READING & WRITING
There are many things in life we experience that we don’t think of how they originated, or why they even exist. Sound is one of those things. I was transported back to high school Physics class reading about Sound in Tom Schroeppel’s The Bare Bones Camera Course for Film and Audio. Not only do you have to grasp the concept that it’s traveling waves that you can’t even see, but these waves have certain behaviors such as bouncing and reflecting. The more sound waves there are, the larger the frequency (shrill, high-pitch); fewer sound waves equal a smaller frequency (deep).
Microphones operate just like our ears do. They transcribe the sound waves into the electric signals that we hear. There is some other sciencey stuff about vibrations and diaphragms, but that’s the gist of it. Different types of microphones pick up sound in a variety of ways so your final product depends on what you are recording (and where). Shotgun mikes pick up sound directly where they are pointed at. The omnidirectional microphone has a pickup pattern that imitates a sphere. Getting that crisp clear sound is not as simple as grabbing the nearest microphone and recording.
One of the big advances in audio communication of recent times is the creation of podcasts. A marriage of the words “iPod” and “broadcast”, podcasts act as recorded modern-day radio shows that can be played at any time, at the listener’s discretion. I’m sure you have at least one podcast that you listen to, or at the very least know about. There are nearly 2 million active podcasts and millions of episodes to accompany them. This is not something that is going away anytime soon.
RESEARCH TO INFORM
Just like any film, tv, or radio production, podcasts have a general structure that is followed:
Introduction (music or sound to introduce the name of the podcast and host)
Hook (what the episode is about)
Main content (interviews, discussions, solo)
Outro (to end the episode and have music or sound)
Any sponsorships
I went out a did a bit of research on some of my favorite podcasts, and others that I’ve heard of.
My friend Abby has been running this podcast for a couple of years now. She takes a trip down the rabbit hole for you, Googling things you may have wondered about but never looked up yourself. She releases an episode weekly and they are usually 10 minutes or less. They’re a perfect filler for short car rides, quick chores, or as a companion to your morning coffee.
Each episode has the same format: intro “jingle”, a quick word about sponsors, the main content, and music that fades out. She adds soft ambient music to her talking to add some depth to the narration. She will also add sound and voice effects for comedic purposes, along with a splash of profanity. You can instantly tell what kind of person she is by how she talks (which is knowledgeable, friendly, and funny).
Crime and murder mysteries have gained ridiculous popularity in recent years, probably because they can be so addicting. Crime Junkie is a podcast that is routinely in the top charts on Apple and is rated a solid 5 stars. They are well-established and because of that, their format is a little different. Sponsors are a big part of shows that are as popular as Crime Junkie, so the beginning is usually filled with at least two. They also have little intermissions, where they promote their other podcast shows. One host acts as the main speaker while the other interjects with reactions and questions, usually with something that listeners are thinking about themselves. The tone and flow are great, and although there’s a lot of information being said, there is always intrigue with what and how things are said.
The Chernobyl Podcast is a discussion about each episode of HBO’s mini-series Chernobyl (which is unbelievably amazing, please watch). Based heavily on the events of the 1986 Chernobyl disaster, series creator Craig Mazin details how close to history the show parallels reality, and the nuances of developing a dark, complex story.
The structure is very simple, with a conversation between Mazin and host Peter Sagal as they discuss plot points, behind-the-scenes secrets, and decisions for including certain elements. Each episode starts with an audio clip from the respective episode, followed by music from the show, and then Peter introduces the podcast. The conversation and content are interesting enough to keep most people listening until the end. Both hosts have clear, full voices and friendly personalities.
CREATE
I’ve become inspired to develop a podcast series of my own, using the strategies listed on The Podcast Host’s site. The other day, I was listening to my brother talk about the stock market and investment tips. To be honest, I couldn’t care less but it was so interesting to just hear him talk about it. He was so passionate, and excited, to even be talking about it at all. Watching and listening to someone speak about something they are so engrossed in is a joy in itself. Oftentimes when we want to talk about the stock market, or how trains work, it’s hard to find an audience who cares just as much. I wanted to create a space where people can talk about their obsessions while letting others listen not only to the knowledge, but the excitement another human is experiencing.
Attached is my pre-production plan for this series, which I titled Niche Nook, along with my mind map (also pictured above) and logistics.
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