How to Set Up a Podcast Recording Studio: Our Guide

Your home is no place to host a podcast room setup. You can record podcasts even on a couch in a coworking space, but the best idea is to find or set up a fully-equipped podcast recording studio and start creating content that inspires!

How do I take my podcast to the next level? The answer is, to create your podcast studio! Whether you've been recording a podcast for years or are new to the scene, you can elevate your podcast by setting up your studio or podcast room, and you can do so in a shared workplace if you’re not feeling like getting a dedicated workspace for your podcast.

But how to build a podcast studio?

Step-By-Step Process of Creating a Podcast Recording Studio

Here are the details for creating a podcast office setup:

Create a Budget

Before pondering “what do I need for a podcast studio,” you need to ask yourself “what is my budget for my podcast studio?”

Before getting started on setting up your very own small podcast studio room, a good place to start is to decide on how much you want to spend. You might be a seasoned caster and ready to make a substantial investment, or you might still be in the developmental stages and have a more conservative budget. Either way, there is a way for you to have your podcast room. There is a wide range of costs in setting up a podcast studio. So, whether you are Ballin or Ballin on a budget, there is an option for you!

Selecting a Space

Whether you are creating a home studio or looking for a private office to build a podcast studio for your brand/channel, there are numerous factors to consider when selecting a space for a podcasting studio setup, i.e., space, furniture, connected hardware, etc. Only you can determine what the right choice is for your podcast, but we’ve compiled a list of questions and tips to use when you are considering a space:

1. How much space do I need to record my podcast? If you are a solo podcaster and don’t typically have guests, you can select a relatively small space to convert into a podcast recording studio. Even a small closet. However, if there are multiple hosts on your podcast as well as guests, you will need to consider a larger space that can accommodate the max amount of people you will have in the podcast room at any given time.
2. Will I film my podcast? If you plan on filming your podcast, you should consider the aesthetics of the podcast room setup. Such as lighting; will you have natural or artificial lighting? Likewise, you might consider the types of visible soundproofing materials you use. If you are applying foam and soundboards to the wall, place them in creative patterns to enhance the onscreen appearance of your space.
3. TEST THE SPACE: Before building a podcast studio, when you’ve first found a place you like, do a short sound and film test. Even if it is just a couple of minutes long. That is the best way to find out if space will work for you!

Now, go on to: “how to build a podcast studio?”

Acoustics and SoundProofing

We mentioned soundproofing from an aesthetic point earlier, but now let us look at functionality for a podcast office setup. The space you selected will determine how much and what type of sound treatments will be needed. Here are a couple of basic tips to get you started with your small podcast studio:

Try adding nothing. That may seem counterintuitive, but it’s a great way to get a baseline for how the sound moves in a space that you’ve chosen for your podcast room. Do a couple of 2-minute test recordings in the space as we mentioned above. You may find that there are more echoes depending on which direction you are facing or that you can easily hear sounds through the walls. Once you’ve figured out the answer to “what do I need for a podcast studio,” you can find a solution. We’ve listed a couple of solutions for the most common issues:

1. Acoustic Panels: This is one of the most common solutions. You can purchase high-grade panels or find easy DIY tutorials online.
2. Sound Shields: This is an easy way to add sound cushioning to your small podcast studio. It is also convenient to set up and move.
3. Foam Paneling: Foam paneling is super easy to install and is a great way to dampen sound. As a bonus, there is a wide variety of colors and sizes, so it can be a great way to customize your space!

Podcast Studio Equipment

Selecting Equipment can be a fun and daunting task, simply because of the vast amount of options available for people looking to build a podcast studio. However, if you already have a vision for your podcast studio and know the general amount you are going to invest in equipment, you can easily eliminate any unqualified options. To help get you started we’ve created a list of the primary equipment required for a podcasting studio setup.

• Mic or microphone by Behringer (preferably)
• Headphones
• Computer
• Audio mixing
• Editing Software
• Cables 
• XLR Cable
• Quarter Inch ¼”
• Headphone Splitter

Take Your Time to Choose Your Perfect Podcast Studio

Hopefully, you’ll do a fine job with setting up a podcast office setup! Start recording and tag us in your first post! We love supporting our community and hearing your stories coming from your small podcast studio. Be sure to tag CityCentral, LLC in any of your social media posts so that we can listen in