Probably the most necessary traits of a profitable podcast is consistency. Maintaining with a publishing schedule is significant for constructing followers who finally make it a routine to take heed to your present. 

Sadly — and I do know this from expertise — touring can throw off your podcast recording schedule bigtime. 

So what’s one of the simplest ways to resolve this downside?

Hit the document button when you’re touring! And never simply since you wish to sustain with that schedule, however as a result of a number of the finest conversations you’ll ever have are when you’re on the highway and in individual with folks. 

These are golden alternatives usually wasted, however not anymore, as a result of I’m going to let you know every little thing it’s essential make it work, and make it straightforward. 

[Full Disclosure: This article contains affiliate links. As an affiliate, I receive compensation if you purchase through these links, at no extra cost to you. You can read my complete disclosure statement here.]

Gear

Earlier than you head out, it’s necessary to collect and pack the appropriate tools in your on-the-go recording classes. Usually, you’re not going to carry your regular, at-home podcast setup with you on the highway.

With that stated, in case your regular setup features a comparatively small, all-in-one manufacturing console such because the Rodecaster Professional II, then which may be price packing together with a few microphones and an SD card to fulfill your wants.

Usually, nonetheless, a transportable however highly effective recording setup is what you’ll be searching for. Listed below are some choices:

Rode SmartLav+ with Cellular Interface

The smallest and least expensive possibility combines a wired lavalier microphone and an interface to a tool you doubtless have already got entry to: your cell phone.

Whether or not you’re an iPhone or Android consumer, a Rode SmartLav+ microphone setup can join on to your machine. As a result of it’s small, you’ll be able to even connect it to a t-shirt or shirt and it’s fully out of the way in which. 

I exploit this setup whereas on the go for each solo episodes and interviews. If you happen to’re going to be doing an interview, remember to get a twin cellular interface so you’ll be able to plug in two microphones to document concurrently. 

This setup is proscribed in post-edit functionality because it all data onto one observe, nevertheless it’s the simplest and most versatile. 

For a fast demo, watch this video that I recorded with my son a couple of years in the past:

Zoom H6N

The Zoom H6N is the final word transportable recorder that means that you can seize one of the best sound high quality when you’re out. There are built-in microphones (and ones you could swap out for various recording types), and 4 microphone inputs for various XLR or TRS cables, which is superior for group interviews.

This implies you’ll be able to have as much as 4 completely different folks, on 4 completely different microphones, recording into 4 completely different tracks on the similar time. As an alternative of utilizing your cellphone to document, this machine makes use of an SD card to document your recordsdata, and it’s straightforward to import again into a pc whenever you get dwelling or again to your lodge room. 

That is the machine I usually use once I’m on the go. I carry two microphones — such because the Samson Q2U — that join through XLR, hit document, and the present is on. Remember to additionally carry a few XLR cables as these aren’t often included with USB-specific microphones which have XLR compatibility.

I don’t do any including of intro songs or voiceovers whereas recording on this machine — that each one is available in post-edit. The convenience of use and handheld portability is superior. Additionally, I really like the flexibility to see the tracks and the sound ranges from every microphone so I do know one isn’t too loud or too smooth. 

Fast tip: don’t neglect your SD card! Belief me. 

Headphones

Headphones are often missed in relation to recording on the go, however as a result of you’ll doubtless not be in a sound sales space or studio, and probably in a crowded or trafficked space, it’s necessary to have headphones to have the ability to monitor the sound. 

Is it too loud? Too smooth? Is there an excessive amount of background noise? The one technique to actually know is by listening to the audio because it’s coming in. 

My absolute favourite are the Beyerdynamic DT 770 Professional studio headphones. I exploit these in my dwelling studio, and likewise whereas I’m out and about.

They’re smooth, snug, and sound superb. They aren’t noise canceling, however they do the job in relation to monitoring your sound in an atmosphere that you just may not be aware of or have plenty of management over. 

It’s as much as you if you wish to hold the headphones on whereas recording, however on the very least, take a look at your audio with headphones on earlier than you hit document. It will be a disgrace to have poor audio high quality in your podcast when it might have been prevented with one fast take a look at.

Video Digital camera

I gained’t go too in-depth right here, however video podcasts have gotten so well-liked, it’s fairly normal to activate the digicam when conducting an interview on the go. The audio is already taken care of, which is good, however a pleasant shot with one digicam (or extra) can assist you to repurpose that chance — usually in an attention-grabbing and visually interesting atmosphere — onto a platform like YouTube, or maybe in an internet course.

The most important concern for video is certainly lighting, and we don’t actually wish to carry heavy responsibility lights with us, will we?

If you happen to’re going to be indoors, one of the best state of affairs can be to arrange the interview house near a window with oblique gentle and have the digicam pointing away from it. It will put a pleasant wash of sunshine on you and your interviewee. 

If you happen to’re outside, someplace that has fixed shade is good. Nevertheless, the atmosphere and climate could make it troublesome to maintain every little thing constant. However filming outside is fairly superior, so it might be well worth the sacrifice. 

Lastly, so far as which digicam to make use of, use one that you just’re aware of already, if doable. A cellphone might work, or a point-and-shoot digicam like a Sony ZV-1 with a tripod to screw it into (possibly even a SwitchPod). 

Planning

When doable, attempt to plan an interview or recording session forward of time. I can’t let you know what number of occasions I’ve been to occasions the place a good friend and I say we’re going to document “in some unspecified time in the future,” solely to have it by no means occur as a result of the time received away from us.

Right here’s a fast order of operations:

1. In a really perfect state of affairs, join earlier than the journey or occasion occurs. Sure, you’ll be able to all the time meet new folks and plan a podcast session advert hoc, however for the sake of your time and calendar, planning forward is all the time finest.
2. Coordinate a time and place to fulfill. Scope out the areas accessible so that you can document which can be as quiet and as echo-free as doable. Be certain you will have permission to document in these areas if they’re in occasion areas. I as soon as discovered an empty breakout room at an occasion, which was nice, till a crowd of individuals got here in mid-interview to organize for the subsequent presentation in that house.
3. Get your interviewee’s contact data. This manner, if plans change or somebody is having hassle discovering the opposite individual, contact will be made and an answer will be discovered.

A few of my colleagues have gone as far as to lease an area for interviews. This could possibly be a convention room, lodge room, or devoted studio house on the facility that’s used all day only for this function. 

Michael Hyatt, certainly one of my mentors, as soon as interviewed a dozen folks, one after one other, in a single lodge room. It took all day, however afterward, he had 12 interviews filmed and recorded for later use. It was an incredible use of his time. 

Fast tip: carry spare batteries or a battery financial institution! The very last thing you wish to have occur is run out of energy for the interview(s) you will have scheduled.

Fast tip #2: Typically environmental noise is definitely nice for a podcast; it provides a distinct taste and really feel to the listening expertise. If you’ll be able to seize the sound of the house you’re in earlier than your scheduled classes, make a take a look at recording first with the intention to decide whether or not or not it’s going to work. 

Recording the Dialog

Whether or not it’s a single recorded dialog or a dozen interviews in a single day like Michael Hyatt, it’s necessary to recollect who you’re recording for. Your podcast listeners will quickly hit play and interact (or disengage) with the dialog you’re having at that second. So, be within the second! 

The rationale I say it’s because it may be very straightforward to develop into distracted when recording in a distinct atmosphere, particularly if it’s unfamiliar to you. So right here’s the trick:

Be curious, and benefit from the dialog. 

I all the time begin my interview at dwelling, earlier than I hit document, by saying this to myself: “It’ll be like the 2 of us are at a espresso store, simply having a dialog.” You’ve gotten the chance to do exactly that!

(Though I’ve realized that espresso retailers are not truly one of the best for interviews. The espresso maker is a typical nuisance that tends to dominate the dialog.)

One of the best factor about assembly and speaking with folks in individual is that there’s a degree of power that you just simply can not get in an interview over the web. If you’re within the second, the viewers will really feel like they’re there with you. Now, with a microphone in hand (or hooked up to a shirt) you’ll be able to have a improbable dialog, in real-time, and seize all of that nice power for them.

After the Interview

There are some gadgets to maintain after the dialog is over. Usually, I do my finest to add recordsdata to Dropbox as quickly as I can, that means they’re secure and may’t be stolen or misplaced.

Second, I additionally take notes from the interview itself (or dictate them) so I can keep in mind the highlights. That is necessary as a result of usually I’m recording the intros and outros to those episodes at dwelling; if I wait too lengthy, I’ll neglect all the good stuff we chatted about.

Past the tech and the audio recordsdata, there’s another necessary facet of podcasting whereas touring that I wish to depart you with.

It’s straightforward to complete an interview, say your goodbyes, and transfer on. However right here’s the factor: you simply sat and had an in-depth dialog with somebody in individual! Actual relationships will be constructed from that, particularly for individuals who you’ve by no means actually met earlier than. 

So don’t finish the dialog when the document button will get pressed. Maintain the dialog going when you’ll be able to, maybe throughout a espresso the subsequent morning, dinner afterward, or follow-up on-line later. Use this chance to nurture the connection you made — it would develop into one thing superb!