Podcasting, audio recording and editing

About podcasting

Podcasts are a popular form of audio content, recorded and shared digitally on internet podcast directories, such as SoundCloud or Spotify. 

Podcasts are one of the most accessible media formats to create and consume, as they can require minimal equipment and software to produce and are widely accessible using natural spoken language. 

Most podcasts focus on a central theme or idea, which is then explored or discussed over multiple episodes. Creating a podcast can be a great way to express creativity and practice communication. 

Record a podcast in the Library

Our Library technology spaces, ThinkSpace and CreateSpace, and the media rooms located in Fisher Library are equipped with professional podcast recording equipment (RODECaster Pro).

Each podcast studio can be arranged to record 2-4 people in-person, along with phone or Bluetooth connectivity for remote guests. In the Fisher media rooms, room capacity is 2 people, with phone or Bluetooth connectivity for remote guests.

Bookings

Bookings are free for staff and students. Please ensure you make your booking at least 24 hours in advance.

• Book ThinkSpace recording studio
• Book CreateSpace recording studio
• Book Fisher media rooms

Support

At CreateSpace and ThinkSpace, our Peer Learning Advisors (PLAs) are on-site to help you during your booking. The PLAs also host free beginner workshops on starting a podcast and editing audio with Audacity on the Library’s Design Hub.

At Fisher Library, staff are there to help you during your booking. Please find the Library Information Help Point on Level 3 for further information.

Every podcast starts with an idea, and you can be as creative as you want. What are you interested in? What do you want to say about it?

A podcast project takes time to develop, and a good plan will make it easier to turn your idea into reality. Here are some questions to ask yourself: 

• Who is my audience?

• Will I make a series of episodes? How many?

• Do I want to record with other people? Who? 

• What questions will I ask in each episode?

• What themes will I cover in each episode?

Get familiar with our recording equipment. Our studios are free to book, so you can test out our equipment and get comfortable behind the mic. 

Remember to bring a water bottle with you; you’re going to do a lot of talking.

Set yourself up for success with a sound check. Adjust everyone’s microphones so they can sit comfortably and speak into the mic clearly. 

Our Peer Learning Advisors (PLAs) can help if you have any issues with the sound.

Hit the record button, start speaking, and remember you can always hit “stop” and start over. 

Keep track of time as you record, to make sure you cover your episode plan.

Connect your laptop to the RODECaster and save your audio file. The RODECaster records audio as a WAV file and give you the option to record as multitrack (individual audio tracks for each microphone) or as a single track (all audio as a single audio track), depending on your preference for editing.

You can edit audio using a specialty software like Audacity or Adobe Audition. Both programmes are available to use on Library Design Hub PCs. 

Workshops are available for editing audio using Audacity.