recording session for a CBC radio series.

Any podcaster knows the complexities of recording in-house, but I have done a healthy amount of recording, for podcasts, radio etc not needing to handle my own equipment or even handle all the ins and outs of setup.

Until now.

There is nothing like a pandemic to force one to get over their fear of tech, muddle through the necessities and learn a thing or two along the way.

Thankfully, being married to an electrical engineer, I have the advantage of in-house tech support. If everything goes ‘to hell in a hand-basket’ so to speak, I can yell bloody murder from my office and he will trundle in, all nonchalant, while sorting through the latest glitch.

Things I Have Learned

Stuff yourself into a closet (it’s a plus if you have a walk-in)

In our new home, every room as an echo.
Mostly due to being slow to add pictures or rugs to rooms. I like taking my time with decor.

No matter how hard you try, a lawnmower is still a lawnmower.

Wait until all lawnmowers have retreated for the day…or at least rush in quickly and record.
Don’t get me started on this one. It’s not always easy to schedule a peaceful time to record, but you just have to adjust accordingly.

Plan interviews but leave room for spontaneity.

I get self conscious about my own physical voice in any project. It’s so much easier for me to build a spotlight and narrative around others, but lately my work has been more personal, leaving me little room to escape my own voice. Remembering that I can also follow an interesting lead in thought and question while trying to honour the project anchor points is a helpful way to stay loose.
It’s okay to go off book sometimes.

Don’t review material on the same day. Even if you have access to it.

This is something I have learned over a long time of doing interviews / recording film.
As exciting as it is to look over the material that same day, (not all projects is this possible, but for my work, it mostly has been) try to give yourself a day’s breather before reviewing the recordings. Space away from the experience will help you hear things you wouldn’t hear the day of.