Podcast Glossary

Published January 31, 2024 | By Matt

Podcast: A digital audio or video file available for streaming or download.
Episode: An individual audio recording within a podcast series.
RSS Feed: Really Simple Syndication, a web feed that allows users to access new updates to online content in a standardized format.
Hosting Platform: A service that stores and distributes podcast files.
Microphone: A device used to capture audio for podcast recording.
Mixer: An electronic device for mixing audio signals.
DAW (Digital Audio Workstation): Software used for recording, editing, and producing audio files.
Bit Rate: The quality of an audio file, measured in kilobits per second (kbps).
Mono: Single audio channel recording.
Stereo: Two-channel audio recording, providing a sense of depth and space.
Show Notes: Written content that accompanies a podcast episode, often including summaries, links, and references.
Stream: To listen to or watch a podcast in real-time without downloading.
Download: To save a podcast file to a device for offline access.
Podcatcher: Software that automatically downloads new podcast episodes.
Subscription: Signing up to receive new episodes of a podcast automatically.
Lip Sync: Ensuring audio matches up with video in video podcasts.
ID3 Tags: Metadata added to MP3 files including title, artist, album, and more.
Jingle: A short song or tune used in a podcast’s intro or outro.
Bumper: Short audio or music segments used to transition between segments.
Fade: Gradually lowering the volume of audio to transition.
Gain: Adjusting the input level of an audio signal.
EQ (Equalization): Adjusting the balance of frequency components in an audio signal.
Compression: Reduces dynamic range of an audio signal.
Noise Gate: An electronic device or software that reduces background noise.
Pop Filter: A screen used to reduce or eliminate popping sounds in vocal recordings.
Interview: A podcast format involving a host and guest(s).
Roundtable: A podcast format where multiple participants discuss a topic.
Solo Cast: A podcast format with a single host speaking.
Narrative Podcast: Tells a story, often with scripting and sound design.
Podcast Network: A collection of podcasts produced and distributed by a single company.
Syndication: Distributing a podcast across multiple platforms or networks.
Analytics: Data on podcast performance, including listens, downloads, and audience demographics.
CPM (Cost Per Mille): Cost per thousand impressions, a common advertising rate metric.
Sponsorship: Financial support in exchange for promotion within the podcast.
Patreon: A platform for creators to receive financial contributions from listeners.
RSS Aggregator: A tool that collects and displays updated content from various RSS feeds.
Voiceover: A production technique where a voice is added over the primary audio content.
Outro: The concluding segment of a podcast episode.
Intro: The opening introduction segment of a podcast episode.
Podfade: When a podcast begins to release episodes less frequently or stops releasing altogether.
Call to Action (CTA): A direct request to listeners, often to subscribe, share, or visit a website.
Live Streaming: Broadcasting content in real-time over the internet.
Vodcast: A podcast that includes video content.
Audiogram: A visual representation of audio, often used for promotion on social media.
Dynamic Microphone: A type of microphone often used in live settings for its durability and ability to reject background noise.
Condenser Microphone: A type of microphone often used in studios for its sensitivity and audio quality.
Field Recording: Recording audio outside a studio, often in a natural or uncontrolled environment.
Soundproofing: Techniques used to prevent external sounds from entering a recording environment.
Audio Interface: Hardware that improves the sound quality of a recording by converting analog signals to digital.
Direct Input (DI): A method of connecting an electronic instrument directly to a mixer or audio interface.
Buffering: When a podcast loads part of the content ahead of playing to ensure smooth playback.
Chapter Marks: Points set within an episode to mark different sections or topics.
Content Management System (CMS): Software used to manage digital content, including podcast episodes.
Dynamic Content: Audio segments that can be changed or updated in episodes after release.
Enhanced Podcast: A podcast with added features like images, links, or chapter marks.
Explicit Content: Content that includes adult language or themes, often requiring a warning label.
FeedBurner: A web service that provides media distribution and audience analytics.
GarageBand: A popular DAW made by Apple, often used by podcasters for recording and editing.
Headroom: The amount of space left in an audio signal before it peaks or distorts.
Impedance: The resistance of an electrical circuit, affecting audio quality in microphones and headphones.
Limiter: A device or plugin that prevents an audio signal from exceeding a certain level.
Metadata: Information about the podcast or episode, such as title, description, and author.
Normalization: The process of adjusting the audio to a consistent volume across an episode or podcast.
Omni-Directional Microphone: A microphone that captures sound equally from all directions.
Podcast Directory: A platform or website where listeners can discover and subscribe to podcasts.
Pre-Roll: An advertisement or announcement that plays before the main content of a podcast.
Post-Roll: An advertisement or announcement that plays after the main content of a podcast.
Reverb: An effect that gives the impression of sound reflecting in a physical space.
RSS Validator: A tool that checks the correctness of an RSS feed.
Saturation: An effect that adds warmth and character to audio, often emulating tape or tube sound.
SEO (Search Engine Optimization): Techniques used to improve a podcast’s visibility in search engines.
Sound Design: The art of creating audio elements to enhance the storytelling in a podcast.
Teaser: A short preview or clip from an upcoming episode.
Transcription: The process of converting spoken words in a podcast into written text.
Voice Acting: Performing voice-over, especially for characters or narratives in podcasts.
Webinar: An online seminar or workshop, which can be distributed as a podcast.
White Noise: A consistent background sound used to mask other sounds.
XLR Connector: A professional-grade audio cable connector.
Zero-Crossing: A point where an audio waveform crosses the zero line, important for editing.
Ambient Sound: Background noise from the environment where recording takes place.
Bit Depth: The number of bits of information in each sample of an audio file.
Crossfade: A transition where one audio track fades out while another fades in.
Direct Download: When a listener downloads an episode directly from a website or host.
Echo: A sound effect where a repeated version of the audio is added to the original.
Frequency Range: The range of sound frequencies that a microphone can pick up.
Hot Mic: A microphone that is live and recording.
Leveling: Adjusting multiple audio tracks to a consistent volume.
MP3: A popular digital audio file format.
Noise Reduction: Techniques used to minimize unwanted background noise in a recording.
Overdub: Recording an additional part onto an existing recording.
Phantom Power: A power source for condenser microphones.
Pitch: The perceived frequency of a sound, which can be adjusted in editing.
Podsafe Music: Music that is legally safe to use in a podcast without copyright infringement.
Public Domain: Content that is not protected by copyright and can be used freely.
Sample Rate: The number of samples of audio carried per second.
Soundboard: A device or software used to play and control sound effects during recording.
Tagging: Adding metadata to an audio file.
Voice Tracker: Software or equipment used to record voice segments for later insertion into a podcast.
WAV File: A high-quality, uncompressed audio file format.
Workflow: The process and sequence of steps taken to produce a podcast episode.
SEO for Podcasts: Using strategic keywords to target an audience online to pull in the right listeners to your podcast’s niche.