{"id":14353,"date":"2021-04-14T00:20:51","date_gmt":"2021-04-14T04:20:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/castos.com\/?p=14353"},"modified":"2023-07-03T23:14:26","modified_gmt":"2023-07-04T03:14:26","slug":"podcast-studio-setup","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/castos.com\/podcast-studio-setup\/","title":{"rendered":"Podcast Studio Setup: How to Create a Great Podcast Recording Room"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
Your podcast studio is your home base. It\u2019s where your episodes leap off your notes and come to life; where your content takes form and spreads through the world. So if you\u2019re serious about your show, you need a decent podcast studio setup.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Why is it important to have a quality recording studio? Because a good performance is critical to the success of your show. People don\u2019t invest their time in shows that produce low-quality audio. And if your studio sucks, so will your audio. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
But let\u2019s be clear about one thing: You don\u2019t<\/em> need a state-of-the-art space with tens of thousands of dollars of podcasting gear. Some shows have those setups, and you might someday, but if you\u2019re just starting a podcast<\/a>, your needs are far simpler. <\/p>\n\n\n\n In fact, even though it\u2019s important to have a good podcast studio setup, we don\u2019t recommend waiting around until you have the time and money to build one. It\u2019s better to start recording episodes<\/a> sooner rather than later. The sooner you learn what makes a great episode, the sooner your fan base will start growing. <\/p>\n\n\n\n In this article, we\u2019re going to lay out a few key steps to build your own podcast studio setup. You don\u2019t have to burn through your savings to follow this advice, though spending a few hundred bucks will go a long<\/em> way towards top-notch audio. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Your first step is to choose the right podcasting space. The nature of your home podcast studio will have the biggest impact on the sound quality of your audio<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI have the perfect space,\u201d you might be thinking. \u201cI\u2019ll just use my empty basement \/ garage \/ spare bedroom.\u201d Not so fast. An empty space isn\u2019t necessarily the right space. In fact, empty spaces often make poor recording studios because they create lots of reverb<\/a>. The best spaces are usually full of stuff. <\/p>\n\n\n\n If you don\u2019t have the resources to build your own recording space from the ground up (most podcasters don\u2019t, especially in the beginning), nearly any room in your house will do. Choose spaces with lots of soft surfaces, like carpeting, rugs, and fabric furniture. Avoid rooms with hard surfaces, like your kitchen or rooms with hard flooring. <\/p>\n\n\n\n You should also choose a space that is minimally affected by external noise, like rooms that are on the opposite side of the street or rooms that don\u2019t share walls with common areas of your home. Finished basements are often great because they don\u2019t share walls with other rooms. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Believe it or not, many podcasters opt to record<\/a> in their closets. These small spaces with lots of soft material are often perfect to get clear audio without echoing. Here\u2019s NPR’s Ira Glass – who runs “This American Life” – narrating an episode from the smallest space in his house.<\/p>\n\n\n If you aren\u2019t into the DIY approach, you can always rent a podcast studio through a service like Podcast Rentals<\/a>. You\u2019ll find these rental studios in most major cities. They cost about $60-$100 per hour and often include cameras for video podcasting<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n In order to make smart decisions, you need access to the best information. Building an audience and growing your show require clear data. <\/p>\n\n\n Instead of reviewing your data across multiple platforms, Castos puts everything in one simple place. It\u2019s now easier than ever before to access a full snapshot of an episode in one look.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Castos Analytics offers a plethora of statistics about your podcasts that will help you to learn more about your audience.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Our Essentials and Growth plans offer listener analytics. Our Pro and Premium plans offer advanced analytics. See our pricing<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Understanding your podcasts\u2019 performance is essential, which is why accurate analytics are so important. Join Castos to learn as much as you can about your listener. Every insight and nugget of wisdom will help you grow your show.<\/p>\n\n\n\nDive Into Castos Analytics<\/a>\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n Once you\u2019ve chosen a good location, your next step is to add some sound treatment. Every step you take to improve the sound quality of your recordings means less time spent editing the imperfections later.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Soundproof foam panels are the best solutions here. Their purpose is to absorb sound so it doesn\u2019t bounce all over the room and hit your mic. You can pick them up on Amazon. Attach them on hard surfaces, like blank walls, cabinet faces, or even the ceiling.<\/p>\n\n\n If you don\u2019t want foam panels, blankets are great DIY alternatives. Hang your blankets on walls and drape them over hard surfaces. Drop some pillows around the room as well, like on top of empty desks or in portions of the floor uncovered by rugs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Your podcast studio setup wouldn\u2019t be complete without a few pieces of podcast equipment<\/a>. How much you buy is up to you, however. Technically you could record episodes<\/a> with your laptop microphone, but the sound quality would be\u2026 unideal. To save you the time and hassle of editing your episodes<\/a>, we recommend grabbing a few pieces of gear.<\/p>\n\n\n Here are seven essential pieces of podcasting gear you need to create the perfect podcast setup<\/a>. You may have several of these as well.<\/p>\n\n\n\n (Note: These links take you to our individual recommendations. They are not affiliate<\/a> links. Castos does not earn a commission if you purchase any of these equipment recommendations<\/a>. The products included are based on our own podcasting experience and research.)<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n You\u2019ll need a computer to run the software that records and edits your episodes. You\u2019ll also need it to upload your episodes, write show notes, and market your podcast<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Your microphone is the most important part of your podcast studio setup. It has the greatest impact on the quality of your audio. A good condenser microphone<\/a> will save you a lot of time during post-production. An XLR mic and USB microphones<\/a> each have their advantages and disadvantages.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A mixer will improve your audio<\/a> quality and offer multi-channel recording horse shows with guests or co-hosts. This isn\u2019t a required piece of equipment (unless you use an XLR microphone), but it makes amazing audio<\/a>. Choose one with multiple channels and an AUX-out feature.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Not all computers have an audio-in port these days. Macs, for example, have not had it for quite some time. <\/p>\n\n\n\n To record audio to your computer, connect your mics, and other gear, you will need to use a dedicated audio interface. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Good microphones tend to make the plosives in our speech (Ps, Ts, Ks, etc.) stand out, so you need a pop filter<\/a> to soften those hard bursts of air. These are not expensive, but they make your audio more pleasing. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Headphones make it so you hear what the microphone hears, rather than your voice in the room. They allow you to self-regulate your volume and tone during your recording. (And remember, better records = less editing). Any headphones will do, but sets that cover your ears completely (as opposed to ear buds) are better. <\/p>\n\n\n\n A mic stand<\/a> or boom mount gets the mic up off the desk and closer to your mouth. This is important because the vertical alignment impacts the sound of your voice. A stand also lessens that chance that you\u2019ll bang or rub something against the mic during recording. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Some podcasters work cheaply by covering themselves with a blanket while they record. This technically works, but it gets old fast. Eventually you\u2019ll want to pick up some acoustic treatment pieces that function well and look great in your room. Use Auralex\u2019s Room Layout Express tool<\/a> to determine where to place the pieces.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Beyonder podcasting gear, you also need some basic office equipment. Give yourself a sturdy desk or table for your computer, microphone, and other audio equipment. They also want a comfortable chair (but not too comfortable) and whatever else you need to sit through you’re recording sessions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Most people don\u2019t enjoy editing their episodes, but it\u2019s a critical part of producing good sound quality. You\u2019ll need to adjust volume levels, remove background noises and mistakes, and slice in your intros and outros<\/a> and your ads<\/a>, so editing software deserves some consideration in your podcast studio setup. <\/p>\n\n\n\n There are a lot of audio editing options<\/a> available. Here are our favorites:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Audacity is the most popular because it\u2019s free, though you\u2019ll need to purchase it to access licensed music, effects, and a few other podcasting tools<\/a>. We think it\u2019s worth the cost because having those effects and features available in the same tool is worth it. <\/p>\n\n\n Can you use the free audio editor that came with your computer? Most likely, sure. Apps like GarageBand<\/a> are sufficient, but paid tools come with simpler workflows and more features to create better sound. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The final component of your podcast studio setup is a podcast host. Technically this isn\u2019t part of your podcast studio, but it\u2019s a critical part of distributing your show, so we didn\u2019t want to leave it out. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Your podcast host<\/a> is your show’s window to the world. It’s how everyone experiences your content. You need a hosting service that exhibits your audio just as clearly as you record it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Castos<\/a> gives you the tools to grow your audience, and connect with your community. We don\u2019t impose bandwidth limits, so listeners can always access your content. And you can manage all of your podcasts with one WordPress plugin<\/a>. We also offer automatic YouTube republishing<\/a> private podcast, and transcription services.<\/p>\n\n\n\n As you can see, it doesn’t take much to build an effective podcast studio setup. It doesn’t take much time and you don’t have to spend a lot of money. But if you follow these simple steps, you’ll create podcast audio that’s clear and professional.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Your podcast studio is your home base. It\u2019s where your episodes leap off your notes and come to life; where your content takes form and spreads through the world. So if you\u2019re serious about your show, you need a decent podcast studio setup. Why is it important to have a quality recording studio? Because a … Read more<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":10,"featured_media":14360,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"content-type":"","sync_status":"none","episode_type":"audio","audio_file":"","castos_file_data":"","podmotor_file_id":"","cover_image":"","cover_image_id":"","duration":"","filesize":"","filesize_raw":"","date_recorded":"","explicit":"","block":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[210],"tags":[],"series":[],"acf":[],"episode_featured_image":"https:\/\/castos.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/podcast-studio-setup.jpeg","episode_player_image":"https:\/\/castos.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/Audience-podcast-cover-art.png","download_link":"","player_link":"","audio_player":false,"episode_data":{"playerMode":"dark","subscribeUrls":{"amazon":{"key":"amazon","url":"","label":"Amazon","class":"amazon","icon":"amazon.png"},"apple_podcasts":{"key":"apple_podcasts","url":"","label":"Apple Podcasts","class":"apple_podcasts","icon":"apple-podcasts.png"},"google_podcasts":{"key":"google_podcasts","url":"","label":"Google Podcasts","class":"google_podcasts","icon":"google-podcasts.png"},"overcast":{"key":"overcast","url":"","label":"Overcast","class":"overcast","icon":"overcast.png"},"pandora":{"key":"pandora","url":"","label":"Pandora","class":"pandora","icon":"pandora.png"},"pocketcasts":{"key":"pocketcasts","url":"","label":"PocketCasts","class":"pocketcasts","icon":"pocketcasts.png"},"spotify":{"key":"spotify","url":"","label":"Spotify","class":"spotify","icon":"spotify.png"},"youtube":{"key":"youtube","url":"","label":"YouTube","class":"youtube","icon":"youtube.png"},"iheartradio":{"key":"iheartradio","url":"","label":"iHeartRadio","class":"iheartradio","icon":"iheartradio.png"}},"rssFeedUrl":"https:\/\/castos.com\/feed\/podcast\/default-podcast","embedCode":"Step 1: Choose the Right Space<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Grow Your Audience with the Right Analytics<\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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What can Castos Analytics show you?<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
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Which plans offer analytics?<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Find Where the Growth Opportunities are Hiding<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Step 2: Soundproof Your Podcast Studio Setup<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Step 3: Grab Your Recording Equipment<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Computer<\/a><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
XLR or USB microphone<\/a><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Mixer<\/a><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Audio Interface<\/a><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Pop filter or windscreen<\/a><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Headphones<\/a><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Microphone stand<\/a><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Acoustic treatments<\/a><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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Basic office equipment<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Step 4: Pick Your Podcast Editing Software<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Step 5: Choose a Podcast Hosting Service<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Build Your Podcast Studio Setup Today<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Podcast Studio Setup: How to Create a Great Podcast Recording Room<\/a><\/blockquote>