What is Headphones (Closed-Back vs. Open-Back)?
Closed-back headphones isolate sound and prevent leakage, making them ideal for recording. Open-back headphones sound more natural but leak sound, making them better for mixing.
Why Headphones (Closed-Back vs. Open-Back) Matters for Podcasters
Choosing the right headphones depends on the task. **Closed-Back Headphones** (like the Audio-Technica M50x) have solid ear cups that block outside noise and keep the headphone audio from leaking out. These are essential for recording; if you use open-back headphones while recording, the microphone will pick up the sound coming from your headphones, causing echo or feedback. **Open-Back Headphones** allow air to pass through the ear cups. This creates a wider, more natural 'soundstage,' making them excellent for mixing and editing because they represent how the audio truly sounds. However, they should never be used in front of a live microphone.
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ID3 Tags
ID3 tags are metadata embedded directly into MP3 audio files that store information like the episode title, artist name, album name, and cover art. They help podcast players display the correct information about your episodes.
Metadata
Metadata is descriptive information about your podcast episode that helps platforms, players, and search engines understand what your content is about. It includes titles, descriptions, tags, and embedded file information.
Background Noise / Noise Floor
Background noise (also called noise floor) is the unwanted ambient sound present in your recording, such as air conditioning hum, computer fan noise, or room echo. It can distract listeners and make your podcast sound unprofessional.
Transcription
Transcription is the process of converting spoken audio into written text. For podcasters, transcriptions make content accessible, improve SEO, and enable repurposing into blog posts or social media content.