What podcasts looked like in 2024 — literally

In 2024, podcasts are already closer to becoming a film-first medium. Even though video podcasts already exist relatively long timeshowing from new york timesNPR and many other podcast networks that have been audio-only for years have recently begun adding video components to reach new listeners. In fact, Spotify, a major player in the podcast space, Starting to pay podcasters soon Bring videos to the platform.

After years of producers trying to make audio shows go viral on social media, video producers realized they could film talent talking, and now podcasts have dominated TikTok, Instagram Reels and YouTube Shorts. Weekly podcasts, meanwhile, are looking to attract younger audiences who grew up on YouTube. So, video producers are figuring out how to make podcasts, and audio producers are figuring out how to make videos.

I’ve noticed some trends in this video-first podcast format. This is not surprising; when one manufacturer discovers a formula that works, other manufacturers try it. Let’s take a look at current design and technology trends, and then I’ll discuss what I think is likely to evolve over the next year or so.

Many of today’s podcast studios look like living rooms and basements. this This is not a new phenomenon Talk shows, but many podcasts started out as living spaces, and large media companies have adopted this aesthetic. lamp. fireplace. Fake plants. bookshelf. This environment provides a more “laid back” style of long-form interviews, which is typically the vibe of most chat-style podcasts.

Sofas and comfortable chairs appear frequently in these video shows. The round table has been abandoned, leisure is the key – it is much more comfortable to talk for hours at a time. Hosts and guests often sit together on the sofa or separately in comfortable chairs.

Another trend I’ve noticed is wood slats on the podcast studio walls—a design we also use in our own Vox Media space. These absorb sound better while still looking like a living space. This has become a hallmark of video podcasting in mid-2020.

When a wide camera angle shows an entire room, there’s usually something in the middle of the screen, like a huge logo for a TV or show, to create a symmetrical studio look. Neon and fairy lights are very popular right now as they add a colorful glow to quieter studio spaces. Lots of cursive fonts.

Branding is often prioritized in films, and most producers think that means spending two hours looking at a logo. It’s also an easy way to let TikTok scrollers know what show they’re watching (although this doesn’t usually work with vertical videos).

The microphone is typically placed on a floor stand that extends above the couch (these articulated boom stands have been a recording studio staple for decades). As a result, the stand often appears out of shot and awkwardly erected in large areas in front of guests. When multiple guests are sitting on different chairs, poles sticking out at various inconsistent angles can look even more confusing.

Although new types mic stands for podcast As microphones were introduced to the market, many shows abandoned long, awkward booms in favor of having hosts and guests hold the microphones. This feels more real and intimate on screen, and many stand-up comedians prefer this approach. However, this can be a bit awkward for inexperienced guests speaking with their hands or who don’t know how to hold a microphone with a narrow polar pattern.

Things could get worse. When a podcast is audio first but has a video component, you’ll often see awkward practices captured on camera, such as each guest holding their phone up to their face to record the audio while looking directly at the audience. This is a common practice in radio interviews, but not so good when it comes to film.

this Shure SM7B microphone Still very popular in this medium Budget MV7 Model. For branding purposes, a cube with the show’s name is often clumsily glued to the bottom of the microphone. Reminiscent of the microphone logo on newscaster stick mics, they are now being adapted for these classic broadcast studio microphones. This may be because branding is more effective on a vertically cropped film than a large logo on a studio wall.

Large isolation headphones are common in radio and podcasting, and are still used in many versions of video. But when guests are far away and looking directly into their webcam, those big earcups stick out very awkwardly – more awkward than when you’re looking at someone’s profile view.

This is what many video podcasts will look like in 2024.

I believe that by 2025, podcast producers will finally stop following these tropes and try to differentiate themselves. Some producers hired to help with the transition to film will begin to question the reasons for large headphones and thick microphones covering people’s faces, and opt for smaller lavalier microphones and in-ear monitors.

New viewers may start forgetting the word “podcast” and refer to the chat shows they watch as “shows.” Media executives will try to select syndicated programming on linear platforms such as Roku, Pluto or Tubi. The line between podcasts and TV shows will become thinner.

More consumer-grade productivity tools have entered the market, essentially turning a simple desk setup and MacBook into a fully stocked control room. The host has moved out of the studio and entered Barber Shop, tennis courtand about sidewalk. Artificial intelligence tools like Descript, Hush, and Accentize can turn less-than-ideal microphone recordings into more complete, robust broadcast-style recordings. Podcasters whose equipment cannot handle an uncontrolled recording environment will particularly benefit from these post-production tools.

Who knows? When the budgets for these shows become too expensive to allow video shows to air multiple times a week without a strong following, the pendulum may swing back again. Maybe they’ll even scale it down to an audio-only format. Perhaps this is where they will start over with new experiments in the audio medium.