Taking Your Podcast Production from Amateur to Professional: Insights from Chris Curran

In the world of podcasting, audio quality plays a critical role in capturing and engaging listeners. To shed light on this topic, we had the privilege of interviewing Chris Curran, a seasoned podcast producer, audio engineer, and founder of the Podcast Engineering School. In this blog post, we will explore Chris's valuable insights on how to elevate your podcast production from an amateur level to a professional standard.

1. The Importance of Audio Quality: Chris emphasizes the significance of audio quality in podcasting. He quotes George Lucas, who famously stated, "Sound is half the picture." Good audio transports listeners into the podcast's atmosphere, enhances the listening experience, and establishes credibility. Chris highlights how people tend to respect and admire podcasters with good audio quality, making it a key aspect to consider.

2. Achieving Good Audio: To attain good audio quality, Chris suggests several essential steps. Firstly, podcasters should focus on recording audio without any defects or background noise. This can be achieved by creating a quiet recording environment, using a decent microphone, and staying close to the mic. Wearing earbuds or headphones helps prevent feedback issues. Chris also advises against listening through speakers, as it can negatively impact audio quality.

3. Mobile Recording and Audio Quality: Many platforms promote mobile podcast recording, leading to a common question: Can mobile recordings achieve professional audio quality? Chris explains that, technically, it is possible to have high-quality audio using a mobile phone. However, it depends on having decent equipment and understanding how to capture good audio. He highlights that even with a mobile setup, using external interfaces and real microphones can significantly enhance audio quality.

4. Sound Check and Guest Audio: When it comes to guest interviews, ensuring good audio quality can be challenging. Chris suggests sending guests a checklist that emphasizes the need for a proper microphone, wearing headphones or earbuds, and arriving early for sound checks. Although many guests may not read the instructions thoroughly, sound checking guests is crucial to avoid major audio issues. Chris shares his experience in troubleshooting common problems such as mic settings and background noise.

5. The Podcast Engineering School: Recognizing the lack of resources for learning professional audio production for podcasts, Chris founded the Podcast Engineering School in 2016. The school offers comprehensive online courses, teaching students the skills and knowledge required to produce audio professionally. With his background as an audio engineer in the music industry, Chris imparts a wealth of audio expertise, enabling graduates to excel in podcasting with exceptional audio quality.

Conclusion

In the evolving landscape of podcasting, it is crucial to prioritize audio quality to captivate and retain listeners. Chris Curran's insights provide valuable guidance on how to elevate podcast production from an amateur to a professional level. By following his recommendations, podcasters can enhance their audio quality, establish credibility, and create an immersive experience for their audience. For those seeking to deepen their knowledge and skills, Chris's Podcast Engineering School offers a valuable resource to master the art of podcast audio production.