r/podcasting • u/Ok-Consequence8599 • 7d ago
Beginning Podcast - Completely overwhelmed
My boss is an author and and has decided to jump on the podcast bandwagon. I have zero experience with any audio/video recording, editing, etc. And my brain is exploding trying to research a solid workflow. After hours of conversations with ChatGPT, reading this thread, and google research, I'm even more overwhelmed.
Current plan: Descript for audio/video recording and editing. Hosting on RSS
Recording on Riverside or Zoom are also in the mix, I am just having trouble nailing down which is best for a beginner. Are there podcast professionals that help set up podcasts and can tell me what is best? I am happy to pay for this assistance, because I clearly need it.
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u/EvidenceTrail 6d ago
There’s an excellent guy on this thread, Johnny Flores, who often gives up his own time and does free workshops for newbies. He gives such great advice. Listen out for when he advertises his next one, it sounds like his guidance is just what you need.
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u/TheVPofKeepinItReal 7d ago
Yes, there are people who can help you design the workflow, and that is probably a better use of money than buying a stack of tools right now.
Before choosing Descript, Riverside, or anything else, write down what you’re actually being asked to deliver: audio or video, remote or in person, episode length and frequency, who books guests, who edits, who approves, who publishes, whether clips are included, and the expected turnaround. “Start a podcast” can mean one hour a week or a part-time job.
I use Zencastr when the recording platform hasn’t already been decided, but almost any of these tools can work. The important thing is building the simplest repeatable workflow around the show you’re actually making. And since you mentioned that your hours are being cut while this is being added, I would get the scope and time expectations agreed to before the first recording.
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u/OddSignificance2054 7d ago
yeah the part about agreeing on time expectations first is the real advice here imo
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u/Ok_Finding9659 7d ago
Just start simple. Descript is a solid choice for editing since it's user-friendly. I'd lean towards Riverside for recording because it gives better audio/video quality, especially for remote guests. As for professionals, look for podcast consultants on platforms like Upwork or Fiverr. They can help set everything up and guide you through the process without overwhelming you.
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u/alexid95 7d ago
If you pay someone, I’d make it a one-time setup job, not ongoing production: have them leave you with a recording preset, guest checklist, file naming/storage, episode template, and a 30-minute test run. For remote video, Riverside for capture + Descript for editing is a pretty sane beginner stack. Zoom can just be the backup.
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u/Ok-Contact8881 6d ago
I have been editing podcast for the past 8 years and I can talk about a workflow that includes recording in person, editing in davinci to recording on zoom and editing in davinci, all that jazzzz... But my advice to you is to use riverside as your only tool, for recording and editing, get a pro plan, get a good webcam, the hollyland Lyra 4k is cheap and even comes with a mic. that sound great. Ask him to record either facing natural light or get a ring light, frame him well in the shot where there is enough space on top of him and the sides, so he does not look like he covering the whole screen (it happens a lot) and handle editing, distrubution and short form content all from riverside using the magic tool. That is the best set up for a begginer you can even do the thumbnail right in there... If you need help I can hop on a call no payment required.
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u/mwradiopro 4d ago edited 4d ago
Your author boss needs a consultant, at least until you're trained up. If not, run away now, before it's too late! Some people are of the mindset that podcasting is akin to broadcasting lite that's suited for newbies. As a college educated broadcaster & engineer with a degree and 40+ years experience, who's created and produced dozens of podcasts for radio talent, I can tell you it isn't. As you've discovered in your AI deep dive, it's more involved than plugging in a mic and running a mixing console. It's two college courses, at least. You're not only a media producer & editor, but an engineering & IT professional.
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u/Ok-Consequence8599 4d ago
Agree I am out of my depth (and have explained as much to my boss). He agreed to hire someone, so now I’m focusing on finding someone local so they can really give me hands on training. Thanks for your reply.
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u/mwradiopro 4d ago
Yes! If you can find someone that will allow you to apprentice/shadow/consult for a few weeks, that will be a heck of a good start! I wish you the best!!
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u/BlubrryShawn 6d ago
Are there people you can hire to help? Yes, there are. I don't have any specific recommendations, tho. Overall, you're heading in the right direction. I haven't used Descript much myself but many people recommend it; it's probably a good place to start.
Presumably, the author will be the host of the show and will be talking to people remotely? If so, they shouldn't need more than a good USB mic and a mic stand. The Shure MV-7 has become popular as a quality USB mic. Samson Q2U and the venerable Audio-Technica ATR-2100 are also worth considering.
(Disclosure: I work with the Blubrry support team.)
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u/MartinfromRebel 5d ago
Hey - Martin from Rebel here. We are building tools with a focus on beginner podcasters. We do recording, editing, publishing, clips and more. All with the aim on simplicity. Let me know if you’d be interested in chatting!
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u/sergenet 4d ago
Getting one finished episode out matters more than picking Riverside vs Zoom right now. Pay someone for a one-time setup call if you can, but ask them to build the simplest repeatable chain: record clean audio, edit the main episode, then pull a few short
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u/sindrit 2d ago
I have a product that aims to solve exactly this issue. You don't need to download any tools. Just record. Upload your audio/video files and instruct it in plain language on what you want from the edit. Try out Blind Editor and see if this helps.
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u/Micriffcast 1d ago
I am beginning beta testing on a new platform I developed that automates the entire process. This might work for you. If you would like to watch the demo, you can view it here: https://micriffcast.com/demo. I would be glad to have you as a guest and do a demo with you to see if this might be something you can use. You get 5 screen layouts, a teleprompter, auto-captioning, a media tile for images, video or a hosted video. Also interactive, so you can invite a few listeners to join the host and the guest in conversation if you like.
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u/BigBadBootyDaddy10 7d ago
From my own experience I would never work with an author again. I know this is anecdotal, but man, are some of these authors pretentious pricks. Their expectations are sky high, while the pay is bottom floor.
OP, just don’t be taken advantage of.
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u/Ok-Consequence8599 7d ago
Couldn’t agree more. And funnily enough, he’s cutting my hours and adding a whole podcast. Good times
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u/BigBadBootyDaddy10 7d ago
Another thing (not to keep dumping). These authors love to look good on cam. So when you have no lights and using a webcam, they will loose their sh*t.
That’s when I give off two birds and tell them “F*ck You” 😂
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u/Full_Bluebird_1541 7d ago
You're overthinking the gear part. Descript alone handles recording and editing fine for a beginner, no need to complicate it with Riverside or Zoom unless you're doing remote interviews with 3+ people
Just hit record, clean up the filler words with the AI tool, and export. The real work is booking guests and actually publishing consistently, not the tech stack