We all want to be nimble and light on our feet when editing and producing our podcasts. Maybe we could do with a little streamlining.
Podcasting is simple but not easy.
Doing good work includes the word work – we are meant to put effort and attention into what we do if it is going to have meaning and value. But it doesn’t require that we get frustrated and feel like giving up because it is just too hard. Somewhere between easy and too-hard, is a place of satisfaction and accomplishment way beyond the average. Your space to claim.
Your podcasting process
Before streamlining you have to know what your process includes.
Imagine your next episode is going to be done by someone else – and you get to have a holiday! Now, what would you have to tell them to do and in what order?
Well done! You have just created a rough version of your process.
It can be surprising when you list it all out – there is a lot to be done and usually only you to do it. If you didn’t actually write it down, why not grab a pencil and piece of paper right now and capture it?
There is a danger of getting lost in the fine detail so let’s back up to an overview. Here are a couple of ways of thinking about it.
- Pre-production
- Production
- Post-production
- Capture
- Tame
- Release
It is the same thing with a different lens – use one of them or create your own. The basic principle – recording is at the centre, with what you do before and what you do after on either side of it.
Here is a slightly expanded example to help you think about your own process
Capture
- Know what your podcast is about
- Plan the episode – title, structure, content, length
- Arrange the interview
- Record the interview – best sound
- add the intro/outro music and narration to taste
Tame
- Fix any noise problems – eg background noise, pops and clicks, plosives
- Reduce high peaks that are out of the normal range (eg compression to reduce dynamic range)
- Balance the levels so guest and host are the same
- Edit recording for content – remember your planning
Release
- Final mix and master
- Output final audio for publishing
- Upload final MP3 and schedule
- create episode notes, website post, social media posts, transcript and audiograms according to your preference
There is way more detail you could include but hopefully, you get the idea.
Now you have captured your current process, we will come back for some streamlining ideas in Part 2
Podcast Circle
Our next Podcast Circle group call is 15th December and you can book here (£15 GBP). We are going to explore the metaphor of dance moves for podcasters – very festive!
I know that keeping going can be more challenging than you think. If you feel like you are stalled, stuck or need a refresh check out my podcast coaching
Something to see
I know this is about video editing but I saw some really helpful ideas that cross over to podcasting – at least a narrative type podcast. Food for thought and interesting in its own right – or is that just me? let me know
Something to hear
Tortoise Media produce a podcast of slow news. As you listen check out what they are doing and how they tell the story and connect with you as a listener. How would you have approached it?
This episode is the story of how some people live in a different world and how podcasts can introduce us to them. Meet Elliott
https://www.tortoisemedia.com/listen/
Something to read
We have looked at mindmaps before – here is a post that compares some of the different types of maps you might find useful as tools and when.
Cognitive Maps, Mind Maps, and Concept Maps: Definitions
Cognitive maps, concept maps, and mind maps are diagramming techniques that can be utilized throughout the UX process to visualize knowledge and surface relationships among concepts.
https://www.nngroup.com/articles/cognitive-mind-concept/
And finally
- Is your work doing something big enough?
- If not why not?