What types of Podcast bases do you find? Let me introduce you into the three types of bases you find in Podcasts and notice if it will suit your needs, your skills, will your listeners be satisfied with the bases you choose and will they relate to it? You do not want to choose the wrong foundation to find half way you have made the biggest blunder in your career and it costs you thousands of dollars.

There are three types of Podcasting basis. By weighing up the pros and cons of each type, for a clear direction what basis suits you, your situation and your needs, and what the best base will be for your listeners. The three types of Podcasting bases are the Interview based Podcast, The Topic based Podcast and the Co-Host based Podcast.

Interview Based Podcast.

The guest brings the content. Prior to the Podcast recording, powerful relationship building in your niche market takes a large slice of your time, but is worth every second of it. Podcaster gurus used this strategy to build a seven-figure income business in a short time. You have a superb platform to reach out to your guest speaker, a voice and a Podcast.

For you the Podcaster, there is not a ton of preparation to do. You wake up in the morning, set up the equipment, know what questions you are going to ask your guest and let the conversation flow. You only prepare the guest introduction.

If you are not very well clued up with the speaking skills, work on it and you will drastically improve over time. Soon you will speak with confidence and a new microphone will give you a magic voice.

Your well-known guests in the niche market have already obtained a large audience. Successful and inspiring entrepreneurs all have one point in common and that is a massive audience. Send your guest an email the following morning with all the links in place to share with his audience. When you start from zero in the broadcasting world, you expose yourself to massive audiences for the first time which impact over a long time.

There are Cons in the broadcasting world, for instance finding your first guests are not always easy. Scheduling is a nightmare, but with time you will reach the top and automate the biggest part.

In reality, not all Podcasting experiences will shine, no matter what you do. There are also surprises, for instance, when you hesitate to publish a Podcast and expect the worst, listeners might email you saying that your interview struck a chord in a great way that inspired them.

When competing Podcasters see your success they might copy you, with the result the interview procedure might become repetitive to the listeners. Be unique, find your hook and your Podcasts out there!

Topic based Podcast

You are not relying on anyone else, it is just you. Some of these Podcasters are so gifted, they get up in the morning, switch on their microphones and discuss what they want to talk about. They do not have to find a guest, wait for him to show up for the interview, and then the show on the road. You do it all, for instance, you find topics and do research on what you want to host. You build authority and credibility in these topics and niche markets.

The problem with topic based Podcast is you will need to curate content you need in an interesting way, furthermore you are responsible for the growth, there is no help from the massive audience from a guest, it is just you and your knowledge. Guard against repetitiveness without fresh perspectives.

The Co-Host based Podcast.

From a listener’s point of view, there is nothing more refreshing than listening to two people who are in sync with each other. The jokes they make, and the witty sayings can make your day.

It allows for guest opportunities. There are shows with a co-host and a guest, it is double as much fun with the three people promoting your podcast.

Both these hosts need to share the same vision.

A leader who does take charge and steer the show in a new direction to avoid a stalemate.

The sad fact of life is when the two co-hosts paths diverge and their vision change and they go into their separate ways.

Have you ever created a podcast before? Was it something that was new and exciting for you? If not, then more than likely the problem was with the "setup" of creating your podcast. Different people create podcasts in many different ways, but you will want to take an organized approach to making it a success, and to making it famous on the podcast directories.

Creating podcasts are very easy. If you already have a pile of YouTube videos piled up on your computer, you can extract the audio from these videos and use them as your podcast content. You can use a tool like "ArcSoft Video Impression" to do this. But I have to let you know … this software isn't cheap – but it's worth it's weight in gold.

Today I want to talk about how to go about creating your podcast and the supplies that you need to make it happen. They are very simple and easy, and once you see all that you need, you will have wished you'd known this earlier. Here's the first thing you need to create a podcast (this one should be obvious):

1) Microphone

When I say microphone, I'm not talking about any of those cheap "text-to-speech" software out there on the marketplace. These kind of software are no good, and they are things that you will definitely want to avoid. They sound like robots, and the quality is awful. So stay away from those.

Instead, invest in a good microphone and try it out for yourself. You personality will come through the microphone … something that a free speech software can't do. People will grow to accept you and your voice, and over time, you will be recognized as a leading expert in your niche – all because of your podcasts. Here's another thing that you need to create a podcast:

2) A music file converter

Most podcasts come in MP3 format. This is known as a "compressed" format, so it's not as high quality as .WAV or .AIF formats that are of super high quality. But you will still want to use MP3 format when creating your podcasts. Simply buy an MP3 converter on the internet.

.WAV and .AIF files are incredibly large. It would take you a very long time to upload them to iTunes, and by the time it's finished uploading, the upload would have probably "timed out" because the file is so big. So instead, use MP3 format, and use a software like "Audacity" to convert your files into MP3 form.

Audacity is very simple and easy to work with, and you can merge sounds, delete sounds, edit scripts, re-arrange lyrics and voices, and so much more. And like I said it's free, so it's something that you will definitely want to use in your online business today.

Podcasting is easy and once you get the hang of it and get traffic from it, you will want to do it all the time. Hopefully you will get a chance to do it one day.

Good luck with your podcasting efforts today.

When inspiration strikes, you can have a sleepless night. If the concept for a new podcast is keeping you up nights, you might appreciate these three steps you can take right now to create a winning podcast for visibility, influence and self-expression.

The first step is to “see it done” before you begin. Get a clear idea of how your podcast will be integrated into your world. Once you vision its role in your business or your life, you can better make all the decisions that need to be made for podcast creation.

The next step is to get clear on your content strategy. Are you going to interview experts in your field? Are you going to share your own expertise as the solo speaker? The easiest way to have a podcast go and grow viral is to invite guests. Each guest will share your show with his or her fan base, and this exponentially grows a podcast with the greatest ease.

Once you have clarity on your framework and vision, you can start making a list of everything else that goes into podcast creation. Here’s a quick list:

-Choose your microphone

-Choose your broadcast company

-Choose your method for recording (by teleconference, in person)

-Create a square podcast logo that shows your show’s name built (ITUNES requires the dimensions of 1400 by 1400 pixels)

So there’s some work that goes into creating a podcast behind the scenes that you’ll need to take on, but the results are worth it.

Create a Search Engine Optimization (Keyword) Plan

The last easy step you should take is to create a search engine optimization plan. This may not seem logical, but as your podcast is getting ready to be born, it won’t have a lot of connections to other programs or websites. So the easiest way for it to be found is if you choose some keywords that describe the podcast.

For example, let’s say a podcast focuses on entrepreneurs and how to grow a business. The podcast creator should do some keyword research so that as each episode is released to the world, the episode is categorized (named) with keywords that will help new listeners find the show.

Podcast audiences on the whole are exceptionally loyal and like to listen to four or five podcasts every week. The listening audience tends to binge download episodes of programs for events like commuting to work or taking a longer day-trip. Make sure your episodes are about the same length per show.

And don’t forget to have fun! Happiness is contagious. Happy podcasting!

It’s the first anniversary of the Work Alchemy podcast! I’m so delighted to have brought you these inspiring and in-depth conversations with entrepreneurs and leaders who combine conventional business success with really making a difference in the world.

More than anything, that’s what I want for you: financial success + positive contribution = IMPACT. In the podcast, you can learn how these entrepreneurs and leaders did it. And I’m looking forward to bringing you more!

I’ve learned a lot along the way, and want to share it with you, so you can create your own pro-level podcast. Think of this article as Podcasting 201. For the basics, check out What You Need to Know To Start Your Own Podcast.

The good news is, you don’t need a professional studio or dozens of high-level technicians to help you. Podcasting like a pro is accessible to every business owner with even nominal resources.

Here are 8 strategies to up the quality of your podcast to pro level:

1. Create a substantial backlog

If there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s to create a significant backlog of episodes. If you’re broadcasting weekly, then I recommend at least a month ahead. It’s inevitable that interviews will have to be rescheduled and major projects may slow you down in creating new episodes. When you create a backlog, you’ll make better and lower-stress decisions about everything to do with the podcast, from subject matter to technical considerations. Plus, your audience will love the consistency.

2. Surprise people

Once your podcast is up and running for a while, the novelty starts to wear off. Even if your topic or theme continues to engage people, give people a good reason to listen to new episodes by mixing it up.

If your podcast is you alone, then bring in some guests for a panel or interview. Do woman-in-the-street interviews on your topic at an event (so you can regulate sound quality).

If your podcast is a series of interviews, then bring in your own perspective with just you as the host and guest. As I’ve discovered with my own podcast, people want to hear your perspective!

3. Offer different lengths

Your listeners don’t always have time to listen to that full 55 minute interview, even if it was fascinating. Give people a variety of lengths to listen to, so they can choose a shorter episode if their time is limited.

Some podcasts have a defined or consistent shorter length. While that can make it easier to listen, there’s also a limit to how deep you can go with a subject. Make a choice about whether you are going for ease or depth. That will depend on who your listeners are.

4. Listen to your listeners

Consider your topic and your audience. It’s worth getting to know your listeners and their preferences. You can ask people to give you feedback on your podcast, either from your email list or on the podcast itself. Social media is a great way to learn what your listeners want. I’ve gotten so much valuable feedback that way.

5. Engage listeners from the first moment

The introduction to your podcast is important. Write it so that it captures your audience’s attention right away. Use it to set the tone and deliver important information about what’s to come.

Even if people have been listening for a while, different aspects of a familiar introduction will pop into their awareness each time they hear it. So, make every word count.

6. Include a call to action

Most podcasts aren’t monetized directly, so include a compelling call to action in your podcast. Think about how the podcast fits into your overall marketing and business strategy. Keeping in mind how the podcast can influence your business, what call to action will serve that best right now? Asking people to join your email list, offering a product or service, or inviting them to an event are all possibilities.

7. Be careful how you monetize

You can also monetize your podcast more directly. Some podcasts are monetized by advertising, or through corporate or foundation funding. In these cases, state the advertising or funding in every episode, to give people a clear idea of where the financing comes from. That’s a legitimate way to keep your podcast going and even provide you with some income to create it.

I’ve learned recently of a podcast that charges people by the episode to be on it. In that case, the owner is leveraging their large audience to allow people to gain exposure. Keep in mind, though, that many podcasts with large audiences are looking for guests that do not have to pay.

Another tactic I’ve seen is to use this paid approach to be indirectly connected with the famous by association. A word of caution: to maintain the trust of your audience, don’t mislead your people about who you podcast “with” in these paid arrangements. It could well backfire on you if you are found out.

Outside of this practical consideration, I would never advocate misleading people. Be careful not to undermine your credibility with questionable tactics. Once trust is lost, it’s hard to regain. Make your product or service great and develop an engaged community, and you won’t have to sacrifice your integrity to be successful.

8. Help people find the nuggets

Pulling out the great moments in your podcast will draw your audience in a different and attractive way. Send them an email with podcast nuggets, as I have done, or create separate, much shorter episodes with highlights from the full recording. That way, people can just pop in and still benefit from the key points.

I’ve even augmented this approach with my own take on what my guests have said, to add value. All of that can be delivered in a very compact package of time that makes it easy for your audience to read or listen.

Podcasting has become more and more popular as a way for people to promote their businesses. Help yours stand out from this increasingly crowded avenue of visibility by offering a professional approach, one you can be proud of and that fits into your overall strategy.

It used to be that creating a podcast was for professionals only, or at least someone who knew a lot about programming, but no more. Creating a good quality podcast is rather simple if one has the right tools and information. By the time this article is done, anyone reading it should have a firm grasp of what is needed when creating a podcast.

Before we get started let us go over a few basics as to what a podcast is. Podcasting started in 2004 and is a binary file which can be either audio or video for which an RSS feed has been created that anyone can subscribe to using a RSS reader. RSS stands for 'Really Simple Syndication' and was the brain child of Dave Wiener who developed the specifications for RSS feed.

He decided that a RSS feed could not only contain text but it could link to a binary file. Once a new binary file has been emitted or released by the publisher, the RSS reader automatically gets it. The RSS reader is normally called a pod catcher or podcast client like iTunes which is the most popular one.

The binary file could be audio, video, a picture, or anything other than text and could even be an application better known as apps. So a podcast is a way of distributing media video or audio using a RSS feed.

Now that we know a little history, the first thing to do in creating a podcast is getting an audio editor and recorder program. Audacity is a good one to get and you can download it at audacity.sourceforge.net. It is a free cross platform audio editor and recorder which means it works with PC, Mac, and Linux.

Once this is done use the microphone on your computer to start recording your podcast. To get better sound use a standalone microphone like the Plantronics.audio 655 USB multimedia headset for about $ 30 on Amazon. Using an usb connection instead of an analog headset is better to get a cleaner sound but analog can work as well.

Be careful when buying professional microphones as they are not designed to work with computers so you would have to get an usb interface connector if you wanted an usb connection with a professional microphone. Having a good microphone is important in order to ensure that you get a clean and crisp sound.

Shure makes some really good microphones that have the ability to dampen ambient noise or surrounding noise. This is also important so your listeners hear you and not what's going on around you like car noises outside, children playing in the background etc.

Having a website is also good to have when starting a podcast. It allows people listening to you the ability to find you and get more information about you. Many companies like Squarespace or HostGator offer great website building templates as well as hosting.

Once you are done recording your podcast, you want to make sure all the audio levels are good and clean. You can do this by transferring the audio file from audacity to levelator which is also a free cross platform normalization application that will automatically improve and normalize your audio.

Always remember to listen to your podcast before you publish it to make sure everything sounds correct. Once that is done you want to export the file as an mp3 file because it is a small compressed file which makes transfer a lot easier. To do this you will need to download something called lamecodec which is an open source mp3 codec that turns your file into an mp3 file.

When you are exporting the file out you want to add metadata to your Mp3 file that way when someone downloads it they will see a title and artist track. Things you would normally see when downloading any audio track. All of these things you would have in audacity.

When everything is done you will be asked about the size of your MP3 file as to how big you want it. If your podcast consists of talking only use mono. However, if music is involved you can still use mono instead of stereo however always keep your audience in mind and chose the size you think is best to listen to if you were them, but as a rule you can use mono 64kbits / sec mp3. The reason is that mono is half the size of stereo so it makes a smaller file.

Now that your audio is ready to go, you need to host it somewhere. A good place is Archive.org. You can upload for free with no bandwidth cost to you. It might be a bit slow for download but for the beginner it might be worth it. Sign up for an account fill out all the pertinent data and click share.

The next page will say your page is ready. You can then embed the code into a blog if you want and people who go to your blog will see it and have the option to download.

All that is left now is to convert it into a RSS feed. FeedBurner at feedburner.com is a good place to go to get podcast turned into an RSS feed. Once you have done this you are done.

Now that you know how to create your own podcast, start sharing your wealth of information with the world.

A podcast connects with your audience more than text. People who take the time to listen to your podcast are much more involved emotionally when they hear your voice, rather than reading that exact same information in a blog post.

When you hear someone saying things you agree with, or talking about how they have encountered the same problems you have, you begin to like and trust that person.

But when creating a podcast, the most difficult thing for most people is coming up with good podcast content on a regular basis. You may have a great voice, lots of followers and listeners and loads of confidence, but without the content to go along with it, your podcasts will fail.

Here are 6 ideas for coming up with things to talk about in your podcast.

1. Personalize It

Speak about a personal story or experience. If you’re creating a video podcast, do something adventurous such as a bungee jump or skydive and record the entire experience.

2. Current Affairs

Go through the news and generate podcast content about subjects that are applicable to you and your audience. Give your own thoughts and opinions on these subjects. Keep in mind that a podcast is similar to having your own radio show, but to a specific target audience who are interested in what you have to say.

3. Conduct Interviews

Reach out to the people who have related podcast content to you. You can both work together marketing each other’s podcast. You can interview them for your podcast and they can interview you for theirs. That way, you both get direct exposure to new audiences.

4. How To Guides

Create some useful how-to guides on topics and tasks which people usually find challenging or difficult. You can also produce useful checklists or cheatsheets that can go along with the podcast. These can be uploaded into the podcast notes and emailed to people who request them. It’s also an excellent way to develop your email list!

5. Daily Life

Did something funny or unusual happen to you recently that you can speak about? Can you connect something that happened back to the niche of your podcast?

6. Check With Your Audience

As your audience grows, don’t be scared to ask them what they would like you to talk about in your future podcast episodes. This gives you issues that are relevant to your audience, can help you come up with new ideas. It also demonstrates to your audience that you really care what they think and feel and that you’re there to help them.

There you are, flipping through the radio stations yet again, looking for SOMETHING, ANYTHING, worth listening to. Maybe you’ll find a song here or there that you like, or a talk show on a subject you are interested in. Then it’s time to flip the stations again. “What I need,” you think to yourself, “is my own personal radio station.”

Enter the world of podcasting! Podcasting is just like having your own radio station, programmed with your favorite items and ready for you to listen anywhere, anytime. With podcasting, you can listen to:

[o] WHAT you want

[o] WHEN you want

[o] WHERE you want

No more searching and hoping to find a radio station that plays your favorite music. No more missing a talk show broadcast because you are sitting in class or in a meeting at the wrong time. With podcasting, you get just the content you want, from the sources you want, when you want. And there are no ads or commercials! What Tivo has done for your TV viewing, podcasting can do for your radio listening, and there is no FCC regulations either!

So what exactly is podcasting? A podcast is an audio file stored on the Internet that you can download to your computer or MP3 player and listen to whenever you want. It might be music, or it could be a talk show, a lecture, a recorded tele-seminar, a sermon, a football game, etc. Podcasting gives you the ultimate in choice and convenience.

o Podcasting is all about… CHOICE

Podcasting offers you unlimited choices in listening. Even though podcasting is a relatively new technology, there are already thousands of podcasts to which you can subscribe. No radio station in your city that plays the indy music you love? Check out East Detroit Radio.

Want to improve the koi pond in your backyard? Subscribe to Koi Club of the Air.

Parenting questions? Try the Front Porch Parenting podcast.

You can find a podcast on literally any subject you are interested in! In fact, http://www.podcastalley.com currently lists 2,380 podcasts in 15 different categories, while http://www.ipodder.org lists 4,493.

Another advantage of podcasting is that, because podcasts can appeal to niche audiences, they can cover their topics in much greater depth and be far more informative than regular radio broadcasts, which must appeal to a wide audience. Also, with a podcast, you can back up and listen to a segment again if you missed something the first time. If you come to a segment that is boring, you can fast-forward. You can listen as many times as you want to all or part of the podcast. And you can stop listening all together for a few minutes, hours, or even days if something else comes up.

o Podcasting is all about… CONVENIENCE

MP3 files have been available for download from the internet for years. But what makes podcasting different and truly useful is that you can subscribe to programs you are interested in. This means you don’t have to check your favorite podcast web sites every day for new episodes and manually download them.

Instead, free podcasting software automatically downloads new episodes to your computer as soon as they are available. This makes it easy and convenient for you to stay up-to-date with your favorite podcasts.

Once your podcasts are downloaded to your computer, you can synch them to your MP3 player, burn them to a CD for playback on your CD player, or simply listen to them through your computer’s speakers. This gives you the ultimate convenience of listening to your programs at your leisure. You can listen to the podcasts whenever you want – as you are driving, walking, exercising, knitting, etc. With a podcast, you can be mobile, live your life, and listen to your content ANYWHERE.

o Podcasting is… FREE & EASY

Not only are podcasts themselves generally free, but so is the podcasting software you need! Both podcasts and podcasting software are easy to find on the internet and are easy to use.

Podcasting is… waiting for you!

If you haven’t been exposed to podcasts yet, you soon will be! Podcasts are literally everywhere now, and more podcasts are being created every day.

Podcasting is helping revolutionize the world of entertainment by empowering millions of people with the ability to create and distribute their own comedy podcast online. Popular stand up comedians like Adam Carolla, Greg Fitzsimmons and Jim Jefferies have already started podcasting as a way of expanding their reach as a performer and helping to spread their unique brand of comedy. Thru podcasting comedians who may have been stuck in a small market and never discovered now have access to a global audience. Podcasts have a variety of formats and genre, but the comedy podcast seems to be one of the more popular. Creating a comedy podcast can be broken down into three broad steps, planning your podcast, recording your podcast and distributing your podcast.

When it comes to planning your comedy podcast, the format is one of the most important decisions and should be the first one you make when creating your comedy radio program. Some comedians choose to pick a specific theme for their podcast, like Doug Benson and his I Love Movies podcast. Other comedians like Adam Carolla choose to go with a format similar to that of a traditional morning show, complete with a news girl, sound effects and interview segments. The minimalist approach has worked for some stand up comedians like Bill Burr and his Monday Morning Podcast, which features just the comedian speaking into a microphone. Successful comedy podcasts often have recurring bits, which help create a structure for the program and aids in building listener loyalty. If you aren’t a seasoned comedian, or just beginning in broadcasting, I would recommend picking a genre that you have some experience on or at least a lot of strong opinions. Starting a comedy podcast that doesn’t focus on one specific theme, may be too overwhelming for someone just starting out.

Recording your comedy podcast can be done through a number of ways but the easiest way involves setting up some microphones and having them plugged into a recording device or a computer. You’ll want a room that is not only quiet, but will also provide solid acoustics for your comedy radio recording. You will need to make sure that the microphones are spaced out properly to avoid feedback and that the microphones are held in a stand to make it easier to talk. The microphones can be mixed using a simple mixer, and that feed can be sent into the computer which will be recorded using a software program. Having someone monitor the podcast as it’s been recording, is also important. You wouldn’t want to waste an entire hour performing a comedy radio show, only to realize that the audio is unusable. Garage Band, is a popular program that many people use to record their podcasts. After you’ve finished recording, you can edit it down if you’d like with an audio program, I recommend the program GoldWave.

Now that you’ve planned and recorded your comedy podcast, the next step is getting it distributed. First your comedy radio show must be uploaded to a central location for download, whether it is your personal website or a free file server there are plenty of options when it comes to housing your podcast. Publicizing your comedy podcast there are a multitude of options, Facebook, Twitter and iTunes are great ways to get people to check out your podcast. There are even podcasts out there that review other podcasts, you can submit your show to them for review and a good way to gain more exposure. Posting your comedy podcast on iTunes requires a separate tutorial that can be found at Apple.com. Additionally a great way to get your comedy radio program noticed is to be a guest on other people’s podcast, or to post on forums to generate listeners to your podcast.

Now that you’ve planned, recorded and distributed your comedy podcast you can repeat the same formula for the next episode. Or if the formula needs tweaking make adjustments, but the keep to a successful comedy podcast is consistency. People get accustomed to enjoying a show and you want to keep them coming back and continuing to listen. As far as monetizing the podcast, seek out advertisers or affiliate programs as a way to generate revenue. Many comedy podcasts are not yet profitable, however with the seismic shift to online advertising those days could be few and far between, so strike while the iron is hot and start your own comedy podcast.

You’ve been planning your podcast for weeks, and now it’s time to grab a glass of water, warm up that voice and get recording! In this article we’ll look at how to go about recording your podcast, including scripting and how to set up your recording space.

To Script or not to Script?

This is the question asked by every would-be podcaster, and one of the most debated areas of podcasting prep. Should you write a full script?

Fortunately, the answer is easy, if not very helpful – it depends on what you’re comfortable with!

I know a number of podcasters that hardly write anything down. They know their subject back to front and they just go into the recording with a broad outline of what they’ll talk about. They might have 4 or 5 bullet points, and they come across great on air – smooth and friendly. The spontaneous and unplanned nature of this approach makes the podcast sound really personal and engaging, and, if done well, it can sound great. Also, it takes very little prep. You can create a podcast very quickly using this method.

The downside of this approach is that, without a script, expert or not, you’ll often stumble over your words, run out of things to say, or simply forget to cover everything you planned to. It’s very hard to do a 20 minute podcast with just a very broad outline.

Alternatively, I also know podcasters that write everything down, word for word, even having done it for years. They’ll have a full script and read it out slowly and surely, sounding very articulate and expert. Everything will be perfect, no points missed, and the podcast will go exactly as you plan.

The downside of this is that it takes a long time to prepare. You’re carrying out two tasks – writing an essay on your subject, and then speaking it out. Added to that, when reading a script, you can often sound pretty un-spontaneous, flat and even robotic. It can be less engaging than off-the-cuff speech and definitely less friendly.

In reality, a blend is often best.

You can write a script with bullet pointed, but with a fair bit of detail. Don’t write it down word for word, but have a prompt for each paragraph so that you know where you’re going. This way you won’t miss anything, but you’ll hopefully avoid the monotone reading-voice problem.

Your Environment

Even though we’ve talked about the quality offered by recording equipment, microphones and software, one of the biggest factors in how your recording will sound is your environment. Thinking about where you do your recordings is really important for good quality sound.

Here are a few things to think about when choosing where to do your recording.

Background noise is far more obvious on a recording. Watch out for:

• Corridors with people walking by often
• Windows close by with a busy road outside
• Computers or other equipment running in the background
• Large lights making a buzzing sound

Echoes can really reduce the quality of your recording:

• Try to record in a large room, not facing the wall
• Or try to record in a room with soft walls – wood or wallpaper

Things to think about when doing your recording

The presenters themselves are often the biggest cause of noise:

• Rustling of paper or jangling of keys by presenters or guests
• Coughing, sniffing and heavy breathing
• Fumbling the microphone, or moving the recorder

The main thing is to be aware that any noise is very easily picked up by the microphone. You want the room you choose to be as quiet as possible, and you want the others in the room to be as careful as they can not to make unnecessary noise.