Where’s the best place to record your podcast?

Have you ever listened to the beginning of a podcast and switched it off after a few moments because the sound quality was terrible?

One of the easiest ways to capture a good quality recording, is to record in the right spot. Here are three tips for finding the perfect place to record.

Echo is the biggest challenge

To an untrained ear, it can be hard to hear subtle echo. But if you work on the basis that every bare or hard surface echoes (walls, tiled or wooden floors, windows, desks etc) then you know how to avoid it.

So rule out bathrooms, kitchens and minimalist rooms with bare floors and glass walls.

The ideal spot is somewhere small with lots of soft furnishings and clutter such as sofas, cushions, bedding, carpets, curtains, full bookcases, clothes and stuffed toys.

Bedrooms are usually a good option as they’re smaller and are likely to have carpets and other soft furnishings. I record in my walk-in linen cupboard (see photo above).

Face an open wardrobe

If you don’t have an ideal room to record in, an easy option is to face a wardrobe with the doors open. The clothes inside will help absorb the echo (the messier and more full it is, the better).

You can drape a duvet, blanket or towel across the top of the open doors, securing it in place with hair claw clips or bulldog clips. Hanging clothes over the open doors will also help reduce echo.

Or, if you have a bunkbed at home, being under the bunkbed will work well, but make sure you cover any bare surfaces with blankets or duvets.

Record somewhere quiet

This might seem obvious, but record somewhere quiet. Don’t record your show in a room near to a busy road, the front door, the neighbour’s loud TV, the washing machine, the boiler, screaming children or barking dogs. Close the doors and windows.

Also, consider timing: aim to record when your home and the neighbours’ houses or flats are empty.

There are some sounds you can’t avoid — such as next door’s leaf blower or the door bell ringing mid-recording. If there’s an interruption, start that section of the recording again.

But remember that the fewer interruptions and background noises there are, the easier it will be to edit your podcast.