As a podcaster, one of the most important decisions you’ll have to make is where to record your content.
As most podcasters are not professionals with a studio and sophisticated equipment at their disposal, ensuring that your podcasts come out in as high quality as possible is a particularly pertinent issue.
With this in mind, let’s discuss the best places to record your podcast, even without professional equipment.
Table of Contents
Studio recording
Honestly, a studio is the best place to record your podcast. Studios are explicitly designed for that purpose; walls padded with acoustic foams mean that sound waves are absorbed and not bounced off to create an echo.
Also, specialized directional microphones are usually readily available. These microphones ensure that they receive sound from the direction they face to the exclusion of everywhere else. These two work well to provide the best audio quality you can get for your podcast.
While most podcasters don’t own a studio, it is possible to rent one out. Some studios offer up recording time and space for podcasters for a specific price. You should consider checking your local studios to see if this is available.
Libraries sometimes have rooms you can use for this purpose, which is a viable option.
If renting one is not an option, why not create your own studio?
A small room with very few windows and no air conditioning will suffice for this purpose. The major deal with converting a room into a studio is padding – you will need to layer the walls with some form of padding (preferably soft foam).
You must ensure that your improvised studio has no background sound; otherwise, the whole point is defeated. And, of course, make sure your space has enough privacy. You don’t want people just turning up mid-recording.
Comfort-wise, your average studio would be as comfortable as an office because that’s what it technically is. You can spruce it up with comfy chairs, but it will have the same feel.
Recording around the house
If you do not have a studio or the means to “make” one, don’t fret! There are loads of places you can record your podcast, even at home.
You might be surprised, but the closet, for one, is an excellent place to record.
Why? Because closets insulate and absorb sound well since they are usually small, and hence sound won’t bounce off the walls as easily.
Clothes also do an excellent job of insulating, making sound surprisingly good. Closets provide you with less probability of background noise.
You would be less likely to be interrupted while recording, so don’t hesitate to set up your laptop, microphone, and headphones in there and record that sweet podcast.
Bedrooms are also a pretty decent place to record. Your bed is a large sound absorber, and you can place pillows around your microphone to ensure sound doesn’t get deflected, and echo and noise from beyond you don’t get into your podcast.
Alternatively, you can record at your vanity table (if you have one), though it will be a little trickier to keep sound waves from bouncing around when you’re at a table like that.
Recording in your car
Another place that is great for recording podcasts is your car. Cars have pretty good acoustics, and the seats’ positioning helps absorb sound.
Car doors do an excellent job keeping sound out because of how sealed they are, so when you’re in recording, you can rest assured there will a minimal disturbance of any kind.
But be aware of heat and deoxygenation, so we wouldn’t recommend spending more than just a few minutes at a time recording in your vehicle.
Another drawback of recording in your car is comfort. Setting up your equipment could be quite an issue, as well as finding a comfortable position to sit down and record for extended periods. And seeing as most cars do not have compatible power outlets for devices like laptops, this could be an obstacle.
Final Thoughts
It is important to note that in selecting a place to record, you discover what works best for you in terms of efficiency and comfort.
A recording studio has everything you need in one place and professional help if you need it. If that’s not feasible for you, no problem – recording in your car or even a closet can work just as well!
Whatever you choose, keep your workspace private and clean, as this boosts your productivity.
The most important thing is to get started and see what works best for you and your show. Good luck!
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I record a podcast for free?
Yes! Anyone can create their own podcast episode with just a computer and an internet connection. You don’t need much technical knowledge, just the desire to start creating!
Come up with some topics you’re passionate about and record your first episode without breaking the bank.
How do I record a podcast at home?
You can easily record a podcast in the comfort of your own home. Set up a comfortable space with good acoustics and sound absorption, and don’t forget to check that your surrounding noise sources won’t interfere with your recording.
You don’t need fancy equipment – a laptop, a few decent-quality microphones, and some editing software will go a long way.
