Air Check Guide

Welcome to Around The Layout!

I am excited that you have considered being a guest on Around The Layout. The goal of the air check is twofold; for us to get to know each other a bit and to ensure that our connection and audio quality is sufficient. It will take about 45 minutes to do the air check.

The Technical Stuff - Please read this entire section:

Here’s what you’ll need for the air check:

  • A wired internet connection on a PC or laptop. This ensures consistent bandwidth throughout the show, preventing audio glitches.

    WiFi / Wireless internet connections do not work!

  • A USB headset/microphone combination. You don’t need to spend a lot of money to get a decent one. Webcams and factory installed microphones don’t provide the sound we’re looking for. See the links at the bottom of the page for the gear we recommend.

  • A quiet place where you will be recording the podcast for 70-90 minutes. Please avoid squeaky chairs, noisy appliances, noisy pets, and anything else that may create distracting noise.

For the air check, we will connect using Google Meet. The meeting will be recorded using Fathom, an AI notetaking application. The notes and recording of the air check are for my purposes only and will not be shared.

Recommended Headsets and Microphones:

Here’s what we recommend for affordable, yet quality options for headsets and microphones:

1. MPOW PA071A Wired Computer Headset - eBay search “MPOW PA071A”

This headset is an overachiever! With a price point below $20, this combination headphone/microphone provides great quality audio. In fact, it’s the same headset Tony Cook uses when we record What’s Happening In Model Railroading. He always sounds great, and you will too.

Note - MPOW was kicked off Amazon, so you won’t find the PA071A. However, I’ve found that, from time to time, MPOW will sneak these back on under a different name, but when they arrive, they are in a MPOW branded box with PA071A on it. You can search PA071A and try your luck, but it’s probably best just to order them on eBay where they are readily available at a great price.


2. Sennheiser PC 8 USB Headset - Amazon

This headset is priced slightly higher than the MPOW listed above, but is available on Amazon Prime with one-day delivery in some areas. It’s not quite as robust as the MPOW, but it does have slightly better sound.

There are a lot of options out there in varying price ranges. Ultimately, we want to make sure your sound supports the great story you’re going to tell. The air check will give us the opportunity to sort out any issues before the interview.


Book your air check!

It’s time to pick a time that works best for you for the air check! Click here to pick a time and date that works best for you. If you don’t see a time or date that works, please email me at aroundthelayout@gmail.com.


If you have any questions, feel free to email me at aroundthelayout@gmail.com. I look forward to connecting with you!