The Apple Watch was released in 2015, and it’s already one of the most popular smartwatches on the market. Along with its companion iPhone, the Apple Watch allows you to do everything from paying for your groceries and ordering an Uber to accessing workout logs and calling your best friend — all from your wrist. But what if you don’t have an iPhone? Well, that’s where this guide comes in handy.

What you should know before buying a smartwatch

While you can connect most smartwatches to your iPhone, there are plenty of models on the market that work with both iOS and Android. If you’re looking for a great smartwatch, be sure that it has cross-platform functionality, so it’s compatible with your phone as well as any other devices.

Best smartwatches for iOS and Android users

The Apple Watch Series 3 and Series 4 are two of today’s best smartwatches. However, they only work with iPhone, not Android devices. For those using non-Apple devices, it’s time to start your search for a good smartwatch that works with your phone. The Samsung Gear S3 is a fantastic alternative for iPhone users looking for a great wearable that does so much more than just tell time and handle notifications.

Understanding the differences between Pebble vs Apple vs Samsung vs LG vs Motorola vs Sony watches

Choosing a smartwatch is all about comparing options: it all comes down to personal preference and technical specifications. The good news? You don’t have to choose! The beauty of today’s smartwatches is that most of them can be paired with an iPhone or Android smartphone, which gives you access to all of your favorite apps right on your wrist. Whether you prefer Pebble, Samsung Gear, LG G Watch, or another model, there are many choices available.

How to pair your watch with your smartphone?

If you own a Pebble or other type of smartwatch, pairing is pretty simple: You download and install an app on your smartphone and then follow some relatively self-explanatory instructions. But if you have an Apple Watch, things get a little more complicated.

What type of apps can I use on my watch?

As of version 2.0, which you’ll be getting in a few months, you can install any third-party app that is on your does apple watch work with android. This is huge for Android users, who previously could only use apps from the Google Play Store and a handful of other non-Apple sources.

What features do I get if I have an iPhone (or iPad)?

One of the biggest perks is syncing your iPhone with your watch, so you can make and receive calls from your wrist. The watch also gets more features when connected with a paired iPhone, like controlling music playback and receiving notifications about things like new emails. If you want to keep tabs on a health-related activity like heart rate or sleep quality, you’ll need an iPhone (or at least a paired iPad). There are also standalone apps that work with your Android device but require a connection through Bluetooth.

What features do I get if I have an Android phone?

The beauty of an Android watch is that it runs off your smartphone, so all of its functionality comes directly from your phone. In other words, there’s no need for Bluetooth pairing between your watch and phone. The downside? Because Apple Watches are natively compatible with iPhones, you won’t be able to pair it with an Android device. You’ll also miss out on a some features—most notably (at least in my opinion), Siri integration, and Google Play Store apps.

Can I change out the band on my smartwatch?

If you have a first-generation Apple Watch, it's easy to swap out for another band. If you have a second-generation or later smartwatch, however, things are a bit more complicated. Generally speaking, if your watch is running watchOS 4.0 or newer software and was purchased after late 2017 or so, you won't be able to use most third-party bands without buying an entirely new Apple Watch.

Should I buy a cheap or expensive smartwatch?

This can be a bit of a tricky question, because, from one perspective, there are both advantages and disadvantages to each. Expensive smartwatches will usually have more features, for example—and some people may prefer that. On the other hand, cheap smartwatches can be more affordable; and you don’t need to spend much money on apps for them if you don’t want them (although we will show you how in our guide). In general, though?

Despite Apple’s tight grip on mobile operating systems, some smartphone users simply prefer the Android operating system over iOS. If you happen to be one of these people, then you might be wondering if it’s possible to still use an Apple Watch with your Android device. The answer is yes, but there are some things you should know first. This comprehensive guide on how to use Apple Watch with an Android smartphone will help you get started today!

Conclusion: 

Apple Watch might be an Apple product, but that doesn’t mean you can’t use it with an Android smartphone! Read on to learn more about how to pair Apple Watch with your Android smartphone and use it to its full potential.

Content:

Most of the podcasters are unaware of how loud a podcast needs to be. There are several problems associated with the loudness of podcasts. And all these problems can affect any kind of audio, including your podcasts. 

But now, getting good-quality audio has become cheaper and easier. Even with the basic equipment, it is possible to make the perfect loudness of your podcast. This article will discuss how loud a podcast must be and what are tips to maintain it.

Gain:

Gain is the volume amount that you add in an artificial way to your recording. A mic generally records at low volumes ranging from about -50decibels to -30decibels. It makes things problematic. Thus, gain helps to bring the entire microphone volume up. It does not increase the noise floor too much.

Noise floor:

It is the audio that a microphone picks up when everything else is quiet. When you set up your gain high, you will pick even the least sounds while recording a podcast. It means the noise floor will become higher than it needs to be. And you will hear disturbing background noises while creating the content. Set your noise floor to almost 0.

Distance from the mic:

How far a mic lies, the sound source plays a vital role while recording podcasts. The farther the microphone is, the harder it will need to work for picking up the source. You will have to turn the gain knob according to your setup. It is not a good idea to stay too far from the microphone. It will make the sound more indistinguishable from the noise floor. 

Thus, when you turn up again know, it will record almost everything. It even includes the things that you do not want to record. So, maintain a correct distance and get the right spot for setting the gain.

Preamp:

You need to consider three things while recording audio on your computer - a preamp, an audio-to-digital converter, and a microphone. All these are available in a USB mic, audio interface, and mixer. 

A preamp raises the microphone volume up to an appropriate level. It happens while recording your podcast. It does not distort the sound. Keep the preamp better to rely less on the gain knob for getting the correct volume.

Sound source’s loudness:

The loudness of whatever you will be recording matters a lot in podcasting. The podcasters are generally loudspeakers. So, do not back away from the microphone. And instead, lower down your gain. While recording on a computer, keep it around -12 decibels to -6 decibels. Speak 5 to 6 inches away by putting the gain down.

Look for a noiseless room:

Flat and hard surfaces reflect sounds. Do not choose a closet that most podcaster does. Put your set up near your bookcases or on a carpeted space. Whatever you do, stay away from windows and walls. Use a cardioid mic for better results. Keep the room quiet as much as you can. 

The mic picks up almost everything, including mouse clicks and the sounds of a computer fan. Make use of headphones to check the audio recording. Arrange your setup far away from any noise. Turns off your ACs and other appliances that make noise.

Experiment with microphone placement:

Use pot filter for fighting plosives. But sometimes, even the pop filters can muffle the sound. In such situations, experiment with your mic. Instead of speaking straight, put your microphone at a 45° angle. 

The airbursts do not hit the diaphragm direct and result in few plosives. Although, avoid speaking too extreme. Do experiments with the placement of your microphone. Then, record test audio to find out what suits you best.

Stay conservative about your input levels:

Most of the recorders, audio interfaces, and USB microphones allow you to set an input level. For setting a decent and modest input level, maintain the voice from normal to loud. Keep the target -20 decibels. 

Now, you need to test the levels. Make use of emphatic phrases and make sure that the level does not go above 0dBFS. You may opt for podcast editing services for producing the best quality final podcast episode.

Record yourself and your remote guests one by one:

When you work with co-hosts and guests, it is not possible to be in your recording studio. You may need to use VoIP services. But the audio quality becomes terrible. There is another way. You may record yourself. Then, tell your remote guest to record a superior quality AIFF/WAV file. And ask them to send it to you.

Focus on editing and mixing:

Invest time in yourself. It takes more time than you expect. A podcast is not limited to recording and scripting. It also requires mixing, editing, and QC (Quality Check). Finally, listen to your podcast at least twice. When it comes to editing, the listener's time is important. Cut the duplicated topics, restrict dead air, fix the "ah," "um," and remove false starts. 

Turn up the volume:

Turning the volume up only is not the perfect solution. When you turn up the volume, it increases the volume of the loudest signal. This often leads to distortion or excessive loudness. Thus, constant change is necessary for the listener. It is because the volume fluctuates between the loudest and softest portions. 

A better solution is to increase the lowest signal volume and limit the loudest signal. This helps you to stay away from distortion and clipping. You may also use a peak limiter to keep up with the true measurement. 

Use loudness tools:

For setting the loudness, it is a good idea to use an easy-to-use loudness tool. Look for software that already has built-in features. Make sure that the software facilitates loudness control. You may need to use an extension set for some cases. The extensions expand the capability and actions of the software. Avoid the software that lacks true peak limiting.

Conclusion:

Keep the loudness perfect for your podcast. It enhances your entire audio intelligibility. Podcast audiences are people or communities. Thus, the listeners focus on loudness for listening in loud and high-traffic environments. Make sure that your volume levels are consistent throughout the podcast episode. Do not leave it on the listeners to adjust the volumes.