We recently shared a post with all the hows, whens, and whys of video podcasting (you can check it out here!) It’s full of some handy guidelines to help you navigate the world of video podcasting, and it also covers all the basics you’ll need to get a video podcast up and running. But as it is with everything at the moment, we’re having to find alternative ways to accomplish our tasks from home, and this includes video podcasting. So if you’re wanting to start a video podcast, but are wondering just how you’ll accomplish this while in quarantine, well, wonder no more!  Today, we’re sharing some how-to strategies for creating an incredible video podcast from the comfort and safety of your own home.  

1. Purpose

First up, you need to hone in on the purpose of your video podcast, or your reason for starting a video podcast. Start by thinking about your niche and how your topic will evolve into video. This will also depend on your style of podcast. If your video podcast will simply be a video recording of your usual podcast episodes, then this might lead you to create a really captivating background to keep your audience’s attention. If your content naturally lends itself to tutorials or how-tos, or other types of visuals, then your home video set-up should be created to incorporate this. The bottom line is that you need to understand your purpose for starting your video podcast, as this will guide your steps going forward and will help you best meet the needs of your audience. 

2. Vision

Your overall vision for your video podcast is also important. Ask yourself what you imagine the final product looking like? And how do you envision your audience interacting with your videos? Answering these types of questions will help you create the right look and feel for the final product. If you constantly keep your vision in focus and bear these points in mind, you will create content that translates well into video as well as helping you create videos that keep your audience coming back time and time again. Take the necessary time to really harness and fine-tune your vision, as this, along with understanding your purpose, will really help guide all the decisions you need to make regarding your video podcast. 

One such decision knowing your vision will guide is your choice of optimal filming location…

3. Location

Your optimal location for recording your video podcast from home will need to strike the right balance between visually appealing and optimally suited for clear audio capture. The principles for finding the perfect spot for a great sounding video podcast location will be very similar to that of an audio podcast. So the first box you need to tick is a space that will produce a recording with no echo, little to no reverb, and a full, rich sound. The best places to start looking are those rooms or spaces in your house that are carpeted, have curtains on the windows, and have a fair amount of furniture in the room. All of this will greatly help break up the sound waves, producing that full sound you’re after. Now, if you were simply setting up a home recording studio for your audio podcast, you might consider your closet as that prime location, but that just won’t work visually for your video podcast! So the next box you need to tick is a space that is aesthetically pleasing, as well as conducive to sound. Once you know where you are going to be recording from, have a little fun with setting up the scene. Create a backdrop, add some quirky items, a plant or two, or even some fairy lights to help create an eye-catching set. Remember to keep your overall vision in mind, but use your imagination and creativity to create your unique look you’re ultimately after.

Pro Tip #1: Remember, you want your setting to enhance your content, not distract from it. Once you’ve set up your location, take a photo, or do a test recording to see how it “reads” on camera, and make the necessary adjustments until you’ve got the perfect setting. You might love that lava lamp you’ve put on your desk, but if it steals the show and you find yourself getting distracted by it, then it may have to be “cut” from the set. 

Pro Tip #2: If you want more info on the in’s and outs of recording amazing audio from home, then check out our post all about How To Create A Home Podcast Recording Studio for all the tips and tricks you need. These can be used as the basis of your video podcast set-up.

4. Equipment 

Now we will look at the equipment you need to bring your video podcast into existence. The basics are really similar to those needed for an audio podcast with a few medium-specific tools thrown in the mix. So besides your trusted microphone and headphones (for more on some of the top podcasting tools, check out this post!), and your audio recording set-up, let’s look at the other important pieces of equipment you’ll need to film your video podcast at home. 

1.  A Camera…obviously

I won’t go into too much detail here, but you’ll definitely be needing a camera, this being video podcast you’re wanting to create after all! Whether it’s your webcam, smartphone, or digital camera that you’ll be using, what is of utmost importance is that it yields a high-quality recording at the end of the day. 

2. A Tripod or Camera Stand

An easy way to capture professional-looking footage is to always make use of a tripod or camera stand, depending on your chosen device. Using a tripod or stand will allow you to record steady footage, as well as helping you capture your recordings from the best angle possible. Whether you will need to use a tripod or camera stand will greatly depend on your set-up, as well as what type of camera you are using. If you need to capture a wider set, a proper tripod will be your best bet, but if you’re just after a close-up shot, a mini tripod or camera stand will get the job done well. 

3. Lighting

It may happen that the best place in your house to record your video podcast has poor lighting. This may be due to the time of day (or night!) when you are able to record, or because the artificial lights in the room don’t translate pleasingly when recorded. (FUN FACT: standard fluorescent lighting should be avoided as they tend to flicker when seen on footage!) You also may simply want more control over your lighting set-up to ensure that all your filming looks the same, no matter when you record. Investing in some high-quality lighting can really help elevate your video podcast. Whether it’s the ring light popular with vloggers, or another source of light better suited to your set-up, with a little investigating, you’ll definitely find something to suit your style and wallet, and which will help create beautiful videos wherever you record in your home.

4. Extra Memory Cards and Batteries

Getting the perfect shot in one take is most likely rarely going to happen. You’re probably going to need to do a number of takes to get all the content you’re after, in the way that you want it. Remember, video recording differs from audio in that it can’t be cut and spliced together as you can with an audio recording. (When I say “can’t,” I really mean “shouldn’t.” Of course, it can be done, but the result is a static, “jumpy” video that is super distracting for the viewer, so it would be best to avoid this!) So to ensure that you can get all the takes you need, you should add extra memory cards and/or batteries (depending on your recording device of choice) to your equipment list. Having these ready will help avoid having to stop filming to upload the footage every time your memory card is full, or waste time waiting for your device to charge up again before continuing on. 

5. Software

Particularly if you’re wanting to record interviews for your video podcast while both you and your interviewees are stuck at home, you’re going to need some software to allow you to do just that. Everyone from Ellen to Trevor Noah is using this type of software to keep their shows going, so you know they are going to work for your video podcast too!

Our top content capturing software contenders are…

1. Zoom

Probably the most popular choice right now for recording interviews remotely is Zoom, whose notoriety has boomed during this time of quarantine, with everyone and their grandmothers “hopping on” to Zoom for meetings, family games night, and even birthday parties! Local recording using your PC is available for both free and paid Zoom subscribers, but you’ll need an account if you want to download a recording made using a mobile device. However, it must also be said that while Zoom can certainly capture the video and audio of your interview, it will save it as one file, which may make it difficult to edit. 

2. SquadCast 

SquadCast is a great interview recording software that will effortlessly connect you with your guests or co-hosts and who pride themselves with delivering studio-quality audio from anywhere. SquadCast also has a video conferencing option which really helps with creating that chemistry and interaction successful interviews need. However, you and your guests will have to use another device to actually capture a video recording of your interview as this is not yet a feature of the platform. The video and audio will then be synced during the editing process. 

Which brings us to the editing software you’ll need to get the job done. Because you’ll be editing a video recording, you are going to need software that will enable you to edit both audio and video tracks. 

3. Editing Software

As has been mentioned, for your video podcast, you’ll need software that allows for both audio and video editing. A popular choice is Adobe Premiere Elements, which is a great consumer-level video editing platform that provides automated features for easy video editing. It does come at a price, but there are plenty of fantastic features that make it easy to great amazing videos, so it will certainly be money well spent! iMovie is another frequently used editing software, but this one is only for devices using iOS. If you’re running Windows, then Magix Video Editor could be the software for you. There are many other options, so you’ll just need to do a little research to find the one that will work for you. 

Closing Thoughts

Video podcasts are a really effective avenue for expanding your reach and growing your authority within your niche. They are also just a really great way to cement your relationship with your audience and help you connect at a deeper level. Getting to see your face, see your emotions, and connecting with you visually can help your audience feel like they know you, which will keep them turning in for more of your stellar content. And even though you might be stuck in quarantine, you can still create high-quality video episodes while you’re at home. Follow these guidelines, and you’ll have a video podcast broadcasting across the airways in no time at all, quarantine, or not! 

Related read: The Whys, Whens, And Hows Of Video Podcasting