Podcasting Q&A

How to record phone calls for a podcast

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Krystal from The Proffitt Podcast asks, "What is the best way to record someone using a phone for a podcast interview?"

TL;DR
It's not uncommon to have a guest interview lined up where the only microphone that person has access to is the one on their smartphone. In that case, you just want to keep things simple so your guest can focus on what they want to say and not on the tech involved.

So in this episode, we'll share some coaching tips you can give to your guest to get better sound quality as well as several software options that allow you to record phone calls.

Phone Call Recording Tips

Tip #1: Make sure they are in a quiet space. Nothing ruins a recording faster than screaming children, barking dogs, our crazy amounts of echo. Help them find a quiet space with good acoustics (Heck! Tell them to go in their walk-in closet) to get a better recording.

Tip #2: Have them use Apple Earbuds or something similar. Even if they don't own an iPhone (which comes with a free pair of headphones), chances are they know someone with a pair of Earbuds or AirPods. The directional microphone in these headphones is significantly better than the one on their phone and will help cut down on unwanted background noise.

Tip #3: Make sure they have a solid internet connection or cell phone signal. No software can save you from a poor internet connection or cell signal, so make sure they have strong connection and you're hearing them clearly before you begin.

Recording Software Options

#1. Zoom.us (our favorite)

Zoom is a really versatile platform. You can provide your guest a phone number that they can call in on or they can open up a Zoom meeting in the web browser on their phone. Plus the audio quality is significantly better than the other two options on our list.

#2. Skype

There's a good chance your guest is familiar with Skype and has used it in the past. Have them download the Skype app on their phone and join the interview that way. We recommend pairing Skype with audio recording software like Ecamm Call Recorder or Audio Hijack for best results.

#3. Google Voice

If you need something quick and easy the record a phone-to-phone interview, Google Voice is it. Just send your guest your Google Voice number (which is free to create), press 4 to start recording, then download the audio file when you're done.

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Sarah :

Today's episode, you'll learn how to record remote podcast interviews using just your smartphone. Welcome to Podcasting Q&A while you learn the best tips and strategies to launch, grow and monetize your show. This week's question comes from Krystal.

Krystal :

Hey, it's Krystal here from The Proffitt Podcast and I have a question about recording long distance podcasts. So I know that there are many podcast guests that have never been on a podcast before and the technology totally freaks them out. So what is the best way to record someone using a phone for a podcast interview? I appreciate it. Thanks, guys.

Sarah :

Thanks for your question, Krystal. Now it's not uncommon to land a guest and their only microphone option is their smartphone. it's best just to keep things simple. So if a phone is all they have to use, let them use that and focus on what they want to say rather than doing something like mail them a microphone or entire podcast studio and teach them How to set it up. So first we'll share some coaching tips that you can offer to your guests so that they can get the best audio quality possible. And then we're going to go through several recording software options so that you can record phone calls. So tip number one is to make sure that they're in a quiet place where they won't be interrupted. So they can go to their spare bedroom, their home office, even if they have a big walk in closet, have them go in there. Clothes are really great for muffling background noise. And if you need to lock the door to your spare bedroom, do it you don't want a kid or a dog running in and just making a lot of noise. Tip number two is to use Apple earbuds or something similar. So the microphone on someone's smartphone isn't really that great. So they can use headphones or Apple earbuds, those microphones are just a little bit better so you can get some better audio quality. Tip number three is to make sure that they have a really solid internet connection or cell phone signal because the truth is no matter how how good your setup is on your end, or the recording software that you're using. If your guest doesn't have a good internet signal or cell phone signal, and you can't hear them clearly or it gets cut off, it's just gonna be really difficult to edit it out, I was doing an interview with a guest who had a really poor Wi Fi signal, and we just kept getting cut off. And it ended up being six different audio files and had to figure out what was what so make sure that before you start recording that they have a strong Wi Fi signal. So let's talk about some recording software options that you can use. The first one is zoom. And what's so great about zoom is that it provides you a phone number, which you can then give to your guests can call in for the interview. And on your end. You can have your podcast studio set up however you have it, you can even use your own microphone and the audio quality resume is actually really good, better than the other two options that we're going to talk about, which is why zoom is actually our topic. commendation for recording phone calls. The second option is Skype. Now what's so great about Skype is that chances are, your guest already knows how to use it, or already has downloaded the software. So in that case, have them use their smartphone app to dial in, and then you can record the interview that way. And on your end, you can use recording software such as Ecamm recorder, or audio hijack to record the interview. The third option is Google Voice. Now Google Voice is the easiest phone to phone option. It's simple. You just have your guests dial into a free Google Voice number, you're probably going to sacrifice audio quality. But if you want something super, super simple, this one is it. All you have to do is to give your guests your free Google Voice number they call in, you press number for the audio records and then you download it when you're done. So now you know how to get good audio quality from your guests, even if they're using a smartphone and the top three recording apps out there. So thanks for sending us your question Krystal. If you have a question you would like To answer on future episodes of the podcast, please head to speakpipe.com/Buzzsprout or click on the link in the show notes and record a brief audio message. Podcasting Q&A is available in both video and audio format. If you prefer video, please subscribe to our Buzzsprout YouTube channel. And if you prefer podcasts, you can find Podcasting Q&A, your favorite podcasting app. And don't forget to leave us a review on pod chaser so we know how to make the show even better. That's it for today. Thanks for listening. And as always keep podcasting