When recording audio content collaboratively, whether it’s music, a podcast or something else, doing so in person isn’t always practical or preferable, meaning remote recording can often make more sense.
However, you may be wondering how to record a podcast or music remotely at high quality. Ultimately, drops in bit rate and lags in latency caused by doing so online can not only strip the polish from an otherwise accomplished product, but put an end to an audio collaboration entirely.
But fear not, high-quality remote recording is perfectly possible. By relying on Audiomovers, a software company removing the barriers from audio production, you can guarantee this in real-time. Find out how below.
Get the right remote recording equipment
If you’re striving to create the most professional-sounding remote recordings possible, getting the right equipment is essential. Both your and your collaborator’s setup should strive to match your audio goals, which is why you need the following gear:
Software
First, it is necessary to ensure you have reliable software to enable your recording.
1. Remote recording software
Without the right recording software, audio may be prone to drops in bit rate and lags in latency. This will also lead to notable drops in audio quality or cause the music track to go out of time, therefore ruining your jam or resulting in you talking over your podcast guest.
In short, your recording software is the most important aspect of remote recording, bar none. This is why you need to invest in the best software possible that offers seamless remote recording, and Audiomovers’ LISTENTO certainly fits the bill.
Use LISTENTO and LISTENTO RECEIVER plugins to stream, listen and record remote audio in your DAW, or the LISTENTO app as a standalone application outside the DAW but with all of the same functionality. Featuring support of lossless multichannel audio and up to 7.1.4 surround sound, combined with a unique ability to adjust latency and bit rate, it is like no other remote recording tool on the market. Try LISTENTO today to see for yourself.
2. A digital audio workstation (DAW)
A digital audio workstation, or DAW, will be familiar to musicians but might feel a world away for podcasters who’re just used to plugging in and recording. However, it has benefits regardless of the type of audio you’re producing.
Once you’ve recorded everything, a DAW gives you unparalleled control over the post-production process, no matter what audio you’re working with. If you’re recording speech for a podcast, a DAW allows you to remove filler words like “ums” and “ahs”, for example. For musicians, a DAW lets you do everything from looping a beat to editing and mixing the audio. You can also trim your recording to perfection and add effects for character, depth, shine or groove.
LISTENTO works with any DAW, meaning you can use your current workstation and start recording right away.
Hardware
The next type of equipment you need is hardware, though what you require depends on the type of audio you want to record remotely.
1. Instruments and Microphone
Prepare the hardware you need for whatever you’ll be recording, whether it’s a conversation, singing or instrumentation — this could be a real instrument or a virtual one played through a DAW. For all of these, it’s important to have the appropriate accompanying gear, from cables to preamps.
When it comes to the microphone, it really depends on what you’re trying to do, but it’s always worthwhile investing in the best microphone you can afford. Microphones are generally purpose-built, for singing or for recording instruments or room tone, for example, so do your research. These can handle higher sound pressure levels (basically, higher volume without distorting), have great frequency response characteristics, and are more durable than consumer-grade models.
2. Headphones and Studio Monitors
No matter what you’re recording, you need to use high-quality headphones and studio monitors. These allow you to stay on top of what you’re hearing so you know whether it’s going along the right path or not.
Without headphones, for instance, a podcast will have feedback problems considering your collaborator’s microphone will also pick up your voice from their speakers. Meanwhile, a studio monitor prevents audio distortion and provides flat frequency responses so you hear the audio in its neutral state.
Record in an appropriate environment
You can have all the best equipment in the world, but you and your collaborators also need to be recording in an appropriate environment. That means somewhere with no background noise or echo — this space should be carpeted if possible and away from any loud appliances like fans. It’s wise to put your phone on silent and close all your laptop tabs to reduce the possibility of surprise notifications.
However, although recording is best done in a professional environment (or as close as you can get), Audiomovers lets you get instant feedback on your work regardless of where the other person is. This is because you can stream your recordings to anyone, anywhere as you work — provided they have a smart phone or internet connection — simply by copying the streaming link and sending it to them. As such, our remote recording solution is ideal for projects subject to tight deadlines considering collaborators can share their immediate, instinctive reactions and help refine the recording.
How to use LISTENTO desktop app as part of your remote audio recording
Audiomovers’ LISTENTO lets you start recording remotely in seconds. Here’s how.
- Login to LISTENTO, where you can view and change your input and output settings. It’s also possible to save and load these settings from previous sessions.
- LISTENTO lets you stream up to 16 audio channels, which you can activate and view from the main middle panel.
- Using the Receiver, you can paste the link for the stream you want to receive, or select a previous session from the dropdown.
- Hit the red ‘Record’ button to start recording the incoming audio stream direct to your machine.
It’s really as simple as that. Why not give it a go with a free trial?
What people also ask about remote audio recordings
Why shouldn’t I use conference tools like Zoom, Google Meet or Skype?
Conferencing tools like Zoom, Google Meet and Skype have become incredibly popular in recent times not only among those wanting to chat, but for people looking to record audio thanks to each having recording functionalities. However, attempting to use these platforms for remote recording podcasts or music is a big no-no.
This is because the likes of Zoom are primarily designed for quick and easy communication, and don’t have the capabilities to consistently facilitate the recording of high-quality, uninterrupted audio content. As a result, using these platforms makes your recordings vulnerable to low-quality audio and latency lag issues, both of which can severely hamper your final product.
What other options are there for remote HD audio recording?
Another option regularly used for remote HD audio recording is the ‘tape sync’. This is the practice of hiring an audio engineer and sending them to the location of one of the people involved in an audio recording (typically the guest of an interview), while the other person (usually the interview host) records their part from the studio. The engineer takes their recording rig and sets up a microphone, with the tape sync overall making it sound like both parties are in the same room.
However, although this is certainly a useful way of recording audio across different locations, why bother when Audiomovers can make doing so sound just as good, but at a fraction of the cost, time and effort?
