file, this gadget makes use of an SD card to file your information, and it’s straightforward to import again into a pc whenever you get house or again to your lodge room. 

That is the gadget I sometimes use once I’m on the go. I carry two microphones — such because the Samson Q2U — that join through XLR, hit file, and the present is on. Make sure you additionally carry a few XLR cables as these aren’t 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 gadget — that each one is available in post-edit. The convenience of use and handheld portability is superior. Additionally, I really like the power to see the tracks and the sound ranges from every microphone so I do know one isn’t too loud or too smooth. 

Fast tip: don’t overlook your SD card! Belief me. 

Headphones

Headphones are often neglected relating to recording on the go, however as a result of you’ll possible not be in a sound sales space or studio, and doubtlessly in a crowded or trafficked space, it’s necessary to have headphones to have the ability to monitor the sound. 

Is it too loud? Too smooth? Is there an excessive amount of background noise? The one method to actually know is by listening to the audio because it’s coming in. 

My absolute favourite are the Beyerdynamic DT 770 Professional studio headphones. I take advantage of these in my house studio, and in addition whereas I’m out and about.

They’re smooth, comfy, and sound wonderful. They aren’t noise canceling, however they do the job relating to monitoring your sound in an setting that you just may not be aware of or have quite a lot 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 file. It could be a disgrace to have poor audio high quality in your podcast when it might have been averted with one fast take a look at.

Video Digital camera

I gained’t go too in-depth right here, however video podcasts have gotten so well-liked, it’s fairly commonplace to activate the digital camera when conducting an interview on the go. The audio is already taken care of, which is sweet, however a pleasant shot with one digital camera (or extra) can can help you repurpose that chance — usually in an fascinating and visually interesting setting — onto a platform like YouTube, or maybe in an internet course.

The most important concern for video is unquestionably lighting, and we don’t actually need to carry heavy obligation lights with us, will we?

In the event you’re going to be indoors, the most effective situation can be to arrange the interview area near a window with oblique mild and have the digital camera pointing away from it. This can put a pleasant wash of sunshine on you and your interviewee. 

In the event you’re outdoor, someplace that has fixed shade is sweet. Nevertheless, the setting and climate could make it troublesome to maintain every little thing constant. However filming outdoor is fairly superior, so it could be definitely worth the sacrifice. 

Lastly, so far as which digital camera to make use of, use one that you just’re aware of already, if doable. A cellphone might work, or a point-and-shoot digital camera like a Sony ZV-1 with a tripod to screw it into (possibly even a SwitchPod). 

Planning

When doable, 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 good friend and I say we’re going to file “in some unspecified time in the future,” solely to have it by no means occur as a result of the time acquired away from us.

Right here’s a fast order of operations:

1. In a really perfect situation, join earlier than the journey or occasion occurs. Sure, you may at all times meet new folks and plan a podcast session advert hoc, however for the sake of your time and calendar, planning forward is at all times finest.
2. Coordinate a time and place to fulfill. Scope out the areas out there so that you can file which can be as quiet and as echo-free as doable. Be certain you’ve permission to file 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 following presentation in that area.
3. 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 hire an area for interviews. This could possibly be a convention room, lodge room, or devoted studio area on the facility that’s used all day only for this objective. 

Michael Hyatt, one in every of my mentors, as soon as interviewed a dozen folks, one after one other, in a single lodge 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 need to have occur is run out of energy for the interview(s) you’ve scheduled.

Fast tip #2: Typically 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 area you’re in earlier than your scheduled periods, make a take a look at recording first in an effort 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 necessary to recollect who you’re recording for. Your podcast listeners will quickly hit play and have interaction (or disengage) with the dialog you’re having at that second. So, be within the second! 

The explanation I say it’s because it may be very straightforward to change into distracted when recording in a special setting, 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 file, by saying this to myself: “It’ll be like the 2 of us are at a espresso store, simply having a dialog.” You’ve the chance to do exactly that!

(Though I’ve discovered that espresso retailers are not really the most effective for interviews. The espresso maker is a standard nuisance that tends to dominate the dialog.)

The very best factor about assembly and speaking with folks in particular person is that there’s a stage of power that you just simply can’t get in an interview over the web. While 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 may have a incredible dialog, in real-time, and seize all of that nice power for them.

After the Interview

There are some gadgets to handle after the dialog is over. Usually, I do my finest to add information to Dropbox as quickly as I can, that approach they’re protected and might’t be stolen or misplaced.

Second, I additionally take notes from the interview itself (or dictate them) so I can keep in mind the highlights. That is necessary as a result of sometimes I’m recording the intros and outros to those episodes at house; if I wait too lengthy, I’ll overlook all the nice stuff we chatted about.

Past the tech and the audio information, there’s another necessary facet of podcasting whereas touring that I need to depart you with.

It’s straightforward 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 file button will get pressed. Preserve the dialog going when you may, maybe throughout a espresso the following morning, dinner in a while, or follow-up on-line later. Use this chance to nurture the connection you made — it would develop into one thing wonderful!