Maeve Catherine

I am not sure where I would be without the ability to hear or speak. I’ve never been one to like hearing myself talk but I hate silence even more so I will play music, youtube videos, tv shows, and most recently podcasts.

Listening to podcasts about my interests help me stay focused on work that is due because without visuals or rhythm that I can activate my creative thinking skills when imagining where the hosts are sitting and what activities they are describing. In chapter 8 of Tom Schroeppel’s “The Bare Bones Camera Course For Film and Video“, he introduces the importance of tone of voice, where and how the audio is recorded.

Microphones

Schroeppel advices their readers to understand the types of microphones that are available for most productive use. He explains, “Remember your viewers. Use the microphone that, under the circumstances, will best capture the sound you want your viewers to hear” (59) and ““If you want to communicate a positive feeling about an industry you’re filming, record people talking in quiet areas; if you want to make your viewers uncomfortable, record workers shouting to be heard over a clamorous assembly line” (63). A microphone’s pickup pattern is the area most sensitive to incoming sound waves. Below are the types of pick up patterns:

Omnidirectional Pick Up Pattern: Hearing sound from every direction

Directional Patterns: Hearing sound in front of microphone

Cardioid: Hearing sound best from directly in front of the microphone but can also hear the some sounds surrounding the microphones sides.

Supercardioid (aka shotgun mike): Hearing sound that is directly in front or behind where the microphone is pointed. There are dead zones on the microphone which helps limit too many unwanted sounds from being heard.

In the media industry there are two basic types of microphones that have been formatted into the three common types of microphones.

Dynamic Microphone: strongly made and capable of withstanding rough handling while still producing excellent sound

• Hand microphone: The most versatile microphone. Designed with both omnidirectional and cardioid pick up patterns

Electret Condenser Microphone: Small, lightweight, and requires batteries. They can produce excellent sound.

• Lavalier microphone: Designed with both omnidirectional and cardioid pick up patterns
• Hand microphone: The most versatile microphone. Designed with both omnidirectional and cardioid pick up patterns
• Shotgun microphone: Designed with omnidirectional pick up patterns

Inspiring Creativity

Below are three podcasts that have host(s) who do a great job of talking to an audience that cannot see them.

YouTuber Sadie Crowell brings her humor and experience being a young content creator to her podcast, Was That TMI?. Sadie is known for being a realistic representation of chaotic teenager who learns from their adventures and offering advice to those going through similar things.

The lengths of episodes vary between 30 and 90 minutes and audio is required using different equipment. Sadie has used two styles of dynamic microphones, a lavalier microphone, and her iPhone microphone as a lavalier mic. Sadie’s audio levels change episode to episode which is fitting for her brand, however as a audience member it can be jarring so this decision would not work for every podcast.

The iHeartRadio podcast, I Am All In with Scott Patterson breaks down the episodes of the popular TV show Gilmore Girls, with actor Scott Patterson and three iHeart Radio producers. Scott played the owner of the beloved Luke’s Diner in Stars Hallow and explores all of the pop culture references in show. In 2021, Scott admitted that he had not watched any of show and wanted to create and host a space to engage with fans and old co stars.

The episodes are a hour to hour and half long and conducted through a conversational tone. In earlier episodes there were audio differences from host to host and host to guests because of differing microphones. Scott had a non-cushioned moving coil microphones that has a cardioid pickup pattern while his cohosts had cushioned handheld mics. Scott did improve his audio levels in the newer seasons after evidentially learning how sensitive the center of his microphone is.

AudioChuck’s podcast, Crime Junkie had been diving deep into the true crime files that are underreported. The Host’s Ashley and Brit have been organizing and structuring their podcast to layout the research and create conversation regarding the solved and unsolved murders, missing persons cases, and more.

The episodes are 30 to 90 minutes in length and are structured to be informational yet conversational. From the very first episode to now the podcast’s audio is clear because the hosts are talking directly into the microphones they have and there is no unnecessary background noise.

Before We Can Talk We Have to Plan

Creating a successful podcast is not only reliant on being knowledgable about audio but also preplanning.

When I brought up that I was researching podcasting my sister Grace offered to be part of my first episode. Grace loves to talk and has opinions about lots of topics so when I asked what she would want to talk about she suggested Dawson’s Creek. Grace introduced me to the tv show back in 2018 but I didn’t watch it until 2022, which is when I binged the 6 seasons in three months. Over the past week we have been rewatching the first and last season of the show while creating the preplanning document for our ten minute podcast.

Take a look at our plans: