A big question every new podcaster asks is, “How do I record a podcast remotely?” Not everyone has a studio to rent, so most newbies have to set up a home studio. Part of this includes using a reliable podcast host.
One host option is Zencastr, which offers users several plans and features. Here’s our full Zencastr review and why it might be the best solution for your show.
Zencastr: After a Year of Using It
- Comprehensive Solution: Zencastr is an all-in-one platform for podcasters, streamlining recording, editing, distribution, and monetization.
- Reputable Affiliations: Zencastr has connections with major brands like Netflix, Spotify, The Guardian, CBS, and more.
- High-Quality Recording: Zencastr offers up to 4K video and 16-bit 48k WAV local audio recording, ensuring premium quality even with varying internet connections.
- Postproduction & Enhancement: The platform has postproduction capabilities, smart filters for cleaner recordings, and a live soundboard for inserting audio clips.
- Distribution Freedom: Users get unlimited audio distribution, video podcast RSS support, and easy migration from other platforms.
- Listener Analytics: Zencastr provides insights into listener demographics, behaviors, and preferences to optimize podcast reach and engagement.
- Monetization Opportunities: Users can connect to Zencastr’s Ad Marketplace, join the Ambassador Program, and manage ads with a dedicated suite of tools.
- Try Before Committing: Zencastr repeatedly encourages users to try their platform for free, showcasing confidence in their offerings.
- All-In-One Podcasting Platform
- Record, Edit, Distribute and Monetize
- 4K Recording & 48k WAV Audio Quality
How Do You Record High-Quality Podcasts with Zencastr?
Services like Zencastr are specifically designed to capture high-quality audio with as little background noise as possible.
Zencastr records the audio of you and your guests in separate tracks so that you can edit together the final project to your exact specifications.
To be taken seriously in the world of podcasting, you need to use a service like Zencastr.
How Do You Use Zencastr?
Before you go to town using Zencastr, there are a few things you will need to set up before using Zencastr:
- Zencastr account – You will need an email address to set up your account.
- Computer (can be Mac or PC, but you may want to use a Mac if possible)
- Internet Connection
- Google Chrome Web Browser
- Microphone with a USB connection – As a note, guests may use iPhone earbud headphones and still get a high-quality audio recording, but for the best sound quality you will always want to use a USB microphone
- Stand for the microphone
- Microphone pop filter
Microphone equipment is technically optional, but you should consider investing in these products if you want to make a podcast with the best audio quality possible. A decent mic can make or break a podcast’s audio quality.
Now, let’s review how Zencastr works and get you well on your way to creating incredible audio.
Step by Step Instructions
One of the greatest things about Zencastr is its remarkably easy use. Just follow these steps to get started:
- Once you set up your account, you will want to navigate to your dashboard and click Create New Episode.
- After you name your episode, it will take you to the recording screen.
- From this place, you will be able to adjust your settings and invite your guests.
- To invite, you merely need to send an invitation to your guest’s email address.
- Once your guests are on board, you can also check their settings so that you will be ready to get started.
- Once all systems are go, you will hit the start recording button to begin your audio recording. As the recording transgresses, you will be able to see the sound wave formations as you speak. This feature serves as a great indication of whether your audio recording is proceeding as planned. Once you have captured all your audio, you must hit stop recording.
- After recording, you will see your track and your guests’ tracks on the screen. You can download these audio tracks to begin the post-production process.
Keep in mind that the Zencastr Pro affords you post-production tools. This plan allows you to access a live editing soundboard and 10 hours of automatic post-production per month to make the process from recording to release even easier.
Live editing will save you plenty of time and help you release your recording to the world even faster.
What Pros Does Zencastr Offer?
Zencastr offers a plethora of features that make it easy for budding podcasters to build up a following.
Let’s review some of the most prominent benefits of the product:
- ✅ One Track per Speaker—To streamline the editing process, each of your guests will be recorded on a separate track.
- ✅ Integration with Your Cloud Drive—Zencastr can synch up with your Dropbox and Google Drive, making cloud drive integration a breeze.
- ✅ Chat Capabilities—This feature makes communicating with your guests easily without disrupting your recording.
- ✅ Mute – You won’t have to worry about muddying the audio quality if you are just on the call to produce with this feature.
- ✅ Lossless WAV recording—This file is a step above MP3s in terms of audio quality. Recording in WAV files in 16-bit 44.1k will always enhance your production value.
- ✅ Built-in VoIP—You don’t need to multi-task and also run Zoom or Skype. Voice chatting with your guests directly is possible through the system’s built-in VoIP.
- ✅ Web-based – In this format, Zencastr can be accessed by anyone with internet connections.
- ✅ Simple Guest Interface—The only thing your guest will have to do is click the link sent directly to their email, making the guest experience as simple as possible. You will not have to worry about onboarding your guests into a complicated system.
- ✅ Automatic Backups—The audio files download locally in addition to uploading to your cloud drive, so you always have your recordings even if there is an issue with internet access during the upload process. You will always have a backup just when you need it most. This connection fallback plan could save you quite a headache if you do run into issues.
- ✅ Hours of Recording Time—While you can theoretically record as long as your computer’s specs will allow, the system can confidently support up to three hours of recording time.
Zencastr’s newest feature is a Hi-Fi video recording beta. You can sign up on the website to get early access to this video beta.
These positive features lead many people who review Zencastr to determine that it is a beneficial service. However, Zencastr goes a step further by providing a blog for customers to review to get even more useful information.
Zencastr Mobile
I recently gave Zencastr Mobile a shot on my iPhone and was genuinely impressed.
Key Highlights from My Experience:
- High-Quality Recording: Capturing in MP3, WAV, and dynamic MP4 directly from my phone was straightforward and effective. The local recordings added an extra layer of reliability.
- Connecting with Guests: The interface was user-friendly. Sending a quick link to my collaborators made remote sessions feel as though we were recording side-by-side.
- Postproduction Made Easy: The in-app tools sped up my editing process. Plus, turning my recordings into shareable content was seamless, especially with the direct YouTube integration.
- Ad Choices on My Terms: I appreciated the hands-on approach to selecting ad partners – a simple swipe left or right made the process smooth.
A Quick FAQ Insight:
- Zencastr Mobile’s Purpose: It’s a versatile tool that complements the desktop browser version of Zencastr. The aim? Effortless, high-quality audio and video recording from your iOS devices.
- Android Availability: As of now, it’s iOS-exclusive. But I’ve heard that an Android version is in the pipeline. Can’t wait for that update!
ZenAI Review
- 🔹 Upgrade your content marketing with AI.
Why ZenAI?
- Ditch traditional content creation. Focus on growth without being tied to agencies or full-time dedication.
- Celeb Endorsements: @sarahkatesilverman, @zuck, @tonyhawk, @officiallymcconaughey
How It Works:
- Record & Upload: Either go solo or invite guests globally.
- AI-Powered Highlights: ZenAI handpicks your video’s best moments for platform-specific clips.
- Automated Social Boost: Link social accounts; ZenAI manages posting schedules.
🚀 Results
30 mins a week = 60 posts monthly, 2000% rise in engagement, 1300% watch time boost.
Key Features:
- 🎥 Recording: 4K video, 48k WAV audio, local recording, no time cap.
- 📱 Versatility: Use on desktop or mobile. Record whenever, wherever.
- 💼 Efficiency: From long videos to engaging short clips & posts.
Pricing
$299/month or $3300/year with tons of features (from recording quality, mobile apps, video-audio tools, sharing options, analytics, to cloud storage and team support).
- All-In-One Podcasting Platform
- Record, Edit, Distribute and Monetize
- 4K Recording & 48k WAV Audio Quality
Zencastr Blog
The Zencastr website also features a blog, which is a fantastic way to get up-to-date information about Zencastr services and gain inspiration.
Whether you are a podcast expert or a complete novice, you will likely find helpful information to enhance your podcasting capabilities.
Sample article titles include “Podcast Launch Planning” and “Gaining More Podcast Listeners.” If you want to learn even more about the company, you can follow them on Twitter and Facebook.
What are the Cons of Zencastr?
No technology is perfect, so let’s review some downsides to Zencastr so you can get a holistic view of this product.
- ❌ Lack of video – If you are a visual person who needs to make eye contact while podcast hosting, then this may not be the software for you.
- ❌ Inability to connect with a mobile device – Currently, all users must access Zencastr from a computer.
- ❌ Ineffective with a PC – Digital popping and audio drift are much more prevalent issues when working with a PC as opposed to a Mac.
- ❌ Lackluster support services – If you need help with the program, most often, you will not hear back from Zencastr support services until well after your recording session has finished. This help is often too little and too late to be of any real assistance. However, you can access the support page on the Zencastr page at any time, and the articles on this page may be able to help you solve your problems yourself.
- ❌ Audio drift – Sometimes, when recording multiple people with Zencastr, one audio track ends up being shorter than the other, which can be incredibly annoying during the editing process because the audio files will not match up.
While several of these setbacks are undoubtedly annoying, none are particularly dealbreakers for most podcasters. For most people, the benefits and exciting features far outweigh the negatives.
How much does Zencastr cost? [2024 Update]
Zencastr’s lineup has been refreshed for 2024, with a clear focus on providing enhanced value for podcasting enthusiasts and professionals of all levels.
The previously free Hobbyist and Creator+ tiers are absent from the latest suite, signaling a shift towards a more feature-rich platform overall.
| Plan | For Individuals | For Businesses |
|---|---|---|
| Professional | $18/month (or $216/year) | – |
| Growth | $45/month (or $540/year) | – |
| ZenAI | $299/month (or $3,300/year) | – |
| Enterprise | – | Application required. |
Professional Package – $20/month or $216/year
Serving as the entry point for dedicated podcasters, the Professional package offers unlimited audio and video recording, high-fidelity 16-bit 48k WAV files, and seamless cloud integration.
It’s designed for those who seek a blend of ease and sophistication in their podcasting workflow.
Growth Package – $45/month or $540/year
The Growth package is ideal for podcasters poised to scale their reach. It adds to the Professional tier’s offerings with 4K video capability, enhanced postproduction credits, and broader analytics.
It’s a strategic investment for creators ready to amplify their presence and deepen audience engagement.
Thought Leader Package – $99/month or $1092/year
The Thought Leader package is the zenith of Zencastr’s offerings for podcasting veterans commanding a significant audience.
This premium tier amplifies the features of the Growth package, supporting up to 5 shows, expanding team collaboration, and enabling extensive content distribution capabilities.
Each tier invites users to dive in with a free 14-day trial, providing a comprehensive experience of Zencastr’s robust platform.
Pricing Main Feature Comparisons
| Feature | Professional | Growth | Thought Leader |
|---|---|---|---|
| Credits | 10/mo | 20/mo | 50/mo |
| Video Quality | 1080p | 4k | 4k |
| Clip Profiles | 0 | 1 | 2 |
| AI Clipping | ❌ | ✔️ | ✔️ |
| 1080p Video RSS | 6k | 12k | 36k |
| 1080p Video Views | 60k | 120k | 360k |
| Shows Hosted | 1 | 2 | 3 |
| Page Impressions | 0 | 600k | 12M |
| Team Members | ❌ | 2 | 4 |
With restructuring its packages, Zencastr has positioned itself as a pivotal tool for podcasters aiming to produce high-quality content and foster audience growth in the evolving digital landscape.
Free Trial
If you are unsure which version you would like to use, Zencastr also offers a 14-day free trial of the Professional plan so you can try it without making a financial commitment.
With this option, you can make sure you like all the advanced features before being forced to pay for them.
This trial is definitely the way to go if you want to be 100% sure you are getting the biggest bang for your buck with the professional version of Zencastr. You will not owe a cent if you cancel your trial before the 14 days are up.
What other options exist besides Zencastr?
Several other programs allow you to capture audio remotely, but few even come close to the recording features that Zencastr provides.
Google Chat, Zoom, and Skype will enable you to speak with people worldwide with just an internet connection, but they are not explicitly designed for podcast recording.
These platforms might yield decent podcast interviews, but generally, they are prone to audio issues and disruptions from weak internet connections. You will be much better off going with a system that was specifically designed to capture audio for purposes such as podcasting.
Some other systems are similar to Zencast in their recording capabilities, but each of these alternatives falls short of Zencastr in certain areas.
Cast podcasting does not allow podcast hosts to send the invite link to their guests ahead of time, making it difficult for a co-host to test their audio settings before the recording session.
A plus of Ringr and Zencastr is that they allow users to access them from a phone. However, in our review, we realized that this platform is full of bugs and not reliable overall.
Is Zencastr worth it?
Yes, Zencastr is worth it, especially if you’re looking for an all-in-one platform to record, edit, distribute, and monetize your podcasts efficiently.
Originally known for its remote recording capabilities, Zencastr has evolved into an all-in-one tool, making it better than ever before.
If you’re seeking a podcasting software that effortlessly facilitates conversations with global participants, Zencastr is your top pick. The bottom line remains: the recording quality is exceptional.
