My purpose, proper right here, is that can assist you to create a podcast within the shortest time doable.
And I’m not simply speaking about any outdated podcast. I imply a nice podcast. Your very best podcast!
As a result of that is the place so many individuals get caught out. It’s the place reveals go to die. The podcaster spends an excessive amount of time making each episode. A lot that it simply would not match into their week and even their life. By that time, it simply drains all of the enjoyable and worth out of all the present!
In fact, it’s price noting that several types of reveals take completely different quantities of time to provide (go ask an audio drama producer how a lot time they spend on dialogue modifying alone!). And generally, spending extra time in your present can enhance the standard, or what you get out of it. However, that’s provided that you spend that point on the appropriate stuff. And I imagine it’s doable to do these proper issues in far much less time than you suppose.
So that is what I’ll do on this article: present you the very best of these “proper issues” and show you how to create the absolute best product within the least doable time.
Who I Am and What You’ll Be taught
By the use of a fast “who the heck’s this man?”: my title is Colin Grey, and I’m a podcaster, author, instructor, and normal dogsbody at The Podcast Host. We create a community of our personal reveals and assist hundreds of others produce their very own via our content material.
Plus, we run a podcast maker instrument known as Alitu. The entire objective behind Alitu is to supply recording, modifying, and publishing instruments that automate and simplify, making it far faster and simpler to create your present. And a number of that is predicated on the “proper methods” that I’ll discuss right here.
Over the previous ten years, I’ve gone from becoming a podcast round a very completely different regular job (instructing lecturers easy methods to train — meta, huh?), to making an attempt to suit as many podcasts as doable into my present job and designing instruments to assist others do it faster!
It was all about reducing out the cruft and determining what’s actually worthwhile in making a high-quality, profitable present. I’ll discuss all these insights right here, together with:
- Methods to plan content material within the minimal time, and in a approach that makes it simple to ship
- Methods to get probably the most from all the things you do create
- Recording & modifying tips to avoid wasting time
- Methods to discover and study the instruments that minimize down on processing time
So, let’s get into it. Time to use a little bit lightning to your podcast!
Why Seasons are Rocketfuel for You and your Viewers
Seasons-based podcasting is probably the most underrated workflow hack within the trade. And, even higher, it’s a large driver of listener success, loyalty, and viewers progress, too.
How? Effectively, there are three causes.
Planning Nirvana
You understand while you flip up at your desk for recording time and suppose: “Alrighty … podcast time. I’ve received an hour to get this child recorded! Soooo … what shall I discuss … ”
An hour later, you’re nonetheless solely midway via planning the episode. And even worse, you’re nonetheless looking at a clean display, making an attempt to think of an idea.
Effectively, right here’s a brand new tack: take an hour of your life and take into consideration your subsequent season as an alternative.
Take a query you typically get out of your listeners, or a subject you recognize you need to cowl, after which break it down. One of many largest errors we make as podcasters is making an attempt to suit an excessive amount of into an episode. We do it as a result of we care. We need to give a number of worth, however truly, it’s shortchanging your listeners, typically lacking particulars, or giving them an excessive amount of to consider abruptly. As a substitute, break that subject down into its element elements.
I did a season on podcast tools some time again. I may have simply coated it in a single episode but it surely’s higher to interrupt it down. One episode on microphones, one on mixers, one on recording software program, and one on modifying software program.
Usually I can work this out in lower than ten minutes for a subject I do know properly. Possibly 20 to 30 if I must do a little bit of analysis. I’ll find yourself with a listing of perhaps six or seven episodes, generally as much as 15 or 20.
Then, I’ll take one other 20 minutes to place some meat on them bones, and do a set of 5 to 10 bullet factors inside every major subject, outlining what I’ll cowl.
By the tip of the hour (or much less!) I’ve received a plan for a whole season’s price of content material, typically two or three months lengthy, perhaps extra.
So now, as an alternative of the same old, “Oh no! What do I discuss this week!”, subsequent time you open up that season plan, take a look at the subsequent episode’s script and hit report. Simple!
And sure, this will nonetheless work for interview reveals. Do all the above, and solely THEN begin to consider company. This makes for much higher content material. As a substitute of simply selecting out random pseudo-famous individuals in your area of interest, only for their title, select primarily based on experience and data.
Search round for weblog posts protecting the matters you have got in your plan. Discover individuals with attention-grabbing angles on these matters, after which invite them on the present. You’ll create much better, way more targeted content material in consequence.
Higher Batching
With a season plan, you’ll be able to actually simply make the most of one other large timesaver: batch recording.
Matthew is my co-host on our “easy methods to podcast” present, Podcraft. It’s a seasons-based present, and we’ve lengthy recorded it in batches. We co-host the podcast, so we will plan a season collectively, after which we’ll report two to a few episodes at a time.
I do know individuals who can do 4 episodes in a single sitting, however we at all times discover we hit a wall round three. Nonetheless, which means we solely have to rearrange recording time each two or three weeks, reasonably than each single week.
Modifying could be batched, too. As anybody who has to do a number of activity switching is aware of, doing just a few of all of them collectively takes far much less time than three separate modifying periods.
Listener-Powered Content material
Each podcaster is aware of they need to be getting their listeners extra concerned with their present. It drives engagement, loyalty, and large listener progress. However, it’s an enormous time suck … monitoring emails, social media, and voicemails each single week could be draining.
Seasons put one thing model new in your toolbox: a break!
On the finish of the season, you say: “Okay, thanks for listening! We’ll be again in 6 weeks, on August 1st. Throughout that point, although, right here’s what I would like you to do. We’re going to cowl podcast tools on the subsequent season. Inform me, what gear are you utilizing proper now? What gear have you ever tried that was garbage? What are your largest struggles or questions with tools that I can reply? Ship me a tweet,or an e-mail, or (better of all) go away a voicemail at ..”
Then you definately take a well-earned break!
In the direction of the tip of the break, you’ll be able to batch-process all of this. Take a day to gather all of it collectively, collate the tweets and the emails, and course of the audio recordings so it’s all prepared for the brand new season. That is a lot simpler and extra environment friendly than doing little drips and drabs each few days.
Even higher, this will energy the planning we talked about above. The questions will direct your episodes, and you’ll plan forward, together with all of the related questions in the appropriate episode. In that approach, you embrace and contain your listeners within the present and drive an enormous quantity of worth and loyalty. Plus, you create higher content material as a result of it’s primarily based on the ideas of actual individuals.
Fly Solo (At Least a Little)
This one makes individuals a little bit nervous, at the very least for people who usually fly with a visitor! Recording alone is likely one of the largest time-saving strikes you may make, notably when you’re an everyday interviewee on different reveals.
In the event you’ve by no means tried it, think about a world the place you don’t must coordinate calendars to discover a time that fits everybody. Think about planning the episode your self, figuring out that you just don’t must immediate your co-host or suppose of some backup questions in case that interview goes awry. Think about having 100% management over what’s mentioned (since you’re doing the saying!), so there are not any tangents, no fluff and no … modifying? Think about simply deciding to report, off the cuff, and 20 minutes later, you have got an episode within the bag.
All of that’s doable with solo recording, plus the additional benefit of showcasing your individual data and expertise for a change, reasonably than your visitor (I’m speaking about interview reveals specifically).
In the event you haven’t tried it, take one episode a month and fly solo. See how a lot time it saves you and the way your listeners may like to listen to what you suppose, for a change.
The Minimal Efficient Modifying Course of
Okay, we’ve deliberate it out and we’ve recorded an episode. Now comes probably the most harmful of potential time-eaters: modifying.
I nonetheless come throughout so many individuals who spend 2x or 3x the size of their present in modifying. For instance, taking two or three hours to edit a one-hour recording. I even meet individuals who spend 5x to 10x the size of their present in manufacturing! It’s simply unsustainable.
A part of that’s dialogue modifying, listening via the entire thing to search out and eradicate their errors. Painful! We’ll deal with that within the subsequent tactic.
The opposite half is audio engineering; specifically audio cleanup, including music or advertisements, layering tracks, and exporting the entire thing.
So, how can we make it simple? By including constraints. You are able to do a lot much less by making use of the appropriate mindset to your modifying. I’ve received two processes right here so that you can attempt.
MEE (Minimal Efficient Modifying)
That is excellent for early-stage podcasters. I typically advocate following this on your first 10 to twenty episodes, at a minimal. There’s a lot you’re studying throughout these first months, and modifying actually is low on the affect checklist. There’s a lot extra worth in working in your presentation and content material design abilities. (Actually, you possibly can lengthen this mindset to any podcaster at any stage.)
Merely minimize modifying down to 2 issues, and two issues solely:
- Trim
- Normalize
Trim means trimming the beginning and the tip solely. Normally which means reducing out the silence and the paper rustling after you hit report and earlier than you begin talking. Then, do the identical for the tip.
Normalize means leveling out the amount of your present. That is the one and solely “audio engineering” activity that’s important. It means your present received’t be too quiet, and the amount of the completely different audio system needs to be comparatively even so that you don’t have your listeners reaching for his or her quantity management each time the speaker adjustments.
Most modifying instruments have normalization options included, such as Audacity.
Discover that this doesn’t embrace dialogue modifying in any respect. So, you’ll be able to’t minimize out errors! That’s a constraint that has just a few advantages:
- You possibly can’t use modifying as a crutch, so that you study to enhance the best way you communicate, quick! Be taught to drop the ums and ahs whereas you communicate, not afterward.
- You keep away from this time-warp rabbit gap altogether as a result of even a little bit “Oh I’ll simply take away that one factor” can flip into an hour of modifying.
- You sound extra human. “Oh, sorry, that’s not what I meant! <snort> Let me say that once more.” That is sincere. Open. Relatable. Individuals establish with you extra carefully.
As a substitute, report with a “reside broadcast” mindset. Faux you’re reside on air, the present has to go on. There’s an opportunity you’ve executed that very factor — Fb, YouTube, Instagram — and survived! So take it into your podcasting, and reap the time-saving advantages. even when simply on your first few episodes.
MEE-V2
Later in your podcasting profession, you may resolve you do need to add a bit extra polish. Whether or not that’s episode 20 or 200, right here’s the 2nd stage: MEE-V2.
- Trim
- Click on Edit
- Noise Discount
- Restrict and Normalize
- Add Music
- Overlap and Fades
That polish comes primarily within the type of music: including your individual audio branding, and placing in some pro-sounding overlaps and fades.
MEE-V2 additionally consists of an additional couple of audio engineering steps. A hard limit helps to enhance your audio leveling, and noise reduction is an enormous assist for many of us who’re recording in bog-standard rooms reasonably than recording studios.
We’re not delving into a number of the audio engineering that you just’ll discover across the podcasting internet, comparable to EQ, compression, de-essing, or plosive removing. These are helpful of their place, positive, polish on your audio — however they’re non-essential.
Lastly, you’ll discover the point out of a click on edit. Sure, I hear you breathe a sigh of aid: now you’ll be able to take away just a few errors out of your audio. However solely the large ones that actually can’t keep in! We nonetheless need to preserve that live-recording mindset to remain human, and we’ll use a click-edit course of that slashes the time required to finish. You’ll see that within the subsequent tactic.
MEE-V3?
Earlier than we transfer on, I’ll point out one other risk right here. You possibly can automate an entire lot of MEE-2 and add much more polish utilizing the appropriate instruments.
I got here up with MEE years in the past in an try to assist our readers defeat the monster that’s modifying. However, even then, it was nonetheless a activity that dragged reveals beneath.
So, we constructed our personal instrument, Alitu, to automate MEE-2, after which so as to add an entire lot extra polish and help on high.
For instance, inside Alitu you’ll be able to report a solo episode, or use our name recorder to herald a visitor. That recording is then routinely cleaned up — noise discount, limiting, normalization, EQ, de-essing, plosive removing, the entire 9 yards. Then it’s popped into the episode builder, which provides your music, overlaps and fades routinely. You possibly can add in any intros or outros required there, too, or any advertisements or inserts for the episode.
All that’s left is to make use of Alitu’s audio editor to go looking out your clicks with 2x velocity management (extra on this under), spotlight the edits, after which hit publish. You possibly can even publish to Alitu’s in-built internet hosting when you don’t have internet hosting arrange but, so it’s multi function place.
Alitu provides a week-long free trial to check out the platform earlier than buying.
Click on Modifying
Now, to click on modifying!
It’s a traditional, however at all times price together with because it’s a revelation to anybody who hasn’t heard it. It tackles the dreaded activity of combing via a podcast episode, minute by minute, to trace down these errors that you recognize must be eliminated.
As a substitute, with click on modifying, I’d usually edit our 30-minute common Podcraft episode in lower than 5 minutes. Right here’s the way it works:
After I make a mistake in my present, I create a visible marker within the waveform by clicking my tongue thrice. It’s also possible to clap, or snap your fingers. All of them work. The objective is to create one thing that’s very easy to see on the waveform while you get into your modifying package deal.
You’re talking. You make a mistake or journey over your tongue, or must cough. So, you cease. You pause for just a few seconds. Click on. Click on. Click on. You pause for an additional few seconds. Then you definately begin talking once more.
That is very seen on the waveform, as proven highlighted in purple.
Meaning, while you get to modifying, you simply get right down to an affordable zoom stage and scan the waveform, on the lookout for these alerts.
Then you definately spotlight the tip of the sentence earlier than the error, proper via to the purpose earlier than you restart, and delete. Mistake eradicated!
Professional Tip: You possibly can fairly simply get within the behavior of remembering the beginning of the sentence earlier than you made your mistake, after which restarting with the identical first few phrases. Which means after I discover a mistake in modifying, I take heed to the re-start first, after which return a bit and discover the identical few phrases earlier than the error. I do know that’s the place I’ve to begin the edit. That saves one other few seconds, each time!
Take Management of Errant Interviewees
Let’s end up with a tactic that not solely comes beneath the class of “time saver,” each in recording and modifying, but in addition bleeds into “improved content material.” It’s the straightforward idea of taking possession of your present, and your content material.
The factor is, interview shows are great when done well. However, they’re typically not executed properly. That may result in sub-par content material, positive, however even worse, it results in an entire lot of additional time in your course of.
It takes extra time to report as a result of the visitor goes off on tangents. Or they don’t keep on level and fail to reply questions. That every one means extra time modifying, making an attempt to chop the fluff, and elevating the standard.
As a substitute, take management, and provides some tips earlier than you begin. Listed here are just a few of the issues I’d say:
- I’d like to share just a few bits of steering. I do know my viewers rather well, and I’ve realized that these might help you come throughout in the absolute best approach with them.
- We wish to hold this present actually conversational. So, attempt to hold solutions brief and sharp, lower than a minute, two at most.
- Don’t fear, we’ll get into element, however I’ll ask in regards to the elements I do know my viewers loves.
- At all times be at liberty to ask me questions again, so we’re each concerned, and it flows properly.
- I will interrupt you sometimes. Not as a result of your content material’s dangerous, however as a result of I do know what my viewers needs and I’ll hold us monitoring with that.
Maintain emphasizing that that is of their finest pursuits. This makes them look good! You understand your viewers, and if the visitor needs to make an excellent impression, then you’ll be able to assist them try this. However, provided that they work with you, and allow you to information the dialog (#3).
That primarily means shorter solutions (#2), and being ready to be interrupted (#5 — and that is a lot simpler while you point out it earlier than you begin).
I’ve additionally discovered that #4 is a very attention-grabbing hack, for 2 causes. First, conversations are a lot better when it’s two methods. And second, asking questions simply places individuals into conversation-mode reasonably than monologue-mode. (It additionally helps keep away from the 5-minute solo tangents which can be the bane of any interviewer’s life!)
How Will You Lower Your Manufacturing Time?
To me, there are two massive concepts to this.
First, easy routines and purposeful instruments. Meaning:
- Maintain your weekly routine as easy and as common as doable.
- Use seasons to simplify your planning.
- Go solo to simplify the logistics.
- Document as when you’re reside and commit to actually easy modifying.
Make it your objective to search out these routines that repeat so to match all the workflow simply into your week.
Secondly, it means utilizing instruments with actual objective. As podcasters, we could be responsible of including in on-trend instruments or ways that take up extra time, reasonably than reserve it. As a substitute, decide fewer, higher instruments, and go deep with them.
The clicking trick is a instrument, use it to avoid wasting hours in modifying. Alitu is a instrument that works nice alongside it, and provides extra options to annihilate the time spent modifying and engineering. In the event that they don’t be just right for you, although, there are dozens of selections. Discover only a few that suit you, personally, and go deep.
Above all, use these ways to hone your private routine, discover the strategies that be just right for you, and provide up all that further time to the content material itself. Use it to speak to your listeners. What do they like? What do they not like? Discover out what they actually need from you. That’s what makes the large distinction. Not an additional move of compression, or a jot of noise discount. As a substitute, get easy, get tooled up, after which you’ll be able to actually begin thriving as a podcaster.
