How to Improve Your Podcast Audio
In today’s crowded podcast space, with over 4.5 million shows and an estimated 75 million episodes available, making your podcast stand out can feel like a daunting task. On Spotify alone, there are around 60,000 uploads per day! With such competition, it’s vital to ensure your podcast sounds professional—bad audio quality will turn listeners off within seconds. The good news is, you don’t need to invest in expensive gear to improve your sound. Here are a few simple tips to help you achieve great audio with the equipment you already have.
1. Room Acoustics Matter
No matter how great your content is, poor room acoustics can ruin the sound of your podcast. Bare walls, noisy environments, and echoes can easily be picked up by your microphone. Here are a few solutions:
Soft Furnishings: Use pillows, blankets, and rugs to absorb sound.
Curtains & Duvets: Draw curtains over windows or hang a duvet behind your microphone to dampen the immediate surroundings.
Carpet & Bookshelves: Record in carpeted rooms or place a rug under your desk.
Facing a bookshelf full of books can help diffuse sound.
Reduce background hum by turning off fans, air conditioning units, and close windows to minimise outside noise.
If you want to invest in something more professional, sound proofing acoustic absorption tiles disguised as artwork can be a stylish and effective solution.
2. Choosing the Right Microphone
After optimising your room, it’s time to consider your microphone. Avoid using your laptop or phone to record, as they simply don’t provide professional-quality sound. If you’re tempted to buy a cheap $50 USB mic from Amazon, think twice—you usually get what you pay for.
For better results, consider:
Dynamic Microphones: These are great for blocking out background noise. Options like the Shure SM58 or the Shure SM7B are more directional and focus on your voice.
Condenser Microphones: If you’re recording in a quieter, more acoustically treated room, a condenser microphone like the Lewitt 240 or 440 can sound amazing.
There’s no right or wrong choice—it depends on your voice and recording environment.
3. Proper Microphone Technique
Once you have the right microphone, how you use it is equally important:
Dynamic Mics: Stay close to the grill for the best sound.
Condenser Mics: Keep a distance of about 6-9 inches. Too close, and the sound will be boomy; too far, and your voice will sound weak.
Pop Filters: If you’re dealing with plosives (harsh ‘P’ and ‘B’ sounds), a pop filter can help reduce these. You can find affordable options online to clip onto your mic.
Make sure you maintain a consistent distance from the microphone throughout your recording to keep your sound even.
4. Use an Audio Interface
USB microphones may be tempting, but they usually fall short in quality. For better sound, use an audio interface that converts your voice from analog to digital. There are plenty of affordable options, such as the Evo 4 by Audient, which includes a smart gain feature that automatically sets your input level—making the setup process incredibly easy.
5. Recording Software
To fully control and refine your audio, use dedicated recording software. Free options like GarageBand (for Mac) or Cakewalk by Bandlab (for PC) are great places to start. For more advanced production, Logic Pro X is an industry-standard choice.
6. Use Headphones
For a clear recording, you’ll need headphones to hear yourself and any co-hosts. While in-ear monitors or AirPods work, over-ear headphones, like the Austrian Audio Hi-X15, offer better sound isolation and reduce the risk of microphone feedback.
By following these tips, you’ll be on your way to creating a podcast that stands out for its sound quality, even in today’s saturated market. Stay tuned for part two, where we’ll dive deeper into processing your audio for maximum clarity and consistency.
PURCHASIng LINKS
Thank you for reading this blog post! If you’re interested in purchasing the gear mentioned above, I’ve included some affiliate links below. By purchasing through these links, you’ll be supporting the site, as I earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. This helps me keep the website, YouTube channel, and social media platforms running smoothly, so I can continue delivering content you enjoy.
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