Recording for Podcasts

It doesn't take much to record audio for a podcast.  If you have a phone, you likely have the ability to record audio. For iPhone, you have a preinstalled app for recording, and it's called Voice Memos.  One step further, and you can download a free app called Anchor. Don't want students using a phone in class? Use online voice recorder.  The bottom line, it's incredibly easy to record audio for a podcast. Below is a quick overview of the three methods of recording.

1. Voice Memos:

Originally designed for what the name implies, you it's essentially a voice recording app.  Open the app, and hit the record button.  Once done, you have the ability to trim the audio, duplicate it, and then export it.  I did a quick screen recording on my phone to show this in action: 

2.  Anchor

Anchor is great free app you can download that is specifically designed for podcasts, and plays on iOS and Android.  You can record audio, and import audio (eg from voice memos), and then splice it together to make your podcast. The app gives you the ability to distribute your app to various platforms, such as Apple Podcasts.  Below are some screen shots of the app itself

 3. Online Voice Recorder
Use a free website and the built in microphone of a computer or chromebook to record your audio.  Once you record it, you can save to your computer to do with it as you please. It also allows you to trim your audio.  You can use the free audio joiner to splice different recordings together.  See the screenshot below

There are obviously other methods for recording podcasts. Garage Band gets an honorable mention as a long standing tool for recording.  I like these three because they are basically device agnostic (at least the last two).

Sound Quality

What's a teacher's favorite price? Free.  All of these tools are completely free.  The next obvious question is, do I need a microphone? 

For a beginner podcaster, or a low key podcast for a class, the sound quality on a phone or computer is just fine.  Can it be better? Of course. Does it need to be? Maybe. Maybe not.  

Based on your needs, you may decide you need/want a microphone. That will cost money, and potentially a lot if you want one for each of several groups.

I'm not an expert on podcast microphones. For that, I'll defer to this review of various microphones and this review for iPhones. 

My advice, try a short simple podcast with your students using just the free tools. If you are horribly disappointed with audio quality, do what you can do get microphones for future podcasts.