If you're using our built-in website for your podcast, you can optionally use your own custom domain name.
You'll need to access the domain registrar where you purchased your custom domain name (GoDaddy, Hover, NameCheap, etc).
Step 1: Go to "Website" settings for your show
Log in to your Transistor dashboard. Select your show, and then click on "Website" in the menu.
Step 2: type in the custom domain you'd like to use
Under the section "Set your custom domain" type in the domain you'd like to use.
Many people use a subdomain like podcast.yourdomain.com.
However, you can also use www.yourdomain.com.
If you'd like to use a naked domain (without the www), yourdomain.com read below.
Step 3: go to your domain registrar to update DNS settings
Now you'll need to log in wherever you bought your domain (GoDaddy, Hover, NameCheap, etc...).
Next, add this record to your DNS settings:
Type: CNAME
Host: www
Points to (value): domains.transistor.fm
This is how it would look inside of GoDaddy:
This is how it looks in Namecheap:
Make sure you input your domain settings like this:
In your domain settings, point www.yourdomain.com to domains.transistor.fm
In Transistor, input www.yourdomain.com into the domain field in our UI.
It should be www.yourdomain.com with the www. The info on your domain registrar and Transistor need to match up exactly.
Transistor can't support both www and naked domains (www.yourdomain.com and yourdomain.com), but you can easily redirect one to the other.
If you point www.yourdomain.com to domains.transistor.fm, add a new option in your domain settings to redirect http://_yourdomain.com_ to https://www.yourdomain.com (the http and https here are important)
Step 4: wait for it to propagate, and then test it!
DNS changes can sometimes take awhile. Keep checking your podcast URL (ie. podcast.yourname.com).
Eventually, when you visit it, it should show your Transistor podcast website!
Naked Domains and ALIAS records
Naked domains (without the www) require a slightly different approach, and can't use CNAME as it can cause problems with other DNS records. This is where the ALIAS record comes in. Unfortunately, not all domain registrars support ALIAS records, but many do:
Namecheap
DNSimple
PointDNS
Route53 (AWS service)
If your registrar does support ALIAS records, you're going to want to point the host @ to domains.transistor.fm. It may take a few minutes for it to take effect, depending on the TTL value you set.
Add this record to your DNS settings:
Type: ALIAS
Host: @
Points to (value): domains.transistor.fm
Here's what it looks like in Namecheap, under the Advanced DNS menu:
Additionally, you can set up a URL redirect from http://www.yourdomain.com to https://yourdomain.com if you'd also like www to work.
Note: using Cloudflare for your DNS and CDN
Cloudflare acts a bit differently when setting up your custom domain since it also offers a CDN and SSL along with DNS. If you're having problems getting your podcast website to work, you can read more about Cloudflare and Transistor.
You'll need to access the domain registrar where you purchased your custom domain name (GoDaddy, Hover, NameCheap, etc).
Step 1: Go to "Website" settings for your show
Log in to your Transistor dashboard. Select your show, and then click on "Website" in the menu.
Step 2: type in the custom domain you'd like to use
Under the section "Set your custom domain" type in the domain you'd like to use.
Many people use a subdomain like podcast.yourdomain.com.
However, you can also use www.yourdomain.com.
If you'd like to use a naked domain (without the www), yourdomain.com read below.
Step 3: go to your domain registrar to update DNS settings
Now you'll need to log in wherever you bought your domain (GoDaddy, Hover, NameCheap, etc...).
Next, add this record to your DNS settings:
Type: CNAME
Host: www
Points to (value): domains.transistor.fm
This is how it would look inside of GoDaddy:
This is how it looks in Namecheap:
Make sure you input your domain settings like this:
In your domain settings, point www.yourdomain.com to domains.transistor.fm
In Transistor, input www.yourdomain.com into the domain field in our UI.
It should be www.yourdomain.com with the www. The info on your domain registrar and Transistor need to match up exactly.
Transistor can't support both www and naked domains (www.yourdomain.com and yourdomain.com), but you can easily redirect one to the other.
If you point www.yourdomain.com to domains.transistor.fm, add a new option in your domain settings to redirect http://_yourdomain.com_ to https://www.yourdomain.com (the http and https here are important)
Step 4: wait for it to propagate, and then test it!
DNS changes can sometimes take awhile. Keep checking your podcast URL (ie. podcast.yourname.com).
Eventually, when you visit it, it should show your Transistor podcast website!
Naked Domains and ALIAS records
Naked domains (without the www) require a slightly different approach, and can't use CNAME as it can cause problems with other DNS records. This is where the ALIAS record comes in. Unfortunately, not all domain registrars support ALIAS records, but many do:
Namecheap
DNSimple
PointDNS
Route53 (AWS service)
If your registrar does support ALIAS records, you're going to want to point the host @ to domains.transistor.fm. It may take a few minutes for it to take effect, depending on the TTL value you set.
Add this record to your DNS settings:
Type: ALIAS
Host: @
Points to (value): domains.transistor.fm
Here's what it looks like in Namecheap, under the Advanced DNS menu:
Additionally, you can set up a URL redirect from http://www.yourdomain.com to https://yourdomain.com if you'd also like www to work.
Note: using Cloudflare for your DNS and CDN
Cloudflare acts a bit differently when setting up your custom domain since it also offers a CDN and SSL along with DNS. If you're having problems getting your podcast website to work, you can read more about Cloudflare and Transistor.
Updated on: 09 / 04 / 2021