Need Help Recording?

Pre-Recording Your Show

You don’t need a studio or expensive gear to make a great radio show.
This guide walks you through the process of recording, saving, and submitting your show so it’s ready for OHM Radio.

You’ve got this. 

Choose your setup.

Before you start, identify what device you’re using. This guide is organized by setup so you don’t waste time reading what doesn’t apply to you.

Step 0 — What Are You Recording On?

Choose the option that matches your setup:

  • Mac (recommended)

  • PC / Windows

  • Phone / Tablet

  • Library / Community Studio

Once you know your setup, follow the section below.

What are you recording on?

🖥 Mac

→ Do you have GarageBand?
✔ Yes → Record in GarageBand → Export MP3 → Name file → Upload
✖ No → Use Zoom / Google Meet → Convert MP4 → MP3 → Upload

🖥 PC / Windows

→ Do you have Audacity?
✔ Yes → Record in Audacity → Export MP3 → Name file → Upload
✖ No → Use Zoom / Google Meet → Convert MP4 → MP3 → Upload

💻 Any Computer (No software install)

→ Use Zoom or Google Meet
→ Record meeting
→ Find MP4 file
→ Convert to MP3
→ Name file
→ Upload

📱 Phone / Tablet (Last Resort)

→ Record in quiet room
→ Export audio as MP3
→ Name file
→ Upload

🏛 Library / Community Studio

→ Book studio or equipment
→ Record with assistance
→ Export MP3
→ Name file
→ Upload

Charleston County Public Library — Media Services
📧 wandostudiomanager@ccpl.org

File Rules (Do Not Skip)

✔ MP3 only
✔ File name: ShowName_EpisodeDate.mp3
✔ Clear audio, no echo
✔ Intro/outro included if applicable

Where Do I Upload?

✔ After onboarding, OHM provides a Dropbox folder
✔ Upload your MP3 by the assigned deadline
✔ You’re done 🎉

Still stuck?

📧 production@ohmradio963.org
Ask before guessing — we’d rather help early.

Before You Start

(Quick Setup)

Before hitting record, take two minutes to set yourself up:

  • Choose a quiet room (no TV, fans, or background noise)

  • Plug in headphones if you have them (prevents echo)

  • Make sure your device is fully charged

  • Use a strong internet connection

  • Have water nearby (not soda, not ice — trust us)

STEP 1 — RECORDING USING ZOOM

If you choose Zoom, follow these exact steps:

  1. Go to zoom.us

  2. Click Sign In

  3. Click New Meeting

  4. Your meeting room opens automatically

  5. At the bottom of the screen, click Record
     (If you don’t see Record, click the three dots “More” RECORD TO YOUR HARD DRIVE *** MAKE SURE YOU HAVE ENOUGH ROOM ON YOUR HARD DRIVE BEFORE RECORDING!!)

  6. Begin your show WITH THE FCC CALL LETTERS : YOU ARE LISTENING TO WOHM CHARLESTON … and speak clearly

  7. When finished, click Stop Recording

  8. Click End Meeting

  9. Zoom will say:
    “Converting meeting recording…”

  10. Wait until conversion finishes

  11. A folder opens on your computer with your video file AND OTHER FORMATS .

  12. The file YOU NEED WILL end in .MP4

✅ Your recording is now saved

STEP 1 — RECORDING USING GOOGLE MEET

If you choose Google Meet:

  1. Go to meet.google.com

  2. Sign in with your Gmail

  3. Click New Meeting → Start an Instant Meeting

  4. Click the three dots in the bottom right

  5. Select Record Meeting

  6. Click Start Recording

  7. Begin your show WITH THE FCC CALL LETTERS : YOU ARE LISTENING TO WOHM CHARLESTON … and speak clearly

  8. When finished, click three dots → Stop Recording

  9. End the call

📩 Within a few minutes:
• The recording appears in your Google Drive

STEP 2 — FINDING YOUR MP4 FILE

Zoom:
 Your computer will open a folder called:
Zoom → Meeting Recordings

Google Meet:
 Go to drive.google.com → My Drive → Meet Recordings

Your video file will look like:
Meeting Recording.mp4

STEP 3 — EDIT / CONVERT MP4 TO MP3

Your submission must be MP3 audio only.

Use one of these free sites:

• cloudconvert.com
 • convertio.co
 • online-audio-converter.com

Conversion steps:

  1. Open one of the sites above

  2. Click Select File

  3. Upload your MP4

  4. Choose output format: MP3

  5. Click Convert

  6. Wait for conversion to finish

  7. Click Download

  8. Your MP3 file saves to your computer

*** IF YOU HAVE A MAC YOU CAN DOWNLOAD GARAGE BAND AND USE THIS SOFTWARE TO EDIT AND CONVERT FOR FREE - WHEN YOU ARE DOEN PLEASE SHARE FILE TO DISK IN MP3 FORMAT .

ON A PC YOU CAN USE SOFTWARE CALLED AUDACITY TO EDIT AND CONVERT .

STEP 4— OPTIONAL INTRO MUSIC

  1. Go to YouTube Audio Library OR YOUR PERSONAL MUSIC LIBRARY ( YOU MUST HAVE A COPY OF THE SOMG IN YOUR HARD DRIVE )

  2. Download free music OR SELCET FROM HARD DRIVE

  3. In Audacity OR GARAGE BAND , drag music under your voice track

  4. Lower music volume TO MATCH VOCALS

  5. STICTH INTO YOUR PROGRAM USING SOFTWARE TIMELINE

  6. EXPORT AS MP3

STEP 5 — FILE NAMING

Rename your final file:

ShowName_EpisodeDate.mp3

Example:
RealTalkWithTina_Sept15.mp3

STEP 6 — SUBMITTING YOUR SHOW

  1. Open your provided Dropbox submission link

  2. Click Upload File

  3. Select your MP3

  4. Wait for upload confirmation

🎉 Your show is now submitted!

IMPORTANT REMINDERS

✔ Always press Record before starting
✔ Test your microphone first
✔ Speak clearly and confidently
✔ Do not submit MP4 video — MP3 only
✔ Keep backup copies of your files