Having a podcast can be a rewarding venture. You will interview people that interest you, you get to explore topics you love, and you can share what you discover with an audience that is invested. Podcasts are great, but they have the limitation of being purely auditory. There are over 2 million podcasts out in the ether. It would be best if you found a way to separate yourself. Video is your answer.
Video can be more engaging and can reach a wider audience. It is simple to make videos of the podcasts you are creating; with a few extra steps, you can supercharge the experience given to your audience and grow faster. There are many ways to repurpose video for marketing and grow on social media, as well. Let’s get started with your video podcast journey.
The Best Camera for Your Podcast
Your camera is an essential piece of the gear you need; it is necessary to get the right one. There is an endless list of great cameras on the market, all of which get updated yearly. There are DSLR cameras, mirrorless cameras, and cinema cameras. Cameras can range in price from a few hundred dollars up to the cost of a new car. We will look at the best features for creating a high-quality YouTube video that is perfect for your podcast. While most cameras will work, we want the right camera for your budget and needs.
Mirrorless Cameras vs. Cinema Cameras
Two of the most common cameras used in podcast videos are mirrorless cameras and cinema cameras. Let’s start with mirrorless cameras. Mirrorless cameras are digital cameras that have interchangeable lenses and are compact. Mirrorless cameras are typically much smaller than cinema cameras. However, the sensor size is often smaller than that of a cinema camera. Pros for mirrorless cameras are their small size, optical image stabilization internally, fully articulating screen, and the ability to get shallow depth of field with a quality lens. Two of the most popular mirrorless cameras are the Canon EOS and Sony ZV 1, but there are many other brands.
Cinema cameras are a step up from mirrorless cameras because they have a larger sensor, which means you get a more accurate representation of your image and a more shallow depth of field with similar lenses. These types of cameras also have interchangeable lenses. It is a more extensive setup and does require more accessories, but it can produce a better image for your video. There are larger cinema cameras and even smaller pocket cinema cameras. A cinema camera’s benefit is that it can record internally at high resolutions such as 4K or even 6K. A popular cinema camera on the more affordable side of the spectrum is the Blackmagic Pocket Cinema Camera. The type of camera you purchase should depend on your budget and how you will be using the video. For most, a mirrorless camera is the way to go. It will have everything necessary for creating a fantastic video.
Important Features Your Want
Cameras offer many features, and the good thing is you don’t need a ton of them to get amazing videos for your podcast. There are a few essential features you need on your camera. First off, you want a camera that is compact, lightweight, and easy to carry. This will make the camera less noticeable in the studio and less intrusive to the interviewee. You want your guest to be open and feel comfortable, and they will be more relaxed without a large camera in their face. Next, you will want a camera with optical image stabilization. Optical image stabilization will help to make your shots steadier. This is a huge help when you are shooting in low light or zooming in on the subject.
You will also want a camera that allows you to add external mics. Using external microphones is a must, and your camera should have inputs for XLR mics. This way, you can have your guest sit in front of the camera and have your interviewer sit off to the side with two lavalier mics or a boom mic. You may also want to make sure your camera has a headphone jack input as well. This will allow an audio technician to listen to the sound coming into the camera and make any necessary adjustments.
Next, the resolution is vital for video production. YouTube videos should be full HD, 1080HD or better. 4k video is becoming standard; it would be in your best interest to find a camera that shoots in 4k. Even though 4k is not necessary for podcasting, it will be beneficial to producing promotional videos, create trailers, or even show off your studio space.
Lastly, you will want a camera with fantastic autofocus. Autofocus will make your videos look sharp and crisp. You never want to have a camera where the subject must stay still for the autofocus to work. You want autofocus that will track your subject’s movements and keep them in focus without worry. Considering all of these specifications, the Canon EOS and Sony ZV 1 have what you need to produce a fantastic video. If you are wondering what the best camera for Youtube is? It would be one of these two cameras. Both have long battery life, are small enough to be used as action cameras, deliver smooth footage, and have a fully articulating screen. You will not be disappointed by either camera.
Quality Audio is Non-Negotiable
Quality audio is critical to having polished videos. Poor audio quality will have people skipping to the next video quickly. Quality sound is just something that cannot be recorded with the microphone inside a compact camera. Cameras are produced for video recording, and the audio quality is a second thought. You will need to invest in external microphones and possibly an external recorder. Investing in great audio will pay off when your audience is staying tuned in to your video podcast longer.
Types of Microphones
There are three main types of external mics. A shotgun mic is a directional mic designed to pick up sounds directly in front of the mic, while rejecting any sounds coming from other directions. A boom mic is a microphone placed above the interviewers; it picks up more ambient noise than a shotgun mic. A lavalier mic is a small mic that clips onto the clothing of a person. It records the sound that is close to it, eliminating a lot of ambient sounds. The best mic for podcast video would be a lavalier mic. It will give the cleanest sound compared to the other mics.
Edit to Make it Eye Catching
Add Graphics and Animation
Adding graphics and animations as reference material will make your podcast video more interesting. Viewers will see more information embedded in the video, which will make it more attractive. But remember that animations are only effective when they are short and straightforward, expressing what you want to say or show. You can also use images or videos as references to the conversation taking place. Visuals will help clarify to the viewer what the person is talking about.
Jump Cuts Can Increase Watch Time
Jump cuts are a way to make videos more interesting through video editing. Having numerous jump cuts in your video will capture people’s attention. A jump cut is one of many editing techniques that splices two unique pieces of footage together to have a jarring effect on the audience. One of the best places to use a jump cut is in the opening sequence of your videos. Jump cuts should not look like a seamless transition or continuous shots. Because of the jarring effect on the audience, it is vital to use jump cuts in creative ways, without overusing them.
Closed Captions for More Views
Closed captions are a must for any video, but especially podcast video. One of the prime reasons people are tuning in is for the conversation. We want people that are hearing impaired or watching the video without sound to know what is being said. It’s also significant for SEO. Many people don’t realize that the YouTube video manager has a closed captioning editor built into it. This makes it incredibly easy to create and upload captions for your videos. The only thing you might need to do is edit the timing on some of the clips, but even then, you can do that in the video manager. Many people think about transcription as an alternative to closed captioning, but it isn’t the same thing. Captions are much more effective for SEO and layed on top of the video as it is played.
Secure the Customer with a Call to Action
Every video you produce should have a call to action at the end. Whether to subscribe, like, share, or click a link, you should have a call to action. Your call to action should be direct and encourage people to take action promptly. You already have their attention; now get them to take that next step. It is good practice to try multiple calls to action in your videos and see what works best. Crafting a quality call to action will significantly impact the rate of conversion and the number of interactions that your podcast videos receive.
In Conclusion
Recording video for your podcast has many pros and is something that any aspiring podcast should do. We have shown you the best cameras to use, the right way to record audio, what extras to include in your videos, and how to edit them. Creating a high-quality production will take some learning initially, but you will be a pro in no time. The recording and editing techniques you use will become second nature. The reward for your hard work is more listeners to your podcast, more views on YouTube, and an endless stream of video marketing material to promote yourself. Get out there and start recording.