22 Podcast Recording Tips for Polished Episodes and High-Quality Audio

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 podcast tips? Because better a better recording means less time you’ll need to 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.

The Top Podcast Recording Tips

Great podcast recordings come down to 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.

1. Use the right podcasting equipment

You can record a podcast with your built-in microphone, but we don’t recommend it. You’ll need a few pieces of podcast equipment to record professional and clear audio. This is the easiest of all our podcast recording tips and it has the biggest impact on your audio quality.

Here’s a basic list of everything you need:

1. A computer
2. An XLR or USB podcast microphone
3. A mixer
4. Pop filter or windscreen
5. Headphones
6. Microphone stand or boom arm
7. Acoustic treatments
8. Recording and editing software
9. Podcast hosting provider

2. Don’t forget to warm up

To state the obvious, recording a podcast episodes requires a bit of talking. Rather than going into your session cold, warm up your mouth and vocal cords by practicing your script or saying a few tongue twisters.

Properly warming up will improve your dictation, keep you from stumbling over words, and ultimately help you produce high-quality audio. There’s nothing better than delivering your points flawlessly the first time around.

Here’s a great tutorial on warming up before your recording session:

3. Record in a small, quiet room

Record episodes in the smallest and quietest room possible to reduce outside noise and echoes. Shut your windows and doors, turn off any machines or devices that make a constant noise, and put your pets somewhere they won’t disturb you for a couple hours.

Fill your recording environment with soft items (couches, pillows, carpet, etc.) that absorb sound to muffle any errant noises. 

4. Create a brief noise profile

Pause for four or five seconds at the beginning of your recording to create a noise profile. Stay absolutely silent and eliminate all environmental noise.

You can use this moment of silence during editing to identify and remove any background noise by following The Audacity To Podcast’s tutorial on removing noise using Audacity. (It’s basically one button.)

5. Adopt proper microphone techniques

First, you need good microphone placement. Place your microphone at the same height as your mouth. Then sit a few inches back and have the pop filter between your mouth and the mic. 

Next, focus on your mouth’s distance from the microphone setup and adjust your body for the desired volume level. Remember, the closer you are the mic, the louder your voice will sound.

While you can alter your voice’s volume level during post-production to keep it consistent, reduce your editing time by keeping your mouth the same distance from the mic while recording.

Having the right microphone isn’t enough, you have to know how to use it. Watch our Podcast Like A Pro video tutorial on how to achieve the perfect mic technique!

6. Watch your volume levels

As you keep your microphone distance consistent, you can monitor the volume levels while you record. Most recording software tools display your levels as a scale from green, yellow, to red.

Keep your volume in the green section for your normal conversational tone and yellow sections when you need to add emphasis. Stay out of the red section or your sound will be distorted. 

7. Watch your breath

We all need to breathe but controlling the sound of your inhales and exhales will stop any big gusts of wind from sneaking into your recording. The sound of your regular breathing can be a big distraction to your podcast listeners.

For quieter inhales, sit up straight, try taking smaller breaths, or completely move your mouth away from the mic when you need to take a big breath.

8. Keep your body still

Moving your body around creates background noise while recording. This happens a lot if you use earbud headphones. The wire lays close to your chest which causes the microphone to rub against your shirt and collar. 

Try to stay still in your chair with your feet planted. Avoid moving things around on your desk. If you print your notes on paper, move them around as silently as possible too. 

9. Resolve sound issues early

Make a test recording before you officially start to dive into your episode. If there’s a problem with your guest’s microphone or you can hear ambient noise from outside, don’t try to power through.

Identify and resolve audio issues from the start or even wait to record. The worst case scenario is recording a full episode only to find there’s a larger issue you can’t fix during your editing time.

10. Record with headphones (your guest too)

While it’s possible to record a podcast episode without headphones, you’ll probably catch a lot of audio feedback. Have everyone wear headphones so you don’t have to waste precious editing hours cleaning it up.

This is an easy way to understand the listening experience and boost your sound quality.

While set of earbud headphones will do, we recommend ones that fully cover the ears. Our favorite pair is the Sony MDR7506 Headphones.

11. Consider using a podcast transcript

If you aren’t comfortable speaking in front of a microphone yet, consider creating a podcast transcript. This can be a word-for-word account of what you intend to say or just some simple notes.

Seasoned podcasters tend to use fewer notes, but don’t feel like you have to get to that point too quickly. Ultimately, it comes down your personal preference.

12. Stay quiet while your guests speak

It’s tempting to drop in simple phrases like “yes” and “right” and “okay” while your guests speak. Those are natural parts of language that we use without realizing, but they can distract your listeners.

Yes, you can remove them during post – production editing, but that’s a lot of unnecessary work. It’s easier to train yourself to limit interjections and allow your guest or co-host to complete their thought.

This is a good opportunity to practice active listening. Your guests will appreciate it and your interviewing skills will level up.

13. Leave audio cues for mistakes

Mistakes happen. They aren’t stuck in your episode forever because you aren’t performing live. Slicing out mistakes is basic podcast editing, but you need to give yourself a cue to find them in the track. 

If you make a mistake that needs to be edited during post – production, make a loud or high-pitched sound to create a spike in the audio’s audio level. During the editing process, you’ll be able to spot these audio cues and easily to address the mistake.

You might also find it helpful to leave yourself a little note about what to change after the audio cue. You might say, “Remove the story about the pizza restaurant.” Then give a few second pause and keep going.

14. Mute when you aren’t speaking

Save yourself some editing work by muting your microphone when your co-host or guest is speaking. This way your podcast audio won’t pick up their voice in your microphone and it’s less noise that you’ll have to remove later.

Pro Tip: Every podcaster needs a background noise cancellation tool in their toolbox. Use Krisp to have high quality podcasting experience without background noise and echo. Krisp automatically removes background noises as you’re recording your podcasts or video interviews.

15 Use production elements sparingly

Sound effects have their place. They can add life and uniqueness to your show. But they can also distract and cheapen used them too often. Add sound effects during post – production only when the content calls for it and stick to effects that match your brand.

16. Stay hydrated

Drink at least eight ounces of water before you record. This will settle your stomach, loosen your mouth, and help your focus. It’ll also reduce any mouth clicks, the natural clicking and popping noises we make as our mouths dry.

Our stance is it’s better to drink more water and pause to use the bathroom once or twice than suffer the effects of dehydration. 

17. Record a separate audio tracks for each person

If you have multiple people speaking on your show, record them on separate tracks. This will give you control over their individual volumes and noise profiles during post – production editing.

You can have each person record themselves on their own computer (sometimes called a “double ender”) or use recording software with a multi-track recording feature.

If you use Zoom to record remote interviews, check out the video tutorial on how to record separate channels:

18. Record under a blanket

If you’re stuck in a noisy environment, an easy way to eliminate background noise is to drape a blanket over you and your microphone. It’s a crude technique, but it works. This is useful if you’re forced to record in a busy hotel, your car, or apartment building. 

This seems like a silly podcasting tip, but it’s a great way to produce high-quality audio!

19. Don’t be afraid to take a break

Try breaking your show into segments with logical places for you to take a break during the recording process. It’s perfect time double check the audio quality for any issues, grab more water, and stretch to stay loose for your entire recording session.  

Breaks are also good opportunities to review your podcast script or discuss what’s next with the other podcast host or guest. You can plan your conversation, review notes, and even rehearse. 

20. Maximize your internet bandwidth

If you’re conducting an interview or conversation over the internet, it’s vital that you boost your connection as much as possible. This will improve the quality of the audio your recording software captures. 

How do you increase your bandwidth? Well, other than upgrading with your internet provider, all you can do is plug directly into your router (instead of connecting wirelessly) and close any application that uses the web that you don’t absolutely need. 

Make sure to instruct your guests to sit in a place with a strong connection and plug directly into their router if possible too. 

Run a speed test for your internet connection to check the bandwidth using this free resource. Generally, a good internet speed is at or above 25 Mbps.

21. Trust your ears and take notes

The bottom line is trust your ears and don’t over think it. Although just about everyone hates the sound of their own voice initially, it’s important to listen to everything you record for signs of bad audio.

When you playback the audio files, follow your instincts when something sounds off. As you produce more episodes and start liking the final cut, take notes of the recording setup and work to mimic it each time you get behind the mic.

22. Don’t forget about the content

The cleanest, most professional sounding recording is all for nothing it doesn’t contain engaging content. In addition to focusing on your technique, don’t forget to spend time on understanding what makes a podcast episode interesting.

While an unpolished recording can turn off new listeners, a podcast that isn’t compelling will deter even the most loyal fan.

You’re On Your Way to High-Quality Audio

The best way to improve your podcast audio and spend less time editing is to produce a better recording. Over time, you’ll gain experience with your equipment and learn how to conduct yourself so as to create audio recordings that are clean and clear of errors. This means less time in front of your podcast recording software and more time focused on created amazing content.