Ever since the release of the 12.9″ iPad Pro last fall, there has been a debate raging over whether or not it could truly be a laptop replacement. Last month’s launch of the 9.7″ model just fueled the fire. The iPad Pro is one of the more polarizing products Apple has released in recent memory, and that’s probably a good thing for the iPad line in general. It seems that iPad users are finally starting to wonder if they can adapt their workflows entirely to the iPad or if they need to cling to their laptops for dear life. For me, there was clearly a roadblock to full iOS adoption: podcasting. I co-host a podcast called
The Campfire Project with talented Canadian writer, Matt Dusenbury. We record our show once a week, and while it would be nice to do that in person, we live hundreds of miles away from each other. When creating a podcast with remote guests or co-hosts, a choice has to be made: do you want a quick and dirty Skype recording, or do you want the highest quality sound possible? Matt and I chose the hard way and decided that our show would be a double ended recording. The basic workflow for double ended recording is mildly complicated, and pulling it off effectively requires several different pieces of software and hardware, not to mention lots of practice. For starters, there’s no point in going to all the trouble if all participants don’t have fairly powerful machines to record with, high quality mics, and solid internet connections. It also requires a symphony of software all working flawlessly and simultaneously. Perhaps most importantly, whoever puts all the pieces together has to have a lot of time and patience to get everything just right. A year or two ago, I would have never seriously attempted to do this kind of work on an iPad. In fact, when the 12.9″ iPad Pro was announced, I still had no interest whatsoever in using it to supplant my Macbook Pro. But then came the siren song of the 9.7″ iPad Pro, and I could no longer resist. I had to see if this machine could bridge the gap, and I began to experiment. I couldn’t have been more surprised by the results.
Recording Skype It’s probably safe to say that most podcasters use
Skype, and this is actually the main complication when it comes to podcasting in iOS. For The Campfire Project, we traditionally conduct our conversations on Skype and use Piezo simultaneously to record the call. This is what I lovingly call the “control track” because it not only helps to keep things in sync, but can also be borrowed from if someone’s individual audio recording has an issue that needs to be repaired. It is the recording of the conversation as it actually happened, complete with people cutting in and out, and just general Skype glitchy-ness. The problem is this: iOS does not allow for this kind of workflow. For example, you can talk on Skype on iOS, but can’t record yourself talking on Skype in another program at the same time. This is the one task where we have to cheat and use secondary devices: our iPhones. Many people are of the opinion that using a secondary device during a podcast is clunky and overly complicated, but I disagree, and it’s all because of an app called RINGR. Yes, it is slightly inconvenient to have a second device to worry about during your recording, but the trade off is that RINGR actually eliminates both Skype and Piezo completely from the workflow. The call is conducted and recorded on RINGR’s servers, and then synced server side after it’s over. The host of the call receives an email when the recording is ready to download. On top of that, the sound quality is far superior to Skype’s and much less glitchy. If you have a free account with RINGR, you will get a single mono track of the call with sound that is acceptable enough for syncing and patching if needed. There is one caveat. RINGR does not support iCloud or Dropbox integration, so for now, the file has to be downloaded to a traditional computer. I have been notified by the RINGR Twitter account that this situation will be remedied in an upcoming update. To get around this, I either fire up my work machine so that I can put the file in Dropbox, or I have Matt send me the file from his machine. I do not count this as an iOS or iPad deficiency, but rather a deficiency of the RINGR service itself. It is the only app I currently use that does not have some kind of system built in for file transfers to cloud storage.
Recording Isolated Audio For a double ended recording, the other pieces of the puzzle are the isolated tracks of each person on the podcast. Matt and I each use the
Apogee MiC to record our isolated audio. When the show concludes, Matt exports his recording in GarageBand to an MP3 file and sends it to me via Dropbox. Traditionally, I would then drag his track and the Skype track into the same GarageBand recording where I recorded my own audio, and then sync everything together. In iOS, there is an almost identical workflow available, and that is through an app called Ferrite. The Mac version of GarageBand serves my recording and editing needs just fine, but the iOS version is much more stripped down and simplified. Ferrite gives me those options back, and is just as easy to use as GarageBand because it was built from the ground up with a touch based UI. It even has a help section that’s actually useful! The Apogee MiC is Lightning compatible, so isolated audio can still be recorded directly into Ferrite using that mic. If you have a USB-only mic that you prefer, there is also now a USB 3 to Lightning adapter for the iPad Pro. The one difference is that instead of dragging and dropping the control track and Matt’s audio into the project, I just import them directly from Dropbox. It’s not any easier or harder than how I was transferring files from place to place in OS X, just different. Ferrite is free, but if you want unlimited recording and all the “pro” features, you will need to make in-app purchases. I went ahead and purchased the full version, and it was well worth it.
Putting It All Together For the syncing, editing, and exporting of the final product, Ferrite is also the right iOS tool for the job. The beauty of this software is that things like splicing, syncing, and moving tracks around in the project are all done with an intuitive touch UI. I found myself going to the Help documentation a few times during my first project, but the learning curve was not difficult once I was able to get my brain out of GarageBand mode. Once it came time to export my Ferrite file into something I could upload to our feed for our listeners, I realized there was another roadblock. Ferrite only exports to .mp4 files, and our hosting site, Squarespace, only accepts .mp3 files. When I first discovered this, I felt an immediate sense of dread. Surely there are no iOS based file converter apps, right? Well actually, there are! I found
File Converter on the App Store, and it does just what its name says. I am able to use it to convert my Ferrite file into the proper format, and from there it’s just a matter of uploading the show to our hosting site. It is an extra step, but takes all of 30 seconds to complete.
The Results
Different does not necessarily equal harder. After all the scoffing I have done in the last year about podcasting on iOS, specifically with the iPad, I was thrilled to discover that it could actually be done. There are definitely steps that need to be done differently than on OS X, but different does not necessarily equal harder. In fact, changing my workflow did not feel like a workaround at all. Dropbox stepped in and took the place of Finder with no problem. RINGR eliminated both Skype and Piezo, which made the process of starting and ending the actual show a lot easier. Ferrite took on my usual GarageBand duties without breaking a sweat. In fact, I found it generally easier to deal with than GarageBand. But aside from all that, there were two completely unexpected results. First and foremost, for some reason, the podcast sounds better. I couldn’t begin to explain why. I am not nearly knowledgeable enough with audio hardware or software to understand the ins and outs of how audio processing works in OS X. What I can do is invite you to listen to Episode 87 of The Campfire Project. That episode was created using the exact method described above, and it sounds noticeably better than any of the episodes that came before it, all of which were created in GarageBand for OS X. The fact that I inadvertently made the show sound better simply by using iOS apps instead of OS X just strengthens the case for iOS as a podcasting platform for non-experts such as myself. Even more importantly, doing this kind of project on my iPad Pro gives me some of my weekend back. The work still has to be done when we’re finished recording, but once we hang up, I disconnect my iPad from the mic, leave my desk, and can work on the final cut from anywhere. This was possible with my Macbook Pro as well, but not nearly as easy. I have always found editing with a trackpad to be a nightmare (I typically use a traditional mouse for GarageBand editing), and a laptop just isn’t nearly as light or portable as an iPad, which usually caused me to simply stay put at my desk until I was done. With the iPad, I can at least leave my workstation and be with my wife and kids for the rest of the afternoon, even if I am still working on the show. Most of the credit for this goes to Ferrite for being such a “couchable” app. Podcasting workflows are very personal, and people get very set in their ways about how those workflows should be conducted. I feel like I found a solid way to get the job done that allows me to ditch the Mac completely (pending one minor app update) and still create a fantastic sounding podcast without any real disruptions to the process. The most exciting part? Things are only going to improve from here. App support is going to get better, cloud support is going to get better, and iOS itself is going to get better. Yes, I did have to spend a little money on more software to get things up and running, but after just one recording session I was able to reap the rewards. For me, there is no looking back now.
You did an excellent job of explaining the problems to be solved and how these tools worked towards that objective. To take your audio up a notch, do original recordings as AIFF or WAV. You’re compressing them twice if you bring in mp3s. That said, your audio sounds fantastic.
Our latest episode (#90) was a .wav file, which seems to work on Squarespace now. It was throwing an error before for some reason. Also, I have recently discovered the iCab browser for iOS, which allows for downloading the RINGR files!!
I’ve been using iCab for years, it’s just like real browser. Atomic is also very good, as was Mercury, but that’s now been sold apparently and seems very dodgy.
Thanks for the comprehensive article(s).
Thank you! I actually figured out that Squarespace now DOES accept MP4 files. I don’t know if I was doing something wrong the first couple of times I tried or if Squarespace changed something, but for the last couple of episodes of the show, I have not had to convert anything.
Not sure I understand why RINGR requires two devices. Sounds like it takes care of everything on your phone?
RINGR itself doesn’t require two devices. The problem is that RINGR isn’t compatible with my nice mic and the free version doesn’t sound good enough to use the RINGR file as the show. We want the best possible sound, so we have to use our local audio. We just use RINGR for telephony and syncing.
Totally new to this. I don’t understand why RINGR is needed. Why can’t you each use iPad/Apogee mic/Garage Band to record while using your iPhones’ to make a normal call, then combine the two audio recordings? How does having the RINGR recording(s) help with the syncing? Thanks!
I record with 4 people in the room, 1 mic each through an audio interface. I’ve not seen anyone tackle this yet and it’s the only reason I’m holding onto my Macbook Air. If I could figure out a way to record entirely on iOS I’d definitely look at transferring my workflow to my iPad Pro.
Quinn – What audio interface are you using?
AKAI EIE audio/MIDI interface with USB hub
https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B0042Z3ADI/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o06_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
Thanks! Do you find using an audio interface like this easier to use then an audio mixer? If so, what are the pros and cons versus an audio mixer? I have a Mackie Pro FX12V2 and I’m not that crazy about it. Mostly because of its size. I have been looking at the Focusrite line of audio interfaces due to their smaller size and perception of being more simplistic. How would you do a mix minus solution using Skype using an audio interface instead of a mixer? Sorry for 20 questions but trying to figure out a better solution for my setup that I’m not happy with at the moment.
Hi Mark,
I’m afraid I’m probably not the best person to ask. I only know a little about audio and just bought the interface because it allowed us to run 4 mics into my Macbook to record in GarageBand. I like that it’s fair compact compared to a desk, but I don’t really use it to do much more than act as a hub for the mics.
I’ve not recorded any Skype calls whilst using it, although I have looked into it and it doesn’t seem to difficult. But that’s all done in software on the Mac.
Chris – I just listened to episode 87 to hear the sound quality from the setup you described in your post. I was impressed. Could you confirm that both of you used iPhones for the call and used the Apple earbuds to talk and listen to each on the call? The reason I ask is according to your picture above your using an iPhone with Apple earbuds to make the voice call but I wanted to make sure you were using the same exact equipment on both ends.
After downloading the Ferrite app per your recommendation I tested the quality of recording using three different mics. 1. Apple Earbuds 2. Logitech USB H390 Headset and 3. AudioTechnica ATR2100 USB microphone. The Apple Earbuds didn’t perform well. The Logitech H390 did just ok. The ATR2100 performed flawlessly. So this presents a problem on the host end and the guest end since RINGR at this time doesn’t support an external USB device connected via the lightning port on iPhone/iPad to record to a call according to their support website under the FAQ section. The key is to be able to control the guest end of the interview to insure the sound quality is acceptable. Do you think RINGR cleans up the audio files when they sync them together and create a new file? That might explain why you have experienced an increase in audio quality.
Lastly, how much post production clean up did you have to do to get the sound quality you achieved in the podcast especially if you used Apple Earbuds?
Thank you for taking the time to share your experiences in your post above. This has been extremely helpful and I look forward to hearing from you. Thanks, Mark
Hi Mark–
Yes, on both ends we are using Apple earbuds with our iPhones to make the phone call on RINGR. You hear NONE of that audio on the podcast. It is recorded, and I do use that RINGR recording to sync things up, but that track is not left in the final mix. The only audio you, the listener, hears is the isolated tracks we record independently from the phone call. We both use an Apogee MiC for the isolated tracks.
RINGR creates a nice quality end result, and it’s far better than anything I ever got out of recording Skype, but it’s still not high enough quality that I’d want to use it for the final product unless it was an emergency or I needed to cut something out of it for the sake of patching up a glitch. I’m not sure if their higher tier subscription would sound much better, because they don’t seem to be very compatible with the fancier mics.
So as far as the final mix that you hear, it’s our two isolated audio tracks recorded off of the Apogee MiCs and synced to the RINGR recording. Matt records his into Garage Band on a Mac, while I record mine into Ferrite on the iPad Pro. The RINGR track is removed from the project completely, so none of that earbud audio is in there at all. Here’s the kicker though–when I used to do this in Garage Band, I would often have to do some post production (noise gates, adjusting levels, normalizing volume for all tracks, etc.). In Ferrite, I don’t have to do any of that at all. It has a lot of those advanced features, but I’ve never needed to use them. What you hear on the podcast is untouched by any kind of post production in Ferrite.
It’s still a mystery to me why Ferrite makes everything sound so great right out of the box while GarageBand for Mac always required such tinkering and still never sounded as good. I guess it’s not important for me to know why though, as long as I keep getting the quality I’m getting. It’s nothing short of amazing that I’m getting this kind of final product out of an iPad app.
Chris, thank you for your reply. So what I am hearing you say that your setup is a good setup for two podcast hosts who are not together to produce a high quality podcast using RINGR for the sole purpose of syncing up both of your individual recordings in post production? I was hoping this could be the solution I was looking for whereas me and guests for my podcast show would use RINGR to record our conversation in high quality without the guest having to record on their end. My goal is to make it as easy as possible for my guest to do the interview while at the same time making sure it was a high quality recording. My requirements for a guest to do an interview on my podcast is to have at the very minimum a Logitech USB H390 Headset when using Skype. Most of my guests are somewhat technically challenged and I don’t want it to be an obstacle to do an interview with me having to be responsible for recording on their end and sending me a file later. My other goal is to make sure the sound quality is as good as I can get it so I will continue to perfect my existing system. At the very least I am completely happy to learn this information you shared because now I can do an individual podcast using Ferrite on the go which I love by the way. You are exactly right it is nothing short of amazing being an iPad app.
Yeah–the guests are always a wild card, because they have varying levels of equipment and technical know-how. My regular system as described above works out very well when it’s just my co-host and me, which is the case most of the time.
However, having guests throws a wrinkle in that I haven’t had to deal with yet. I only pay for the standard RINGR service. The premium service is going to include conference calling soon, but does not yet have it as far as I know, so for our next guest, we’ll probably have to switch back to Skype unless RINGR gets that feature added by then. RINGR is so much better than Skype, that I would consider ponying up the extra money for that month just to have a good quality recording and be able to have more than 2 people on the line.
I have found that even when I give guests really thorough instructions on how to create/send me their isolated audio tracks, it almost never happens. We usually end up having to use the call track in the end because too many things go wrong.
Chris,
This was a life saver. I was banging my head against the wall trying to find a way to record podcast where my cohosts could both me on our iPhones without getting hot garage audio. Ringr is a god send and will be worth every penny. Ferrite is also fantastic. It out Apple’s Apple. It takes me lest to to edit in ferrite that in GarageBand and on every app on my desktop. Plus it exports MP3 (shame on you GarageBand.) So first of all, a thousand thank you.
Secondly, it’s been almost a year since you wrote this, any new from Ringr on iCloud or dropbox uploads. It would be nice to use iOS start to finish.
Thanks again.
This is helpful, but are you hosting your audio on Squarespace? If so, how are you uploading it? Their audio block isn’t available on the mobile app< and i can't find any other way to post via the phone. this will be the last obstacle for me to have a completely mobile iOS podcasting workflow.