Recording Guidelines

Creating the Best Quality Sound

1. Recording platforms: Many options, but Zoom is straightforward and works well.
   • When recording within Zoom — choose "record to laptop", this option will provide you with two (or more) tracks, one for each speaker which is important in editing.
   • Other options with free access include Riverside (requires Chrome browser for host and guest), Zencastr, or SquadCast.
2. Audio: Use headphones and if possible, a stand-alone USB microphone
   • A quality USB microphone that works reasonably well is the Blue Yeti (nano or full size) — plenty of other options will work, including good cable cardioid XLR microphones.
   • Many cell phones will give you good audio, even without headphones — useful when there are limited alternatives
   • Try to avoid using the internal microphone on your laptop — as this will often lead to poor sound quality.
   • Ideally both host and guest will have corded headphones — this will limit feedback in your audio or overlapping tracks.
   • If you don't have a stand-alone microphone, using earphones that contain an attached microphone device will provide a higher quality of sound capture than the laptop's internal microphone system.
   • Remember, a good interview with an interesting person/story will always be more important than having the cleanest audio.
3. Setting: Sound quality will vary depending on location and the room interior
   • Conduct your conversation in a quiet place.
   • Pay attention for "sound echo" in empty rooms.
     • Carpets, sofas, and curtains are great for absorbing sound. Any room with a bit of cosiness can improve your sound quality.
   • Some creative ways to produce cleaner sound include putting a blanket over you or recording in a closet full of clothes.
   • Areas that contain glass walls or tile-floors (such as kitchens) will create reverberation and poor sound quality.
   • Recording "on location" can work, however you will need to do some careful editing to limit other background sounds. Many times geologists are on site or in an office — more important to get the interview than to attempt optimum audio quality.

Preparation for the Interview

1. Host preparation
   • Make sure that you are familiar with the general material and background information!
   • Outline a basic set of 4-5 questions before the interview and share with your guest prior to conducting the interview.
   • Ask your guest to supply a headshot, plus a few photos from their work.
   • Make sure that you know your guest's general biography.
2. During the interview
   • Ask for something personal at the start — maybe why they love what they do, or how they got started. Provides easy and engaging content and gets them talking.
   • Feel free to ask additional questions that might come up as your conversation develops.
   • Be yourself during the interview.
   • REMEMBER — you can easily delete audio and move segments around to create a better flow.
   • Also, good to limit the number of speech fillers that you use (such as "ums" and "ahs") — however these can be deleted or at least reduced during editing.
   • Start recording early, as sometimes key discussion points turn up before the proper interview starts.
   • Record 2-3 times the length of the final interview, to give yourself the opportunity to select the best pieces, but not so much audio that the editing is overwhelming.

Post-Interview

1. Guest follow up
   • Follow up with the guest(s) to thank them and if needed remind them to send photographs.
   • Let guests know what the publication/processing time will be — generally what to expect.
2. Audio editing
   • Make sure to upload to a cloud drive for backup. Using Descript (audio editor) works for this purpose.
   • Load your audio tracks into a project (e.g. Descript) ready for editing and create first draft transcript.
   • Create a first pass rough edit, then continue to refine the script as needed.
   • Record the intro and outro segments, plus transitions to additional guests.
   • Add music or other sound effects as needed.
   • Review the entire episode for details of sound glitches, speaking gaps, or other required edits.
3. Podcast Posting
   • Do final audio adjustments (match sound, etc.) in audio sound editing programs such as Audacity or Adobe Audition.
   • Write chapter notes (1-paragraph summary of episode).
   • Compile photos for use in social media and marketing.