The first question you’re probably going to ask is, “is it worth it?” Will it be too much work creating a video to go with your podcast? This is a valid question, and one you’ll need to consider carefully. Before you can answer, you need to ask yourself why.
Why record a video podcast?
Allowing audiences to view a video version of your podcast isn’t necessary to make your series successful, however giving people the option to view your podcast can be beneficial for many reasons.
People enjoy having something to watch. It gives audiences the opportunity to connect to you and your content. Plenty of people prefer consuming video content to audio too, just look at the success of video-sharing websites such as YouTube and TikTok.
Having visuals for your podcast gives you something more eye-catching to share on social media. But there is also a practical element to it – you can add subtitles to a video, making it accessible to a wider audience. Not just that, sites like Digiday have reported that around eight-five percent of videos on Facebook are viewed without the sound on, with more people preferring to read silenced videos on their feed.
So we can see the benefits of making a video podcast, how do you go about creating it?
Pay attention to your Recording Setup
Adding video to your podcast setup can seem like a massive undertaking, but if you’re taking the time to sit down and record a podcast, you’re already halfway there.
There are two main ways to record your podcast: in-person, or remotely.
- In Studio or at Home
You may be recording in a studio or at home so all you need to do is set up a camera to record the host(s) and guest(s). Whether it’s a single wide shot of everyone in the room or maybe you have access to multiple cameras to focus in on each individual speaker. If you have the time, you can even add additional B-roll footage which can enhance the visuals and really engage your audience.
You don’t need the most expensive equipment to get started – don’t forget some of the newer smartphones can shoot up to 4k and DSLR cameras are perfectly equipped to fix on a tripod and go.
- Remote-recording
Sometimes you may want to conduct your interviews online. In that case, you and your guests will need a webcam and access to sites like Zoom, Zencastr or Riverside. These online platforms allow you to record multiple guests locally, so you won’t need to worry too much about dicey internet connections and you won’t need access to any special equipment. Most laptops come with some form of webcam, and although they are not always the perfect quality, there are some steps you can take to ensure you get the best picture possible.
Consider your Recording Space
The secret to capturing top notch video is having good lighting. Take advantage of any natural light in your recording room – set yourself up near a window if you can, but make sure you strike a balance between good video and good audio: shooting in a room with a lot of windows can really improve the visuals but will potentially introduce a lot more noise into your audio if you’re near loud traffic.
Investing in some good quality LEDs can make a massive difference to your video quality. Even a simple ring light can help enhance your setup. Try to avoid the orange light from most house lights and lamps, unless there is a specific look you want to give your video.
Speaking of specific looks, don’t be afraid to do a little decorating. Are you making a film-review podcast? Why not hang some movie posters on your wall! Add some props, or simply hang your podcast artwork in the background. Don’t go overboard though – you want to give your viewers something to look at, but if it’s too busy, it can distract from the actual content of the show.
Setting up your Camera
If you are recording remotely, all you have to do is hit record on whichever software you are using. Recording in-person can allow you to be a bit more creative. Make sure your camera is set up securely on a tripod and pay attention to framing. You don’t want too much negative space in the video and you don’t want to be too close to the speakers either.
Consider where everyone is sitting and plan accordingly. Think of the camera as another person sitting at the table. What exactly do you want the audience to see? Your wide shot should capture everyone on the podcast and should be at eye level. If you have additional cameras capturing individual speakers, they should be positioned in a close-up on each speaker. Think about the style of your podcast – you can opt for anything between a serious documentary setup to something completely freeform.
Record the episode
Now all that’s left to do is to hit record! Like with your audio setup, it’s a good idea if you have someone at hand keeping an eye on the equipment, making sure everything is working properly.
Be cautious with your content however – video is not as forgiving as audio-only podcasts since you no longer have the freedom to remove every tiny mistake, especially if you are only recording with one camera. Multiple angles can be a life saver in the edit as it allows you to cover up cuts by shifting the view to somebody else.
Edit the video
Editing a video in addition to your podcast can take time. There’s plenty of free software on your phone or computer to choose from such as iMovie and DaVinciResolve. Some of the more popular paid editing software include Adobe Premiere Pro and Final Cut Pro
If you’re using multiple cameras, then multicam editing is your friend. Use some colour correction if you need to. Bright, saturated colours might complement your comedy podcast whereas a chat show might be better suited to a balanced colour palette. Add graphics and logos too. Placing your podcast logo on-screen polishes the video nicely. You might even want to experiment with some wipes to cover up any transitions. Basic graphic editing like this is achievable in most editing tools, but if you want to get a bit fancy, you can also create fun visual assets with more advanced software like Adobe After Effects
Don’t forget to add subtitles. There are plenty of transcription sites that can help speed up the process, like otter.ai and Descript.
Prepare for Publishing!
Now you’re ready to release your podcast. Make sure you have accounted for the extra time it takes to deal with video.
The export can take a long time. Especially if your podcast is over an hour long, or you’ve implemented a lot of graphics. Be prepared and make sure you have exported your final video and audio ahead of time.
Here’s a piece of advice: consider where your podcast’s video will be viewed. It is likely to remain online, on sites like YouTube or your own website. In that case, there’s no need to export your final video to the highest possible quality. YouTube compresses your video so exporting the highest quality video is a waste of time. The majority of people will view the video on their phone and laptop, so exporting your video in 4k will be a waste of time.
Once your video has been released, start sharing it! Nab some snippets and post them on social media. Mention the video in your podcast and direct your audience to it. Video can be a cool and fun way to promote your podcast – so make the most of it!
At The Podcast Studios we work with companies, organisations, and individuals to help them tell their stories in audio form. If there is any part of your podcast journey that needs a professional touch, from start to finish, get in touch today by contacting us at [email protected] or visit our website at www.thepodcaststudios.ie
