Start A Podcast In The Comfort Of...

START A PODCAST IN THE COMFORT OF YOUR HOME

With the recent rise in popularity of podcasting in Singapore, many are influenced to start their own podcast but are still unsure of the steps to take. Three local youth podcasters show NUR KHALIDAH the basics.

For both laptop and phone, you can record using the built-in voice recording application. Besides recording, there are other functions available on the application if you want to pause, trim or cut out any parts in your recording.

After some time, if you feel like podcasting is something you love and enjoy doing, you can upgrade your equipment by investing in a professional microphone.

For Ms Shida, content is king. She says: “If you start off with minimal equipment but

your content is really good, I promise you [that] you can really go anywhere.”

3. Editing your audio (post-processing)

Although this step is optional, it can make your audio sound more professional and pleasing for listeners.

Free software like Garageband and Audacity allow you to remove unwanted background noise in your audio to make your voice sound crisp and clear. Adobe Audition and Logic Pro are paid software that offer more extensive and technical functions for audio editing.

4. Distributing your podcast on audio streaming platforms

Now that you’ve recorded and edited your episode, you will need a podcast hosting platform to share your podcast online.

For starters, Anchor is a suitable and convenient platform that allows you to distribute your podcast episodes on multiple platforms such as Spotify and Apple Podcasts for free. It even has a built-in editing software for basic trimming and combining of audio clips.

Mr Erwin says: “Sometimes, on the journey back home, I can just [upload my episode] on my phone; [Anchor] is accessible on all your devices so it’s pretty easy to use.”

Podcasting allows you to express your creativity in the content you put up as well as improve on your people and communication skills, which are useful in your daily lives.

Mr Shuraim says: “I think it’s about having fun… Set your intentions [of starting a podcast] right and subsequently, you can execute.”

In 2019, Mr Shuraim Basir, 23, Mr Uwais Hatta, 23, and Ms Sabrina Shiraz, 21, kickstarted their podcast with just their iPhones, recording episodes from the comfort of Mr Shuraim’s bedroom.

Now, over a year later, their podcast titled ‘Randomly Relatable SG’ tops the charts as the Number One Youth Podcast in Singapore, landing them a sponsorship deal with renowned audio brand Audio Technica.

“Podcasting has been around for over a decade and is recently gaining popularity in Singapore due to the heavy influence of Western culture in our society,” says Mr Shuraim.

The Podcast Host, a podcast hosting platform, explained podcasting as an audio programme focusing on a particular topic or theme, such as business or sports. You can subscribe to a podcast show on your smartphone and listen to it whenever you like.

According to Nimble, a digital marketing consultancy based in Singapore, there are more than 700,000 active podcast shows worldwide and this number is increasing each day.

If you are thinking of jumping on the podcasting bandwagon and looking for a head start, here is a step-by-step guide on how you can start your very own podcast at home!

1. Choosing the topic of discussion

Ms Shida Osman, 33, founder of ‘ADOSSIER’ podcast, says: “The good thing about podcasting is that it’s really free in comparison to radio itself… you can talk about the nooks and crannies of subjects.”

Ms Shida ensures that the content she talks about is ‘value-adding’ and well-researched beforehand. Apart from the internet, she would go the extra mile to gather information from books and daily conversations with her friends.

Knowing your target audience is also helpful as it allows you to have an idea of the kind of topics that would interest them.

2. Recording your first episode

It is not necessary to spend on professional equipment that you may have never heard of before like the Rhodecaster Pro or the Blue Yeti. You can simply make use of the things you already have, such as your smartphone and earphones, to record your first episode.

The founder of ‘LetsBeReal’ Podcast, Mr Erwin Shah, 19, says: “Make sure you’re in a quiet room… Just use [your] wired headphones [with] your laptop or phone and you’re good to go!”