How to record multiple people at the same time

🤔 Jamie from the The Smash Quiz podcast asks, "What are the best practices for recording multiple hosts for a podcast?"

TL;DR
Recording a podcast with multiple hosts is a lot of fun. You're able to lean on one another to create the content, and the fun banter and chemistry you get with close friends definitely increases the entertainment value.

But there are some technical hurdles you have to deal with in a multi-person podcast recording that you don't if you were doing a solo podcast. So in this episode, we'll explain the best practices for recording multiple people.

Recording Tips
1. 2-Person Rule
2. Use Non-Verbal Cues

Podcast Gear
1. Every person should have their own Dynamic XLR microphone
2. Choose an audio interface that supports multitrack recording

Editing Tips
1. Put each person's recording on its own track
2. Remove silent portions to reduce microphone bleed/spill

Gear We Recommend

Review Podcasting Q&A in Podchaser to let us know what you think of the show

==== Time Stamps ====

00:00 - Introduction
00:23 - "How do you record multiple hosts?"
01:13 - Recording tips
03:03 - Podcast gear
05:16 - Editing tips

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[MxtroJ]

Hey Guys! Thank you so much for the tips. I was wondering what can I do if I want two people in a podcast with 1 mic, but that both of them can hear themselves speaking. Each one of them with their own headsets. I have a microphone that allows for two people to talk into it at the same time, however I want both of us to hear ourselves. Is that something possible? will I have to get an adapter for the aux part or my mic so I can connect the 2 headsets into the microphone?

[footyphanspodcast]

Great tips. We are a 3 person podcast and record audio on GarageBand with 3 separate USB mics on 3 separate tracks. My question is...how do we make it so that all of our audio comes through on each of our headphones. I can only hear myself through my own set of headphones and I can't hear what my co-hosts say and vice-versa.

[lunarhunter]

Thank you for making this video. It's really helping me in preparing for my couch multiplayer recording.

[seancox]

Great tips, thanks! I'll be recording interviews with Squadcast, then editing with Audacity. But how do I edit the 2 tracks without getting them all out of sync? Won't it be a headache to keep lining the tracks back up, eg, if I cut out coughs? Or is that just the way it is?

[leobardobivianomedia]

I have a zoom f3 with 1 Sennheiser mkh 416 with 2 DJI lavaliere mic going in to the zoom f3. With this set up work for a 3 person podcast? Thanks for the video!! Great insight!!

[staceymsavage]

This is super helpful - if the group wanted to record their podcast in a public place, is it possible to find dynamic xlr mics that are portable (eg. Lapel clip)?

[izzschmed]

im having such a hard time to find the right microphone/audio solution for a 6 people just chatting stream (all sitting at a table, live). just had the blue yeti X (omni mode, but modes didnt matter in terms of actual quality tbh) and it is SO so bad, i cant even express how pathetic it is. i even bought another one cause i assumed the first must be broken. it wasnt.
we also had a rode wireless ME setup which was okay, but pretty costly (~700€ in total). anyway. do you have any hint which mic i should look into? i feel like there must be a <400€ single-mic-solution to start with on a budget. thanks alot!

[ripoffandduplicatepodcast]

Hey everyone! What would I do if I wanted to record multiple angles on different tracks from an Iphone. Would I just need 4 Iphones? How would I get the audio to sync together with the video? TIA

[jaepuente]

whats the best software/program to record 3 people on three seperate tracks off my interface?

[dringypie]

I'm looking for some advice in terms of how each piece of hardware connects.

If i have say 3 guests each with their own mic, do i plug each mic into a mixer then connect the mixer to my laptop to record? Then connect a stereo headphone amp to my laptops output so each guest can have their own pair of headphones? Or does the headphone amp connect direct to the mixer, but then how do i connect the mixer to the laptop to record?

Thank you in advance!

[DimitriBianco]

I'm looking at the Rode Caster Pro. I've heard good things but need to do more research.

[gianacorzo]

if i have 7 people in my podcast with dynamic XLR mics, what audio interface should i invest in?

[aperson]

What basic equipment would you recommend for zoom calls? Basically, we have 2 people on one PC (me and an elderly family member, who is hard to hear) with another person on the other end, like a doctor. Would 2 Blackwire C5220 headsets for us do the trick? How do we connect and manage on our 1 PC to talk to another person on zoom? Or do we need a base Yeti? Of course, a family member to hear better a headset would work, but I would not be able to hear the person on the other end of the zoom.

[blackwithaudacity]

what if you're hosting by yourself but occasionally will have group discussions that house 2-3 guest?

[mbrights]

Hi, what microphones do you recommend? I understand that you are recommending a Scarlet audio interface. We are going to have 4-5 people on our podcast. Thank you so much.

[ANTTPNG]

Any ideas on good multitrack software to use when your doing a remote interview ?

[WePlayGames]

what if I am recording video and not just sound and I can't have microphones on the shot, what would you recommend as a mic that can record multiple people seating around a table but having the mic out of the shot?

[FAST____]

Which audio recording software is that in your video dear, can some one starting do audit in iMovie or other simple video editor ?

[piercepamboukis]

Hey what editing software was that shown in the video for separate tracks?

[everythingbenny]

What are some tips for 3 usb condenser mics if you're on a budget? Such as isolation techniques for speakers?