The Podcast Engineering Show

Hosted by Chris Curran | Podcast Engineering School

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247

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May 2024

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About the show

Chris Curran chats with podcasters and audio experts about their equipment, software and workflow. You will learn step-by-step how they are producing podcasts, solutions to common audio issues, and plenty of tips and tricks. You will glean A TON of audio engineering knowledge and skills that will make a HUGE difference in the quality of your sound, and save you a lot of time.

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May 15, 202415 min

249: Production Workflow of My New Show, Fractal Bitcoin (video and audio)

In this episode I detail my production workflow for my new show, Fractal Bitcoin. I publish daily episodes both as video and audio-only. Fractal Bitcoin covers Bitcoin news and other Bitcoin topics. Overview my current audio equipment setup: RE20 microphone — https://products.electrovoice.com/na/en/re20/ sE Electronics DM1 Dynamite Active Inline Preamp — https://seelectronics.com/products/dm1/ Neve Portico II Channel Strip — https://www.soundonsound.com/reviews/rupert-neve-designs-portico-ii-channel Sound Devices MixPre-6 Gen.1 — https://www.sounddevices.com/product/mixpre-6/ Overview my production workflow: Gather posts and news stories from Nostr, X and a few other industry websites. (Takes me around 2 hours) Order all the posts and stories for the shownotes. Create a title for the episode. Create a 16x9 thumbnail for the episode using ChatGPT which uses DALL-E 3 to generate images. — https://chatgpt.com/ Restart my computer. Arrange all the browser tabs. Open OBS Studio and do a short test recording. (My audio levels, video camera and lighting stay the same everyday) I record my episode as if it's LIVE to a .mov file at 1920x1080, 60 frames per second, video bitrate at 16,000 kbps, and audio bitrate at 2304 kbps. (My average video is about 15 min. long, which ends up being around a 2Gb .mov file) First I produce the video: Process the audio in iZotope RX: Make it a mono file, usually Silence any lipsmacks and noises (can't delete anything because the audio has to line up with the video) Level it to -16.5 LUFS mono or -13.5 LUFS stereo (for video) Save it as a 32-bit .wav file Bring the raw video and processed audio into Screenflow. Usually I don't need to make any edits but sometimes I do. — https://www.telestream.net/screenflow/overview.htm Render the video as a .mp4 file at 1920x1080, 60 frames per second, video bitrate at 16,000 kbps, and audio bitrate at 256 kbps and audio sample rate at 48kHz. (The resulting file size ends up being the same as the raw video recording — about 2Gb for a 15 min. long file) Upload and publish the video to YouTube, Rumble, Bitchute, TikTok, and Flare.pub (a Nostr platform to which I upload a smaller 960x540 version) I promote my YouTube video on Nostr, X, Instagram, LinkedIn, and a few other platforms. I also post the Youtube link to my Locals community that I'm growing. I also use Opus Clip to create 5 shorts from each of my daily videos. I post all 5 to YouTube Shorts, Instagram Reels, TikTok and LinkedIn. — https://www.opus.pro/ Then I produce the audio-only podcast: I edit the audio a bit: Remove any isolated umms and flubs Reduce the length of any dead air, if there is any, in order to speed up the pacing slightly. Level it to -18.5 LUFS mono or -15.5 LUFS stereo (for audio-only podcast) Save it as a 32-bit .wav file as well as an .mp3 file (96 kbps mono or 192 kbps stereo). Tag the .mp3 using ID3 Editor. — http://www.pa-software.com/id3editor/ Upload .mp3 to Captivate along with shownotes and publish. — https://www.captivate.fm/ For my website I use Podpage which automatically brings in each podcast episode from Captivate as a blog post. I'm able to quickly optimize the post, add the YouTube video, and add images, etc. — https://www.podpage.com/ FRACTAL BITCOIN LINKS: YouTube — https://www.youtube.com/@fractalbitcoin Rumble — https://rumble.com/c/c-5471042 Twitter — https://twitter.com/fractalBitcoin Nostr — https://nostr.com/npub1jz42cy8qxw6dres86sn0cr42hww24pnjqssa4k9wxqvzm5l0mvqsq2f5ku Instagram — https://www.instagram.com/fractalbitcoin/ A GREAT BITCOIN RESOURCE: BOOK — The Bitcoin Standard by Saifedean Ammous — https://saifedean.com/tbs OTHER NOTES: The start date for the next PES semester is JUNE 4, 2024! (fyi, the course is delivered once per quarter) Check out the PES YouTube channel. My smaller course for editors/producers who want higher-paying clients: Getting New Clients at Higher Rates. Let me know if you have any questions or need any help with anything, ~Chris

January 18, 202413 min

248: Eight Lessons in Podcast Audio Production

I overview 8 podcast production tips and techniques from recent blog posts (see list below). My blog posts discussed in this episode: Upward Compression --*** FabFilter video on Upward Compression Is It Necessary to Tweak the Sound of Royalty-free/Stock Music Tracks? Want To Approach Potential Clients but You Have a Fear of Rejection --*** Rejection Proof book Unplugged Kingsize Megaphones in the Pähni Nature Centre by students of the Estonian Academy of Arts Can Some Particular Microphones Exacerbate Sibilance? Podcast Editing: A Chore or Labor of Love? Are Your Podcast Episodes Loud Enough? Independent Podcast Editors and Producers: Are You Profiting Enough? Other Notes: If you ever have questions please reach out! The start date for the next PES semester is February 20, 2024! (fyi, the course is delivered once per quarter) Check out the PES YouTube channel If you'd like to share this show with any of your podcaster friends, feel free to send them a message saying, "Btw, here's a show about podcast audio production you may find useful" with this link: https://podcastengineeringschool.com/subscribe/ My smaller course for editors/producers who want higher-paying clients: Getting New Clients at Higher Rates Let me know if you have any questions or need any help with anything, ~Chris

June 9, 202354 min

246: Tom Pink on Sound Design for Podcasts

Listen to my conversation with Tom Pink - Head of Mix, Mastering and Sound Design at Noiser. We discuss sound design in podcast production including lots of helpful tips - basics, advanced, nuances, and lots more. You're welcome to check out some of the shows Tom and his team are producing at Noiser.com. Other Notes: If you ever have questions please reach out! The start date for the next PES semester is June 27, 2023! (fyi, the course is delivered once per quarter) If you'd like to share this show with any of your podcaster friends, feel free to send them a message saying, "Btw, here's a show about podcast audio production you may find helpful" with this link: https://podcastengineeringschool.com/subscribe/ My smaller course for editors/producers who want more good clients: Getting New Clients at Higher Rates Let me know if you have any questions or need any help with anything, ~Chris

February 14, 202323 min

244: Ten Terrific Tips for Podcast Production

I overview 10 podcast production tips and techniques from recent Daily Goody posts Feb. 14 thru Mar. 9, 2022 (see list below). You can sign up to receive Daily Goody's in your email every day or a weekly roundup. Sign up here. Daily Goody posts that I discussed in this episode: The Debate Over Editing Out Breaths vs. Leaving Breaths In How To Handle Clients That Won't Heed Your Advice To Improve Their Audio Quality Using Pixels to Track Podcast Ad Stats? Here's the article I mentioned Reasons I Sometimes Use Volume Boost in My Podcast Player App RØDE Broadcaster (Microphone) What Equipment Do You Recommend for New Podcasters? Here's the post I mentioned: An Inexpensive Podcasting Equipment Setup to Sound Great Fabfilter Pro-DS, an Exceptional De-esser When a Remote Guests' Internet Fails and They Disconnect Want Me to Dial-in Custom Settings for Your Voice? (EQ, Compression, Etc.) Editing the Timing Between a Question and the Answer Other Notes: If you ever have questions please reach out! The start date for the next PES semester is April 4, 2023! (fyi, the course is delivered once per quarter) If you'd like to share this show with any of your podcaster friends, feel free to send them a message saying, "Btw, here's a show about podcast audio production you may find helpful" with this link: https://podcastengineeringschool.com/subscribe/ My smaller course for editors/producers who want more good clients: Getting New Clients at Higher Rates Let me know if you have any questions or need any help with anything, ~Chris

December 20, 202228 min

243: Ten Advanced Podcast Production Tips

I overview 9 podcast production tips and techniques from recent Daily Goody posts Jan. 19 thru Feb. 11, 2022 (see list below). You can sign up to receive Daily Goody's in your email every day or a weekly roundup. Sign up here. Daily Goody posts that I discussed in this episode: Expecting a Plugin Preset to Do What the Name Says My Experience Opening and Operating a Brick and Mortar Podcast Studio for 3 Years – PES 230 When Editing Out Silence To Increase Pacing, Be Sure To… Loudness Range of Final Episodes – What's Good and What's Bad? The "White Glove" Service: Engineering Client Recording Sessions Remotely Using Cable Labels to Reduce "Spaghetti" Confusion in Your Studio Best Sounding Microphone Emulation *For My Voice* Using My Sphere L22 Microphone Gain Rider Plugin: DynaRide2 Should You Ask Remote Guests to Record Their Own Audio Locally? Best Recording Tip for Someone Who Speaks at a Soft, Low Volume [VIDEO] MaxxVolume Plugin for Podcast Production (Handy as Heck!) As I mentioned, here's episode 225 where I used the Sphere L22 with the U47 emulation. Other Notes: If you ever have questions please reach out! The start date for the next PES semester is January 10, 2023! (fyi, the course is delivered once per quarter) If you'd like to share this show with any of your podcaster friends, feel free to send them a message saying, "Btw, here's a show about podcast audio production you may find helpful" with this link: https://podcastengineeringschool.com/subscribe/ My smaller course for editors/producers who want more good clients: Getting New Clients at Higher Rates Let me know if you have any questions or need any help with anything, ~Chris

November 21, 202225 min

242: Nine More Production Tips For You

I overview 9 podcast production tips and techniques from recent Daily Goody posts Dec.13, 2021 thru Jan.17, 2022 (see list below). You can sign up to receive Daily Goody's in your email every day or a weekly roundup. Sign up here. Daily Goody posts that I discussed in this episode: Putting the Finishing Touch on Your Podcast Audio Before Publishing How Much Would You Like To Earn Producing Podcasts, $25k/year? $50k? $100k? Corey Marie Green, Author of The Podcaster's Audio Handbook – PES 228 Get Fuller Sound by Manipulating Harmonics Do This Before New Years Day Urgent Advice for Any Podcaster Using a Blue Yeti Chris's Goody Bag – PES 229 Do You Breakdown and Put Away Your Equipment After Recording, Or…? Brainworx bx_console AMEK 9099 Please Don't Ever Use Your Computers Built-in Microphone for Recording Podcasts Riverside's Noise Suppression Feature VIDEO: CLA-2A Compressor/Limiter Plugin (Waves) for Podcast Production Other Notes: If you ever have questions please reach out! The start date for the next PES semester is January 10, 2023! (fyi, the course is delivered once per quarter) If you'd like to share this show with any of your podcaster friends, feel free to send them a message saying, "Btw, here's a show about podcast audio production you may find helpful" with this link: https://podcastengineeringschool.com/subscribe/ My smaller course for editors/producers who want more good clients: Getting New Clients at Higher Rates Let me know if you have any questions or need any help with anything, ~Chris

September 21, 202219 min

239: Mistakes I've Made Producing Podcasts

Today I'm going to discuss some mistakes I've made producing podcasts. Microphone: In this episode I'm using my Electro-Voice RE320 microphone plugged into my Neve Portico II channel strip (using compression, EQ and a bit of saturation). The same microphone you see in my daily short videos here. I mention a recent hiking experience I had where a guy who saw my shirt (which says Ask Me About My Podcast) and asked, "What's your podcast?" And then immediately added, "JUST KIDDING!" We all laughed and he didn't ask again so I didn't mention my podcast at all. HA Mistakes I've Made Producing Podcasts: I published one of my client's episodes with 30 seconds of silence at the beginning. The client alerted me and I fixed it immediately. During an online recording session, after a participant dropped off and then returned, I forgot to press record again in Squadcast, but of course I was recording a local backup which I ended up using (though it was a bit of a pain because all participants were mixed together in the backup recording). NOTE: Squadcast fixed this issue a long time ago. On an in-person recording session I forgot to hit record and realized it after about 5 minutes so we had to start the episode over again and sort of feign authentic enthusiasm when redoing the intro. I've mixed audio on my monitor speakers while mistakenly using the calibration profile for my headphones. Untold inaccuracies using processors too aggressively, or not aggressively enough — Compression, de-noise, de-plosive, EQ, etc. Other Notes: If you ever have questions please reach out! You can sign up to receive Daily Goody's in your email a few times per week or a weekly roundup. Sign up here. The start date for the next PES semester is January 10, 2023! (fyi, the course is delivered once per quarter) If you'd like to share this show with any of your podcaster friends, feel free to send them a message saying, "Btw, here's a show about podcast audio production you may find helpful" with this link: https://podcastengineeringschool.com/subscribe/) Let me know if you have any questions or need any help with anything, ~Chris

June 30, 202230 min

236: Nine Tips for Podcast Audio Production

I overview 9 podcast production tips and techniques from recent Daily Goody posts Oct. 25 - Dec. 10, 2021 (see list below). You can sign up to receive Daily Goody's in your email every day or a weekly roundup. Sign up here. Daily Goody posts that I discussed in this episode: What is Mastering in Podcast Production? Musicians Can Fund Their Music Careers by Earning $50-150 Per Hour Producing Podcasts From Home Name One Song That Sounds Amazing/Perfect to You AKG K 240 MK II Stereo Studio Headphones Background Noise Is Exacerbated by Compression SplitEQ from Eventide 3 Different Categories of "Noise" to Avoid When Recording Podcasts One Participant Using a Condenser Mic, the Other Using a Dynamic Mic Do You Feel Hurried or Chill When You Edit Your Podcast? Other Notes: Podcast Services Mastermind Workshop ($199) - A one day immersive and collaborative in-person event designed to build & grow your service based business! Full explanation of the program HERE. If you ever have questions please reach out! The start date for the next PES semester is Sep. 13, 2022! (fyi, the course is delivered once per quarter) If you'd like to share this show with any of your podcaster friends, feel free to send them a message saying, "Btw, here's a show about podcast audio production you may find helpful" with this link: https://podcastengineeringschool.com/subscribe/) My smaller course that I mentioned: Getting New Clients at Higher Rates Let me know if you have any questions or need any help with anything, ~Chris

June 10, 202242 min

235: My Experience at Podfest 2022

I've attended every single Podfest since 2014. And this year it was great to see so many friends and colleagues in person again! Here are some of my experiences, notes and highlights of the event: MY TALK: "How to Use Compression & Normalization (Mandatory for Creating Professional Grade Audio)" ---> The full presentation will be published soon! Outline what I covered: Normalization (Peak and Loudness) (When and where to normalize audio) Compression (Why, controls) (Demonstrations of compressors, upward compression, vocal riding, limiter, and a great sounding plugin chain) *Audio Production Challenge for my listeners: Compress the ultra-dynamic audio clip that I used for demonstration in my presentation and send me your processed audio file! Links to Apps and Plugins I Mentioned in My Talk at Podfest 2022 on "Compression and Normalization" Link to 4 recent overview posts: What is Compression? (Audio Processing) Introduction to Compressor Controls What Are Audio Plugins? (Audio Processing) Introduction to Plugin Chains PODCASTING 2.0, CRYPTO, BLOCKCHAIN, ETC.: Spoke with several podcast industry pro's about Podcasting 22.0, crypto integrations into podcast feeds and websites, etc. Hardly anyone was talking about this. It's still VERY early. The Florida Bitcoin & Blockchain Summit PRESENTATIONS I SAW: Seth Silvers, CEO of Story On Media --- "The Roadmap To Using NFTs To Engage Your Podcast Audience and Increase Revenue" Focus on "how can NFTs help build my community, instead of how can NFTs make me money." Think of an NFT as an access card. "Gratitude" NFTs just for people to support the show. (offer NFTs of every episode, etc.) Never-ending tickets. Uncut.fm "Collect NFTs from your favorite podcasts" TikTok presentation by Melissa Hughes *Mindset when creating TikTok posts: Document instead of create. WHAT I WAS INSPIRED TO CHANGE/DO: Create a new short course?? TikTok posting for marketing purposes? (Am I really going to commit to this?!?!) Join a songwriting group (which I discussed w/Ashley Lehmann) Other interesting things I learned about: Snowpixel: AI-generated images (Natalie Champa Jennings told me about this) "Dream 100", gatekeepers, (from my conversation with Seth Silvers) -- The Dream 100 are relationships with people and/or companies who can help me market my business to their audiences. Instead of focusing on marketing, focus on building these 100 relationships. MY OVERALL EVALUATION OF THE ENTIRE EVENT: All in all very good Perhaps too many speakers and tracks, etc. Felt a bit too spread out I should have bought groceries PEOPLE I HUNG OUT WITH: Seth Silvers Jennie Wren Steve Stewart and Mark Deal Glenn the Geek Mike Helms Marc Johanssen Roy Stegman Harry Duran Natalie Champa Jennings Ashley Lehmann Paul Desmond Adams Gordon Firemark Bryan Entzminger Julia Levine Ross Brand Dave Jackson Dan Hughley Daniel Abendroth MANY OTHERS! NOTE: The next semester of PES starts on June 28, 2022.

May 6, 202232 min

234: Into the Goody Bag With Chris and Barry

I overview 8 podcast production tips and techniques from Oct. 6 - Oct. 22, 2021 (see list below). You can sign up to receive these Daily Goody's in your email every day or a weekly roundup. Sign up here. Daily Goody posts that I discussed in this episode: Captivate's Interview Management & Guest Booking Platform Integrates With SquadCast Remote Recording Using WiFi vs Ethernet Cable Being Ready at Least 5-10 Minutes Before Each Recording Session How to Make Decisions Regarding Buying New Plugins Podcast Intro Music: How Loud Should It Be? Bad Edits Are Terrible – Don't Make Bad Edits! iZotope RX 9 Using "Room Tone" When Editing Podcasts Other Notes: If you ever have questions please reach out! The start date for the next PES semester is June 28, 2022! (fyi, the course is delivered once per quarter) If you'd like to share this show with any of your podcaster friends, feel free to send them a message saying, "Btw, here's a show about podcast audio production you may find helpful" with this link: https://podcastengineeringschool.com/subscribe/) My smaller course that I mentioned: Getting New Clients at Higher Rates Let me know if you have any questions or need any help with anything, ~Chris

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