As with everyone else who takes Podcasting seriously, I am stuck on the issue of recording phone calls. I tell anyone who will listen that I think the content of our MADCasts is good but the sound quality stinks. (To be polite). As someone who has worked in talk radio, I have a vision or (sound-vision) that my Podcast should sound like a good talk radio program where the host and callers don’t sound like they are in the same studio. The callers should sound like callers.

I have tried all the Radio Shack ® devices and you hear what my results have been. Some people have suggested using Skype, but the VoIP client will sound like two people in the same room.

So, yesterday I was listening to a great Podcast at www.eatfeed.com . The food show had a phone interview with Bill Niman (of Niman Ranch. the only meat our family will eat) and it sounded great. I emailed Anne Bramley for her scoop on how she did such a clean Podcast and she recommended Skype Out (which allows you to call people who have a land line connection). The net result is a recording that sounds like a recoding. Note: Skype Out is not free, but quite cheap.

I will be experimenting with it shortly. Also, a few guests likely to appear on the MADCast (once I resolve the recording issues)  in the coming weeks: New media impresario Eric Rice and Tucows’ resident head of innovation, Ross Rader.

Stay tuned.