[FAQ]

Hello,

I’ve been trying to record my first few podcast episodes, and I’m running into a big problem with my audio quality. I’m recording in my flat, which has hardwood floors and high ceilings, and everything I record sounds hollow and echoey. It’s really unprofessional.

I don’t have the budget or the space to build a proper studio. I’ve tried putting a blanket over my head, but it’s not really a long-term solution!

How do you all deal with this? Are there any practical tips for treating a room simply, or maybe some software tricks I can use after I’ve recorded to get rid of that awful room sound? I’m just trying to get a clearer, more direct vocal sound.

Thanks in advance.

[Jeff Bullas]

This is the single most common battle in home recording.

Quick Answer: The best strategy is prevention—you must absorb sound reflections at the source, as it is extremely difficult to remove echo from an audio file afterwards.

This echo is just the sound of your voice reflecting off hard, flat surfaces, and your strategy must be to deaden those surfaces.

The first strategic format to consider is your microphone; using a dynamic mic, as opposed to a condenser, will be more forgiving in an untreated space as it’s designed to reject sound from a distance. You must also adjust your physical recording format by getting as close to the microphone as possible. The second, and most important, strategy is to add sound-absorbing audio formats to the room, such as heavy blankets on the walls, a thick rug on the floor, and soft furnishings like sofas or bookshelves to break up and trap the reflections. Many people make the critical mistake of relying on software plugins in post-production to fix the audio, but this process rarely works and often just makes the voice sound thin and artificial.

Cheers,
Jeff

[Author]

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