Skip to main content
Podcast HQPodcast HQ
← All PHQ Labs tools

PHQ Labs

Recording Session Planner

Make room for episodes, guests, setup, and breaks.

Free to use · No signup · Instant results

Production desk

Build the day. See every minute.

Session settings

Recording format

Choose the planned local start time for setup, not the first recording. This is a clock-only estimate, not a selected date or available slot. Split sessions each start at this time on separate, unspecified dates.

Enter your intended maximum session length, including setup, prep, recording, and breaks. For example, 240 means four hours. The planner flags overruns; it does not claim this duration is a bookable package.

Time to prepare microphones, framing, lighting, and recording checks before guest prep. Count one setup per session. Split sessions include two setups.

Allow time for briefing and microphone or camera checks for each first-time guest in each episode. For two first-time guests with 15 minutes each, the planner adds 30 minutes before recording.

A shorter check-in for guests familiar with the workflow, applied per person per episode. Enter zero only if no extra prep is needed. Classify returning appearances manually; no identity tracking is performed.

Time between episodes for a break, set reset, and file check. This is additional to guest prep. No break is added after the last episode or between separate sessions.

Episode slate 3/20

EPISODE 01

Use a working title or topic to make the run-of-show recognizable. Leave blank to use its numbered position. Maximum 120 characters.

Enter the actual recording block for this episode, including any planned retakes. Do not include setup, guest prep, or editing; those are separate.

Count guests needing the full prep buffer for this episode. Do not count the same person again as a returning guest in this episode. A solo episode can use zero.

Count guests needing the shorter returning buffer for this episode. If someone appears again later in the slate, classify that later appearance here. Use at most 10 total guests per episode.

EPISODE 02

Use a working title or topic to make the run-of-show recognizable. Leave blank to use its numbered position. Maximum 120 characters.

Enter the actual recording block for this episode, including any planned retakes. Do not include setup, guest prep, or editing; those are separate.

Count guests needing the full prep buffer for this episode. Do not count the same person again as a returning guest in this episode. A solo episode can use zero.

Count guests needing the shorter returning buffer for this episode. If someone appears again later in the slate, classify that later appearance here. Use at most 10 total guests per episode.

EPISODE 03

Use a working title or topic to make the run-of-show recognizable. Leave blank to use its numbered position. Maximum 120 characters.

Enter the actual recording block for this episode, including any planned retakes. Do not include setup, guest prep, or editing; those are separate.

Count guests needing the full prep buffer for this episode. Do not count the same person again as a returning guest in this episode. A solo episode can use zero.

Count guests needing the shorter returning buffer for this episode. If someone appears again later in the slate, classify that later appearance here. Use at most 10 total guests per episode.

Optional saves stay only on this browser and may be visible to anyone using it—not in your PHQ account. No signup required.

Your run-of-show

135min

Recording

75min

Prep & buffers

210min

Total planned

Compare the workload

PlanLongest sessionTotal time
One session210 min210 min
Two sessions140 min230 min

Split preserves episode order and balances planned duration. Each session has fresh setup and starts at 10:00 on separate, unspecified dates. No availability is checked.

SetupGuest prepRecordingBreak/reset

One session

10:00–13:30 · 210 min

  1. 10:00to 10:30

    Setup & technical check

    Technical setup

    30 min

  2. 10:30to 10:45

    Episode 1 · guest preparation

    Guest preparation

    15 min

  3. 10:45to 11:30

    Episode 1

    Recording

    45 min

  4. 11:30to 11:40

    Break & reset

    Break / reset

    10 min

  5. 11:40to 11:45

    Episode 2 · guest preparation

    Guest preparation

    5 min

  6. 11:45to 12:30

    Episode 2

    Recording

    45 min

  7. 12:30to 12:40

    Break & reset

    Break / reset

    10 min

  8. 12:40to 12:45

    Episode 3 · guest preparation

    Guest preparation

    5 min

  9. 12:45to 13:30

    Episode 3

    Recording

    45 min

Planning estimates only. No editing time, prices, available slots, or reserved studio time are included. Confirm supported durations and availability in booking. Same-day sessions and tours require phone confirmation.

Check session options

Your own planning milestone—not PHQ approval, a reservation, or a published campaign. You can still edit this plan.

Help improve PHQ with optional analytics.

Details

Tracks visits, tool actions, and attributed inquiries or bookings—not plan contents. Booking works either way. This excludes embedded third-party services and separately consented Weekly Brief email tracking. Privacy policy