Recording a podcast alone is straightforward—just a microphone and a laptop can get you started in minutes. But what about when you bring a guest into the mix?
Setting up a podcast for two people involves more complexity but can yield more engaging and dynamic content. With the right equipment and setup, you can create a professional studio experience at home, ensuring high-quality audio and a smooth recording session.
This guide will provide the essential steps and tips for achieving the perfect podcast setup for two, making the process seamless and enjoyable.
Key Takeaways Upfront
- 🎙️ Achieve professional-quality audio for two-person podcasts by using separate microphones and proper recording software.
- 🏠 Ensure a quiet recording space with minimal background noise for the best sound quality, using noise-canceling tools if necessary.
- ⚙️ Invest in key accessories like headphone splitters, surge protectors, and quality headphones to enhance the recording experience and maintain equipment organization.
The Pros And Cons Of In-Person Recording
Before we delve into the ideal setup for podcasting with a guest, it’s worth noting the advantages and disadvantages of recording in person.
If you’ve already done a few recordings, then you know that recording in person is much more complicated than using an online conference software such as Zoom. It’s also much more expensive with the right podcasting equipment and there is a lot more work upfront to get it right.
- Popular video conferencing service.
- Supports virtual meetings, webinars, and collaborative work.
- Provides both free and premium plans.
Even though it will be more expensive and a bit fiddly, nothing quite beats podcast recording with a guest in person.
You will also find that recording in person feels much more natural and less artificial, as you can read the social cues a lot easier for a guest when you see them in person and in the same room.
You will also likely experience some lag or delay when conducting remote interviews or recording with a guest over the Internet.
Nothing is more annoying than having to wait a few seconds for your guests to answer your question or vice versa or to repeat what you said because they temporarily lost connection to the conference room.
Choosing A Recording Software For Great Audio Quality
This is likely one of the steps you are already well versed in, and this might be a rehash of what you already know. Depending on the type of computer you use, plenty of free recording software is available.
For example, if you use a Mac, you can access the free version of GarageBand, which has plenty of add-ons. PC users can download Audacity, which is super easy recording software ideal for recording via a microphone.
However, if we had to give one recommendation for studio-quality recordings, it would be to use Adobe Audition with the pro-level option if you are willing to spend some money. This option costs around $20 a month.
Depending on your machinery, you will also need to pick up multiple mics, perhaps a USB microphone or two or an XLR mic, which will need to be used for each participant.
We have seen a single microphone being shared between more than one guest; however, if you want to avoid any issues in the editing stage.
If you have issues, such as a guest moving too far away from the microphone because someone else is covering it, we recommend you go with two microphones, either an XLR or USB microphone, depending on your podcast setups.
You could also use a digital audio interface instead of two USB mics.
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Using A Digital Recorder
Another popular method is to ditch the computer entirely and record using a digital recorder.
Whilst this option can be more expensive, many podcasters prefer to use digital recorders for in-person interviews as they are much less complicated to use and don’t limit you by the performance of your PC, laptop, or recording software.
If you choose a digital recorder, you must purchase an SD memory card with enough memory to record your audio files.
You should be fine with an SD card that has around 32 GB of storage, which is enough for multi-tracking.
You also need to purchase two microphones for this in-person interview using a digital recorder.
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