Working remotely has become the new norm. And that even goes for podcasting. As ideal it is to interview a guest face-to-face, it is becoming increasingly necessary for podcasters to have a remote podcast equipment package in their arsenal.
Although podcast remote recording can be tricky to accomplish, it is not impossible and you can create an incredible show if you know the right programs to use to record your podcast.
Thankfully, podcasters can now use interview software for remote interviews. This software will become your new best friend and will be an integral part of your remote podcast equipment bundle.
Why Use Interview Software?
Simply put, you need to use interview software to make your life easier while producing high-quality sounding podcasts.
Having killer content is only half of being a successful podcast. You also need to sound professional. And interview software as part of your podcast remote recording gives you that professional sound.
With so many podcasts to choose from, listeners can afford to be picky. And they are not going to tolerate static or fluctuating volume levels. Even if they enjoy your content, they simply will not put up with it.
Are you going to risk losing an audience, your audience, because of poor audio quality? Didn’t think so.
Plus, remote podcasting software also lets you record your guests as a separate audio track. Having individual tracks for each speaker will make your life so much more easier during the editing process.
So, that is why using specialized platforms to perform remote interviews must be an integral part of your podcast setup.
True, you do need to pay a monthly subscription fee for most of these platforms. But what you get in return surpasses the small fee. Professional sound quality, ease of auditing files, and cloud storage, make it more than a fair trade. Plus, what is your time worth for cleaning a recording? Or, what is the cost of losing potential long-term subscribers to your podcast due to poor sound quality?
Best Podcast Remote Recording Software
So, as you take your show on the road, or stay at home practicing social distancing, here are 10 of the best platforms for podcast remote recording. Any one of them will be a welcomed and necessary addition to your podcast remote recording.
Squadcast
One of the biggest leaders in remote podcasting software is Squadcast. With this platform, you can easily record remotely with anyone in the world and then easily edit the audio.
One of the benefits of using Squadcast for your podcast remote recording is that it uses locally recorded audio for everyone on the call. This means that each voice is crystal clear and audio drift is nonexistent.
A common fear of many remote podcasters is the possibility of losing your recording if there is an interruption or power outage during your podcast remote recording. Squadcast alleviates that fear. As soon as you hit the record button on their platform, all data produced is continuously backed up and stored in the cloud. So, no matter what, you will have a WAV file to access.
And, editing the Squadcast files is extremely easy. Not only does each speaker have their own audio track, but you can easily process or mute any portion of the tracks.
But most importantly, Squadcast is extremely easy for your guests to use. They have to do very little on their side as there is nothing to download nor any account to set up. All that they get is a link that they click. And they are in.
Plans start at $9 a month with fees depending on the hours of audio recordings per month. And, there is a free 7-day trial.
Zencastr
The other big player in podcast remote recording is Zencastr making it another option for your remote podcasting equipment package. This platform also records each guest, regardless of the number of guests, on a separate audio track making editing a piece of cake.
A helpful feature found on Zencastr is that it makes it easy for you to insert your introduction, ad, or any other audio feature into your recording while doing the recording (access is dependent on which plan you choose). This can be a huge time saver in post-production on your podcast.
And not only are files delivered in WAV format but with its cloud drive integration, your recordings go directly and automatically to your Dropbox or Google Drive account. And each recording can go as long as three hours.
Zencastr is also web browser-based making it, again, easy for your guests to join. Access to the recording is via a link. That is all that the guests need. And, as we know that the internet can be unreliable at times, once you start recording, the loss of internet will not stop the recording from happening.
Two subscription plans are available: professional and hobbyist. The hobbyist plan is free and has limited guests and recording time capabilities (though at this time, Zencastr is offering unlimited guests and recording time). The professional plan is $20 a month and includes live editing and unlimited recordings. Currently, there is a 14-day free trial.
Ringr
Another option to add to your podcast remote recording is Ringr. With Ringr, not only do your guests connect to your invite by just a click on a link in an email, but they can connect using either their laptop or the Ringr app on their phone.
Each guest’s audio track is recorded individually ensuring a high-quality sound. Then, after the recording is finished, all the tracks are combined into one recording that is stored in the Ringr cloud. As the host, you will then receive a link via email to access your recording.
Ringr is a subscription-based service with two tiers starting at $7.99 per month: basic and premium. Though both plans offer unlimited storage, they do vary on sound quality, audio format, file type. With the basic plan, you get excellent sound quality, mono file type, and MP3 files.
Whereas with the premium service, you receive studio sound quality, multiple options for audio format, and file type (including stereo and split-track). Ringr offers a free 30-day trial period.
Cleanfeed
Cleanfeed “is a multitrack, multi-party live audio and recording using only a browser” platform perfect for podcasters wanting to do remote podcast recordings.
It is an easy-to-use software that allows you to easily connect and record anyone in the world using either your phone or laptop. And it works with Mac, Windows, Linux, and Android operating systems, so no matter if you change operating systems down the road, Cleanfeed will remain integral to your podcast remote recording.
Using Cleanfeed, you have the option to set your own audio recording preference for either stereo or mono. And, you can also choose if you want to record the session on one track or have a separate track for each guest.
And no matter which subscription plan you choose, Cleanfeed does not limit the length of a recording. They offer a standard plan that is free. And it includes the ability to conference (multiple guests in one session), high-quality sound, and session recording.
Cleanfeed’s pro subscription plan costs $34 a month which also includes multitrack recording, advanced invitations, audio repair, and volume control.
Cast
Cast goes beyond just being a platform to do podcast recording. Yes, it records, but it also allows you to easily edit your recording and then publish it. All members of Cast receive hosting services, RSS feeds, and analytics giving you a complete podcast setup.
But as a key component of your remote podcast equipment package, Cast provides high-fidelity audio that guests from around the world can easily access. And, all your recordings are stored in the cloud.
It’s free to try Cast for 30-days. And, it has two different plans: the hobby and pro. The main difference between the two plans is the number of audio hours you can record each month. Plans start at $10 per month.
ClearCast
ClearCast aims to make your podcast episodes sound like your guest was in the room with you when recording. This is done by recording each guest on their own secure platform and then combining the files into one recording that you can easily download and edit.
Marketing themselves as the solution to alleviate missing parts of a recording and unwanted background static, you can try a free, 20-minute evaluation of the platform.
If you like it, you can then sign up for one of their plans starting at $25 a month. Each plan provides audio in MP3 files. But the main difference is the amount of audio hours you can record.
Soundtrap for Storytellers
For making remote podcasting recordings, there is also Soundtrap for Storytellers to consider. Easy-to-use, this platform offers podcasters some helpful features on its platform, though those features are only accessible on desktops).
For remote podcasting, Soundtrap allows you to share an interview link with anyone, anywhere in the world. Guests do not need to have an account with Soundtrap. To use the platform with a link, all the guest needs is an internet connection and microphone.
And, there is no limit on guests you can invite per episode. And, each guest is recorded on separate audio tracks for ease of editing afterward.
One feature that sets Soundtrap for Storytellers apart for its competition is its interactive transcript feature. During your recording, the platform will automatically transcribe what is said. Moreover, once your recording is in written form, you can easily edit not only the written but also the spoken word in one go.
And from Soundtrap for Storytellers, you can directly upload both your podcast and transcript straight to Spotify giving you a well-rounded remote podcast equipment package.
You can try Soundtrap for Storytellers free for 30 days. After that, the subscription is $11.99 per month.
ConnectionOpen
This online collaboration platform is a contender for being a part of your remote podcast equipment package. Podcasters benefit from the lower latency recording which reduces the number of time delays so there are no unnatural pauses in the recording.
Some possible setbacks to using ConnectionOpen for your remote podcasting needs is that there are certain system requirements for both Windows and Mac users that must be met for the platform to work. And, the tool tends to be more consistent when the laptop/computer is plugged directly into a router or modem.
The other big drawback is that you can freely collaborate with others around the world as long as they have a ConnectionOpen account. If your guest does not, you will need to send them a day pass (which either comes with your subscription plan or that you can buy as an extra).
If you are interested in giving ConnectionOpen a try you can opt for a free, 14-day trial for one of their subscription-based plans that start at $25 a month. The main difference is the number of day passes that come with each level. If you ever need more day passes for guests, it costs $10 per pass that is valid for 24-hours.
Zoom
One of the cheapest options for recording for your remote podcast equipment package is Zoom. And that’s because Zoom is free to use. Though this platform is a video recording service, you can still use it for recording podcasts.
It’s easy to record with your guest. All it takes is to click on the ‘record’ button to start and the ‘stop’ button to stop. Once you properly end the meeting, you can access your recordings. And for audio, you get an m4a file that can be loaded into audio editing software.
If you are tight on a budget, Zoom is a viable option for your mobile podcast equipment. But it should be noted that audio quality is not going to be top-notch. Recordings are compressed and the bitrate can be quite low depending on your internet strength.
Skype
Once upon a time, Skype was the go-to platform for recording podcasts. But those days are long gone. And that’s because other platforms provide podcasters with better tools and better sound quality while Skype has stayed stagnant.
Yes, Skype is free to use. So, you can’t expect to get any bells and whistles with the program. In fact, what you get is a single audio file making it difficult to edit. And, the interview is recorded from a single source rather than having each speaker have their own recording. So, if there are problems at the source, there goes your interview.
But, if you have budget constraints and cannot afford a monthly subscription to the other platforms, there is a way that you can utilize Skype as part of your remote podcast equipment package.
To use Skype, you need to install a separate recording software program. These specialized programs can track your single track recorded from Skype and break it into multiple audio tracks and convert the audio file format.
If you use a Mac, the best software to use is Call Recorder for Skype from ecamm. It is just a one-time purchase of $39.95. For PC users, you can use Pamela for Skype which has a free version to download.
So, there are options for getting interview software for your podcast remote recording. Though it isn’t an option to continue podcasting without having one.
Remember, podcasting depends on high-quality audio. And, how much time do you want to spend on post-production editing? Probably not much as there is always so much to do with a podcast.
Don’t hesitate. Give one of these remote podcasting platforms a try, and it’s doubtful that you’ll go back to your old way of recording a remote podcast.
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