The BEST Production Upgrade Takes 30 Seconds
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Welcome back! We’re getting a little techy this week. But have no fear; we’ll keep it simple!
We’re talking about double-ender recording - a technique in which each participant in a remote episode recording session, in addition to recording on the remote software (Zoom, Riverside, Streamyard, etc.), also records their video and/or audio locally.
No, I’m not talking about heading to your favorite local coffee shop to record. By locally, I mean recording directly on your laptop, computer, or other device using an app like QuickTime Player for Mac users or Screenify Screen Recorder for PC users.
👍 The Awesome:
Since these audio and video recordings are happening directly on your device locally, there is (almost) no risk of glitchiness, and the video and audio will be extra crisp and synchronized (the lips match the voice), since no compression or processing is happening over the internet. This can be a huge recording quality savior when recording participants with a spotty internet connection!
In addition to a strong increase in audio and video quality and fluidity, this is an excellent failsafe since remote recording software, as awesome and convenient as they are, tend to have issues, including even the full loss of an episode recording, in the worst-case scenario.
👎 The Not-So-Awesome:
You’ll get two or more raw files just chilling there, waiting for an audio editor to sync them up for editing and post-production. These files take up extra space on your (and your guests’) laptop or device, so plan accordingly. In the very rare case of user error, the files could get lost, which wouldn’t be the end of the world since you’re also recording a backup version in your remote recording software, right?
The remote and local recordings serve as a fail-safe for each other.
Probably the biggest caveat: It’s an extra couple of steps for your guests. As podcast hosts, we try to make the guesting experience as smooth and fun as possible. That said, FWIW, this technique is a bit more straightforward for Mac users.
☝️ How it’s Done:
Open up a local recording software that records video and audio, such as QuickTime Player for Mac or Screenify Screen Recorder for PC.
Start a New Movie Recording and make sure the correct settings are chosen inside said app - the correct camera and microphone. Check the audio recording levels.
Start recording in this local app in the background.
Carry on recording as usual in your remote recording software (Zoom, Riverside, etc.) and ideally, get your guest(s) to also do steps 1-3 above.
When done recording the episode, stop the local and remote recordings and save them in an organized fashion.
Gather the local raw audio file from your guest(s) and send all files (remote and local) to The Podcast Man for a beautifully edited episode.
👉 The Bottom Line:
Podcast hosts should be doing this 100% of the time for their own recordings.
If you run a solo podcast or a co-hosts-only podcast, you’re all set. Do this!
Where it gets tricky is the asks of the guests:
Especially in the case of PC users, having them set up the local recording software. Even for Mac users, making sure they set QuickTime Player up correctly, including having enough space on their hard drive since files can be easily 5+ gigs, can be challenging. This is an extra pre-episode step that most hosts would choose to avoid for their guests. (Hence: The convenience of Zoom, Riverside, Streamyard, etc.)
Retrieval of the file from the guest. If you’re a prolific podcast host, you may already have something like WeTransfer that makes file sending easy for the guest who may not have or understand Dropbox or other cloud services.
The dilemma continues. Is this an ask we make of our guests, or do we stick with the increasing quality and stability of remote recording software? Riverside.fm is at the forefront of quality and features, but the reliability is hit-or-miss from my personal experience using it with several of my clients. Zoom generally renders a lower-quality recording, but the reliability is top-notch.
Each situation and setup requires personalized support and sometimes a little experimentation to get your process locked in, smooth, and effortless. Be patient, get help, and have fun having some of the best conversations of your life!
Here to help!
-Zack