Audio quality matters more than picture quality in both video and podcasts, because viewers tolerate a simpler picture, but they will switch off within seconds if the sound is noisy or hollow. The biggest difference comes from a microphone placed close to the speaker – a lavalier or desk microphone – rather than one built into the camera. The second factor is the room: bare walls and glass create an echo that cannot be removed in editing, while carpets, curtains and furniture help. In editing, noise is removed, volume is balanced, and a uniform level is set so that listeners do not have to adjust the volume between episodes. Investment in audio is an order of magnitude lower than in a camera, yet its effect on completion of viewing is significantly greater. Before the first recording, it is therefore worth doing a short test in the room in question and listening to it on headphones, not on a laptop speaker.
See also: Video budget and production, Viewer retention, Video podcast.
