Pump Up Your Pod

As the wireless microphone offerings expand, so does my need to review them. Traditionally, the wireless microphone space was a bit lacklustre. They had clunky receivers that you had to try to hide under your clothes, the connections would drop out and the ability to connect seamlessly to a smartphone was rare. Today, that is no longer the case.  We’ve got Rode, DJI, Hollyland and Sennheiser...

In the words of Mariah Carey, “All I Want For Christmas Is…Microphones”. I’m sure when she originally sang “you”, Mariah was actually thinking about a particular microphone that she had her eye on. Perhaps swooning over a rather special condenser microphone that highlights the sparkly frequencies in her voice. It’s plausible and I won’t let you tell me otherwise. I am not being ridiculous. Today w...

Oh my, do I have a lovely microphone to show you today!  The sE Neom microphone presents an intriguing option for podcasters seeking USB-only solutions.  With its distinct design, on-brand red meshing, gunmetal colouring and unique features, the sE Neom aims to carve out a niche in a crowded USB microphone market.  I have been testing this microphone now for about 6 months in a vari...

I used to be quasi-famous.  It was a long time ago and not a place I particularly want to revisit, but as I reflected on how I built Bamby Media into the successful business it is today, there has been one key ingredient. An unfair advantage. This podcast episode is my origin story. I hope you enjoy it. BAMBY MEDIA LINKS: Book A Consultation Free Podcast Audit Service YouTube Channel Apply to...

Have you ever wondered what it's like to listen to 200 AI-generated podcasts?  “No. That’s ridiculous. Why would anyone do that?” I hear you say.  I’m flaky on the “why” myself, but the thing is, I did it and those are hours of my life I will never get back. I listened to 200 fake podcasts generated with NotebookLM to see for myself whether the podcasting industry is about to come crumbl...

You’re about to start a podcast and you’ve decided you want to edit it yourself. At first, this seems like it should be fairly straightforward. Get the audio/video, make a few adjustments, cut a bit of the nonsense out and you should have something that’s good enough to release. But then you start researching online what software you should use to edit your show and everybody and their dog has an...

There seems to be quite a lot of buzz about Google’s new AI tool, NotebookLM and how it can potentially impact the world of podcasting.  As a podcast producer and founder of podcast production agency, Bamby Media, I’m always testing new tools to see how they can benefit (or hinder) the industry I love so much.  Armed with a healthy dose of hope and scepticism, I decided to give Google No...

Why does recording audio have to be so difficult? If you’re trying to record audio of a very high standard, you’re often met with a barrage of choices you have to make. What microphone do I need? Is my location too noisy? What am I going to plug my microphone into? How do I record multiple people at once? What software am I going to use to record it? In the consultations I have with content creato...

It’s happening. You’re finally launching a podcast. You’ve been thinking about it, planning it, buying the gear, deciding not to do it, then deciding you want to do it, then getting scared, putting the gear back in the cupboard, then getting it back out, then realising you really just need to do it. You know, all the normal emotions that fresh podcasters go through. You get over the initial hurdle...

Recording on location used to be such a huge pain in my ass. I’d have this big carry case with my trust Zoom H5, Rode lapel microphones and clips, wind socks, XLR adapters for the lapels so that they’d connect to the Zoom and then a huge amount of leads to make sure all my bases were covered. And then a few brands started bringing out wireless microphone options that could connect to your phone.&n...

After recently watching Happy Gilmore for probably the twentieth time, it got me thinking about how we present ourselves as creators. I found myself reflecting quite existentially on the impact that Adam Sandler’s character had on my view of where the world of content creation currently sits.  And I honestly think it’s all a little boring.  Overwhelmingly people are presenting as the “pr...

Currently, the global creator economy is valued at around $155 billion. By 2030 it’s expected to surpass $525 billion. That’s a lot of wig wams. And I know it might seem like every person and their pet is a “creator” these days, but it shouldn’t stop you from exploring this option for yourself too. Being a content creator can mean many different things and encompass a variety of industries. It’s n...

Here at Bamby Media, we’ve been producing podcasts for clients for almost a decade and I’d say at this point we’ve worked with almost every podcast hosting platform out there.  From Omnystudio to Simplecast, Podbean, Libsyn, Blubrry, Acast to name a few.  But do we really need that many podcast hosts?  Don’t they all largely do the same thing? The short answer is yes, they do all la...

One of my favourite things to do here at Bamby Media is run consultations for aspiring podcasters. We jump into a virtual meeting together and I get giddy with excitement while they explain their idea for a show. Then we get down to business and I start asking the harder questions. Why do they want to start a podcast? Who is it for? How will their podcast be any different to others in their field?...

When you’re listening to a podcast episode, do you notice the technical aspects of the edit? If you said yes, I’m going to bet you’re either a very avid podcast listener, or you’re an editor yourself. The truth of it is that most listeners don’t notice the editing on a podcast (unless it’s particularly bad).  The listener doesn’t hear the original raw audio. They haven’t seen the hours it has...

Have you ever bought something online, thinking you scored a fantastic deal, only to realise later that it might not have been what it seemed?  Well, that's exactly what happened to me with the Shure SM7B microphone.  Today, I'm sharing my story of how I ended up with two fake SM7B microphones and the results of an audio battle I conducted between the real deal and its dupe.  Find o...

Have you ever been in a situation where an exciting opportunity lands in your lap, but something deep down makes you hesitate?  I want to share a personal story that I think many content creators can relate to—deciding when to say no to a brand deal. Receiving offers from brands can feel like a huge opportunity, but sometimes, it’s in your best interest to pass on them as they might not serve...

If you’ve ever spent time on YouTube, you’ve probably come across “faceless” channels.  Some even employ AI voices, allowing them to focus purely on content creation without involving their personal identities. This style of creation is becoming increasingly popular for video because it involves far less work. You don’t need a video camera, lighting or recording space. I can see the appeal to...

We have one hell of a showdown between two industry-leading microphones from Shure for you today. On one side, is the legendary Shure SM7B . On the other, its modern sibling, the Shure MV7. Whether you're a seasoned podcaster or just starting, choosing the right microphone can hugely impact your recordings. My objective here is to dive into the pros and cons of each mic, give you some sound tests,...

Chris Edwards is no stranger to the world of media. As the founder of the Honeycombers website which reaches over 2 million readers a month, she has learned the value of building connections and delivering quality content to those who visit the site.  It’s no surprise to me that when Chris decided to start a podcast, she would bring that same attention to detail and enthusiastic attitude to t...

How many downloads are you receiving for each episode you release, and why should you care less about this statistic? Well, dear reader as you no doubt know by now, download numbers appear to be the be all and end all statistic to track whether your podcast is making an impact.  Yes, I do agree that you should know your download numbers and certainly track them over time, but what if download...

Alright podcasters and vocalists alike, it's time to settle a score! Today, we're throwing down in a microphone brawl between two titans: the legendary Shure SM7B and the lesser-known but highly regarded sE Dynacaster DCM8.  By the end of this rumble, you'll know which microphone I prefer for females with similar vocal tones to my own, as well as vocalists looking for that extra bit of sparkl...

I’ve seen so many new podcasts launch with next to no promotion behind them. Then they wonder why they didn’t receive as many downloads as they thought they should have.  They’ve told their friends and family, put a few graphics or videos out across social media, and they feel like that’s plenty. But it lands a little softer than they anticipated. There are also podcasters out there that are...

What makes a great podcast conversation? Well, we all know the answer is nuanced, but after many years of producing podcasts I’ve certainly found the quality of the podcast has a lot to do with the quality of the questions being asked. When I was thinking about who I could speak with to help podcasters craft better questions, Kendall Breitman came across my radar. A lot of you would know Kendall a...

I received an Apple Watch for my birthday. “Woop de doo,” I hear you say. “People get Apple Watches all the time. What’s the big deal?” Well, the big deal is that it has changed my life. And there is a very simple reason why. Attention. Prior to my Apple Watch life, my phone was the way I accessed the bulk of those things that we all need: The time, the date, banking, messages, phone calls, music,...