Echo Cancellation for Podcast Recording: When To Use and When Not To Use

TL;DR:

1. If a podcast participant is NOT wearing headphones or earbuds — you MUST use echo cancellation on their audio.
2. If a podcast participant IS wearing headphones or earbuds — you should NOT use echo cancellation on their audio.

Full explanation:

Echo cancellation is an audio process that can be used during podcast recording sessions. It was designed to eliminate feedback which jumbles the audio and makes conversation impossible. It’s meant to be used on participants who are not wearing headphones or earbuds — meaning, they’re listening to the other podcast participants through their computer speakers (or other speakers). Of course this projects the sound of the other participants into their room, which then bounces around their room and is picked up by their own microphone. This causes the other participants’ audio to be sent back to them, causing the effect of “feedback” for the other participants. The echo cancellation eliminates this feedback and makes conversation possible.

Echo cancellation is offered by most remote recording services like Riverside, Zencastr, Squadcast, Streamyard, etc.

Recap:

1. No headphones = use echo cancellation
2. Wearing headphones = don’t use echo cancellation

*But I hear some of you maniacs: “Excuse me, Chris, but can’t we just ALWAYS use echo cancellation just to be safe? What’s the harm?” ANSWER: Echo cancellation causes substantial-to-severe audio degradation, so I recommend only using it if it’s necessary 😉

What are your thoughts on using echo cancellation?

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