Podcasters are always looking for tools, techniques, software, and equipment to enhance their production process. Discord, a platform first designed for instant messaging among gamers, has proven to be a reliable platform for podcast recording.
Below is a detailed look at what Discord is and how to use it for podcasting. We also review some of the best microphones for recording podcasts on Discord.
What is Discord?
Discord is a digital instant messaging platform. It was initially designed for the gaming community to chat during games. Over the years, its functionality has extended to chatting among friends, family, colleges, etc.
It enables users to communicate with each other, either via video calls, texts, voice calls, or private chats. It also supports file sharing.
It runs on most devices and platforms, including Windows, Mac OS, Android, iOS, iPad OS, Linux, and web browsers. As of 2021, it has over 350 million registered users and 150 million monthly users.
How Does Discord Work for Podcasting?
Besides friendly chats, you can also use Discord as an audio recording platform for podcasts. However, you would link Discord with an audio recording channel. This is where Craig, an audio recording channel bot, comes in. Craig also allows you to back up your audio files in Google Drive.
Below is a detailed guide for using Discord to record a podcast and tips for ensuring high-quality productions.
Step-by-Step Guide for Recording a Podcast with Discord
1. Sign up for a Discord Account
Here are the steps for signing up for a Discord account:
- Go to www.discord.com and select the “open Discord in your browser” option.
- You will be prompted to provide your name or nickname to set up your account.
- Provide your date of birth.
- Click on the “Create My Own” option to create your first server.
- On the “Tell us more about your server” window, select “For me and My friends”. Or, skip the question.
- You may provide your photo if you want and customize the name of the server.
- Indicate the category or topic of your conversation.
- To finish signing up, provide your email address and create a password.
- You will be sent an email at the email address you provided to verify your account.
2. Install Craig the Bot
Brief Overview of Craig and How to Use it on Discord
Craig is a voice recording channel that has been in place since January 2017. Although it is mainly for Discord, you can also use it separately. The open-source bot enables multi-channel and multi-track recording. As such, if you are recording a podcast with multiple speakers or hosts, Craig records separate audio for each speaker. This facilitates the editing of your podcast audio file.
To use Craig on Discord, you need to invite the bot to your Discord server. It supports up to 6 hours of recorded audio content with no limit on the number of speakers. No matter how far along you are in your recording, if a new speaker joins in, Craig creates a new audio track for them in synchrony with the others.
You get instant access to the recording so you can download the audio file as you record. You have up to seven days to download your recordings. It offers multiple download formats, including FLAC, AAC, and MPEG 4.
You can set it to upload your recordings to Google Drive automatically. You can also upload the recordings on software editing apps such as Audacity for further processing.
One of the main concerns of using Craig on Discord is its reliability. Since Discord often becomes overloaded with gamers and other social users, some people are concerned they could lose their recordings. As such, it is best to back up Craig with Giarc to prevent any incidence of loss of data.
How to Install Craig in Your Discord Server for Podcasting
- Go to Craig.chat
- Select “Invite Craig to Your Discord Server”.
- In the new window, select your server.
- Follow the prompts and click authorize.
- Go to your Discord account. You will see that Craig has been integrated with your new server.
- If you wish, set Craig to upload directly to your Google Drive.
- Go back to Craig’s home page – scroll down to features – under “Instant access” click on “automatically upload”.
- You will be prompted to log into your Discord server. Craig will automatically find your account and you will be required to authorize.
- Go back to your Discord account and select “Log in to Google Drive”.
- Follow the prompts to log in and allow access to your Google account.
- Google Drive will create a Craig folder where all your Discord recordings are stored.
How to Record with Craig
- Go to your Discord account
- Under the “Voice Channels” select “general” then initiate an audio call by clicking on the mic icon.
- To start recording, type “Craig: enter” in the message box. If an “allow microphone” pop-up comes up, allow it to be able to record.
- The bot will produce a sound that confirms that it has started recording.
- To end your recording session, type “Craig: leave” command in the message box.
- To download your audio file, open the link provided by Craig.
- Choose from your preferred download format from the options provided. There is an “Audacity Project” format to export the recording directly to Audacity for editing.
How to Set Up Discord for High-Quality Audio Recording
1. Ensure That Your Microphone is Selected
- At the bottom of the Discord server’s home page, click on the settings cog.
- On the new window, select Voice & Video on the left-hand menu.
- On the Voice settings, confirm that the selected voice input device is correct. Select the microphone you connected to your computer for recording.
2. Confirm That the Microphone Is Working.
Click on “let’s check” and talk into the microphone. The sound signal should show on the soundbar gauge provided. For the best sound quality, ensure that the signal ends in a green area. If it is red, reduce your microphone volume accordingly.
3. Disable the Automatic Mute Gauge
Discord mutes your mic if your voice goes below a given threshold. To prevent unintentional muting when you’re recording, turn off the threshold gauge by dragging the gauge to the far-left side. If you are co-hosting, or have guests, ensure that they disable their mute threshold gauge, too.
4. Set Your Recording Quality High
- Go to your Discord server home page.
- Click on the settings cog next to general.
- Under overview, slide the bitrate gauge to the furthest side on the right.
- Click “save changes” at the bottom of the page.
Best Microphones for Podcasting with Discord
Below is a brief product review of the best microphones for podcasting on discord.
1. Best Mic for Discord: Rode NT-USB Versatile Studio
[amazon box=”B00KQPGRRE”]This is a high-quality electric condenser microphone. It is mainly designed for studio recording but works well for recording on Discord. The coded electric USB microphone has a cardioid polar pattern.
It comes with a pop shield, Tripod desk stand, ring mount, storage pouch, and 20” USB cable. It also comes with a 3.5mm stereo headphone jack to ensure zero latency and real-time audio monitoring.
It is compatible with SMR shock mounts and WS2 foam windshield. You can use it with both Windows and Mac computers as well as phones and cameras.
The only downside to this Rode microphone is that when the gains are set too high, it is sensitive and picks up room noise, creating a hissing sound. But if the microphone is set too low, your audio recording will be barely audible. Ensure to use a pop filter and position it at the ideal distances to minimize plosives when producing sounds, such as B, T, and P.
Pros
- Studio recording quality
- Multiple accessories included
- Works with multiple operating systems
Cons
- Can be overly sensitive
2. Discord Blue Yeti: Blue Yeti Nano Premium Condenser USB Microphone
[amazon box=”B07QLNYBG9″]The most outstanding feature of this microphone is that it offers multiple pick-up patterns. It employs both omnidirectional and cardioid pickup patterns, making it ideal for pro streaming and recording.
It also features Blue Vo!ce software, which optimizes the quality of your vocal sound and offers enhanced audio effects and advanced modulation. The two custom mic capsules give your voice an exceptional presence. It has an onboard headphone output and volume control for latency monitoring and to ensure great sound quality.
Some people have a difficult time setting up this mic due to its multiple pick-up patterns. If the angle and distance are not correct, there are lots of pops.
Pros
- Multiple pickup patterns
- Optimal sound quality with advanced modulation and audio effects
- Headphone output and volume control
Cons
- Multiple pickup options can be tricky to set up
3. Best Cheap Mic for Discord: Fifine USB Microphone
[amazon box=”B06XCKGLTP”]If you are keen to save money while getting a good mic for Discord audio recording, then go for the Fifine USB Condenser microphone. It is primarily designed for gamers and works well on Discord. It is compatible with Windows and Mac OS PCs and laptops.
It comes with a sturdy metallic mini-tripod for easy setup on the table. It also comes with a 5.9 foot USB cables for an easy plug and play set up. It has a volume control knob on the side to allow you to adjust your volume accordingly.
It employs cardioid pattern pick-up, which eliminates static sound. It interfaces well with most audio recording platforms, including Discord, Webex, Team, and Audacity.
One downside to consider is that the cable is built-in, so if it wears or breaks, you’ll have to replace the whole mic.
Pros
- Good quality and affordable
- Works with Windows and MacOS
- Multiple accessories included
- Works well with popular audio recording platforms
Cons
- May have issues with USB 3.0 ports
- Cable is built-in, not removable
4. XLR Mic for Discord: TONOR XLR Condenser Microphone
[amazon box=”B089SJGQBH”]The TONOR XLR Condenser microphone is one of the bestselling XLR microphones on Amazon, and understandably so. It has a high-quality build and delivers crisp sound.
Its design features an upgraded mic capsule with a low-noise FET preamplifier, high SPL handling, and a wide dynamic range. These features deliver a smooth, natural sound.
It has a cardioid polar pattern with excellent off-axis sound suppression capabilities. The polar pattern minimizes noise pick up from the background and the rear.
Connect the XLR condenser mic to a 48V power source for optimal performance. You can power it through a phantom power, mixer, preamplifier, or an audio interface.
It is most suitable for studio recording or podcasting. You can also use it for YouTube video production, voice-overs, or streaming.
The mic comes with an upgraded T20 Boom Arm made of stainless steel. It can be easily mounted on a desk using the desk clamp, which is up to four times larger than the contact area. Other accessories include a T20 suspension stand, metal shock mount, mic cover, four cable ties, XLR cable, a pop filter, and a manual.
Pros
- Delivers a clear, natural sound
- Picks up minimal background noise
- Stainless steel boom arm
- Easy to mount
- Includes multiple accessories
Cons
- Boom arm can be unreliable
5. Best USB Mic for Discord: Samson G-Track Pro Professional USB Condenser Microphone
[amazon box=”B075KL6ZLC”]This Samson Technologies G-Track Pro Professional USB Condenser Microphone offers functionality versatility. You can use it for streaming, gaming, podcasting, and recording music.
This mic is great for studio use. It has three pick-up pattern options, omnidirectional, multidirectional, and cardioid, and a high-quality build that incorporates die-cast zinc construction with a heavy gauge mesh grille and an integrated desktop base.
It has a user-friendly interface. The front panel serves as a mixer with instrument, microphone, and headphone volume controls. It also has a mute on/off button. It also offers the option to select between mono and 2-track recording modes.
Pros
- Versatile applications
- 3 pick up pattern options
- Integrated base
- Uses high-quality materials
- User-friendly interface
- Excellent customer service
Cons
- Can have connectivity issues
Conclusion
Discord is an excellent tool for recording your podcasts. You can use Discord through the web browser or download the Discord app on your smartphone, PC, or laptop. Most people prefer to use it on the web browser.
In this case, ensure to link it to Craig to record your audio. Use the steps above to set up and adhere to the tips to ensure the highest quality. Also, use a mic that produces high-quality sound. Choose from one of the best microphones for Discord reviewed above.
Note that Discord also can be used as a platform for building a community around your show. It will give your listeners a sense of exclusivity and provide a platform to update your listeners and host fun discussions.
