How to Add Video to Your Existing Podcast: Step-by-Step
You've spent months building an audience for your podcast. Your content resonates. Listeners tune in week after week. But you're hearing the same feedback: "Do you have this on video?"
The answer used to be complicated. Now it's not. Adding video to your existing podcast is no longer a complete production overhaul. Scottish businesses, from Edinburgh tech startups to Glasgow consultancies, are doing it right now, upgrading from audio-only to hybrid video-audio workflows without abandoning their existing infrastructure.
This guide walks you through exactly how to do it, using the approach Podcast Studio Glasgow recommends to corporate clients across Scotland.
What You'll Learn
This guide covers everything from basic webcam setups to multi-camera switching. Whether you're in Glasgow, Edinburgh, Aberdeen or anywhere in Scotland, the technical principles are identical. By the end, you'll understand your options, know which equipment makes sense for your situation, and have a clear roadmap for implementation.
The Case for Video
Video doesn't replace your audio podcast. It extends it.
Why Video Changes Everything
Audio reaches you while you're driving, running, or commuting on the Subway from Glasgow Central. A video reaches you when you're at your desk, actively researching and evaluating options. Different contexts mean different audiences and different decision stages.
Research from Wistia shows that video content generates 80 per cent more engagement than text alone. For podcast content, that translates to longer average session duration, higher click-through rates to your website, and, most importantly for business podcasts, more conversions. A listener who watches 20 minutes of your face discussing business strategy is more likely to trust you than someone who only heard your voice.
For Glasgow-based B2B service providers, video matters even more. Your potential clients want to see who they're working with before they book a consultation. A video podcast episode serves as a 30-minute audition.
The Strategic Advantage
Your competitors probably aren't doing this yet. Across Scotland, most podcasters still see audio and video as separate projects. You're combining them into one production workflow. That's not just efficient, it's a competitive edge.
Multi-platform distribution means one production day yields content across Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, LinkedIn, your blog, and social media. One recording, multiple touchpoints, same audience in different contexts.
Step 1: Decide Your Video Strategy
| Option | Description | Cost | Setup Time | Complexity |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| A: Talking Head | You speaking directly to the camera. No slides or screen sharing. High quality audio and video of your face. | £200-500 | 2 hours | Low |
| B: Interview with Screen Sharing | You and your guest on camera, plus screen sharing for slides, charts, or websites. Requires second monitor or software like OBS. | £500-1,500 | 4-6 hours | Medium |
| C: Multi-Camera with Live Switching | Two or three cameras capturing different angles, switching between them in real-time. Professional workflow with hardware or software mixer. | £2,000-5,000 | 8-12 hours | High |
Most Scottish businesses starting out choose Option A or B. You can always upgrade to Option C later.
Step 2: Invest in Basic Equipment
Video Capture
If you're going with Option A or B, a webcam is your starting point. Don't use your laptop's built-in camera. The angle is wrong, the image is soft, and the microphone is worse.
For talking head, a 1080p USB webcam costs £80-150. The Logitech C920 or C922 are reliable. For slightly better image quality, consider the Razer Kiyo (around £100), which has a built-in ring light.
If you're going with Option C (multi-camera), you'll want dedicated cameras. DSLR or mirrorless cameras like the Canon EOS M50 or Sony ZV-E1 work well and start around £400-600 each. BlackMagic Pocket Cinema cameras are professional-grade and cost £400-800. Learn more about the benefits of mult-camera video podcast recording here.
Key requirement: Your camera needs to output clean HDMI or USB video with no on-screen metering or timecode. Most modern cameras can do this.
Audio Capture
Your video's audio quality matters more than your video's image quality. People will forgive a soft image. They won't forgive muffled audio.
You likely already have a decent microphone from your audio podcast. Use it. Route the audio from your mixer directly into your camera or computer via a 3.5mm input jack or USB.
If you don't have a microphone, the Audio-Technica AT2020 USB (around £100) is a workhorse used across Scottish studios.
Lighting
Poor lighting makes video look unprofessional immediately. You don't need expensive studio lights. A ring light (£30-80) positioned near your camera eliminates shadows on your face. Angle it slightly above eye level so you're not washed out.
Better option: Two soft-box lights on either side of your setup (£150-300 for the pair). This gives you flattering, even lighting that works for talking head or interview setups.
Stand and Mount
Mount your camera or webcam on a tripod or desk arm so you're not holding it. Your hands should be free for gesturing or note-taking. A basic tripod costs £20-40. A desk-mounted boom arm is better for webcams and costs around £30-50.
Step 3: Choose Your Recording Software
You have two main paths.
Path A: Direct Camera Recording (Simplest)
If you're using a DSLR or mirrorless camera with clean HDMI output, you can record directly to an external SSD via HDMI. No computer software needed.
Connect your camera to an Atomos Ninja V recorder (around £500). It records 4K video to a portable SSD. You hit record, conduct your interview, stop recording. Your video file is ready to edit.
Advantage: No computer bottleneck, no software crashes, professional workflow.
Disadvantage: You can't switch between multiple cameras in real-time.
Path B: Software-Based Recording (More Flexible)
Use OBS (Open Broadcaster Software) on a Windows PC or Mac. OBS is free, open-source, and runs on any decent computer.
OBS lets you:
Connect multiple cameras via USB
Layer in screen sharing or slides
Switch between sources in real-time
Record everything to your hard drive as a single video file
This is how professional video podcasts are produced. Podcast Studio Glasgow uses OBS for most corporate clients in Scotland because it scales from simple to complex without buying new software.
Setup: Download OBS, plug in your cameras and audio interface, create a scene (your layout), and hit record.
Cost: Free
Learning curve: Moderate
For a step-by-step OBS setup guide specific to podcast recording, search "OBS podcast setup." There are excellent Scottish creators publishing free tutorials.
Path C: Cloud-Based (Zoom, Riverside, etc.)
Use Zoom, Riverside, or Riverside.fm to record interviews with remote guests.
Zoom's built-in recording is free, records locally, and produces acceptable video quality. Riverside (around £15/month) captures higher quality and stores everything in the cloud.
Advantage: Works with remote guests, has no local storage issues, and has automatic cloud backup.
Disadvantage: Compressed quality compared to direct recording, cloud dependency.
Step 4: Set Up Your Recording Space
Your recording environment matters. It doesn't need to be fancy, but it needs to work.
Background
Choose something intentional. Blurred background, professional bookshelf, branded wall, or simple colour. Avoid cluttered desks, unmade beds visible over your shoulder, or distracting movement behind you.
For Glasgow-based B2B businesses, a clean, professional background (even just a solid colour wall) builds trust more than a cluttered home office.
Acoustics
Podcast audio is unforgiving. If your space sounds hollow or echoey, your video will feel cheap even if the image is sharp.
Soft furnishings (sofas, curtains, carpet) absorb sound. Hard surfaces (glass, tile, concrete) reflect it. If you're recording in a conference room or studio, the hard surfaces are already there. Add soft furnishings or record off-centre to avoid direct reflections.
A basic acoustic panel (£20-50 each) behind and beside you absorbs reflections. You don't need a fully treated studio. You need to not sound like you're recording in a bathroom.
Cable Management
Run all cables behind your desk or along the baseboards out of frame. You'll see video podcasters with cables running across their desk in the background. Don't be that person.
Step 5: Record Your First Episode
Start simple. One camera, you speaking directly to the camera, 10 minutes long.
Setup Checklist
Check your lighting (no harsh shadows, no glare on the camera lens)
Check your audio (speak into your microphone, listen back, levels look good)
Check your frame (your head fills the top third of the frame, shoulders and some torso visible)
Open your recording software, create a new scene, and add your video and audio inputs
Hit record
Conduct your episode as normal
Stop recording
Export your video file
Export Settings
Export at 1080p, 30 frames per second (fps), H.264 codec. This is the standard across YouTube, social media, and podcast platforms. File size will be around 1GB per hour of recording.
If you're recording multiple episodes, keep your export settings consistent so editing feels familiar.
Step 6: Edit and Publish
Now you have a video file. You don't need to edit it heavily. A podcast listener expects a long-form, unedited conversation. Heavy cuts and transitions feel out of place.
Light editing: Remove the first 30 seconds while cameras settle, remove obvious technical glitches, add a title card at the start and an end card with your website.
Upload to YouTube, Vimeo (if you want a private link), or your hosting platform.
Multi-Platform Distribution
Publish your video in these places:
YouTube (free, discoverable, searchable, built-in audience)
Your podcast feed via Transistor or Buzzsprout (which now accepts video)
Your blog as an embedded player (drives search traffic)
LinkedIn (if it's business-relevant)
TikTok or Instagram Reels (clip a 60-second highlight)
One recording. Five platforms. Different audiences, different algorithms, same content.
Step 7: Upgrade to Multi-Camera (Optional)
Once you've done a few video episodes, you'll know if you want to go deeper.
Multi-Camera Setup Means
One camera on your face, wide shot
One camera on your guest's face, wide shot
One camera on slides or screen sharing, close-up
A mixer (Blackmagic ATEM Mini Pro, around £400) or software like OBS switches between cameras during recording or live streaming.
Why Upgrade
Professional appearance (cutting between cameras keeps viewers engaged)
More flexibility in editing
Ability to livestream whilst recording
Better use of limited screen real estate
When to Upgrade
After 10-15 episodes of single-camera recording, you'll know if multi-camera is worth it. If your audience is growing, if clients are responding, if you're getting enquiries mentioning the video podcast, upgrade.
If you're not seeing a return yet, stick with single-camera. Content quality matters far more than production quality.
Step 8: Monitor Your Results
Add UTM parameters to your show notes and episode pages to track where your video podcast traffic is coming from.
Example: ?utm_source=video-podcast&utm_medium=youtube&utm_campaign=ep-12
In Google Analytics, create a custom segment for video podcast traffic. Track conversion rate (signups, demo requests, calls booked) separately from audio-only listeners.
Over 10-15 episodes, you'll see the pattern. Which platforms drive traffic? Which episodes generate the most engagement? Which formats (interview vs solo) perform better?
Let the data guide your next decision about production investment.
Scotland-Specific Resources
If you're based in Scotland and want to learn from other video podcasters, these Glasgow and Edinburgh creators publish free guides on YouTube.
Scottish tech podcasters are experimenting with multi-camera setups across the country. Follow them, see what works, adapt.
For professional support, Podcast Studio Glasgow works with corporate clients across Scotland on video podcast production. Whether you're in the Merchant City in Glasgow, the New Town in Edinburgh, or anywhere across Scotland, the technical approach is identical. Equipment costs the same. Audience expectations are the same. Execution is what separates.
The Bottom Line
Adding video to your existing podcast isn't a complete rebuild. It's an evolution.
Start with a webcam, decent lighting, and OBS. Record one episode. Upload it. See how your audience responds. Then decide whether to invest in equipment upgrades or multi-camera switching.
Most Scottish businesses find that investing £500-1,500 in basic video equipment generates enough audience response and lead generation to justify the spend within three months.
The real cost isn't the equipment. It's time to set it up correctly and maintain discipline to keep consistency across episodes.
You've already done the hard part. You built an audience around audio. Video is the next easy step.
