Spotify is Adding Podcast Chapters

One of my favorite features from YouTube is chapter markers on videos that list timestamps in the description. That feature is now coming to Spotify! So now if you have timestamps in the episode notes of your podcast there should be a chapter listing on the playback bar so you know what topics are discussed, what section your in, and roughly how much longer each topic will be discussed.

This isn’t a groundbreaking feature, but I believe this provides a significantly better viewing experience for listeners. It may decrease your “listen time” or “view time”, but your goal should not be to manipulate people into listening for a few extra seconds, it should be to provide your listener/viewer with the best experience possible.

This is a great update to Spotify podcasts.

Clip from BSP-390: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iTTE0d_De1o
Originally Aired 2 JUN 2024

The FTC is FINALLY Banning Fake Reviews

The FTC just released a ruling that they will be banning fake reviews. This is important because there are companies that will pay people (or even A.I.) to write positive reviews on retailer websites. This can lead to an average consumer seeing an inflated rating of a sub-par product and they may buy something that is terrible quality or even dangerous.

The FTC is addressing this by prohibiting the following:

1. Fake or Fale Consumer Reviews, Consumer Testimonials, and Celebrity Testimonials.

2. Buying Positive or Negative Reviews

3. Insider Reviews and Consumer Testimonials

4. Company-Controlled Review Websites

5. Review Supression

6. Misuse of Fake Social Media Indicators

I don’t typically like government agency regulation, and it’s possible this will be a disaster or ineffective, but I am happy to see some action being taken as I have seen and shared publicly information about companies buying 5-start reviews with free products or refunds.

BSP-198: https://youtu.be/PB7CGGGaFaw?si=bye0n-9_wjOO_gXN&t=48
FTC Summary: https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/news/press-releases/2024/08/federal-trade-commission-announces-final-rule-banning-fake-reviews-testimonials
FTC Ruling: https://www.ftc.gov/system/files/ftc_gov/pdf/r311003consumerreviewstestimonialsfinalrulefrn.pdf

Adding Corrections to Published YouTube Videos

After seeing a post from YouTube Liaison Rene Ritchie, I learned that you are able to add corrections to your YouTube videos. All you need to do is type something like the following in your description:

Correction:
00:00 - At this moment I should have said “Microphones are the BEST” but instead I said “I feel dead inside”.

At the time stamp you provide a card will pop up in the corner and inform the viewer that there is a correction. If they choose to click on the card it will open up your video description and scroll down so they can read the update.

Clip from BSP-393: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V_l9WLGio8c
Originally Aired 30 JUN 2024

The Verge's Bad Microphone Recommendations (2019)

A long time ago in a galaxy far far away, The Verge put out a microphone recommendation article where they included a bunch of cheap USB condenser mics, no XLR mics, and a single USB dynamic mic which is pretty terrible. This entire article is very questionable and the advice is not that great.

Article: https://www.theverge.com/2019/4/5/18295732/podcast-microphone-best-top-price-specs-features-rode-blue-shure
Clip from BSP-163: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dRzl9PUtnJQ
Originally Aired: 7 APR 2019

Handheld Condensers vs. Studio Condensers

This is a clip from my podcast where I test if there is a difference between studio condensers, stage condenser microphones, and handheld dynamic mics to see which one does a better job at rejecting the room. This was not scientific and not exhaustive because I only compared 3 microphones but what I heard in terms of rejection was:

Large diaphragm studio condenser did the worst.
Handheld dynamic did the second best at rejecting the room.
Handheld condenser did the best at rejection.

I don’t believe this is an end all conclusion because it the polar pattern of the handheld condenser was different from the SM58 and the U87, but I was a bit surprised by the result and figured I’d share it with you.

Clip from BSP-389: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QmMbLBv8EKE
Originally Aired: 19 MAY 2024

Why Do You Need a D.I. Box?

What does a D.I. (direct injection) box do? It converts a high-impedance instrument signal to a line level input.

Why do you need one?

1. If your audio interface does not have a high-impedance instrument input and you connect an instrument directly to your interface, there will be an “impedance mismatch” and this makes the audio sound really bad. It rolls off the high frequencies and makes the audio sound muffled. Converting the high-impedance signal to a line level signal will allow you to get an accurate representation of the instruments output.

2. If you want to record a D.I. signal to your DAW while also playing through an amplifier. This is possible because most (if not all) D.I. boxes have an input, a thru output (send to your amp), and a line output (which you send to your audio interface). This is great if you want to record your guitar tone but want to be able to possible reamp the D.I. signal in the future if you change your mind about what sounds good.

I include demos of all of this in the video above.

Clip from BSP-396: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n8NL8v8Jtso
Originally Aired: 4 AUG 2024

Decentralizing Your Smartphone is a Luxury

Over the last few years I have really enjoyed the process of using “single use items” instead of relying on my smartphone.

When discussing this on my podcast, I received some pushback stating that if you have a smartphone and you choose to use single-use items, this is a luxury because you are purchasing unnecessary redundant items. I understand this argument, however, I think that moving towards single-use items can provide a benefit to our mental health and our productivity.

Smartphones are undoubtably marvels of technology and are very useful, but at the same time they are always connected, and always vying for our attention through notifications and addictive dopamine spiking apps. So by taking measures to limit my reliance on this device it allows me to be more productive, remain less distracted, and feel less urge to constantly pick up a device.

So although, buying redundant items may technically be a “waste of money” because the function is already fulfilled by something you own, I believe that if this cost allows you to save time then it is completely worth it.

Clip from BSP-387: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K-huKM8r8KA
Originally Aired: 28 APR 2024

Audio Gear is High Value

When I say “High Value”, I am referring to an item that delivers on its advertised function, is reliable, and isn’t overpriced (or at least will yield a low cost per use). With that definition, audio gear offers some of the best value out there.

1. Analog - A lot of audio gear is analog, and this means there are no digital components that will become obsolete quickly. There are no firmware updates or software updates that will brick your device. And there’s no compatibility issues with the new operating system.

2. Durable - A lot of microphones are built to be used on stage and in broadcast studios where stuff is treated very roughly. Because of this companies design their gear to be very robust. Shure is a great example of this, they still manufacture their microphones to Mil-spec, and their SM57/SM58/SM7b are mics that will last decades.

3. Cost-Per-Use - There are an abundance of fantastic microphones from $100 - $400, and for most of us it would be the last microphone we ever needed to buy. For this demonstration let’s say we purchased a $400 microphone, we record 100 times per year, and we only get 5 years of use out of that mic. That means $400 / 500 recording sessions = $0.80/session. If we were to have an SM57/SM58/sEV7 that would drop the cost to $100 and over that same time frame the cost per use would be on $0.20! In reality many of us will get significantly more use out of this equipment so the cost per use will drop even lower.

That’s it. I just thought it was interesting and wanted to share it with you.

Clip from BSP-387: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K-huKM8r8KA
Originally Aired: 28 APR 2024