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So I could be a bit of a doofus sometimes. Let me explain. I was on holiday recently in Hawaii, and if you're not watching on YouTube, you can't see me all rugged up in my hoodie and my beanie trying to acclimatize back to New Zealand cold. But what do I do? I forget to bring my microphone so I could record podcast episodes for you. Now, this is typical of me. I always forget something when traveling, but to be fair, there's worse things to forget. But it got me thinking that this could be something that might actually help you if you're starting out with your podcasting or looking to upgrade your setup or your audio gear without it costing a fortune. So in this episode, I'm going to show you what to do if you do forget audio gear, how to get around it with what you already have, but also what to look for if you need a quick solution that's a budget friendly microphone ready to break free from the solopreneur struggle. This is the ease and impact thriving as a solopreneur Podcast. I'm Frankie Jay, a surfer, a mom and an eight year solopreneur. Myself join me as I peel back the layers to a thriving online business without the guru hype or the burnout. I'm going to show you the proven strategies and tools that I use so you can build a sustainable digital business without sacrificing your well being. Let's get you thriving as a solopreneur.
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Welcome back to ease and impact your weekly dose of practical advice for the solo business journey no matter where you're at. I'm your host, Frankie j and if you're new, here a quick reminder for you to hit that follow button wherever you're listening, because we dive into real strategies that actually work for solopreneurs and coaches who want to build impact without burning out. Now, by the end of today's episode, you're going to learn a few things. The first, something pretty crucial around running a business is that troubleshooting is just part of the game. You know, whether it's forgotten, equipment tech failures, budget constraints, your ability to adapt, to pivot and find solution is what separates thriving solopreneurs from those who always get stuck. Today, you're also going to learn exactly what audio gear will actually do the job in a pinch, and you'll walk away knowing how to make smart equipment decisions under pressure to turn those crap moments into creative problem solving. So picture this. I'm in Hawaii. It's beautiful, but it's bloody hot, and I realized I had to record the week's episode. Now my first attempt was a complete disaster for two very important reasons. The first, something seemingly simple, was I wasn't properly hydrated, which is such a rookie mistake to make in that heat, and I sounded like I had a lisp. Now, this is something I never really think about. I always have my my trusty bottle, you know, handy when I'm doing my podcast, but the occasional SIP in New Zealand just was not enough. In the Hawaiian heat second I was holding my phone, one too close to my mouth, which was creating this weird, intimate whisper effect that nobody asked for. Plus, because I was holding it, the distance between it and my mouth would change, which made that the audio levels were a bit all over the place. So here's a tip with that you probably want your phone about a shocker's distance away from your mouth and to keep it steady. So if you go back and listen to episode 26 the first 15 seconds is actually the first take, because then I screwed up and started speaking too early before the record button actually kicked in on the second take. Again, another rookie mistake, right? Thankfully, I was using Riverside, which is what I used to create my podcast, and I could use a remove background filter to deal with my kids playing the background. Though, if you listen really closely, you could probably still hear them. So here's the beginning snippet from that podcast so you can hear, have you been watching other course creators seem to effortlessly launch their programs while you're over here doing all the outreach and all the marketing yourself. So for the next podcast, I thought, right, I need a mic. I just couldn't handle things not sounding similar to when I'm back in my studio, my home office now. Also the perfectionist in me was having a bit of a meltdown. But I also didn't want to spend a fortune buying something or buying something so cheap that it didn't actually make a difference from just using my phone. So that's when I came across the heyday desktop microphone, which I used for the next episode. And I thought, you know, instead of buying it and just moving on, why not turn this into something useful for you?
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Because you might be out there looking for a budget microphone to get started with podcasting or in your coaching calls or for webinars, and if it needs to be compact enough to travel with, this might help you.
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In finding the right one. So let me do a quick comparison for you. Have you been watching other course creators seem to that was the first week's audio from just my phone held again, about that shocker length away from my face, and this is the next episode with the heyday mic. Did you know that your brain can't tell the difference? Can you hear the difference? Now the only real difference is slightly less space noise, like the first one, sounds like I'm in a bigger room, and it has slightly more Echo to it. Now, if you can't hear a massive difference between the phone and the heyday mic, that's completely fine because the difference is subtle, which goes to show you that I didn't really need to buy the microphone. My phone was all right in a pinch, but I was letting my perfectionism win there. But if I was going to use my laptop mic and the difference between that and this microphone, it would be a totally different story. So here's a laptop mic audio example, Hey, this is Frankie J speaking to you through the microphone on my laptop. And here's the heyday audio example. Hey, this is Frankie J speaking to you on the heyday mic. Now that's a difference you can actually hear, so having a microphone is key, but if you're starting out, or you're on a budget, it doesn't have to be much. And here's something that might make you laugh, is that I bought, you know, the heyday microphone, and it's USB A, and all my inputs on my computer, USB C, but I didn't have a USB C to C cable with me. I didn't even have an adapter, but I checked my laptop, you know, I checked everything around where I was staying, nothing. Luckily, I was able to borrow one, but it's a perfect example that sometimes the devil's in the details that you don't think about. So if you're looking at microphones online, here's something that a lot of people do get wrong is they find a mic that they think is good, you know, read the speeches and the specifications, and they read written reviews about it, and they think that's enough. And honestly, written reviews just aren't helpful. When it comes to audio gear. You actually need to hear what it's going to sound like. So my advice for you is to search for a review and demo, not just a review unboxing video, but the demo part on YouTube. Listen to how the reviewer sounds through the mic that they're testing. That way, you're gonna have a bit more of an idea on whether it's really gonna be right for your space and your voice. And look, speaking of space, if you are stuck without a microphone first, as we discovered, use your phone, but your recording environment becomes even more important. So carpeted rooms are absolutely your friend. They can absorb some of that sound and reduce the echo hard floors and bare walls, not so much. Now, one trick I've used before, which sounds really silly, is hiding in like, a big winter jacket. Now it works great for, like, audio only recordings, where you're not going to be on video, though, that wasn't really feasible in this instance, in Hawaii, as you can imagine. So anyways, the heyday ticked enough boxes for me that I was, you know, I was happy enough with the $50 New Zealand that I was spending. But what I really want you to understand is it's not about having expensive gear. It's about having gear that removes the friction from the creative process. Because every time you're worried about how you sound, every time you're second guessing your setup, you're not focused on delivering the content to your audience. Think about it this way, your audience isn't listening to judge you on your audio quality. They're listening because they need whatever it is you're offering. But in fairness, if your audio is distracting or They're straining to hear you, or there's constant background noise, then you absolutely lost them before you've even started. But look something like the heyday at this price point can give you a relatively professional sound without the professional price tag. It's plug and play, so there's less time, sort of fiddling with settings, and just more time creating your content. And honestly, for solopreneurs and coaches who are starting out, then this level of quality is more than enough to build a loyal audience. But here's another way to think about it, is the microphone is just a tool, the magic actually happens when you combine your equipment with consistent content that is genuine, that serves your people. I've heard podcasts with $1,000 setups that honestly put me to sleep, that do not grab my attention, and I've heard phone recordings that have entirely changed my perspective on something your audience doesn't need perfection. They need authenticity. They need you to be genuine, to be consistent, and this particular mic just make sure that the technical side doesn't get in the way of that. Speaking of getting started with podcasting, if you are in the ease and impact membership, keep an eye out, because I am putting together a whole section of content on creating a podcast, from the technical setup through to content planning and everything in between. You know, it's one of those things that can seem really overwhelming until you break it down into those manageable steps. So look whether you pick up the heyday or something similar. The point is, don't let equipment paralysis stop you from.
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For sharing your message. Start where you are with what you have and improve as you go. Your first episode doesn't have to be perfect. In fact, your 10th episode doesn't have to be either, but each step does get you closer to the impact you're trying to create. So if you've got some questions about podcasts, set up, equipment, recommendations, or anything else that we've covered today, please put them in the comments. I would love to help you out now. Thanks for listening and remember, keep creating that impact with ease.
Transcribed by https://otter.ai
