March 28, 2025

Let That (Tape) Sync In

What Is A Tape Sync?

And Why Would You Hire One?

In keeping with my self-appointed mission to demystify podcasting, today we’re going to discuss a bit of jargon you may have heard, and either dismissed or ignored because it didn’t make a ton of sense.¹

TL;DR - A Tape Sync is a specialist you can hire to record one end of a remote interview.

When to Hire A Tape Sync

Imagine you want to book a guest who isn’t A) super tech-savvy and/or B) in a place with reliable internet. You want the conversation to sound as professional as possible, but you don’t have the time, money, or patience to give your guest a technical glow-up. For a lot less of all three, a Tape Sync will go to your guest’s location with the gear and skillz to record crisp, clear audio of the guest’s half of the conversation. Then, they’ll deliver the audio to you so you can edit an interview that sounds just as good as if it were conducted in person.

But Really, When to Hire A Tape Sync

You can expect to pay somewhere between $250 to $400 for an experienced Tape Sync (depending on how long your interview lasts and how far the person you hire has to travel). If you’re still in the singleton/small team stage of podcasting, hiring a Tape Sync likely doesn't need to be a priority. Audiences have gotten much more comfortable with the sound of low-quality video calls in their radio and podcasts. But if you’re better resourced, and/or you’re trying to cultivate a more professional sound, it might be worth the investment to level up your audio clarity.²

I enjoy explaining the ins, outs, ups, downs, and jargon of podcasting. If you have a question about any aspect of the industry, send me an email at info@particulatemedia.com, and I’ll try to answer it in a future newsletter.

Thanks for reading!

– K.O.