Recording great audio takes some practice, but you can skip a lot of the trial-and-error with these podcast recording tips. No amount of editing will make terrible source audio sound great, so practice these to-the-point strategies to capture clean podcast recordings from the start.
Why do you need these tips? Because better recording means less time you’ll spend during post-production editing your sound quality. The editing process is the most time-consuming part of a successful podcast, so you’ll want to minimize that part as much as possible.
Great podcast recordings come down to two things: the host’s ability to produce great content and superb audio quality. These tips are all about creating the perfect recording environment and actionable techniques you can put to use every time you sit down to create an episode.
The Importance of Quality Podcast Audio
In today’s saturated podcast market, audio quality can make or break your show. According to Edison Research, over 500,000 active podcasts are competing for listener attention—and audiences won’t hesitate to skip to the next show if yours sounds unprofessional. Poor audio creates a barrier between your content and your audience—even the most compelling message gets lost when it’s wrapped in static, echo, or distracting background noise.
Think about it: your listeners are trusting you with their time during commutes, workouts, or quiet evenings at home. Delivering clear, professional audio shows respect for that trust and positions your podcast as a credible source in your niche.
Essential Equipment for Podcast Recording
While it’s technically possible to record a podcast episode with your laptop’s built-in microphone, your listeners won’t appreciate it. You need a few pieces of gear to get started. Don’t worry—they don’t have to be expensive.
Microphones
Your microphone is your most important purchase. There’s no one-size-fits-all answer, but understanding the basics helps:
Dynamic Microphones: These are a popular choice for podcasters because they’re durable and less sensitive to background noise. This means that even in less-than-perfect settings, your microphone can help minimize ambient sounds. The Shure SM58 and Audio-Technica ATR2100x are solid entry-level options.
Condenser Microphones: These offer superior sound quality but are more sensitive to ambient noise, making them better suited for soundproofed studios. If you’ve invested in acoustic treatment, a condenser mic can deliver that rich, broadcast-quality sound.
USB vs. XLR: USB microphones plug directly into your computer—simple and affordable. XLR microphones require an audio interface but offer more flexibility and typically better sound quality. For beginners, USB is perfectly acceptable. As you grow, you might consider upgrading to XLR.
Headphones
Monitoring your audio while recording is crucial. Look for headphones that offer a flat frequency response, meaning they don’t color the sound. This ensures that what you hear through the headphones is a true representation of the recorded audio. Models like the Sony MDR-7506 and the Audio-Technica ATH-M50x are highly regarded in the podcasting community for their reliability and sound quality.
Audio Interface
If you’re using an XLR microphone, an audio interface converts your microphone’s analog signals into digital signals that your computer can understand. When choosing an audio interface, consider the number of inputs and outputs you need, as well as compatibility with your computer. The Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 and the PreSonus AudioBox USB are excellent options for podcasters looking for reliability and ease of use.
Creating the Optimal Recording Environment
Your recording environment has a massive impact on audio quality. Even the most expensive microphone can sound subpar if it’s placed in an acoustically untreated room.
Finding the Right Space
Record episodes in the smallest and quietest room possible to reduce outside noise and echoes. Here’s your checklist:
- Shut windows and doors
- Turn off machines or devices that make constant noise (fans, air conditioners, refrigerators)
- Put your pets somewhere they won’t disturb you
- Inform anyone else in the house or office that you’re busy
Interestingly, your closet is one of the best places to record. It’s small (which means less surface area to create echoes) and full of soft materials that absorb sound. It’s funny, but it works—Ira Glass recorded This American Life episodes from his home closet just weeks before winning a Pulitzer Prize.
Acoustic Treatment
Hard and flat surfaces reflect sound much like a mirror reflects light. To improve your audio:
- Place blankets or rugs over hard surfaces
- Add soft materials like couches, curtains, and carpeting to reduce reverb
- Position yourself away from walls and windows
- Consider foam acoustic panels for a more permanent solution
You don’t need a professional studio setup. Even hanging a few blankets or recording near a bookshelf filled with books can make a noticeable difference. For more detailed guidance on room acoustics, Acoustics 101 from Auralex offers excellent resources.
Recording Techniques for Clear Audio
Microphone Positioning
Proper microphone technique can make the difference between amateur and professional-sounding audio:
- Position your mic 6-8 inches from your mouth
- Speak across the microphone rather than directly into it to reduce plosives (those harsh “p” and “b” sounds)
- Use a pop filter to further minimize plosives
- Keep a consistent distance from the microphone throughout your recording
Warming Up
Your mouth, throat, and vocal cords perform better when they’re warm. Before you sit down to speak for 30 minutes to an hour, spend a few moments:
- Practicing your script
- Stretching your face
- Doing a few tongue twisters
- Drinking water to stay hydrated
This will keep you from mispronouncing words and having to repeat yourself. Dry mouths lead to natural clicking and popping noises that are difficult to remove in post-production.
Setting Proper Levels
Most audio interfaces, recorders, or USB microphones let you set an input level for your microphone. Since the advent of high-quality digital recording, there’s no reason to set input levels too “hot.” You can always make things louder later.
To set a good, modest input level:
- Speak at a normal-to-loud speaking voice
- Aim to hit around -20 dB on your recording meter (about halfway up on most meters)
- Test with a hearty laugh or emphatic phrase to ensure the level never peaks above 0 dBFS or goes “into the red”
If you’re worried it might peak, turn it down and be conservative. It’s much easier to boost quiet audio than to fix distorted audio.
Recording with Remote Guests
Remote podcasting has become the norm, and with the right setup, you can achieve professional-quality audio even when your guests are across the globe.
Platform Selection
Use specialized recording software like Riverside.fm, SquadCast, or Zencastr. These tools record each participant’s audio locally, giving you separate high-quality tracks to work with—far superior to recording a Zoom call.
Preparing Your Guests
If your guest has never done a podcast interview before, they’ll likely be nervous. Help them succeed:
- Guide them through simple microphone techniques
- Do a brief run-through to test audio
- Ensure they have stable internet (10+ Mbps)
- Recommend they use headphones to prevent echo
- Start with small talk to make them comfortable before hitting record
Recording Separate Tracks
Since everyone speaks differently, it becomes difficult to edit multiple voices on a single channel. It’s far easier to record everyone on a separate track. This gives you complete control during editing and allows you to balance levels, remove individual mistakes, and apply effects independently.
Post-Production: Cleaning Up Your Audio
Even with perfect recording techniques, some post-production work is usually necessary. Here’s how to polish your audio efficiently.
Basic Editing Workflow
- Remove mistakes: Slicing out errors is easy, but finding them can be challenging. Leave audio cues during recording—a loud clap or saying “edit point”—to create visible spikes in your waveform that you can locate quickly.
- Balance levels: Ensure all speakers are at consistent volumes throughout the episode.
- Apply EQ: A gentle high-pass filter around 70Hz removes rumble, and subtle cuts between 200-500Hz can reduce muddiness. iZotope’s EQ guide provides deeper insight into equalization techniques.
- Compress carefully: Light compression evens out volume variations without making your audio sound squashed.
Removing Background Noise and Cleaning Up Audio
One of the most common challenges podcasters face is dealing with unwanted background noise—whether it’s air conditioning hum, traffic outside, or that neighbor’s leaf blower that started up mid-recording.
AI-powered tools have revolutionized this process. Software like Descript’s Studio Sound, Adobe Podcast’s Enhance Speech, and Cleanvoice can automatically identify and remove background noise, making your home recordings sound like they were captured in a professional studio.
For more stubborn audio issues—like when you’ve recorded over music or need to isolate a voice from a complex mix—stem separation tools can be incredibly useful. StemSplit, for example, uses AI to separate audio into individual components: vocals, instruments, drums, and bass. While it’s primarily designed for music production, podcasters have found creative uses for it—like extracting just the voice from a recording that accidentally captured background music, or cleaning up interview audio where there was unexpected interference. The pay-per-use model means you’re not committing to another monthly subscription for occasional audio emergencies.
The key is knowing which tool fits your specific situation. For general background noise reduction, dedicated podcast tools work great. For more complex separation tasks, stem splitters offer capabilities that traditional noise reduction can’t match.
Maintaining Audio Quality
Remember: these tools work best when they have good source material to work with. No amount of AI processing will turn a terrible recording into a pristine one. Focus first on recording the cleanest audio possible, then use these tools to polish and enhance.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Recording Too Hot
Setting your input levels too high leads to clipping and distortion—problems that can’t be fixed in post-production. It’s always better to record slightly quieter and boost later.
Ignoring Room Acoustics
Many podcasters invest in expensive microphones but ignore their recording environment. A $100 microphone in a well-treated room will often sound better than a $500 microphone in an untreated space.
Over-Relying on Post-Production
AI tools like Adobe Speech Enhancer and Descript offer significant benefits, but becoming overly dependent on them is a mistake. Without understanding what constitutes good audio, there’s a risk of inadvertently distorting the sound and creating a robotic effect by excessively manipulating settings.
Inconsistent Recording Habits
Your audience develops expectations about your audio quality. Inconsistent recording environments, equipment changes, or varying techniques between episodes can be jarring for listeners.
Building Your Podcast Workflow
Creating a consistent workflow helps you produce better content more efficiently:
- Pre-production: Outline your episode, research topics, prepare questions for guests
- Setup: Test all equipment, check levels, ensure your recording space is quiet
- Recording: Warm up, record your episode, leave edit markers for mistakes
- Post-production: Edit, clean up audio, add intro/outro and music
- Publishing: Export, upload to your hosting platform, write show notes
As you develop your process, you’ll find ways to streamline each step. The goal is to spend less time on technical tasks and more time creating compelling content. Platforms like Buzzsprout, Transistor, and Podbean can simplify the publishing and distribution process.
Continuous Improvement
Podcasting is a journey, not a destination. The medium is always evolving, and your podcast should be a constant work in progress. Regularly evaluate:
- Your format: Can you add new segments? What about answering listener questions?
- Your audio quality: What improvements can you make to your recording setup?
- Your content: What topics resonate most with your audience?
- Listener feedback: What are people asking for?
Include a call-to-action at the end of each episode asking listeners to provide feedback. Take all feedback on board—your listeners want you to succeed. Resources like Podcast Movement and The Podcast Host offer ongoing education and community support for podcasters at every level.
Conclusion
Quality podcast audio doesn’t require a professional studio or expensive equipment. By understanding the fundamentals—proper equipment selection, acoustic treatment, recording techniques, and post-production tools—you can produce professional-sounding episodes from anywhere.
Start with the basics: a decent microphone, a quiet space, and consistent recording habits. As you grow, invest in improvements that address your specific challenges. Whether that’s acoustic panels for a reverberant room, better software for remote interviews, or AI tools for cleaning up imperfect recordings, each upgrade brings you closer to the polished, professional sound your content deserves.
Remember, the best podcast is one that gets made. Don’t let the pursuit of perfect audio prevent you from hitting publish. Start where you are, use what you have, and improve as you go.