Podcasting: Sound Booth

The Basics

Blue-microphone-2740 by Scott Ritchie, used under CC BY 2.0                            Blue Yeti Pattern Selector

Recordings today use microphones, audio interfaces, and a computer program. The words and music made into a microphone are converted into an electronic signal and are then carried through a cable into a computer program, which reads and understands the signal as the sound made. Because it can understand the signal, your computer program is then able to play back your sound and allows you editing capabilities.

What are Polar Patterns?

Different microphones can pick up sound from different directions. When considering which microphone you might want to use, it's important to consider where you or your subject should be in relation to the microphone. The Sound Booth at Irwin houses two microphones that can detect and record various sounds from different angles, but it's important to recognize what kind of sounds you'll be recording so you use the appropriate microphone.

Take note of the setting symbols, which you can select on the back of the Blue Yeti microphone.

Understanding Mic Specifications                                    What are Polar Pickup Patterns?

The Solo Show/ Monologue

• Benefits: You don’t need to rely on anyone else to record your episodes, and you’re building a reputation as the authority on your subject. The podcast is also exclusively yours, so you can make calls on sponsorship and monetization. And you don’t need to split the profits with anyone.

• Challenges: Perhaps the most intimidating style of show for the beginner podcaster. One of the biggest challenges of the solo show is getting over the feeling that you’re ‘talking to yourself’ and realising that you’re actually talking to the listener. 

• Example: "The Broski Report with Brittany Broski"

Co-Hosted Show

• Benefits: A great way around the ‘mic fright’ or recording alone is to chat on the show with someone else. If you find the right co-host you have someone to bounce off, debate, or even mock (don’t be too mean!). Some co-hosted podcasts have great chemistry between the presenters. This can create a great listening experience.

• Challenges: Not only do you need to set aside time to record, but that time must also be suitable for your co-host. There’s also the question of ownership: who’s podcast is it, do you split any future income 50/50? And what happens if your co-host loses interest or becomes unavailable in the future?

• Example: "Gayotic with Muna" 

Interview Show

• Benefits: Talking to your heroes. Doing an interview show gives you the opportunity to have a chat with someone you’ve always looked up to. On top of this, your guests will have their own audiences who may listen to the interview and end up subscribing to your show. If done right, you can really grow an audience this way.

• Challenges: Interviewing is a skill that you’ll need to hone through practice, so don’t approach the A-listers in your field straight away. You’ll need to constantly find and approach potential guests, schedule interviews, and rely on others to show up (in person or digitally). You also need to rely on technology (like Skype) to work properly.

• Example: "Thanks Dad with Ego Nwodim"

Other Formats

Narration/Voiceover: The voiceover provides the narrative structure for the story (the ‘glue’ or throughline), and involves “picking and choosing” pieces from the interview(s) and other audio clips to add dimension to the story. 

• Example: "This American Life" 

Fictional Narrative: Reminiscent and often inspired by the radio dramas popular throughout much of the 20th Century, these shows either create original dramatic content or adapt existing written content to the audio drama format. Elements can vary among shows, but most will include multiple voice actors for different roles and sound design, including music, ambience, and sound effects. 

• Example: "Welcome to Night Vale"

Non-Narrated: A type of story where the voices of people in the story comprise most, if not all, of the story itself. While it may be edited by a producer, the story features little to no narration by that producer.

• Example: "Snap Judgement" 

Performance Presentation: A recording of a live presentation of some kind (poem, reading, interview from live event, etc.) that is ‘wrapped’ with a voiceover before and after to contextualize, and/or summarize it.

• Example: "Risk!" 

"The Solo Show/Monologue", "Co-Hosted Show", and "Interview Show" information is slightly modified from ThePodcastHost.com. The "Other Formats" section is slightly modified from "Podcasting and Audio Storytelling - An Incomplete Typology of Podcasts" by Justin Schell, University of Michigan, 2024. Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.