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With remote podcasting here to stay, you’ll want to make sure you have the perfect space for recording at home. This is why we’ve made a full guide on creating a podcast studio.
There’s no need to be hesitant. It’s easier than you think to design and equip your home with a full podcast studio at any budget. The best part is that with all the equipment at home, you’ll never need to worry about booking a studio and you’ll be able to record remotely right where you are.
So read on, for everything you need to know on creating your own home studio.
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Some tips before we get started:
- Don’t be afraid to keep your podcast studio setup simple. Bigger isn’t necessarily better, and with the wide range of equipment on the market, it’s possible to deliver optimal quality with a minimal setup.
- Avoid going too cheap or too expensive. With the variety of high-quality-low-cost equipment out there, price isn’t necessarily a good indicator of what you should avoid for your home studio equipment.
- Generally a good rule is: too cheap isn’t always cheerful, and a bigger investment usually means more durability and better-sounding audio. However, the difference in audio is usually minimal and really depends on what your priorities are.
- Basically, do your research and think about what you’re looking for before you start spending.
- Trust your instinct. A home studio setup is personal by definition, go with your gut and pad it out as you see fit.
Ready to get started? Start by watching this video and then read on for everything you need to know to set up your own podcast studio.
The soon-to-be Podcast Studio
Before ordering all your podcast equipment for your setup, you’ll need to think about which room in your house is best for recording so you can convert into your home recording studio. Obviously, if you’ve only got one spare room, then go with that - it’ll be just fine. However, if you have the luxury of choice, the ideal home recording studio will be a small room minimally affected by external noise.
The ideal home podcast studio setup:
- Won’t have external or walls joined to your neighbor’s house.
- Won’t have any or few windows.
- Won’t have any appliances (think boiler or gas meter) that may occasionally make unwelcome noises.
- Will have carpeted floors and soft furnishings.
What is the difference between soundproofing and sound treating?
Soundproofing means isolating a room completely (or as much as you can) from any unwanted external noise. This means:
- Blocking your rooms with heavy, dense building material and sealing up any air gaps in windows or doors.
Contrary to popular belief, fixing foam acoustic tiles to your walls does not actually soundproof space.
Sound or Acoustic Treatment means improving the way sound sounds within a room. It’s all to do with acoustics and reverb.
- Sound treatment aims to control how much sound is reflected in your home studio.
- A room with lots of soft and furnished surfaces will prevent excessive reverb or echo, meaning half your work is done for you.
There are three elements of sound treatment:
1. Bass Traps
These can often absorb bass/mid/high frequencies.
- Auralex LENRD Bass Traps - $199.99
2. Absorption
This is where those acoustic foam tiles come in. These reduce resonating frequencies within the space, increasing the quality of your audio recordings. This is often an expensive endeavor, however, as you can wind up needing a lot more tiles than you initially thought.
You’ll want to consider how you attach these to your walls, there are temporary, semi-permanent, and permanent options
- Auralex SonoFlat Panels - $144.99
3. Diffusers
According to some schools of thought, absorption works best if you also include diffusers. Diffusers scatter reflected sound, preserving the natural tone. Others would argue that diffusers aren’t strictly necessary for a home studio setup.
T’Fusor 3D Sound Diffuser - $77.99
The Ideal Podcast Studio Equipment List
#1 Computer or laptop
If you’re on a budget, or you’re happy with what you have, stick with it. But if you have a bigger budget and are ready to spend, invest in a more up to date model.
- You’re looking for a reliable computer with a fast processing speed and a good amount of storage. This is because the audio (and possibly video) files you’ll be recording will be large.
- The Digital Audio Workspace (DAW) you choose may influence the type of computer you need. For example, Logic Pro X is only available for Macs.
Budget:
- Stick with what you have!
- Asus VivoBook - $348
Mid-Range:
Professional:
#2 Digital Audio Workspace / Audio Interface Combo
DAW is the software you use to record, edit and mix the audio on your computer. It is essentially recording and editing software which you use to fine-tune your audio, edit out mistakes and any awkward silences.
Budget:
- Audacity - a free, open-source DAW which works with all operating systems, although does not have the option for multi-track recording.
- Garageband - included free with all Apple computers.
Mid-Range:
- Reaper - lightweight and affordable DAW at a $60 (discounted) one-time license fee. (For professional licenses it is $225)
- Hindenburg Journalist - designed specifically for podcasts, interviews and radio. $99 for the basic version. Note: multitrack recording is only available in the pro-version.
Professional:
- Logic Pro X - available only for Macs. Arguably slightly overkill for podcast productions. $199
- Adobe Audition - $20.99/month
- Hindenburg Journalist Pro - Multitrack recording, and enhanced editing capabilities. $399.
Remote Friendly & Professional:
It looks like remote working is here to stay, which is no bad thing if you’ve got a podcast recording studio at home. Plus, in the podcasting world, this has opened up an endless world of opportunities to work with international guests.
That’s where Riverside comes in - a browser-based software, Riverside locally records each of your participants and progressively uploads the recording to the cloud. That means you get studio-quality recordings of each and every one of you - no internet interference - and no risk of losing your data.
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All you need is a computer and a microphone, and you’re good to go. You won't even need a podcast editing software for post-production due to the platform's editor. With one click, you can automatically stitch together the locally recorded, separate tracks that Riverside gives you.
For a professional recording studio right at home, start recording with Riverside today!
#3 Microphones
There are two types of microphones: dynamic and condenser, and two types of connectors: XLR and USB. All of these have their potential advantages and disadvantages. With the wide range now available, price is not always directly correlated to the quality of the microphone.
Dynamic Microphones
Dynamic Mics are often the best choice for home studio podcast mic setups because they pick up less ambient noise and are often more affordable. They are also more durable and can handle high volumes without distortion.
Condenser Microphones
Condenser Mics are more sensitive to ambient noise - not so good if your home studio is not completely soundproofed. However, this heightened sensitivity delivers top-tier audio quality and the ability to record crisp and detailed sounds.
Which microphone is better for podcasting?
The reason for the difference in capability and suitability between the two types is the size and weight of the diaphragm: condenser mics have a small and light diaphragm, whereas dynamic mics have a weightier one. Heavier diaphragms tend to be sturdier and more resistant to moisture meaning they last longer.
It’s actually hard to say definitively which type of mic is better. It mostly comes down to personal preference, budget, and finding one that works for you. However, dynamic mics are often designed with hosting, general voice recording, and interview settings in mind.
Related article: Choosing a Podcast Microphone
USB Microphones
USB microphones connect directly to your computer, meaning they are extremely easy to use. For this reason, USB mics are increasingly popular for home studio settings. Note that USB mics are usually condenser mics.
XLR Microphones
XLR microphones have to be connected to a mixer which is connected to your computer. This means you need more equipment on hand. These are often the best option when you have multiple hosts or guests because you are able to toggle audio levels directly during the recording using the mixer.
Budget
- Samson Q2U $126- XLR/USB, meaning it is versatile. Comes as a pack with microphone accessories.
- Sontronics Podcast Pro $119, XLR, Dynamic
- Blue Yeti USB Microphone, $132, USB connection, Condenser
Mid-Range
- Rode NT-USB - $165, USB, Condenser
- Audio Technica AT2035PK - $199, XLR, Condenser
Professional
- Rode Procaster - $229, XLR, Dynamic
- Shure MV7 - $249, USB, XLR, Dynamic
- Shure SM7B - $439, XLR, Dynamic
#4 Audio Interface
This is the hardware that connects your computer to your equipment. If you choose an XLR microphone you’ll need one of these to digitalize the analog input. You may also want an audio interface with at least two XLR inputs in case you want to connect more than just one mic.
Important note: If you’ve got a USB microphone you don’t need one.
Budget
- PreSonus AudioBox USB 96 - 2 XLR inputs, $99.99
Midrange
- Rode AI - 1 USB - 1 XLR input - $122
Professional
- Zoom PodTrak P4 - 4 XLR inputs, $199.99
The Zoom PodTrak P4 is podcast-specific and also doubles up as a USB audio interface. You can record up to four local participants and remote guests.
#5 Audio Mixers
Mixers are an audio board which can send and receive multiple audio inputs. Mixers allow you to alter the audio of each individual input.
Tip: Look out for a mix-minus feature, this means you can split your audio signals into two separate channels, one for you and one for your guest. This gives you total control over your individual tracks.
Budget:
Don’t skimp on a mixer, if you really can’t squeeze your budget any further, don’t get one at all.
Mid-Range
- Zoom PodTrak P4 - $199.99 - As we said above, this versatile product is an audio interface and mixer all-in-one.
- Yamaha MG10 XU - $212
Professional
- Rodecaster - $599 - Also acts as a digital recorder with a memory card built-in
Need more information? Watch the video below to learn whether you should buy an Audio Interface or Audio Mixer
#6 Headphones
Headphones allow you to monitor your audio closely whilst also canceling out any interfering background noise.
There are two types of headphones: closed back and open back.
- Closed Back Headphones - optimal isolation with lesser sound quality. These are the preferable option for podcasters because they have minimal sound leakage.
- Open Back Headphones - optimal sound quality with lesser isolation
What to look for in a pair of headphones:
- Comfort: You’ll be spending hours wearing these headphones, so you’ll definitely want them to be comfortable.
- Sound isolation: Your headphones should block out external noise. To note: some active noise cancellation headphones capture outside noise and invert it inward to cancel it out. This can leave you with distorted compressed audio - not ideal for editing.
- Frequency response: This makes a big difference in how your audio sounds when you’re listening back.
- Wired or Wireless: This is down to personal preference. If you often find yourself wandering around your home studio, you should probably opt for wireless headphones to avoid tripping yourself up!
Budget:
- Skullcandy Grin Wireless - $55 - closed back
- LyxPro HAS-10 - $55 - closed back
Mid-Range:
- Sony MDR7506 - $108 - closed back
- Sennheiser HD280 Pro - $112 - closed back
- Audio Technica ATH-M50x - $149 - closed back
Professional:
- DT 770 Pro - $159 - closed back
- Bose QuietComfort 35- $179 - closed back
#7 Cables
You can never have enough extension cables. Make sure not to skimp on cables for your home studio, cheaper cables can seriously compromise your audio quality.
XLR Cables:
USB Cable:
#8 A Mic Stand
You may think that once you’ve got the rest of your equipment a mic stand is one of the items you can overlook. Don’t be mistaken! A mic stand holds your microphone in place and ensures it doesn’t pick up vibrations, knocks, and bumps.
Rode DS1 Desktop Micstand- $26
#9 A Camera
If you're recording an audio-only podcast, a camera is not required, but with an increasing popularity of video podcasts, we suggest you jump on the trend. If you're recording video, you can use a webcam, a dedicated DSLR or even your phone. It all depends on your budget and your needs, but we do recommend using a camera that can at least capture 1080p HD quality.
Some great options are:
This video covers more on creating a video podcast setup:
Some (nice but not necessarily essential) extras:
Boom arm
A boom arm can free up a lot of space on your desk, and honestly? It looks and feels much more professional. Because your mic is suspended, you can get that perfect mic placement easily, meaning your voice will sound its best.
It’ll also work to reduce any handling noise, vibrations, and knocks that your mic will inevitably pick up.
- Rode PSA1 - $99
Desk Work Station with a good chair
You may end up spending a lot of time editing in your home studio, so taking care of your back and your comfort is essential! If you’re on a tight budget, repurpose some of the furniture you already own. However, if you have the extra dollar, we’d recommend investing in an ergonomic chair.
Shock mount
A shock mount is essentially a cradle for your microphone. It further protects your mic from vibrations, so if, for example, a heavy vehicle goes by the noise interference and disturbance will be minimized.
- Rode PSM1 - $41
A pop filter
A pop filter helps to reduce popping sounds like p’s or t’s - thus minimizing the risk of audio peaking and distorting. It can also help stop spit hitting your microphone.
Pop filters clip right onto your microphone, they’re very easy to use, affordable, and highly effective.
- Nady MPF-6 - $24.95
Ear training software
This may sound like overkill, but never underestimate the value of being able to intricately discern sounds. Train your ears, so you can level up as a sound engineer and get your audio sounding the best.
- Tenuto - $3.99 on the App Store
Reflection Filter
If acoustic foam tiles are too expensive, a reflection filter can do a good job instead. A reflection filter is a semi-circle absorption panel that attaches to your mic and wraps around it, essentially doing what acoustic foam would to your home studio.
Headphone amp
If you’ve got multiple hosts, you might want to invest in a headphone amp. This allows you to plug in multiple headphones and give everyone control over their own headphone volume
- HeadAmp4 - $73
Some tips to make up for what you don’t have:
Close miking. Without getting too close, placing the mic close to the source of the sound (i.e. your mouth) can increase the portion of sound reaching your microphone, thus decreasing reflected sound
Household Absorbers. Think pillows, blankets, sofas, clothes, mattresses. These can work just as well as specialist absorbers. Many swear by mattresses as the ultimate DIY method of recording vocals.
Top tip: use a heavy solid core mattress, not light inner-spring mattresses for the best podcast setup results.
How to set up your podcast studio:
Step 1. Prepare the room
Clear the room and its walls, take everything out, make sure to remove anything that vibrates.
Step 2. Sound Proof (as far as possible).
Soundproofing is a massive endeavor, which requires a huge investment of energy, time, and money. A lot of home studio setups give it a miss entirely.
There are four ways to soundproof your room:
- Add Mass or Density. This increases the amount of material within your space, which means the walls don’t vibrate as much. You can use materials like mass loaded vinyl.
- Damping - this helps dissipate and slow the vibrations. You can use Green Glue.
- Decouple - this stops sound vibrations from transferring between objects. You can do this by building a floating floor or building double walls for example.
- Filling Air Gaps using Green Glue and Foam Gaskets.
Step 3. Sound Treat the Room
How to Sound Treat your Home Recording Studio:
- Place the bass traps in the trihedral corners.
- Place the acoustic panels across the dihedral corners.
- Evenly place the acoustic panels across the walls.
- If you do choose to purchase diffusers, place them towards the ceiling or the upper part of the wall.
Step 4. Consider your equipment setup and format
- This will vary greatly depending on personal preference, the shape and size of your room, and the equipment you’ve chosen.
- Make sure to consider signal flow, it’s essential to understand how all your equipment fits to form a single working system and to accommodate for this in your home studio setup.
Start Recording!
And just like that, you’ve got your very own home podcast studio setup! Congratulations. We’re confident that a home recording studio is a long-term and fail-safe investment for all podcasters - your recording environment is greatly improved and you’ll get studio quality every time. It’s a win-win.
