How to Record a Podcast on iPhone: How to Do It, Advantages, Disadvantages, and What You’ll Need

One of the great things about owning an iPhone is how flexible a piece of kit it is. Apple has a reputation for producing great hardware and the iPhone has, for years, maintained that reputation. So, it makes sense to get as much use out of it as possible.

Podcast recording is one of the many things you can do with an iPhone. But how can you do it? And what do you need to know? Fortunately, our guide is here to steer you through the process of recording a podcast with your iPhone.

Things You Should Consider Before Recording a Podcast on iPhone

Before you start recording, there are a number of things to consider to ensure you produce the best possible podcast you can.

1. Your iPhone

   

   It's obvious but true! You'll need an iPhone. However, you don't necessarily need the latest model - older iPhones will be more than sufficient to record a podcast with. It's certainly true that the more up-to-date your iPhone is, the better the recording quality will be.

   However, those with older models shouldn't be put off - Apple has been producing great hardware for a long time, so the best thing to do is try it and see what the quality is like. You may be surprised!

   • Video Podcasts

     You can also have a video recording for your podcast if you want a video podcast or specific clips to be available on YouTube or other social media platforms. And, of course, the newer your iPhone, the greater the video quality will be. But honestly? Don't get too hung up on that.

     Compression, streaming, bandwidth, and the viewer's hardware all affect the quality of playback. When it's just a person or a few people hosting a podcast, you don't need to be too worried about the video quality. As long as the video quality is clear and you can be seen, it will be fine and your video recording will be able to enhance your audio with a visual presentation.

2. External Microphone

   

   The iPhone's internal microphone is decent but it's no better than decent, and if there's one thing you really need to focus on, it's audio quality. That means you're going to need an external microphone.

   For even a small outlay, an external mic will radically improve the quality of your audio recording, and its importance cannot be overstated.

   The kind of microphone you need will depend on your recording scenario. If you travel to record, a portable microphone such as a lavalier mic will be an invaluable investment - small, high quality, and easily portable.

   If you record in a fixed location, such as at home, then a desk-based microphone will be better suited to your needs. Bear in mind that you need to ensure that you can connect it to your iPhone with either a lightning cable, lightning-to-3.5mm jack, or Bluetooth.

3. Headphones

   

   A decent pair of headphones will be an incredibly worthwhile investment. Good-quality headphones will help with two things.

   Firstly, it will help you hear background noise, hum, hiss, or any other distortion that you want to eliminate. The better the headphones, the easier it will be to eliminate these sounds and get closer to producing a studio-quality podcast. Secondly, it will prevent audio bleed, so you don't end up with echo or other unwanted sounds from your microphone.

   If you want to prioritize audio quality at all, a good pair of headphones is essential.

4. Podcast Recording Apps

   

   You're going to need an app to record your podcast, too. That means you have to find something that is really going to work for you.

   This is slightly different from choosing a DAW (digital audio workstation) for your computer - you need something that is going to be simple and intuitive to use, and that will work well on a small phone screen.

   There are plenty of free and paid-for iOS podcast recording apps, so depending on the level you're pitching your podcast at, you may want to select one that factors in the financial side of things as well.

   • Usage

     If you're producing a low-subscription or personal podcast, then using a free recording app is likely more than sufficient.

     By contrast, if you want to produce something extremely professional to conquer the Spotify and Apple podcast charts, then you might want to invest in something more professional.

     If you are recording multiple presenters simultaneously, you will need to ensure the recording app has a multitrack recording feature.

     Finally, you can also use the Voice Memos app but this is extremely basic for podcasting purposes and should probably only be considered as an option of last resort.

     Even a free podcast recording app will produce better sound quality, so consider it for emergencies only.

How to Record a Podcast on iPhone

Recording a podcast on your iPhone is relatively straightforward. Ensure you have your material ready, that you are relaxed and confident in what you are going to talk about, and that you are ready to record a podcast.

Firstly, decide what podcast recording app you are going to use. When you have downloaded it from the App Store, launch the software.

Ensure that whatever microphone you are using is assigned to the track you want to record on. Before you begin your recording, test your levels to ensure that you have a good, strong signal but that it is not so loud that it causes distortion. Listen back to the recording and make any adjustments you need.

Once you are happy with all of that, it's time for the big moment! Hit record and get your episode in the can.

When you have finished recording, listen back to your podcast to confirm that everything has gone according to plan. If there are any obvious mistakes or anything you want to re-record, it's better to do it at this point rather than later.

If you do it later, there may be small but detectable changes in things like acoustics or hiss that will make it difficult to integrate anything you want to insert, so do it now with the same setup and with ideas still fresh in your mind.

Now, you need to edit your podcast. Make any changes you want to your tracks, and make sure that everything sounds the way you want it to. If you are recording with multiple hosts, make sure the volume levels are consistent between everyone so that the recording sounds as natural and easy to listen to as possible.

After editing has been completed, you will need to upload your podcast to your podcast recording host. Apple Podcasts don't host actual episodes, you can only link your podcast to there. However, there are plenty of well-known podcast hosts that you can choose from, depending on different criteria, such as storage needs, tool availability, and of course budget.

When your episode has been uploaded to the podcast host, that's it! You're ready to take on the podcasting world.

Pro Tip: How to Enhance Audio Quality of Your Podcast Recorded on iPhone

There are a number of ways to enhance the audio quality of your podcast which will result in better podcast audio, clearer speech, and ensure your listeners will find it easy to engage with your content.

Voice Enhance

The Voice Enhance plug-in from CrumplePop is one of the easiest ways to enhance the audio you have recorded. It is the latest in a line of professional, studio-quality plug-ins that will ensure you have the best sound quality possible.

Voice Enhance is specifically designed to take any recorded voice and improve the clarity, quality, and listenability of any audio file. It's an AI-powered tool that will make an instant difference to the quality of your audio, whether this has been caused by unexpected background noise, unfavorable acoustics, or poor equipment quality... no matter what the scenario, Voice Enhance will be able to help.

If you're looking for the quickest, simplest, and most expedient way to improve your audio, you really can't go wrong with Voice Enhance.

1. Location, Location, Location

   

   It really can't be emphasized enough, but where you choose to record your podcast can have a huge impact on the audio quality you are trying to achieve. Recording podcasts somewhere that's quiet, has no or little echo, and which has a minimal amount of background noise will not only make your audio sound much better, but will also save you a lot of post-production work.

   If you're recording out in the field, or conducting vox pops or something similar, this might not always be practical or possible. However, if you are recording indoors, give consideration to this.

   Think of a podcast you listen to - would you be put off if there was the sound of someone slamming a door in the background or a dog barking? Even a persistent, low hum becomes annoying after a few moments and will encourage people to turn off.

   Considering where you record will mean that you need to edit audio less which means you can concentrate on the most important thing of all - the content!

2. Test

   

   Conduct a test recording before you go live. Even a short test recording might reveal things you have been aware of.

   Maybe there's a stray noise that means your audio sounds wrong. Or perhaps your software doesn't quite respond in the way you want it to. Perhaps your recording levels need to be adjusted if they are too quiet or so loud they cause clipping.

   Testing before you start recording your podcast will save you a lot of headaches further down the line.

3. Turn Off Notifications

   

   Seems simple, but it's worth doing! The last thing you want in the middle of your podcast is a ping from an app because someone urgently needs to send you a picture of a cute cat (other reasons are also available).

   It's not very professional to have notifications pinging off while you're trying to focus on your subject, so ensure your iPhone notifications are all disabled during recording.

4. Turn Off Cellular Service

   Assuming you're not relying on it if you're out in the field, it's always a good idea to disable your cellular service when recording. This is because cellular service can sometimes produce audible interference when you're recording.

   You'll need to keep wifi turned on if you're recording other hosts at the same time, of course, but disabling cellular service removes one more possible source of interference when you're recording.

5. Mount Your iPhone Securely

   

   Mounting your iPhone can make a surprising amount of difference to your audio quality, especially if you don't have an external microphone.

   Having it mounted securely means it will be far less prone to being knocked around or picking up vibrations from a desk or other location it might be on.

   If you are using the internal microphone, it also makes it easier for you to keep a consistent distance between the microphone and your mouth. This is really important for controlling volume - if you move away from the microphone and then back in, your audio will go quiet and then loud, making it difficult to concentrate on or listen to.

   It also means your precious phone will be safe!

6. Microphone Placement

   

   Relatedly, if you are using an external microphone with your iPhone, ensure that it is placed correctly for the best possible audio quality.

   If you are using a lavalier microphone, ensure that it is securely clipped to clothes, free from rustle or clothes brushing against it, and if you're recording outdoors, do what you can to avoid wind noise. A wind guard is a simple, effective way of ensuring much better quality audio when recording outdoors.

   When it comes to choosing a podcast microphone, make sure you choose one you will feel comfortable using for an extended period. Something hand-held isn't going to be suitable - your arm would get tired, and it's hard to keep a consistent distance between yourself and the microphone.

   A stand - either an arm stand or a desk stand - will prove to be an absolutely critical piece of equipment and ensure that you get the very best out of the equipment that you have. It will keep the microphone in a good position for you when you are speaking.

   Ideally, you want to forget the microphone is even there so you can focus on what you're saying rather than the piece of equipment in front of you, so having good placement for both sound quality and "ignorability" is important.

What Are the Limitations of Recording Podcasts on Your iPhone?

As well as advantages, there are also limitations when it comes to recording a podcast on your iPhone.

1. Battery Life

   

   It's easy to overlook this if you're more used to recording with a laptop or computer that is permanently plugged in. You don't want your recording to end in the middle of making some important point!

   A recording app will drain your battery faster than most other apps will - so before you start, ensure that your phone is fully charged or has enough battery life to see you through the recording session.

   Ideally, keep your iPhone plugged in during the recording session, but if this isn't possible or practical, keep your eye on the percentage indicator and make sure you have enough to get to the end of your episode.

2. Connectivity

   

   iPhones have one Lightning or, on certain models, a USB-C connection. This limits the number of devices you can connect directly to your iPhone. Even the most limited of laptops are likely to have at least a couple of USB-C ports, so if you're recording on your iPhone, you may have some kind of workaround.

   To connect additional devices, you're going to need a docking station, multiport adapter, or some other piece of multi-connectivity hardware. If you're recording other hosts over the internet, this might not pose too much of a problem, but if you want a separate mic for people who are in the same room as you, you're going to need a way to connect them.

3. Storage

   

   iPhones have a fixed amount of onboard storage, and unlike Android devices, you can't expand the storage on an iPhone. That means if you're planning a really long recording session, you might need to offload apps, photos, or other media to ensure you have enough storage space available.

4. Recording Apps

   

   Like it or not, you're going to have to dive into recording apps if you want a good quality podcast recording - realistically, Voice Memos just isn't going to be good enough. The best podcast recording apps are simple to use, have good editing features, allow you to export your audio clips easily, and just generally make your life easy.

   The worst ones might have clunky interfaces, depend on a podcast hosting service that you may not want to use, or limit the number of features you have available.

   It's important to do some proper research and experiment with different types of recording apps before you start recording. It's unlikely the first one you try will be a perfect fit, and with plenty of software out there, there's lots to experiment with.

Final Words

The iPhone is an incredibly versatile device, and sometimes, it can be easy to take that versatility for granted. While many people might assume that you need a big studio, expensive equipment, or large amounts of money to record a podcast with studio quality sound, the truth is you may already have a device in your pocket that can achieve that.

So consider what you need carefully, plan ahead, and get recording. You'll have a studio quality podcast in next to no time!

FAQ

Can You Edit a Podcast Directly on Your iPhone?

The simple answer is "yes". Even Voice Memos allows you to trim and adjust files, albeit in a very crude way. And if you have an iPhone, you will have GarageBand available to you for free, which can also be used. However, the longer answer is slightly more involved.

Most podcast recording software on your iPhone will have some kind of editing ability built in, including GarageBand. This may be fairly basic, such as being able to trim tracks, adjust audio levels, or apply basic audio cleanup effects.

However, most of these have a tendency to be fairly crude, and it's not always easy to control on a touch-screen, especially a relatively small one like a phone. Fine-tuning details can be awkward when lifting a finger off a screen, and it can be a frustrating experience trying to do something that would be much more straightforward with a trackpad or mouse.

So - yes, you can edit a podcast directly on your iPhone. But if you can, it's worth exporting the audio to your computer so that you can edit it there. You'll get the job done faster, have a wider range of software available, and tear out less hair in the process!

iPhones are fine to record a podcast on, but editing is best done elsewhere.