Five Tips For Using Sound Effects In Your Podcast

Sound effects can help you tell a better story and podcasting is all about storytelling. But most podcasters have no formal training and many either over use sound effects or use them in a way that doesn't help tell the story.

Here are some tips for the proper use of sound effects in a podcast:

1) Don't overdo it. Less really is more when you're applying sound effects.

2) Point of view is important. Is the sound effect we're hearing coming from the point of view of the character or the narrator, the interviewer or the person being interviewed? Sometimes the point of view is a place, not a person. Whatever the case, make sure the point of view is appropriate or your sound effect might actually confuse the audience.

3) If you refer to the sound effect in your dialog (Example, audience clapping sound effect) make sure you wait for the listener to hear the sound effect before you refer to it. (Example, audience clapping sound effect plays and THEN you say, "Wow, the crowd really liked that joke.")

4) Real sounds are better than synthesized sounds (in most cases.) If you study sound effects use in movies, you'll end up learning about "Foley artists." These are sound technicians that use everyday items to create real sounds that support movie dialog and sound tracks.

5) Silence is golden. Don't forget that silence is a sound effect too. Sometimes a "pause for effect" can be just as powerful as inserting a sound effect.