Summary: Acoustic panels are commonly used in recording studios. If you’re at home and want a simple and cheap way to replicate this audio quality, try implementing soundproofing products.
It’s quite easy to find a quality microphone that will get your podcast started, but there are even more important things that you have to consider beyond the scope of good audio. One of the more overlooked components of a recording studio is the environmental factor.
Managing High Ceilings
A room that has a high ceiling is bound to create a substantial amount of echo. While you might see this as a genuine way to obtain the right acoustics, it can actually affect the overall quality of you podcast. The echo effect is essentially caused by sounds waves bouncing off both ceilings and floorboards.
The end result?
Your podcast will sound like you’ve been recording yourself in a cave or a tunnel.
One common solution to this is to add a rug to the floor. The fibers from the rug will absorb the sound and prevent any sound from reverberating around the rest of the room. Remember, you essentially want to trap your voice to an area surrounding your microphone so it’s just you and the recording. Remember, the harder the surfaces are in your room, the more reverb you’ll get as a result.
When it comes to the high ceilings, unless you want to hire a contractor to lower them, one option you can go for is to record underneath a thick blanket to deaden the sound. Similar in the way that a rug functions, a blanket can absorb sound and prevent it from bouncing all over the place.
Acoustic Foam Panels
However, nothing beats the installation of acoustic panels. It’s an investment that, if you take your podcasts seriously, just can’t be beat. Stick them on the wall to help deaden the sound and watch them work their magic. Similarly, you can also utilize these panels all around your room, just like the professionals do. Even better, these foam panels won’t cost you an arm and a leg – and most definitely won’t force you to tear down walls and rethink your life’s choices.
No matter where you are, having windows in a recording room can be detrimental to the overall sound quality. Blame it on the glass. Instead of boarding them up and going for the foreclosure look, consider getting your windows double glazed. What this does is add another pane of glass to an existing window, which traps air between those panes. This not only helps for insulation purposes, but it also prevents excess sound from transmitting form the outside world into yours. Additionally, you can utilize your acoustic foam panels as a temporary absorption solution. This is an inexpensive option that doesn’t force you to make changes to any windows whatsoever. Simply cut them to size, fix them across your window and voila! Although be sure that it fits to size. Any gaps between your window and the panel itself is bound to allow bits of sound to come through.
Blog submitted by Foam Factory, Inc.: If you’re looking for quality acoustic foam panels that won’t cost you a fortune, give the guys at Foam Factory, Inc. a call and see how they can help soundproof your home on your budget.
