Stop Sounding Like Trash:  Mic Tips That  Actually Work

1. Intro

• Hands-on session. “We learn by doing.”

• Guest: Carson.

2. Why audio matters

• Listeners value sound over visuals.

• Bad audio drives people away.

3. Clean audio tips

• Treat the room (curtains, closets, drop cloths).

• Use good mic placement, not just good mics.

• Control echo, hum, and plosives.

4. Avoid “fix it in post”

• Clean source saves time.

• Bad habits add distortion and phase issues.

• Light editing keeps sound natural.

5. On-mic performance

• Smile—energy is heard.

• Conversational tone beats scripted delivery.

• Filler words are okay in moderation.

6. Remote recording

• Record each side locally.

• Use Zoom or Riverside for video.

• Simple USB or wired mics work fine.

7. Final tips

• Record separate tracks.

• Get it right on the front end.

• Like, follow, and subscribe.

Outline summary

1. Why free tools matter

• You can start on a budget.

• Free tools work if you use them well.

2. Where to find everything

• Podsquadwithjason.com → Section 2 links.

3. ElevenLabs (low-cost)

• Text-to-speech, voice changer, custom voice training.

• Export MP3 for intros and VO.

• Use lightly to avoid uncanny results.

4. Pixabay

• Photos, vectors, video, music, SFX, 3D, some AI assets.

• Pick short stingers (5–10s) for intro/outro.

5. YouTube Studio Audio Library

• Free music and SFX inside YouTube.

• Filter by genre, mood, duration.

6. FreePD

• Royalty-free tracks; credit optional but appreciated.

7. Pexels

• Free photos and videos (no audio).

• Good for B-roll and transitions.

8. Canva 

• Fast cover art and thumbnails.

9. ChatGPT

• Brainstorm episode lists, bullet points, light script polish.

• Avoid rigid teleprompter feel if that’s not your style.

10. Riverside

• Remote & Local recording, editing, clips, captions, reels.

11. Adobe Podcast (Enhance)

• Clean noisy audio; don’t overdo to avoid robotic sound.

• Also captions and audio-to-video tools.

12. Descript (paid)

• Easy captions, audio enhancement, and script tweaks; export fast.

13. Example workflow demo

• Photo → script (90% self, polished in ChatGPT) → ElevenLabs VO → Pixabay music → captions → publish.

14. Wrap / next module

• Free tools recap.

Audacity Workflow, Export, Upload

1. Set Up Your Environment

Record in a quiet, soft-surfaced room (avoid echo).

Turn off fans, HVAC, and notifications.

Use a dynamic microphone (like the Shure SM58 or Samson Q2U) for best noise rejection.

Plug in your mic before launching Audacity.

2. Create a New Project

Open Audacity.

Go to File → New or File → Project → New.

Save immediately: File → Save Project As… → name your project (e.g., Podcast_Ep01).

3. Check Input Settings

In the toolbar, select:

Microphone Input: Choose your external mic.

Channels: Mono (1 channel) is fine for voice.

Playback Device: Headphones (avoid feedback).

Test input: speak into the mic — you should see green bars move.

4. Record Your Voice

Click the red Record button.

Keep mic 4–6 inches away from your mouth, slightly off-center.

Stay consistent in tone and distance.

Stop recording with the brown square Stop button.

Hit Spacebar to play back.

5. Clean Up the Audio

Trim & Silence

Select unwanted noise with the cursor and press Delete.

Use Effect → Silence Audio to quiet background spaces.

Noise Reduction

Highlight a section with only background noise.

Go to Effect → Noise Reduction → Get Noise Profile.

Select all (Ctrl+A) → Effect → Noise Reduction again → adjust:

Noise reduction: 10–15 dB

Sensitivity: 6.0

Frequency smoothing: 3–6

Preview → OK.

Normalize Volume

Select all → Effect → Normalize → set to -1.0 dB → OK.

6. Add Music & Transitions

Import intro/outro music: File → Import → Audio.

Use Time Shift Tool (↔) to move clips.

Lower music under your voice:

Select the music track → Effect → Amplify → reduce by -15 to -20 dB.

7. Edit Like a Pro

Cut (Ctrl+X) and Paste (Ctrl+V) to remove mistakes.

Use Fade In/Out (under Effects) for smooth transitions.

Add short pauses for clarity and pacing.

8. Mix & Export

Listen through once more with headphones.

Adjust levels using the Mixer Toolbar.

Export:

File → Export → Export as MP3.

Choose Bit Rate Mode: Constant, Quality: 128 kbps or higher.

Add metadata: title, artist, podcast name.

Links:

Audacity

Adobe Podcast

Outline summary

1. Goal

• Final module: where to publish and how to reach people.

• YouTube works, but a host maximizes reach.

2. Host choice: Podbean

• Free tier: 5 hours.

• Paid tiers scale ($9/month annual billing and up).

3. Podbean workflow

• Dashboard → Episodes → Add new.

• Upload audio. Set title, description, image.

• Use strong, click-worthy titles.

4. Use AI to help

• Paste transcript into ChatGPT for title/description ideas.

5. Distribute everywhere

• Connect Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon, iHeart, YouTube.

• Auto-push on publish.

• Stats available after launch.

6. Embed on your site

• Grab Podbean player code.

• Paste on podsquadwithjason.com to showcase episodes.

7. Notes

• Spotify is growing fast; Apple still big.

• Start free. Upgrade as you grow.

Hosting Platforms:

Podbean – Free tier (5 hours), easy distribution, analytics.

Buzzsprout – User-friendly, automatic episode optimization, free plan with limited hours.

Spotify for Podcasters (formerly Anchor) – 100% free, unlimited hosting, integrated with Spotify.

Captivate – Built for growth; analytics, private feeds, team collaboration.

Libsyn – Established, reliable, detailed stats, wide distribution options.

Transistor – Professional analytics, multiple shows under one account.

Simplecast – Clean interface, strong analytics, embeddable players.

RedCircle – Free hosting, built-in cross-promotion and monetization tools.

RSS.com – Simple setup, unlimited storage with affordable paid plans.

Blubrry – WordPress integration with PowerPress plugin, good analytics.

Acast – Monetization tools, dynamic ads, strong distribution network.

SoundCloud – Easy start for creators, music and podcast friendly.

Spreaker – Live recording, ad monetization, mobile app support.

Podomatic – Free tier, social sharing tools, simple analytics.

Castos – Integrates with WordPress, video podcasting support, private feeds.