Podcast Recording Best Practices

The Day Before

Open your laptop with a camera app on to find the right spot to film. The spot should have a clear, clean background. It should not be too busy (like a tightly packed bookshelf) or have any mirrors, TV screens or windows behind you. Please do not use virtual backgrounds as they are distracting and sometimes delete part of you! Please make sure you are inside as being outside is tough for both lighting and sound quality. Best is a minimally decorated wall, rather than a blank white wall. If that isn’t available or you’d like to keep your setting more private feel free to use the “blur” background tool most recording tools have available.

Check the lighting in that spot, are any curtains open that need to be closed?

Illustration of a woman in three different settings: a library with books, a modern living room with a TV, and an office with a QR code and text saying 'Waffle Hands Productions @wafflehands'. Each scene has a large red "X" at the top.
Illustration showing three panels depicting where to take a selfie: outdoors with a red X, indoors with a red couch and green check mark, and in front of a shelf with plants and décor with another green check mark.

The camera (at the top of the laptop) should be at your eye-line, such that when you look into the camera it appears that you are looking into the eyes of the audience. You might need box or a few books. Try to prepare whatever props you need ahead of time so you don’t have to panic at show time.

Illustration of incorrect computer posture. A person seated incorrectly at a desk, looking down at a laptop with an X symbol, indicating improper setup.
Illustration of a person sitting at a desk with a laptop placed on top of two books, positioned at eye level. The person has a straight posture, wearing a green sweater and blue pants, with a green check mark indicating correct ergonomic setup.

Please make sure the computer you will be using has Google Chrome installed, as you’ll need this for Riverside.

Do not plan to use a phone or tablet (iPad). The internet signal and quality will not be enough.

The Day Of

Let the people in your home know you’ll be filming and any streaming, video conferencing or downloading should be suspended for the duration of your record.

Before you begin, please make sure you are in a quiet area of your home/apartment. Be mindful of things like (ex: outside noise, air conditioner, music, electronics, etc.).

We will be keep rolling once we begin, so if you’d like to begin again for some reason, feel free to stop. Simply give a pause before you begin again so the editors can have clean cuts.

You do not necessarily need a mic or headphones, but if you have them, feel free to use them.