Video Podcast vs Audio Only: Which is Best?

The podcasting world is experiencing a fascinating evolution! According to recent statistics, there are over 4 million podcasts with more 580 million listeners. These are staggering numbers, and the medium is still growing. 

According to Bloomberg, more than 1 billion folks are viewing podcast videos every month worldwide on YouTube… So that leaves us with an important strategic question: should we stick with traditional audio-only podcasts, or is it time to embrace video podcasting? Switching gears from audio to a video podcast format might seem like extra work, but could it be worth the effort? 

Let’s dive into the audio versus video podcast debate to help you determine what type of podcast recording will work best for you.

A Look at the Different Podcast Formats

What makes an audio-only podcast unique? Traditional podcasting began in 2004 as a purely audio medium, and there's a beautiful simplicity to this format that continues to attract millions of listeners. 

Audio-only podcasts are incredibly accessible - listeners can enjoy them while driving, exercising, doing household chores, or any activity where watching a screen isn't practical. They're the ultimate multitasking companion! 

The equipment needed for producing quality audio content is relatively minimal compared to video, making the barrier to entry lower for new podcasters. There's also an intimacy to audio storytelling that creates a unique connection with the audience. 

When listeners have only your voice in their ears, they form a personal relationship with your content that's different from visual media consumption.

Exploring Video Podcasts: More Than Just Audio

A video podcast isn't just any YouTube video - it's an audio podcast with added visual elements. The video component works to complement the audio experience, enabling deeper audience connection and engagement. Video podcasters can showcase facial expressions, body language, and visual demonstrations that enhance their storytelling. 

There are several video podcast formats to consider. 

– Some podcasters simply record themselves and their guests talking (often called "talking heads")

– Others incorporate B-roll footage, animations, or visual demonstrations to illustrate key points.

– Some even choose a hybrid approach, using static images or audiograms while maintaining the core audio experience.

Hybrid Approaches: Getting the Best of Both Worlds

Many successful podcasters are finding ways to leverage both formats simultaneously. They record video during their podcast sessions but produce both video and audio-only versions for different platforms and audiences. This strategy maximizes reach while giving audience members the freedom to consume content in their preferred format. 

The workflow for creating both versions requires some additional planning but can be streamlined with the right tools and processes. For example, recording high-quality audio separately from video ensures that your audio-only version maintains professional sound quality. Meanwhile, the video version can incorporate visual elements that enhance the content without being essential to understanding it.

And, keep in mind, an audiogram is essentially a video podcast created from your podcast recording that you can load to YouTube!

The Growing Trend of Video Podcasts

Video podcasting is undeniably gaining momentum for content creators. Major platforms like Spotify have introduced video podcast capabilities, and YouTube has launched a dedicated podcast page. This shift isn't happening in a vacuum – it's responding to audience preferences and consumption habits. 

What's driving this trend? For one, humans are naturally visual creatures. We process visual information more efficiently than audio alone, and seeing facial expressions and body language helps us connect more deeply with content creators. Video also provides additional context that can make complex topics easier to understand. 

For podcasters, adding video opens up new distribution channels and audience demographics. Younger audiences in particular tend to prefer video content, so podcasters looking to reach Gen Z might find video essential to their growth strategy. 

The good news is that converting video to podcast format has never been easier, with numerous tools available to help create, edit, and distribute content across multiple platforms. This means podcasters can produce video content without abandoning their audio-only audience.

Also See: How to Start a YouTube Channel

Production Requirements: Video vs Audio Podcasts

What do you need to produce a podcast? Let’s break it down! 

Audio-Only Production Essentials

Creating a quality audio podcast requires thoughtful equipment selection and setup. At minimum, you'll need a good microphone, recording software, and a quiet space with decent acoustics. The time commitment for producing an audio episode typically includes planning, recording, editing, and publishing – a process that might take anywhere from a few hours to several days depending on your production value and experience level. 

The technical skills required include basic audio editing, understanding concepts like gain staging and compression, and being able to troubleshoot common audio issues. While there's certainly a learning curve, most podcasters can achieve professional-sounding results with practice and patience. 

Video Podcast Production Necessities

When we step into video podcast territory, the production requirements expand significantly. Beyond audio equipment, you'll need cameras, lighting, potentially multiple angles, and a visually appealing recording space. The editing process becomes more complex, often requiring skills in video editing software to manage transitions, multiple camera angles, and any additional visual elements. 

The time investment increases accordingly. Video editing typically takes longer than audio editing, and you may need to consider aspects like color correction, framing, and visual continuity that aren't concerns for audio-only content. Many podcasters find they need to learn new technical skills or hire help to achieve the production quality they desire for video content.

Budget Considerations for Both Formats

From a financial perspective, audio podcasting generally requires less investment to get started. A decent USB microphone, basic recording software, and simple audio editing tools might cost a few hundred dollars. Video, on the other hand, demands more equipment—cameras, lighting, possibly green screens or set decoration—which can quickly add up to thousands of dollars for a professional setup. 

Ongoing expenses also tend to be higher for video podcasts. Storage requirements are greater for video files, and you might need more powerful computers for editing. If you're hiring help, video editing typically commands higher rates than audio editing. However, the return on investment could be higher as well, with more monetization opportunities available through video platforms.

Distribution Strategy Differences

How can you distribute your show regardless of whether it’s an audio podcast or video podcast?

Audio Podcast Distribution Channels

Audio podcasts are typically distributed through an RSS feed that connects to major podcast directories like Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, and dozens of others. This creates a streamlined distribution process – upload once to your podcast host, and your episode appears everywhere. Listeners discover your content through these platforms' search functions, categories, and recommendation algorithms. 

The audience reach potential is significant, with millions of active podcast listeners using these platforms daily. The audio format also benefits from being downloadable for offline listening, which many commuters and travelers appreciate.

Video Podcast Distribution Platforms

When distributing video podcasts, YouTube becomes an essential platform due to its massive audience and search engine capabilities. In fact, YouTube is often cited as the second-largest search engine after Google itself! Other video-focused platforms like Vimeo may also play a role in your distribution strategy. 

As we mentioned earlier, traditional podcast platforms like Spotify have begun supporting video podcasts as well, blurring the lines between audio and video distribution channels. This creates more opportunities but also more complexity in managing your content across multiple platforms with different requirements and analytics. 

Video podcasters need to optimize their content differently for each platform, considering aspects like thumbnail design, video titles, descriptions, and tags that influence discoverability. Cross-platform distribution becomes more involved but potentially more rewarding given the expanded audience reach.

Audience Engagement Comparison

If you’re still on the fence about which format to choose - audio vs video podcasts - learning how they engage with your content might help. 

How Listeners Engage With Audio Podcasts

Audio podcast listeners engage with content in unique ways. Many listen while doing other activities – driving, exercising, cleaning, or working – creating opportunities for extended engagement time that video can't match. The average podcast listener consumes episodes for 30-60 minutes, whereas video viewers might have shorter attention spans. 

We can measure audio engagement through metrics like download numbers, listen-through rates, and subscription growth. These metrics tell us how many people are finding our content and how much of it they're consuming.

The audio format creates a distinct type of connection. Without visual distractions, listeners focus entirely on the content and voices, often developing strong parasocial relationships with hosts. This intimate connection can lead to high levels of trust and loyalty that benefit both content creators and any brands they promote.

How Viewers Engage With Video Podcasts

Video podcast engagement follows different patterns. Viewers typically need to give more focused attention to video content, which means they're less likely to be multitasking. This more concentrated attention can lead to deeper engagement with the material, though possibly for shorter periods.

Video platforms provide rich engagement metrics beyond what's available for audio, including watch time, retention rates, click-through rates, and social sharing statistics. These metrics provide valuable insights into which parts of your content resonate most with viewers and where they might be losing interest.

The visual element creates new engagement opportunities through body language, facial expressions, and demonstrations that aren't possible in audio alone. Viewers can also engage through comments, likes, and shares that are more prominent features of video platforms than podcast apps.

Related: Learn How to Build a Podcast Studio

Converting Video to Podcast

If you’re going to convert your videos to podcasts, here are some things you should know: 

Technical Considerations When Repurposing Content

When converting video to podcast format, maintaining audio quality is crucial. This often means recording audio separately from video or using higher-quality microphones than what might be built into cameras. Audio extracted from video files needs to be processed differently from audio that was recorded primarily for a podcast. 

We recommend using professional audio editing software to optimize the sound quality, remove background noise, and ensure consistent volume levels throughout the episode. Depending on your recording setup, you might need to synchronize multiple audio tracks or clean up issues that weren't noticeable during video recording. 

Content Adaptation Strategies

Not all video content translates seamlessly to an audio-only format. If your video podcast includes visual demonstrations, charts, or physical reactions, you'll need to adapt these elements for audio listeners. This might mean adding descriptive narration or restructuring certain segments to work without visual reference points. 

Consider adding brief audio descriptions or context that helps audio-only listeners understand what's happening without seeing the video. For example, instead of saying, "As you can see here," you might say, "I'm holding up the new microphone model, which has a sleek black design with silver accents." 

Tools and Resources for Video-to-Podcast Conversion

Several software solutions can help streamline the process of converting video to podcast format. Tools like Riverside and Adobe Audition offer features specifically designed for repurposing content across formats. Some podcast hosting platforms also provide integrated tools for managing both audio and video versions of your episodes.

Developing efficient workflows is key to making this process sustainable. Many successful podcasters create templates and standard operating procedures that make it easier to produce both formats consistently. Some aspects of the process can be automated, such as generating audiograms or extracting audio from video files.

AI Tools Can Help With Video Descriptions and Promotions Too

Lost for what to call your video podcast episodes? Stumped for what to write in your video podcast description box? Tools like Castmagic can help you make quick work of this. 

Upload your video or audio file, and the software will automatically generate a transcript of your video. Then, you can use the GPT instance that was created for your episode to create:

– podcast descriptions

– episode titles

– timestamps

– show notes

– social media promotions

– blog posts, and more! 

Click here to learn more about Castmagic.

Monetization Opportunities Across Formats

Let’s talk money for a minute. How can you make money from podcasting?

Audio Podcast Revenue Streams

Audio podcasts have established monetization models that continue to grow. These include sponsor reads and advertisements inserted at the beginning, middle, or end of episodes. Many podcasters also offer premium subscription content, merchandise, or live events as additional revenue streams. 

The intimate nature of audio creates strong host-read advertising opportunities that often outperform traditional advertising in terms of conversion rates. Listeners tend to trust podcast hosts and value their recommendations, making sponsor relationships potentially very lucrative. 

Video Podcast Revenue Potential

Video podcasting opens additional monetization avenues. YouTube offers its Partner Program for channels that meet certain subscriber and watch-time thresholds, allowing creators to earn from ads played before or during their videos. There are also opportunities for display ads, product placements, and visual sponsorship integrations that aren't possible in audio-only format. 

Visual elements can showcase products more effectively than audio descriptions alone, potentially leading to higher conversion rates for certain types of sponsors. Video content also tends to have a longer shelf life on platforms like YouTube, where episodes can continue generating revenue long after their initial release. 

Learn more about how to make money on YouTube.

Making the Right Choice for Your Content Strategy

Time to bring it all together and discuss specific types of content and listener preferences. Does your podcast need to be a video podcast? Maybe, but maybe not.

Let’s explore some final podcast with video considerations to help you decide once and for all. 

Aligning Format With Your Content Type

Not all content is equally suited to both audio and video formats. Some topics naturally lend themselves to visual presentation – cooking, crafts, demonstrations, reactions, or anything where seeing is an important part of understanding. Other topics work perfectly well or even better as audio-only – storytelling, interviews, discussions, or deep dives into complex subjects. 

We suggest evaluating your content objectively to determine which format serves it best. Consider conducting small experiments with both formats to see how your audience responds and which feels most natural for your presentation style.

Audience Analysis: Understanding Your Listeners' Preferences

Your existing or target audience should heavily influence your format decision. Different demographic groups have different consumption preferences. For example, younger audiences tend to prefer video content, while commuters might favor audio they can enjoy while driving. 

Don't be afraid to directly ask your audience about their preferences through surveys or social media polls. Their feedback can provide invaluable guidance as you shape your content strategy.

Resource Assessment: Being Realistic About Capabilities

Finally, be honest about your resources – both time and financial. Video production requires more of both compared to audio-only podcasting. If you're just starting out or working with limited resources, it might make sense to perfect your audio podcast first before expanding into video. 

Remember that you can always start small with video elements and scale up as your podcast grows. Many successful podcasters began with audio-only content and gradually added video components as their resources and audience expanded.

Finding Your Podcast Format Sweet Spot

The debate between creating a video podcast and sticking to a strictly audio podcast isn't about finding a universal winner. Rather, it's about discovering what works best for your unique content, audience, and production capabilities. For many creators, the answer isn't either/or but rather how to effectively leverage both formats to maximize reach and engagement. 

We've explored the differences in production requirements, distribution strategies, audience engagement patterns, and monetization opportunities between these formats. The right choice depends on your specific circumstances and goals. Many successful podcasters start with one format and gradually expand into the other as their show grows. 

We hope this post inspired you to consider converting videos into podcast format or at least enhance your audio show with visual elements. The most important step is to begin experimenting to see what your listeners want. Start small, gather feedback, and refine your approach based on what resonates with your audience. 

Though podcasts will keep growing and changing, one thing remains constant: authentic, valuable content will find its audience, regardless of format. So focus first on creating amazing content, then choose the format (or formats) that best showcase what makes your podcast special! 

And, if you want help with repurposing your podcast content, coming up with descriptions and titles, more, try out Castmagic. Click here for a free trial of our suite of AI tools!

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What equipment do I need to record video for a video podcast versus an audio-only podcast?
A: Audio podcasts require the following podcast equipment: a quality microphone and recording software, while video podcasts need additional equipment like cameras, lighting, and video editing software. The investment is typically higher for video production.

Q: How do I upload my podcast to both Spotify and YouTube?
A: Upload your audio podcast to a podcast host that distributes to Spotify and other platforms. For YouTube, upload your video podcast directly to the platform, optimizing titles and descriptions for search.

Q: Do I need a special podcast cover if I'm creating a podcast with video?
A: Yes. For video podcasts, your cover art still matters for audio platforms, but you'll also need eye-catching thumbnails for YouTube episodes that entice viewers to click.

Q: What's the best way to record a podcast episode for both audio and video formats?
A: Record high-quality audio separately from video with really good podcast software. This helps you ensure the audio-only version maintains professional sound. Use a setup that captures good visuals for the video version while prioritizing audio clarity.

To record video for a remote podcast, we recommend using a service like Riverside.fm because it gives you separate tracks of your audio and video to edit then sync.

Q: How much time should I budget for editing a video podcast compared to audio?
A: Video podcast editing typically takes 2-3 times longer than audio editing, as you'll need to manage visual elements, camera angles, and transitions in addition to audio quality.

Q: Can I use the same podcast host for both audio and video podcast distribution?
A: Most podcast hosts primarily distribute audio, though some now support video for platforms like Spotify. For YouTube distribution, you'll need to upload video separately even if using an integrated host.