we've got what you need 🎙️
[rec] equipment recs
Setting up your show? Evaluating your recording setup? Read on, my friends.
—Rachel Elsts Downey, Founder & CEO, Share Your Genius
🤔 Virtual or In Person, That is the Question
When it comes to setting up your podcast, some questions come up immediately. While we’re a big believer that understanding why matters first and foremost, oftentimes the first few questions anchor on ‘how’. So let’s solve the how so we can get back to the why. 🙂
Should I record in person or should I record virtually?
And this question isn’t just when you’re launching a show. It comes up as it evolves.
Do I need a studio at the office? Should I fly folks in to be on the show?
There are pros and cons for both scenarios—so here’s our official take:
🎙️ When & Why to Record In-Person:
Human Connection: Capture the magic of face-to-face interactions.
Quality Control: Perfect your audio and visual setup.
Brand Experience: Elevate your brand with high-profile guest appearances.
🌐 When & Why to Record Virtually:
Geographic Flexibility: Interview guests from anywhere in the world.
Cost and Convenience: Minimal setup time with basic equipment.
Technological Advances: Platforms like Riverside.fm offer high-resolution video and clear audio.
If you’re limited by budget especially, virtually can get you farther faster. Spend your dollars on nice equipment to make great content before worrying about setting up an entire studio onsite.
Which of those lists serves your goals and bottom line more? Choose that option. For the record, you can choose both—just know the why behind the choice.
(And if you like content on equipment and set-up, you can get more here.)
💡 3 Tips to Get the Most Out of Your Virtual Recording
Many of our clients record virtually for that geographic flexibility and convenience. Here are 3 tips to help take your virtual recording sessions to the next level:
1️⃣ Use a ring light that clamps onto your computer for direct lighting. It’s ideal for close-up setups.
2️⃣ No fancy camera to record? No problem. If you record on Riverside.fm (our fav), you can use your iPhone as an external camera.
3️⃣ Send mics to your guests. Want to guarantee your guest has great quality audio? Send them a mic. To make it super easy, you can do this from Amazon. Or take it up a notch and create a branded box that goes to each guest. (We can help you set this up if you’re interested.)
✨ Genius Musings
A collection of helpful resources, events, and other content highlighting some of our favorite partners, creators, and clients.
🤭 Want to hear the BTS of evolving a podcast strategy over 2 years? Rachel sat down with our partners, Devin Bramhall and Margaret Kelsey on their show Don’t Say Content to break it down. Catch the episode here or on your favorite podcast app.
🧃 We’re always taking inspiration from great brands, like Nike. Their latest ad had people either loving or hating it, and The Juice’s Jonathan Gandolf broke it down in this edition of The Friday Concentrate. Brand marketers, this one is for you.
💵 The amount of ads in podcasts has grown by 20% in Q2 — they are basically a podcast staple at this point. Don’t forget about this platform for your marketing campaigns for things like events and new product drops.
🟠 Heading to Inbound? So are we. And our partners at TACK are hosting a networking event with Terminus. You should join us!
🔦 Content Spotlight: Year One
Most of us with kids are entering the back-to-school vibes. And with or without kids, you remember those days. Nights get a little shorter, routines get back in place, and new experiences await.
Here’s a new one for us and for you, we created a reality-tv-inspired podcast. We started work on this project in the fall of 2023, where we followed one teacher for her first, full year of teaching. Carnegie Learning set out to capture the reality of being a first-year teacher, with one primary question on their minds, “will she continue in the profession?” And now you can join the journey.
From Carnegie Learning, here’s Year One.
