5 Podcasting Tips For a Heat Wave

It is extremely hot in Michigan this week, with record highs expected here and in many parts of the country. That makes podcast recording harder, especially if your space gets warm or noisy. The show can still go on, but you have to be smart about how you record.

1) Turn off air conditioning and fans near your microphone when possible. A loud fan or air vent can create distracting background noise that makes the recording harder to listen to. That said, safety matters. If turning off the AC makes the room uncomfortable or puts you at risk of getting sick, leave it on.

2) Use AI cleanup tools when noise is unavoidable. Riverside has Magic Audio, Descript has Studio Sound, Adobe has Adobe Enhance, and Auphonic can help clean up and balance short audio clips. These tools are not perfect, but they can help when heat forces you to record with fans or air conditioning running.

3) Speak into a dynamic microphone. Condenser microphones pick up more room noise, including fans, vents, dogs barking, and cars outside. A dynamic mic helps reject more of that background noise. There are affordable options like the Samson Q2U, which plugs in by USB, and higher end options like the Shure SM7B. The important thing is to use a dynamic mic unless you are recording in a well treated room.

4) Record early or late in the day. Just like walking the dog at 6 a.m. or 9 p.m. during a heat wave, recording before the day heats up or after the sun goes down can make the session more comfortable.

5) Drink room temperature water. Avoid soda or anything carbonated because it can create gas bubbles while speaking. Avoid dairy because it can cause phlegm. Ice water may seem like the right choice in the heat, but cold can cause vocal cords to contract, which makes it harder to speak clearly.

The bottom line is simple. Keep recording if you can, but do not risk your health for one episode. If the space is too hot or the conditions are not safe, the episode can wait.

Read this podcast as a blog post here.

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