{
  "$type": "site.standard.document",
  "description": "A pre-interview checklist for podcast guests covering computer setup, audio gear, Skype configuration, and environment preparation to ensure a clean recording.",
  "path": "/articles/podcast-guest-audio-preparation-checklist/",
  "publishedAt": "2019-01-01T00:00:00.000Z",
  "site": "at://did:plc:jznynyzgerlqmdbbj33o7wfs/site.standard.publication/3mnll3icujb2z",
  "tags": [
    "Outreach and Email"
  ],
  "textContent": "Preparing Your Recording Environment\n\nFirst, you want to check with your host and confirm how you’ll be handling the interview: Skype? Google Hangouts? Something else?\n\nThen, should you be recording your own audio in case something happens? If so, does the host use an online solution (like Zencastr) or a desktop solution (like Call Recorder for Skype or Audacity)?\n\nOnce you’ve confirmed these details and before your interview, you want to prepare your recording environment:\n\nYour Computer\n\nBefore the interview, reboot your computer.\nTo save memory, shut down programs that automatically load at startup.\nMinimize open programs and browser tabs to as few as necessary.\nConnect to the Internet with an Ethernet cable (hardware) instead of over WiFi if possible. It’s faster, sounds better, and is safe from occasional WiFi dropouts. (To verify you are actually using the wire once you’re connected, turn off your wireless connection just to make sure your connection still works.)\n\nYour Audio\n\nYou want to make sure that your audio is clear, easy to hear, and easy to understand.\nYou must use earphones, earbuds, or headphones when you record. This prevents the sound from the host’s audio from bleeding into your mic, creating an annoying echo. (There’s no way around this, so don’t try and do an interview without headphones. You might not hear it, but it will ruin your recording.)\n\nSkype\n\nIf you’re using Skype for the interview, turn off all notifications inside of Skype. (From Skype, select Preferences | Notifications | Overview and then turn all notifications OFF (uncheck them)).\nAdjust the volume on your computer. (From Skype go into Preferences | Notifications | Audio/Video and then make sure that Automatically adjust microphone settings is checked).\nTest your microphone. Your voice should be consistently registering in the upper third of the meter. If it doesn’t, you may need to play with the volume slider.\nTest your microphone again. Are you using the right input device? Look in the program you’re recording to. Does Skype (or your recording tool) show you as using the correct microphone?\n\nYour Environment\n\nClose your door and tell anyone in the area not to disturb you because you are doing a recorded interview.\nTurn off your cell phone. The signal can interfere with your recording and it would be terrible for your phone to ring during the interview.\nTurn off or unplug any land line phones as well so they don’t ring during the interview.\nHave any reference material that you might need such as notes, web pages, etc. readily available.\nNo shuffling papers, banging things, or typing during the interview. Even if you think you are being quiet, it can still be picked up and recorded.",
  "title": "Podcast Guest Audio Preparation Checklist"
}