Sound Great as a Podcast Guest
Podcasting has exploded since the start of the pandemic, and the number of podcast listeners increases daily. According to Edison Research, over one-third of Americans now regularly listen to podcasts. With the medium here to stay for the foreseeable future, landing podcast guest interviews will be a part of many law firms’ marketing strategies in 2022 and beyond.
Being a podcast guest can establish subject matter expertise and increase firm exposure. Luckily, it’s easy to build a solid podcasting setup that won’t break the bank.
According to Zack Glaser, Lawyerist Legal Tech Advisor, a wide range of factors can affect audio quality. He offered a few simple suggestions to achieve studio-level sound quality from any home or office.
Equipment Affects Sound Quality
New podcasters often wonder whether the microphone and accessories used to make a difference in sound quality. The answer is yes—experts say equipment matters. However, with countless audio technology options available on the market, the association between cost and quality isn’t always clear.
Zack distilled his knowledge down to a few reasonable options for the average podcaster: “Simple plug-in Apple headphones can produce pretty decent audio quality, and can even sound better than a Blue Yeti or other popular microphones on the market,” he said. For people doing frequent interviews, though, Zack suggested purchasing a more quality setup for a couple hundred dollars.
“Simple plug-in Apple headphones can produce pretty decent audio quality.”
The Lawyerist Podcast team’s equipment list starts with the Shure SM58 microphone with a foam pop-filter microphone sleeve on a simple microphone desk stand. The setup also includes wired Sony headphones for monitoring, and the Scarlett 2i2 Audio interface to monitor and adjust the amount of volume received.
Audio Alternatives for Podcast Guests
While many people already have AirPods or other Bluetooth headphones at their disposal, according to Zack, this option is less than ideal. Bluetooth devices can run out of battery mid-interview or have difficulty syncing.
“If you’re using headphones, opt for corded ones and hold the built-in microphone piece directly in front of your mouth,” he said.
Above all, Zack recommended not using the computer’s built-in microphone, which will cause distant-sounding and echo-filled audio.
Other Considerations
Regardless of the microphone used, it’s important to keep the distance to the microphone in mind when being a podcast guest. Consistent distance during the interview will result in consistent volume.
“You don’t have to be a statue, but don’t move around or pull away from the microphone too much,” stressed Zack. While the post-interview editing team can raise or lower the volume of too quiet or too loud audio, it’s difficult to edit inconsistent volume.
“You don’t have to be a statue.”
While choosing the right audio setup can solve many issues, it can’t solve for nerves. Most microphones, good or bad, will pick up shaky voices. Alleviate pre-show jitters by reviewing talking points and doing a sound-check in advance.
Podcast interviews can be an excellent marketing strategy for solo and small law firms. Thoughtfully selecting and using the right audio equipment will lead to studio-quality sound even from a home or office.
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Last updated September 27th, 2022
