Sound design

Related Parts

• Equipment
• Music
• Voices

Tips & Tricks

The more natural or “atmo” sound that you can collect, the better. You might not use it all in your final mix, but it give you good sound design options since natural sound places the listener in a specific place and time in a story. Sometimes the sound needs to be complemented with narration, especially if what is being heard is not immediately clear. When using natural sound, try to go for a “flow” instead of just putting in a few seconds of a sound and then ending it. Letting the sound run under your narration for a while creates a smoother, more immersive listening experience.

Burning Question

Can I use sound effects? Some people feel that effects liven up a podcast and add comic effect, but use them judiciously if at all. Using sound effects or any sound that isn’t “authentic” (you haven’t collected it yourself) can undermine a podcast, especially if you’re taking a journalistic approach. For example, it would be unethical to talk about a demonstration and pull sound from YouTube from a different demonstration, passing it off as the event you’re discussing.

Common Mistake

Adding too much. When you begin adding sounds and music to your podcast, it’s easy to get carried away. Having too many audio elements often means the story itself gets lost and listeners become confused and overwhelmed. Sometimes less is more.