Loops, Themes, and Stingers
In addition to segments, Spooler allows you to add further audio elements to make your show sound professional.
In this article
Themes
Themes are intros, outros, or transitional audio you plan to use across multiple editions. Add or manage themes from the “Themes” section of the Spooler dashboard. Themes play once, for the entirety of the track's length, under whatever segments are placed after them.
One great way to use a theme is as the intro music for your edition. Place a welcome message segment directly after the theme. The theme will start playing, then continue to play under the welcome message from hosts. Consider reducing the volume of your theme after a few seconds for a "ducking" effect as the host begins speaking. You can also place a second or two of silence to get the timing just right.
Loops
When you place a loop in your edition, the loop will act as a sound bed, playing continuously until it is instructed to stop. Drag the loop tile into your edition to the place where you wish it to begin playing, then drag a matching loop tile into the edition for where you wish it to end playing.
Loops sound best played at a lower volume under spoken segments, so consider uploading music that sounds good under spoken voice at a lower volume, generally -16 to -24 db. Ensure that the loop file’s endpoint seamlessly merges with the start, as the file will loop until it is instructed to stop.
Drag as many segments as you wish in between the loop markers, and the loop will dynamically adapt to play to the length of all of the segments.
Stingers
Also known as a bumper, a stinger is a short clip used to separate audio segments, or to introduce new segments into the show. Unlike themes and loops, stingers do not play under other segments—they play on their own, until the audio track is complete.
Another good use of a stinger is to signal the end of a loop.
Obtaining Theme and Background Music
Ensure that you own the rights to use any music you use in your shows. If you wish to create your own music, this article provides helpful advice for how to approach creating music for podcasts.
Many companies provide copyright-free or easily licensable music for use in podcasts. Some places to check out: