Teleprompter for podcasters and video podcasts
A good podcast sounds like a conversation, which is exactly why a full script is the wrong tool for most of it. A teleprompter earns its place in the parts that have to be right: the intro, the ad reads, the recap and the outro. This guide explains what to script, what to keep loose and how to record the scripted parts of a video podcast on an iPhone or iPad.
Key takeaways
- Script the fixed parts: intro, sponsor reads, transitions, recap and outro. Keep the conversation itself loose.
- For interviews, write short bullet questions, not full sentences, and listen to the answers.
- Telepromptia records video from your device. Use it for solo segments, intros, ad reads and clips, and keep your usual setup for remote guests.
- Record a short audio test first and listen with headphones.
- Export a horizontal 16:9 version for your main video, and vertical 9:16 clips with captions for promotion.
What to script and what to leave loose
Scripts help where wording matters or where you repeat yourself every episode.
- Cold open or hook. One or two lines that tell people why this episode is worth their time.
- The intro. The same structure every week. Telepromptia ships a podcast intro template with the show name, the topic, the host and the guest as blanks.
- Sponsor reads. The claims, discount codes and legal wording must be right, so read them.
- Transitions and recaps. "Before the break, we heard..." is easy to ramble through.
- The outro. Where to subscribe, where to find notes, and one clear ask.
Leave the middle alone. An interview that is read from paper sounds like a deposition. A rough list of topics is enough.
Writing for a host's voice
A podcast voice is relaxed, direct and a little imperfect. Write the way you talk with a friend, with contractions and short sentences. Read each line aloud and change anything you would never say. Aim for the words you would use if the listener were sitting across the table. Our guide on reading a script to camera naturally covers pacing and delivery in detail.
An episode skeleton
| Segment | Scripted? | Typical length |
|---|---|---|
| Cold open | Yes | 10 to 20 seconds |
| Intro | Yes | 20 to 40 seconds |
| Sponsor read | Yes | 30 to 60 seconds |
| Main conversation | Notes only | Most of the episode |
| Recap | Yes | 20 to 30 seconds |
| Outro | Yes | 20 to 30 seconds |
Those lengths are examples. Use whatever suits your show, and keep it the same from episode to episode so listeners know what to expect.
Interviews and guests
Do not script a guest. Write your questions as short prompts, such as "How did you start?" or "What surprised you?", and put them on screen if it helps. Then put the effort into listening. Follow-up questions are what make interviews good, and a prompt that you are reading cannot do that.
If a guest joins remotely, you will probably use your usual call software for the conversation. Telepromptia is the place to record your own intro, outro and ad reads, which you can combine with the conversation in your editor.
Recording a video podcast on iPhone or iPad
Setup
Put the device at eye level, a little farther than arm's length, with light in front of you. Telepromptia supports portrait and landscape, and the orientation is fixed when a take starts, so turn the device to landscape before you record a horizontal episode. Use the front camera so you can see the script. Microphones vary between devices and rooms, so record a ten-second test, listen with headphones and fix echo or noise before you start.
Keep the script close to the lens
The black panel under the front camera shows 1, 2 or 3 lines of the script, which keeps your eyes near the lens. It is a good fit for the short, scripted segments of a video podcast.
Record in sections
The free plan records sessions of up to three minutes, and Pro allows longer ones within what your device can store. Even without a limit, record intros, reads and outros separately. A mistake costs seconds, and you can reuse a good intro. The YouTube guide explains the section method. With MagicRetake in Pro you can redo a single sentence.
Ad reads that do not sound like ads
Read the sponsor material once for sense before you write anything. Then say it in your own words wherever the sponsor allows, and keep required wording exact. Honest context works better than enthusiasm: say why you use the product, or leave it out. Slow down for the code, the link and the offer details, and follow whatever disclosure rules apply to you.
A simple weekly routine
- Update the blanks in your intro for this episode.
- Record the intro, the ad reads and the outro in one sitting, in the same spot.
- Record the conversation separately, with only a short list of prompts.
- Export, add captions to any clips and check the names.
Clips and captions
Short clips are a common way to promote a show. Telepromptia exports the original, a vertical 9:16 version or a horizontal 16:9 version. Captions are created on your device in Pro, and you can share an SRT file or burn them into the video in a few styles. Check names and unusual words before you export.
Where Telepromptia fits
Telepromptia keeps everything on your device, needs no account and adds no watermark. The free plan stores three scripts, so keep one for a reusable intro and replace the others as needed; Pro has no script limit. Browse the features and pricing pages for the details.