Podcasts are an episodic series of digital audio talk shows which can be for the purpose of storytelling or can even be informational. Anyhow, it is becoming an increasingly popular method for distributing content. We were all familiar with the format of television series, however listening to podcasts is becoming increasingly popular. One reason for this could be how podcasts leave the picturization of characters and events to the listener’s imagination. This format also saves a whole lot of memory and data since it is only the audio without any video.
With this format gaining such popularity, there has been a rise in the number of people who create such content for podcasts, the podcasters. A number of platforms have been created not only for the purpose of streaming such podcasts but also to create, record and edit the content; for example, google has come up with Google Podcast.
Since podcasts are essentially audio tracks, one can use GarageBand to also create, edit and master these tracks. Apple users can easily access this extremely user friendly application from their devices.
This article will walk the readers through the basic steps of creating a podcast using GarageBand and will also help them to avoid some common mistakes that are usually made by the users.
- Tips to set up the microphone:
While setting up the mic is a simple process in GarageBand, it is an extremely crucial step. One should be careful of not adding any distracting effects on their vocals since that might distract the podcast listeners and lower the voice audio quality. When setting up the mic the user should select “Empty Project” and not “Voice” as that will add unnecessary fx to the voice and distort the quality. Another important thing is selecting the input and output devices. Choosing the headphone output on AT2005 USB mic is recommended to monitor the voice with low latency.
- Tips to save and archive a session:
It is essential to save the podcast in a clearly demarcated folder and consistently save the file throughout the process of recording and editing, so as to not lose it. One simply needs to go to “File” and click on “Save As” to save the track.
Once we “Save As” is clicked, the user will see that the file is getting stored within a default folder of their computer. It is always recommended to create a subfolder for every single podcast. One may even want to create further subfolders for respective seasons and sessions. That helps the user keep track.
- Tips to monitor vocal effects:
Most users make the common mistake of leaving the vocal effects on a channel (like reverb and echo). Due to this, it becomes very difficult to mix the particular track later on, and are very difficult to remove. It is highly recommended to set up (turn off) all the effects manually by oneself to ensure a clean and dry signal of the audio. Users should turn off all plugins, master echo and FX.
- Tips for recording:
Users must always remember to turn on monitoring for the track. Another important thing they should keep in mind is setting the recording level. It is located in the settings below each track, next to the compressor/echo/eq effects (that must be turned off). When the recording level is set, the actual volume of the microphone input is affected.
- Tips for editing the track:
Users should be careful while dragging clips to organize the session. They may open the “Track-specific Edit Window” for a closer look at the tracks and their arrangement. One very important tip at this stage would be to delete the unwanted content and “Split at Playhead” by clicking CMD+T. This way, once all the tracks are put together and overlapped, there will not be any unwanted or distorted gaps and pauses in between the compiled track.
- Tips for adding music:
Music files can be dragged onto the GarageBand timeline by opening “Finder”. The volume of the music should be regulated so that the voice over stands out. One must always automate a fade out to the volume of the music in order to make the transition sound smooth.
- Tips for exporting:
One must create a new “Exports” folder for all their episodes. They should choose the proper export settings and should export a WAV file at the highest quality, at bit rate, that will be supported by the mic.
It is advisable to record 1-2 seconds of empty space at the beginning of each track. Clicking on edit will join the regions, merge the new blank recordings at the beginning of the timeline with the audio later in the timeline. This way it becomes easier for the podcast editor to align the beginning of the track.
These were a few tips that can help podcast creators who choose GarageBand platform for recording, editing and mastering their podcast. Keeping these points in mind will help the creators make the most of the platform and get best results.
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