What You Need to Setup a Podcast Studio (and the Cost)
Podcasting has become an ever-increasing trend in the market because of the ease of listening and hosting. A recent survey reveals that more than 387 million people prefer listening to podcast content worldwide, which is expected to grow more in the coming years. Many have a list of their favorite podcasters and content from old to younger folks. Podcasting has transformed the traditional radio experience into something more engaging and exciting.
Many people are trying to create engaging and unique podcasts because it is one of the best ways to listen to topics of interest. On the 30th of September, International Podcast Day is celebrated to recognize the values and contributions of podcasters. If you're considering creating engaging podcast content, you need a professional podcast studio to get more from your efforts.
With a soundproof roof, all the advances in mics, and an overstuffed closet, a podcast studio is one of the essential things you need for capturing crisp, clear audio for your podcast episodes. This article will give you all the insights you need if you want to create a dedicated space for recording your podcast episodes.
Things you Need to Setup a Podcast Studio
At the initial stages of your podcast journey, don't worry about the space of advanced equipment. You must focus on creating engaging podcast episodes and finding a publishing rhythm that works well for you.
Once you've confirmed that you can sustain quality production, you can turn to the podcast studio and gear. You can set up a podcast studio yourself or rely on an already-designed studio location to record your content. You need ample time and an array of equipment to set up a podcast studio on your own.
It would help if you had the following things to build a professional and soundproof podcast studio for recording your podcast episodes.
1. The Right Space
The space you choose for your podcast studio will significantly impact the quality of sound. For example, empty, large spaces that create echoes can give a muddy effect to your audio. Hard surfaces, such as tiles, windows, and mirrors, will bounce the sound around.
In contrast, a scheduled, smaller room with soft surfaces, like upholstered furniture, pillows, and curtains, can absorb your sound and cut down on echo. Try to find a room that doesn’t share walls with busy areas, such as a construction site.
Most podcasters overlook the table of their recording studio, which can influence your sound quality. You must prefer a sturdy table for your recording studio to avoid strain or creak while you record. If you're considering designing a dedicated podcasting studio at your home, your closets might be the greatest spaces for this purpose. Closets are relatively small, located in isolated areas, and filled with soft fabrics, making them ideal spaces for audio recording.
2. Soundproofing & Sound Treatment
Proper sound treatment and soundproofing are two different and broader terms. Soundproofing involves completely closing your studio from unwanted noise, which can cost a decent amount. If you're starting the podcast journey, you can invest in sound treatment, which involves how to make sound diffuse and absorb within the studio. You can rely on the following types of sound treatments to improve your sound quality;
Diffuser Panels Diffuser panels are three-dimensional shapes designed to scatter sound within the room. You can use this proper treatment to liven up your space while ensuring the highest-quality sound recording.
Bass Traps Unlike diffuser panels, bass traps aim to capture low-frequency sound waves from corners of the room. They are designed either from foam or fiberglass to eliminate the low end of your podcast content.
Acoustic Panels Acoustic panels are wood-framed sound treatments filled with bare foam or sound-absorbing core materials. When placed on flat surfaces, they can absorb sound reverberations and reflections to cut down echoes. Apart from the above-mentioned sound treatments, you can also try extra insulation in the walls and ceiling clouds to get a professional-grade effect in your audio recordings. Weekend warriors with a limited budget can hand some moving blankets on the walls for reliable sound treatment.
3. Select your Gear
At the initial stages of your podcast journey, gather the gear you can afford. A successful podcast is only about engaging and high-quality content-not the high tech and expensive gear.
4. Essential Podcast Equipment for Voice Recording
The following are the bare essentials you need to set up a podcast studio that can work well for you;
Microphone A microphone is an essential piece of equipment throughout your podcast journey. When choosing a high-tech and reliable microphone for your podcasts, you can have several options, depending on your studio setup and budget. You can go with an XLR microphone (it needs an additional interface to connect to your computer), a USB microphone (it can plug straight into your computer), and either a condenser or dynamic microphone. Both dynamic and condenser microphones come in XLR and USB formats to cater to your needs effectively.
Headphones Headphones are the most significant gears a podcaster needs to set up a podcast studio. A high-quality pair of headphones can block the external noise, allowing you to hear what your microphone is recording. It can also help you regulate your sound quality and volume in real time. Going with a lightweight and good quality pair of headphones is vital as you will bear them for longer.
Computer You need a reliable and fast PC or Mac for setting up a podcast studio. Deciding on a device with good storage space is crucial, as your files will fill up the space quickly. You can also plan for cloud or external storage if you stay in the podcast market for longer.
Microphone Stands Having a good microphone stand would be best to get the microphone close to your mouth and reduce the vibration effect. These stands come in various shapes, designs, and sizes; you can select any of those depending on your studio setup and budget.
Audio Interface If you're using an XLR microphone, you may need an audio interface to connect your microphone to your computer. You must get audio interference that has at least two inputs. So, you can connect two microphones if you record with a co-host or guest.
The Cost of Building an Atlanta Podcast Studio
Building an Atlanta podcast studio can cost as little as $100 only if you already have all the essential pieces of podcast equipment. It may also cost up to $1,000 if you want to buy the new podcast equipment, such as a high-tech microphone and a pair of headphones.
The figure mentioned above is just the estimated costs. The cost of setting up a podcast studio in Atlanta may vary depending on numerous factors.
Pros and Cons of Building your Own Podcast Studio
Home podcast studios have gained massive popularity in the past few years. It is because of the ease of producing your streaming or podcasts and the flexibility of working from home. Building your own podcast studio can have some pros and cons, such as;
Pros
With your own podcast studio, you have an opportunity to record and edit your podcast episodes whenever you want
With a home setup of a podcast studio, you can decide what equipment you need without disturbing your budget.
It gives you the luxury to work within your comfort zone, improving the quality of podcast episodes.
Cons
Building your own podcast studio can be a bit pricey. As you have to foot the bill for all the pieces of equipment you need to set up a podcast studio
No soundproofing is another disadvantage of building your podcast studio. You can't completely change the deep structure of your home or office to build a completely soundproof podcast studio.
Pros and Cons of Selecting a professional Studio Location for your Podcast Recordings
Undoubtedly, setting up a home podcast studio can help you take a big step in improving your sound quality. But renting a professional studio location can allow you to capture great audio, eliminating the cost and efforts of building a studio on your own.
Pros
Renting a studio location for your podcast recording ensures that you’re in the hands of professionals.
You can work with incredibly skilled sound engineers and top-of-the-line podcast equipment.
Renting a professional recording studio enables you to capture high-quality sound without worrying about external sources' interruptions.
Cons
Professional recording studios can be quite costly, depending on your equipment and where you record.
Create High-Quality Podcast Content with Adode Media
Setting up a podcast studio on your own may require time, effort, and resources. You have to invest in high-tech pieces of podcast equipment such as microphones, headphones, computers, microphone stands, and many more.
Adode Media provides a professional and reliable approach to capturing superb-quality content for your podcast episodes. We at Adode Media have three fully sound-treated studios offering top-in-class audio recording equipment to bring your show to life.
