The bCast Blog

A podcast is an audio recording of a series. A good orator might want to get started with their own show if they are confident in their abilities and the content they have to share. Podcasts should be clear, so ensure there's no distortion from noise during episodes, as well as background sounds that can distract your audience when listening on speakers or earbuds. 

Renting a studio for every podcast shoot can get expensive, especially if you're just starting out. That money could be going into your own business and instead of renting the space, why not invest in it and create your very own studio?

What does it take to create a podcast studio?

Creating a podcast studio of your own could be a smart decision since it is just a one-time investment and the profits increase proportionally with your hard work. A studio does require a lot of things apart from the right equipment. Since it is in a way your workplace, it needs to have a setup that suits all your needs. In this article, we shall be discussing all the aspects you need to consider for setting up a podcast studio and at a shoestring budget. 

1. The right place:

Choose a place that is quiet and calm. It must allow you to explore your creativity and not feel like an office space where you're forced to work. It would be better if you find a place in your house to set up the studio. It would save you from the unnecessary load of paying rent. If a place is naturally quiet, you won't need to work extra hard on eliminating sound from the place and installing sound-absorbent materials. 

You could go to your storeroom or even your garage and turn it into a podcast studio. All you need is optimum lightning and some furniture to rest yourself and you'll be good to go. You could consider home remodeling to create a calm space for yourself where you can record, write and just use it as a studio.

2. The right equipment:

Many people take a lot of time in deciding which equipment to buy and end up getting confused. There are also some, who are too quick to invest in a piece of equipment and end up regretting it. 

One must understand that they do not need to buy every single piece of equipment related to studios that they find online or in shops. 

Here are a few types of equipment that make recording easier for you and you can consider investing in this equipment.

          A. Microphone:

A microphone is a primary piece of equipment that is required to record sound and should therefore be bought very carefully. There are several kinds of microphones available in the market.

Condenser microphones are one the most sought-after products. These microphones are extra sensitive to sound, accurate at recording audio, and in turn, produce excellent quality audio. One drawback that comes hand in hand with their extra sensitivity for sound is that these microphones tend to catch unwanted sounds across the streets too and you will have to be extra careful when recording sound. Also, these are extra fragile and one needs to take good care of them and place them in safe spaces. 

Opposite to the condenser microphones are the dynamic microphones that aren't as sensitive to sound and generally do not pick up every bit of the sound from the noisy street next to your recording studio. If you wish to record audio while traveling in your car or a roadside restaurant, you might consider investing in these since they tend to avoid the extra noise.

Lavalier Microphones are very much similar to condenser microphones, except for the fact that they are exceptionally small in size and can be clipped to your shirt. They are an excellent choice if you wish to shoot a video too. It could be interrupted to have large condensers fixed in front of one face while being recorded. Lavalier just tends to ease the process and isn't even much visible. 

Shotgun Microphones are excellent options for situations when you need to record a piece of audio in a crowded place. These microphones work like flashlights, they just capture the sound in the direction you point them. They are directional and can be used to record the desirable sound in places where there's excessive noise surrounding it.

          B. Boom arm:

Imagine if you were to hold a mic for as long as you were using it. Sounds like such a tiresome process. Boom arms are such a boon for holding mics. All you need to do is just fix your mic in the socket and then you can hang it across any surface and use it for recording sound. It is firm enough to adhere to a surface and not drop the mic. It can also be used for cases when there are two speakers and just one mic. You can share the mic with the help of a boom arm and let it swing between the speakers.

          C. Pop filter:

Pop filter immediately adds a lot of professionalism to the vibe of the room. They tend to trim the plosives that are usually recorded by the microphones. Plosives are generally the sound produced by the lips when we pronounce letters like P, B, etc. The pop filter removes any such plosives and provides a sound that is clear and free of any extra noise.

          D. Shock mount:

Imagine your microphone starts catching the vibrations produced by any kind of movement. Microphones tend to record all such vibrations since they are sound sensitive and the results produced aren't very pleasing to the ears. Shock mounts cover the microphone with rubber grips and hold them firmly to not let any kinds of vibrations interfere with the quality of the sound.

          E. Headphones:

When you interview another person, you might get interfering feedback in your mic. To avoid it, you can invest in headphones that will eliminate any kind of extra noise and will let you choose the audio you want to hear while speaking. The best thing is that you don't need to buy headphones that cost a fortune. Your iPhone headphones can serve the purpose equally well.

3.  Soundproofing:

No matter how much you've invested in sound-canceling equipment, you must never take a risk. Microphones are inherently sensitive to sound and tend to catch sound from around you. Also, when you're recording a piece of audio, you wouldn't want to let the outsiders listen to your content and therefore soundproofing material is a necessity. It also gives your room/studio a better vibe and makes it more sound absorbent. Also, if you add sound absorbent material to your walls you won't be disturbed by the sounds from across the streets and the vehicles honking around your podcast studio.

4.   Lighting:

Lighting is an important factor. It controls the vibe of a place. Use dim lights or lamps for places where the recording has to take place. You could also adjust a lamp in places where you sit down to write the content for your podcast. Space should be optimally lit to allow you to carry out routine tasks with ease. Dim lights also make space look like a calm one where people can sit, relax and speak their minds. If your podcast involves interviewing guests, this one could be a great idea.

5. Indoor plants with LED grow lights:

Adding some indoor plants to vacant space could be a great idea. It would enhance the vibe and calm of the space altogether. A major challenge is since the studio is mostly a closed space with lesser space for natural light to enter, growing plants becomes a task. You cannot create space for natural light, since it will bring in extra noise from outside. But, you can invest in LED grow lights that allow you to grow plants even in the absence of natural light.

Conclusion:

If you're looking for a studio to record your podcasts, you might consider creating one for yourself. Consider your storeroom or your garage for this purpose. Also, you could try home remodeling and come up with some space to place all your equipment and make it into a podcast studio. 

When it comes to equipment, you do not need to buy all the equipment that you come across. Consider investing in just the important ones like Microphones. Some of the most popular types of microphones are Condenser microphones, dynamic microphones, Lavalier Microphones, and Shotgun Microphones. Also consider buying some other important equipment like a Boom arm, Pop Filter, Shock Mount, Headphones, etc. 

It’s always better to soundproof the entire space so no noise can come in or go out. Use dim lights and lamps to decorate the space. You can even try placing some indoor plants. Since the studio is generally a closed space, you can invest in LED grow lights to grow these indoor plants in the absence of natural light.