If you’re getting into podcasting, you might have the impression that two people must be physically present in a room simultaneously to do a podcast together. And while that’s ideal, it’s far from mandatory (or even practical) in the digital age.
In fact, there are several ways that you can record a podcast from two (or more) different locations—and it doesn’t necessarily require expensive equipment or fancy software.
Here’s how to record a podcast from two different locations.
1. Use Riverside FM
Riverside FM is a special platform designed specifically for remote podcasting.
It allows up to 8 people in different locations to connect soundboards, webcams, and microphones and record audio from separate locations.
Once you’ve set up your podcast, you can adjust levels, collaborate on projects, and even broadcast live to the web.
How to Configure Riverside for Remote Podcasting
Using Riverside for remote podcasting is fairly straightforward. All you need to do is create a ‘room’, invite your participants, and assign them to a ‘channel’.
Once everyone is in the same room, you can start setting up levels and adjusting the soundboard. You can also record in the room and save the audio files for further editing.
There’s no nothing else to say because it’s just that simple!
2. Use a Voice Chat Platform
There are numerous tools out there that allow you to make audio and/or video calls with people in different locations.
For podcasting, you’ll want to focus on professional platforms like Skype, Zoom, Slack, or even Discord.
Connect Your Audio and Set Up Levels
Once you’ve chosen a voice chat tool, you’ll need to set up audio connections between all of the participants.
If you’re all using the same audio interface, you’ll want to make sure that’s properly connected first.
Suppose you’re using a digital audio workstation (DAW) like Reaper or Pro Tools. In that case, you’ll need to create a network of audio connections so that everyone’s audio is routed through the same stereo mix.
Once you’ve got your audio connections set up, you’ll need to adjust the volume and levels of each participant’s microphone. This is important for ensuring that everyone is audible and that the audio is balanced.
Record and Monitor
Once you’ve got all the technical stuff sorted, you can start recording the podcast.
If you’re using a DAW, press the ‘record’ button. You should also set up a separate ‘track’ for each participant so that you can keep their audio separate.
It’s also a good idea to monitor the audio and ensure everyone’s audio levels are balanced. This is something you’ll want to do throughout the record.
Once the podcast is finished, you can export the audio as a single file. That’s the only way you’ll be able to distribute your podcast to popular podcast platforms.
3. Record Separately and Sync
The third remote podcasting option is recording each participant’s audio separately and then syncing it up afterward.
This is a terrible idea, but I’ll tell you about it anyway. It’s time-consuming, and you’ll need to pay close attention to the audio levels.
If you do this, I recommend using a reference track. This is a single audio file that contains all the audio from the participants. You’ll need to play this track through the speakers of each participant’s computer and record their audio off it.
Then, you’ll need to line up the audio tracks in a DAW and adjust the levels. Obviously, this is a tedious process, and it’s best avoided.
Wrapping Up
So there you have it—three ways to record a podcast from two different locations.
If you’re serious about podcasting, I’d recommend trying Riverside FM. It’s specifically designed for remote podcasting and makes it easy to connect multiple people and record high-quality audio.
The other two options will work, but they’re less than ideal. Have fun with your podcast, and comment with any questions!
