Podcasting Acoustics - Auralex ProTips
You have your great idea for a podcast, a quality microphone and your DAW figured out. You feel ready to start recording, boot everything up…but…everything sounds like it was recorded in the most reverberant bathroom of all time!
Proper absorption and the location of acoustical treatment can clean up your recordings and raise your work to a professional quality – with just a few simple steps.
Don’t Know Where to Start?
We have a quick solution! Our Room Layout eXpress (RLX) is a well-formulated calculator to help you find the right amount of acoustical treatment for your space. From there, you can follow this guide to find the best locations in the room to apply products!
The Auralex web-site is full of useful information about acoustical treatment and sound isolation. If the Room Layout eXpress (RLX) app doesn’t address the acoustical issues you are experiencing, please visit some of these informational pages.
https://www.auralex.com/resources/
https://www.auralex.com/studio/
What’s different about a vocal booth / podcasting studio?
They are an easy fix! You should be looking at only one type of product in most cases: Absorption.
3 Types of Vocal Studios
While the categories of rooms you find yourself in for vocal recording may vary, there are three common types:
- A small vocal booth exclusively used for recording.
- A larger space used for recording.
- A larger space that is only partially used for recording (an office, living room, bedroom) that cannot be completely treated.
3 Steps for Acoustic Treatment
1. Wall Absorption:
Regardless of the height of your room, you’re going to want to absorb from sitting level to standing height throughout the space. Starting 30”-36” off the ground and treating to 6’6” – 7’ height will address immediate reflections off of the walls in your room at the height you record. If you have a wall directly in front of you, our DeskMAX Portable Treatment Panels will be of use.
a. Smaller spaces require a higher percentage of the walls to be covered for a controlled and professional recording. Our RLX app can help you get a quantity of product. The rest is straightforward application!
b. Start by treating the immediate recording area heavily with absorption. If the rest of the room allows it, we recommend spreading out and off-setting absorption on opposite walls, so that the treatment is not parallel. This helps reduce locational “slapback”, depending on where you stand within the room.
c. Portable treatment is a terrific option to help wall yourself in. Our ProMAX Portable Treatment Panels are an especially versatile option. Couple that with the closest walls being covered with absorption, and your studio is almost ready.
2. Ceiling Treatment:
Treat immediately above you, and any other recording member of the podcast, with a spread of acoustical panels (at least 4’x4’ if possible). After that, spreading further absorption out across the rest of the room’s ceiling can help control room noise and echoes.
3. Consider Your Needs:
Is there a long glass window that makes one wall untreatable? Consider extra absorption on the opposite wall. Are you in a corner? Bass traps along the corners absorb across the entire frequency spectrum and fit into vertical corners easily. Feel free to make necessary adjustments, so the room is aesthetically professional and comfortable to use.
Suggested Auralex Products for Podcasting and Vocal Recording
