The IT Nerd

SquadCast, the leading cloud recording studio (CRS) platform, today announced version 4.5, which includes Dolby.io noise cancellation, one-click audio mastering, a new category-first integration API, and new workflow features among other enhancements. SquadCast’s SaaS subscription tool can also now connect and record up to 10 people in a recording session — a dramatic increase over the previous maximum of four participants.

SquadCast is already a dominant player in podcast production, growing nearly 600% in revenue and customer acquisition in 2020. With its state-of-the-art recording capabilities, Cloud Studio can be used to record video interviews, audiobooks, and podcasts. The company expects its new, industry-first features to fuel record growth and a larger market share after an unprecedented year for online collaboration by remote creative professionals during the pandemic.

According to The State of Podcast Interviews 2020, SquadCast.fm market share in the CRS category grew 141% in 2020, making it the fastest-growing podcast interview platform. The demand for video recording in all podcasts went up 12% in 2020, with 36% of all podcasts using video.

SquadCast Cloud Studio provides the following new features for content creators:

• Ten participants can join in a recording session — the highest number of participants in any CRS platform.
• Real-time noise cancellation via Dolby.io integration means better quality than ever. The new noise cancellation feature adds dynamic audio leveling and sound clarity with echo reduction within an immersive sound experience. 
• SquadCast’s new API empowers integrations with popular tools (via Zapier), such as Calendly, Dropbox, Descript, or custom solutions to bolster recorded content within the podcast and larger tech ecosystem.
• Better workflow features for every stage of the process include: one-click audio mastering, screen recording, screen share, transparent connectivity and enhanced network resilience, a “green room” soundcheck, pronoun options, and recording-time analytics.

Standard video-conferencing tools offer low-quality production for podcasts

Well-known meeting platforms such as Zoom or Skype weren’t designed to offer high-fidelity audio or full HD video for professional content production. Typical video conferencing platforms process audio over the Internet, so recordings are vulnerable to poor connections, which can lead to issues such as audio drift or incomplete audio files. SquadCast v4.5 also offers new video display options if network access is limited.

SquadCast’s patent-pending progressive uploading prevents audio drift

SquadCast is the leading podcast recording service that offers Dolby.io integration and progressive uploading. Dolby.io noise cancellation makes everyone on a show sound like they’re in the same room together. Progressive uploading means that audio and video files are uploaded in the background, in real-time, while also being recorded locally (with isolated tracks for each participant). Customers will never lose recordings due to spotty or dropped Internet connections because those are always saved in Cloud Studio.

When a recording is done, the host can immediately download all audio and video files directly from SquadCast in a variety of formats. SquadCast’s cloud tools enable speedy post-production and easy collaboration among virtual production teams.

SquadCast’s cloud studio is used by independent, professional, and enterprise podcast creators to record remotely on Chrome, Firefox, Brave, Opera, and Edge browsers and on the Android mobile platform. SquadCast Cloud Studio version 4.5 includes high-quality recordings for all plans, which start at $20/month, with additional features available on premium plans.

During the pandemic, we’ve all become intimately familiar with our (not-so) new coworker Zoom after switching to remote work, remote cocktail parties, and even remote exercise. So it’s understandable why some might still default to using Zoom for conducting and recording podcast and remote interviews. However, there are some major differences between SquadCast and the world’s most popular pandemic-era communication medium.

SquadCast’s top benefit remains it’s high-fidelity audio, and last month with the introduction of SquadCast v. 3.5, crystal-clear video is now available on the remote recording platform.

Let’s compare SquadCast To Zoom to see how they stack up:

1. How many actual steps does it take for the guest? The SquadCast team counted how many clicks it takes to start a SquadCast session compared to Zoom. They counted everything in the experience before you hit the stop button: connecting, inviting your guest, joining, and recording. 

Results: Zoom takes twice as many clicks for you and your guests to record together.

2. What are the technical challenges? Everybody in a Zoom conversation must have an account and download and install the platform before the session. When recording a SquadCast conversation, the guest doesn’t need to have or do anything other than provide an email address to obtain a link, click the link, show up and talk. 

Results: With Zoom, the installation alone is multiple steps. With Squadcast: zero technical challenges. 

3. After the conversation, how accessible are the files, and how quickly are they available? With SquadCast, the answer is as soon as you click stop. The files are rendered and ready to download and listen to. In Zoom, you have to completely close out and disconnect your room before the files even start rendering for you to gain access to them. To gain access to the files, one must go to another page that’s not part of the core Zoom experience. With SquadCast, another advantage is the ability to test record for thirty seconds, for example, and then playback to ensure everything is sounding good and ready.

Results: SquadCast’s files are ready immediately upon completion and testing the sound is easy. With Zoom, multiple steps are necessary to obtain files. 

About SquadCast

As podcasting and working remotely explodes in popularity, so does the demand for quality remote recording. SquadCast is a SaaS remote recording platform that empowers podcasters, capturing quality audio and video conversations their listeners love. With SquadCast, there are no audio syncing issues, no lost recordings, and no worries for remote guests. Simplifying post-production and collaboration, Squadcast’s patent-pending cloud-based technology is essential for podcasters producing multiple shows. Launched in 2017, SquadCast has over 13,000 customers in 130 countries. Among those are marquee brands such as Microsoft, Spotify, ESPN, NPR, iHeartRadio, Kara Swisher, and Shopify. SquadCast is headquartered in Oakland, CA. For more information, go to www.SquadCast.fm; listen to their podcast: Between 2 Mics.

SquadCast, a SaaS-subscription remote recording platform provider, announced today SquadCast version 3.0 Beta, including Studio Quality Video Recording. The new version – currently available for customers – will be released for general availability in Q1 2021. With the addition of high definition (HD) remote video recording capabilities, SquadCast’s offering will directly challenge Zoom and Skype – products with a larger market share, but a lower quality audio experience.

Podcast consumption has reached 100 million American users and continues adoption as the world is doing more online collaborating remotely. As the podcast market explodes, so does the demand for quality remote recording. A new category has emerged to address the quality gap: Remote Content Production. SquadCast is a market leader in this category with over 12k customers across 123 countries, including marquee brands such as Microsoft, Spotify, ESPN, NPR, iHeartRadio, Kara Swisher, and Shopify.

According to The State of Podcast Interviews 2020, SquadCast.fm is the fastest-growing podcast interview platform, growing 141% in 2020. And the demand for video usage in podcasting is up — 12% in 2020 to 36% of all podcasts incorporating video.

Zoom and Skype Not Prepared to Meet Demand for Quality Remote Audio & Video Recording

Well-known recording platform players like Zoom and Skype are ill-equipped to meet the demand for quality audio & video performance. Because both companies process their audio over the Internet, their recordings are vulnerable to poor connections and, therefore, quality. Additionally, a lack of advanced technology to record high-quality audio and video content makes those offerings fraught with issues such as audio drift and a propensity for incomplete audio files due to Internet disconnections. With SquadCast, there are no audio syncing issues, no lost recordings, and no worries for remote guests.

SquadCast’s podcast solution is known for its intuitive audio recording platform that helps podcasters easily connect with their guests to record studio-quality content remotely. SquadCast’s “virtual studio” is used by Independent, Professional, and Enterprise podcast creators to record podcasts remotely. With the addition of video recording, podcast creators will now be able to distribute to other channels like YouTube and social media apps to reach a wider audience.

SquadCast’s version 3.0 Beta with Studio Quality Video Recording consumer plans start at $40/month up to $300/month and offer:

• Separate iso-track video recorded locally in 720p;
• Same patented recording engine with lighting fast video rendering;
• Improved onboarding experience for hosts & guests.

Differentiators: Patent-Pending Progressive Uploading, Audio Drift Solution & Downloadable ISO Tracks

SquadCast is the only podcast recording service that offers patent-pending Progressive Uploading and a solution for audio drift. SquadCast’s Progressive Uploading feature uploads audio files conversations in the background, in real-time. When a conversation is finished, it only takes a few seconds for the audio files to be accessible. Customers will never lose recordings in cases of spotty or dropped Internet connections. SquadCast records all participants in the session locally on separate tracks and automatically uploads the files to the SquadCast cloud. Once a recording is done, the host can download all audio files of the full conversation directly from SquadCast in WAV & MP3 format for audio and MP4 & WebM for video.

SquadCast’s other unique differentiator addresses common audio recording timing issues, known as audio drift when the connections slip out of sync. The company is also building a reputation for making post-production a breeze, which is especially helpful for podcasters with multiple shows. SquadCast enables optimal collaboration for big production teams.

For more information, go to www.SquadCast.fm.