HAMK has several channels where podcasts can be published. Podcasts with multiple episodes are published on the SoundCloud platform, and single standalone audio recordings can be included in HAMK’s own podcast series (Maailman parastajien matkassa or Muutosta ihmisen kokoisin askelin), which are available on Spotify. Podcasts intended for teaching use are published on the Kaltura platform. The technical production of a podcast series can also be ordered as a service. For more details, see the Intra:

Would you like to make a podcast?

Making a podcast independently

You can record a podcast independently at a remote desk, in remote teaching facilities, or in HAMK’s podcast studios.

Recording in the podcast studio

There is a podcast studio at the Hämeenlinna University Centre where up to 4 people can record a podcast independently. The room can be booked in Peppi with the room code Vi-C-234, and it is equipped with all the necessary tools.

The studio includes written instructions for using the recording equipment, which are worth reading through on your first visit. You can also watch an introduction to the studio and usage instructions in video format: Studio introduction (duration 4:29).

Setting up your own recording desk

With the Trail service, HAMK staff can reserve and borrow equipment suitable for podcast production, such as microphones, audio recorders, and headphones. The service can be used via a web browser or with the mobile app available for Android and iOS phones. In the web version, you log in with single sign-on, while in the mobile app you create your own account through Trail. Read more here: Trail – AV equipment booking and lending service.

Tips for building your own recording setup

Home studio / single-speaker podcast

• Suggested: laptop, work headset, USB podcast microphone with desktop stand
• Argument: Easy to use, good audio quality without complex equipment. Sufficient for a quality podcast if the room has decent acoustics.

Home studio / aiming for maximum quality

• Suggested: laptop, external audio interface, dynamic podcast microphone with desktop stand
• Argument: Best audio quality and control, but more expensive and technically demanding. Suitable if you want to invest in a “radio quality” and don’t mind adjusting settings.

Mobile podcast / field interviews

• Suggested: dedicated audio recorder with built-in or external microphone and headphones
• Argument:  Allows recording with multiple microphones and channels on location. Independent of a computer, so more reliable in different environments.

Quick and lightweight solution / for experimenting

• Suggested: laptop and headset microphone (Bluetooth or USB)
• Argument: Works if you want to start immediately with no extra cost, but audio quality is clearly lower than other options. Good for “piloting.”

Choosing recording software for your computer

There are several options for recording podcast audio.
Windows includes Voice Recorder, which records at 128–192 kbps in lossy format.
macOS Voice Memos also records in a lossy format at 128–256 kbps.

HAMK’s meeting tools, Teams and Zoom, are designed for interaction, and their audio quality ranges from poor to fair (56–128 kbps). They also compress frequency ranges more heavily than the built-in system apps.

The best audio quality is achieved with software designed for recording. From Software Center, you can install Audacity, which lets you set the recording quality to lossless.

Here’s an example with a few speech samples to illustrate the differences in quality: Recording test (video, duration 0:34).

Checklist for setting up a recording session

• Choose a suitable room
  • Quiet, minimal echo (few hard surfaces)
  • Avoid placing the speaker close to a wall or window
  • Use curtains or other soundproofing if needed
• Consider the speaker(s)
  • Arrange the recording desk for comfortable performance
    • Microphone within easy reach
    • Comfortable sitting posture
    • or standing for shorter sessions, often better for voice use
    • Provide water and glasses
    • Notes in a digital form save you from editing annoying paper rustling in post
• Microphone setup
  • Position speaker at appropriate distance from microphone (depends on mic type)
    • Close mic placement: emphasizes low frequencies, creates intimate sound
    • Neutral sound with placing the mic a bit farther
  • For headsets with mic boom: position boom arm slightly off to the side (to avoid breath noises). Podcast microphones typically have a built-in or external pop filter for this.
  • If there is multiple speakers:
    • Same type of microphone at equal distance for all
    • If only one microphone is available, remember speech etiquette – overlapping speech cannot be edited in post
• Test recording
  • Record a short test before starting
    • Have each speaker to test talk normally for 10–15 seconds
    • Adjust settings based on the previous test
• Help the editor during recording
  • Mark or mention to the mic in the recording:
    • Which parts to be removed and which retakes are the correct ones to keep
    • Other editing notes (e.g., where to insert audio samples)
    • If pausing recording during errors isn’t possible, one continuous recording take is faster to edit than many short takes
    • A checklist at the end of the script helps ensure all parts (topics, questions, introductions, etc.) were captured

Post production (editing) workflow in brief

• EDIT
  • Remove dead air (silent parts), coughs, and unnecessary retakes
  • Add sound effects and jingles if needed
• NOISE REDUCTION
  • Remove disturbing noises
    • Reduce background hum and hiss
    • Remove electromagnetic interference captured by the mic
• ADJUST SOUND LEVELS (peak normalize)
  • Fix dynamics: lower loud peaks, boost quiet parts
• EQUALIZATION (EQ)
  • Suppress unwanted frequencies
  • Brighten voice frequency range
• ADJUST LOUDNESS
  • LUFS (loudness units full scale) = perceived average volume
  • Target: -14 / -16 LUFS (depends on platform)
• EXPORT FINAL PODCAST
  • Preferably in stereo, mono is possible if there’s no music or soundscapes
  • Format: FLAC or WAV, at least 320 kbps