Photograph of a microphone being held up in a stand with a pop filter in front of it. In the background is the top of a computer screen displaying an audio editing program.
I record some of my podcasts using Google Hangouts because it is the best free option for online recording that I’ve found. The benefits of this recording method are that it is free, reliable, easy for guests to use, and works okay with slow computers. The downsides are that it limits audio quality, there are some audio glitches, all participants are recorded in the same track, and it is complicated for the person doing the recording to set up.
Note that this specific step-by-step guide is on the verge of being outdated in the shift from Creator Studio to YouTube Studio. I am planning on updating it for the new YouTube Studio soon.
- For this you will need a google account, a YouTube account, and a YouTube channel. If you don’t already have them, make them.
- Sign in to your channel at www.youtube.com in chrome (can’t use firefox!).
- In the top right, click on your account icon.
- Click on YouTube Studio (beta).
- One the left side bar click on Creator Studio Classic.
- Once in the studio, click on Live Streaming in the left side bar.
- Click on Events (a subsection of Live Streaming).
- In the top right of the screen click on + New live event.
- This opens a section where you can name it and choose settings.
- Probably want to choose private.
- Select Quick (using Google Hangouts On Air) in the Type section.
- Once you have filled everything in that you need to click Go live now (scheduling is an option).
- Check the audio settings in the bar at the top (gear icon). You may wish to stay with voice setting.
- Add other people with the bar at the top (person symbol with a +).
- Click the control panel icon in the side bar to adjust everyone’s volumes individually.
- When ready click the Go Live button in the bottom center and wait for the yellow live icon to appear in the top right.
- When done click End Broadcast. You can stay and chat in the room for a bit after.
- When done chatting hit the red hang up icon in the top middle bar and it will upload (be sure it is done process before checking it out).
In the future I will add a section on finding the video of your podcast and converting it to a wav file.
And this is just for an audio podcast?
While this procedure is focused on audio podcasts, it actually covers the steps for recording a mp4 (video file). There are no special tips for handling any video techniques, but it does cover the basics of recording and the camera does switch automatically.
how can you add a second mic..lets say im doing a interview podcast how do i add the 2nd mic..is this possible??
In step 14 you add other people people to the hangout. Each person connects with their own google account on a different computer and they use their own microphone. You can add multiple different people.
Hope that answers your question.