How to record an interview for your podcast when the person is in a different location

One of the problems many podcasters run into is how to record a podcast when the co-host or interview subject lives in another state or province.

Since having that person fly or drive to your location is silly, there are plenty of cost-effective ways to record people for your podcast and still get broadcast-quality sound.

Since I am the only host of my podcast called cube divasWhen I need to record an interview to include in my podcast, I use a service called Audio Acrobat. For a small monthly fee, I call the person I need to interview and then call Audio Acrobat’s number using my three-way calling feature on my phone.

If you’re looking for a free option, Jason Van Orden has a solution for the more frugal podcaster. Van Orden co-hosts a podcast called Internet Business Domain with another person in another state. It has a simple strategy to record both voices at the same time that doesn’t cost a dime.

“We Skype or Google Talk so we can hear each other. We all have the same outline in front of us, clearly indicating who is doing what. Each of us has recording software open on our computers and presses record on at the same time. (someone counts),” says Van Orden.

“My co-host uploads the audio file to his site and I download it. Then I put the two audio files together and sync them. It feels like we’re in the same room. This technique is often called ‘double-leveling.'” he says Go Order.

Paige Eissinger, co-host of a podcast called Views from the Cooperativehe also uses Skype, but uses a different technique than Van Orden.

“I use Skype and HotRecorder to create the podcasts I do with my co-host who lives out of state. HotRecorder is a very inexpensive program available online for download. Either party (or both) can record the conversation directly on their own computers with HotRecorder,” says Eissinger.

According to Eissinger, there is an added benefit to using Hot Recorder to record your interviews.

“HotRecorder saves the file in the HotRecorder format, but it comes with a companion program called HotConverter that allows you to convert to a wav or ogg vorbis format. Once you’ve converted the file, you can open your conversation in your favorite audio editing program and The nice thing about this is that it records each voice in the conversation on a different track so you can edit them individually,” says Eissinger.

Podcasting guru Penny Haynes, who produces 3 podcasts and is also the founder of the International Podcasting Expo, shares her own technique for recording interviews for broadcast-quality audio.

“I have interviewees download a free version of a program called RecordPad and give them my FTP information to insert into the Options section,” says Haynes.

“When they finish recording, the mp3 file is automatically uploaded to my server, so I can mix the two files as if they were with me when I recorded.”

For less technical interviewees and co-hosts who may be experts in FTP programs and recording software, Donna Papacosta, who produces a podcast called Trafcom News PodcastHe suggests getting recording equipment that connects to your phone.

“For remote guests, I use a Telecom Audio VoicePort connected to my phone and my Edirol R-1. The person on the other end doesn’t have to do anything but talk,” says Papacosta.

As a first-time podcast producer, Danielle Culter used a tool called the Gizmo Project to record her first podcast with her co-host who lives out of state.

“Quality isn’t too bad and can be fixed when you edit. My co-host spoke quite quietly, so you can tell a difference in levels there (or maybe I’m just a loudmouth), but overall I was pretty happy with the results,” says Culter.

Podcast enthusiast Warren Contreras agrees that the Gizmo Project tool can be effective for recording multiple voices in multiple locations.

“For multiple remote participants, you can take a look at Gizmo Project. Conference calls are included, as well as a one-click record button,” says Contreras.

Quotes in this article were collected from the Podcaster Central network on Ryze.com.

(c) 2006 Leesa R. Barnes. All rights reserved throughout the world.