Have you ever wondered if it’s possible to create a Discord podcast? Well, it is, and it’s actually a solid platform to start your podcast for free. Although Discord doesn’t have a built-in record feature, you can work around this with third-party tools.
So, in today’s post, we’ll cover the step-by-step process of how to make a Discord podcast using bots.
How to Record a Podcast on Discord Using Bots
As we mentioned earlier, there is no built-in feature in Discord to record audio. However, you can use voice or stage channels to talk and record the audio with a third-party bot. The approach is simple: let’s see the step-by-step process.
1. Create a Discord Server
Before start recording your podcast in Discord, you need to create a server. In my opinion, having a server for your podcast is one of the best benefits of Discord as a platform for podcasters.
You can always choose to only use Discord for recording. However, the user retention benefits of building your community of listeners and engaging with them on the server are huge.
If you don’t already have a server, head over to the Discord website and sign up for an account. Once you have your account and have downloaded the app, you can create a server by clicking on the “Add a Server” green button at the left of Discord’s app. Make sure to create a “community server” if you want to build a community (since this type of server has more social features).
If you need help when creating a community server, we have a complete guide for you to learn how to start a Discord server.
In short, creating a server involves giving it a name, choosing a region, and uploading a server icon. Once your server is set up, you can start creating channels for your podcast community.
2. Set up Voice Channels
Once you have your brand new server, the next step is to set up voice channels for your podcast. Voice channels allow you and your podcast guests to talk, and this is where you will record your podcast’s audio.
Besides regular voice channels, Discord also has “stage channels”. Although stage channels are also voice channels, there is a main difference between the two: stage channels allow you to clearly separate speakers from the audience.
In stage channels, for example, you can allow only certain people to talk while others listen passively. Additionally, members from the audience can request to speak, while moderators control who speaks and when.
If you are only looking for a place to record your podcast, it’s not that relevant which type of voice channel you use, since it will only be you and your guest in the channel. However, if you are building a community of listeners inside your podcast’s server, it’s a great idea to use stage channels to control who can speak.
To create a voice channel, simply click on the plus sign next to the “Voice Channels” section on the left-hand side of the screen.
Next, select if you want to create a regular voice channel or a stage channel. Give your voice channel a name, click on “Create Channel“, and you’re ready to go.
If you created a stage channel, you will be prompted to select which roles will be the channel’s moderators. On the other hand, if you created a regular voice channel, make sure to edit the permissions to regulate who can speak by clicking on the gear icon next to the channel’s name.
Whether you created a regular voice channel or a stage channel, it’s a good idea to enter the channel’s settings to regulate the audio quality. To do this, click the button shown in the image above, and in the “Overview” tab, slide the “Bitrate” option all the way to the right.
3. Invite People to the Server
Now that your server and voice channels are set up, it’s time to invite others to join your podcast server. You can invite people by sharing your server’s invite link with them or invite them directly if they are in your Discord friends list. To find the link, right-click on your server’s name and then on “Invite People“.
If you are using this Discord server for recording purposes only, you simply need to invite the podcast guests that will be speaking in each episode. However, if you are trying to also build a community of listeners around your podcast, check out these channel ideas to grow your new Discord server, and start building your server’s members list.
4. Use Bots to Record Your Discord Podcast
Finally, it’s time to start using bots to record your Discord podcast. We’re almost there!
For this tutorial, we’re going to use Craig. For many reasons, this is a very popular bot in the podcasting world. On the one hand, Craig can record your podcast in multiple tracks. This means that when Craig records your Discord voice channel, you get a separate audio file for each speaker, which makes editing a lot easier.
On the other hand, Craig saves the recording as an audio file you can download in a variety of modern audio formats like FLAC, MPEG-4 AAC, and more. You can even export your recording into an Audacity project. This makes it easy to edit your podcast and upload it to your favorite podcasting platforms to share with your listeners.
To add Craig to your server, visit the Craig website and click on “Invite Craig to your Discord Server“.
Next, a new tab will open in your browser for you to select the server you want to invite Craig to. Click on “Continue” and then on “Authorize” to invite Craig to your Discord server.
5. Record Your Podcast
With everything set up, it’s time to start recording your podcast. First, make sure you and your guests are in the voice channel you’ve designated for recording.
Once you’re ready, use the Craig bot’s commands to begin recording. Similarly, when you’re finished recording, you can use the bot’s commands to stop recording and save the audio file. Both in regular voice channels and in stage channels, you need to open the chat to use commands. You can do this by clicking on the icon at the top right corner of the channel:
To start recording, use the /join command and Craig will start recording your channel. When you’re ready, use the /stop command to finish your recording, and Craig will leave your channel.
As you can see, once you finish your recording, you can head on to the DMs to find the link to download the audio file.
6. Share Your Discord Podcast
Once you’ve recorded your podcast, it’s time to edit the audio and share it with the world. You can upload your audio file to a podcast hosting platform, such as Anchor or Buzzsprout, or share it directly with your listeners through your Discord server. Make sure you promote your podcast on social media and other platforms to help grow your audience.
By following these simple steps and using bots like Craig, you can create high-quality Discord podcasts that are easy to share and promote. However, that’s only half of the battle. To grow your brand-new podcast and community, check out these strategies to make your new Discord server popular.
