Recording Online
Recording a Podcast online
There are many reasons why you might want to record your podcast online - you might be working on a group assignment, your interviewee might live in another city or country, or perhaps you are living in the middle of a global pandemic. On this page we share some tips and tools for recording online. Some of the tools are dedicated audio recorders such as Cleanfeed or Riverside, while others are video conferencing platforms (e.g. Zoom or Teams) that allow you to record your online meetings.
Choosing a platform depends a several factors: what do you have access to as a group? Do you need to see each other while you record? Do you have the skills and software necessary to edit and mix the podcast?
Regardless of which tool you and your co-hosts pick, take a look through our tips for preparing for your recording online.
Preparing For Recording Online
Plan ahead - script your narrated sections, type out your questions, and have an outline of the topics you'd like to cover.
If this is podcast is for a group assignment, elect a group member who is comfortable with the software to schedule and send out invites to the recording session.
Book a practise session to test whichever tool you choose, check everyone's microphone levels, and get comfortable with the platform.
Make sure you're running the latest version of the software and or update your browser before recording.
Is this podcast for an assignment? Don't leave recording until the last minute!
Everyone involved in the recording should wear headphones when possible to help avoid echo.
Using wireless headphones/headset? Make sure they're charged!
Using a laptop to record? Make sure it's plugged in!
Try to get the best possible internet connection (e.g. move closer to your wi-fi router, use a wired connection, avoid other bandwidth-heavy activities such as streaming video).
Find a quiet place to record.
Mute your microphone if you are not planning to speak for a section of the recording.
Get rid of distractions: close unnecessary tabs in your browser, turn off your phone and alerts.
Cue your co-host or interviewees when it is their turn to speak.
Confirm everyone knows you're about to record before you press record!
Check out our interview skills page to learn about open-ended questions, and other strategies for getting the best out of your recording session.
Check out our Narration page or more tips on recording voiceovers.
Tools
Cleanfeed is a freemium, browser-based app that lets you record participants in different locations. A free account will let you save a mixed recording of all of your participants. Interested in using Cleanfeed? Watch their video on getting started with the tool.
Tips:
Works best in Google Chrome
Can't find your Cleanfeed invite? Check your spam/junk mail folder.
Riverside is a freemium, browser-based app that lets you record participants in different locations. A free account will let you save a separate recordings of all of your participants, but not a finished mix of your podcast. You will need to use a multitrack editor (e.g. Garageband, Cakewalk) to mix and save your finished podcast. Watch this video on getting started with the tool.
Tips:
You are limited to 120 minutes of recording time per month with a free account.
The pause button allows you to take a break in the recording without affecting the final recording.
Microsoft Teams is a professional communication tool with video conferencing capabilities. Humber students have free access to this tool.
Follow these instructions on recording a meeting or watch this video on the process.
Tips:
Humber students access Teams by logging in with their Humber credentials to Office365.
Teams will save your recorded meeting as a video file, so you will need to remove the video portion to save your podcast as an audio file.
Zoom is a popular video conferencing tool.
Follow these instructions on recording a Zoom meeting or watch this video on the process.
Tips:
A free Zoom account will limit your meeting to 45 minutes.
Zoom will save your recorded meeting as a video file, so you will need to remove the video portion to save your podcast as an audio file.
Skype is a popular video conferencing tool.
Follow these instructions on recording a Skype meeting or watch this video on the process.
Tips:
Skype will save your recorded meeting as a video file, so you will need to remove the video portion to save your podcast as an audio file.
Google Meet is a popular video conferencing tool. Institutional Google accounts (i.e. those linked to a school, college, or workplace) allow you to record meetings in Google Meets.
Follow these instructions on recording a Zoom meeting or watch this video on the process.
Tips:
Google Meets will save your recorded meeting as a video file, so you will need to remove the video portion to save your podcast as an audio file.