How to Soundproof Your Podcasting Room
Author: Sturgeon Christie
Last Updated: February 9, 2024
Read Time: 8 Minutes
How to Soundproof Your Podcasting Room
Author:
Sturgeon Christie
Last Updated:
February 9, 2024
Read Time:
8 Minutes
Author: Sturgeon Christie
Updated: Feb. 9, 2024
Read Time: 8 Minutes
In the last few years as we were all stuck at home searching for something we haven’t already seen on Netflix, many of us started exploring our creative side. We’re seeing more customers reach out to us for advice on how to soundproof a space in their home to record a podcast. And why not?! We’ve all got something to say, and if we plan to do it for a living… why not have a professional quality environment?
We may not talk good, but we do consider ourselves experts on listening. Step 1 to getting people to listen is make sure you sound crisp and clear. Keep reading to find out how to get the same sound quality in your home podcast studio as the professional podcast studios we work with. We’ll help you make sure that the only people listening are your subscribers, and not your neighbors.
In the last few years as we were all stuck at home searching for something we haven’t already seen on Netflix, many of us started exploring our creative side. We’re seeing more customers reach out to us for advice on how to soundproof a space in their home to record a podcast. And why not?! We’ve all got something to say, and if we plan to do it for a living… why not have a professional quality environment?
We may not talk good, but we do consider ourselves experts on listening. Step 1 to getting people to listen is make sure you sound crisp and clear. Keep reading to find out how to get the same sound quality in your home podcast studio as the professional podcast studios we work with. We’ll help you make sure that the only people listening are your subscribers, and not your neighbors.
Picking a Room for a Home Podcast Studio
Getting the right sound starts with finding the right room. If you’re planning on recording in your home, then it’s important to find a space that’s somewhat isolated. That means choosing a space that’s away from high traffic areas like the living room or kitchen. You also want to try and choose a room with few to no windows, since windows are the biggest culprit for letting sound in…and out. If you’re in a multifamily residence, try to find a room that doesn’t share a wall with neighbors, so you don’t have to worry about them interrupting your recording or you distracting them with your dulcet tones.
It’s not just about finding a quiet space, but choosing a space with good acoustics. If you’re able to, choose a location that has good sound absorption already with fewer exposed hard surfaces, like a room with thick carpet. We often see people start by recording in their closet because all the hanging clothes help absorb reverb and improve sound quality. Read our article on how to soundproof a closet for recording for more information on this!
Acoustics vs Soundproofing
The biggest mistake someone starting out makes working on a project like a home podcast studio is confusing soundproofing with acoustics. While soundproofing helps you keep sound from getting from one space to another, acoustics focuses on improving the sound quality in a given space. While both are important for a podcast studio, how you approach each problem is different and requires different materials. Knowing which of these problems is most important for you to solve in your space will help you effectively create your soundproof studio.
To improve sound quality, you’ll want to add acoustical materials and cover up reflective surfaces like hard walls and floors that lead to echo and reverb. If you’re concerned about outside noise then you want to focus on soundproofing, and finding ways to seal up the room and block sound from getting inside.
Sound moves a lot like water, which means it will get through any gap it can find. In order to block sound you need dense and airtight structures, essentially sealing off your room. Most often when you’re trying to find out how noise is getting in, the problem is doors and windows. For more information before you start your soundproofing project, check out our guide on the cost of soundproofing a room.
Improving the Acoustics in Your Podcast Studio
While recording in your closet is a solution, you may find yourself struggling to muster up creativity while staring at your old hoodie with the ketchup stain on it that you refuse to give up. If you’re ready for a more practical space, let’s upgrade to another room in the house. Install acoustic panels on the wall to absorb sound and reduce reverb to improve your sound quality.
We offer several types of acoustic wall panels depending on your needs and aesthetic. A favorite for podcasters that’s also easy to install is our CelluZorbe Cellulose Acoustic Panels, because it’s the most cost-effective option out there. Each panel only weighs a few pounds and can be applied to walls, ceilings, or be used as an acoustical core for a DIY acoustic panel.
Another popular choice are the PolyZorbe panels, often chosen for their more professional look. They’re often used in homes, recording studios, theaters, restaurants, soundproof gaming rooms and other commercial spaces. The PolyZorbe panel is more economical than a fabric wrapped panel (which we have as well!). They also look great in any space, are tackable, and easy to install. We also offer wood wool panels that are customizable and easy to install, check out our Timberwool panels.
How to Soundproof a Room for Podcasting
The best way to soundproof a podcasting room is to first address the sound transfer weak points, and then add density to other places. The priorities for soundproofing a podcasting room are:
- Soundproof the Door
- Soudnproof the windows
- Seal the walls, floor and ceiling
- Add Density to the walls, floor and ceiling
Home Podcast Studio Doors
Your average door is not sealed around the perimeter, allowing noise to get in through the gaps. The typical door in your home is also hollow-core, which is not dense enough to block much sound. We recommend replacing the hollow core door with a solid core door and then using the Sound Lock Acoustic Seal kit. It’s relatively easy to install and will fill in the gaps around your door to completely seal it when closed and block sound from traveling into or out of the room. If you’re building a professional podcast studio, then you need one of our Sound Lock Acoustical Doors (STC 56).
Podcasting Room Windows
Windows are almost always the least soundproof point in a wall. This weakness becomes obvious if they’re facing something noisy like a busy street or an outside AC unit making loud noise. A simple solution is using our Fantastic Frame Soundproof Window Inserts which can reduce sound through a window by up to 80%! Not only are they discrete, but once installed the inserts can be removed and reattached easily. Again, a professional studio will want a professional level soundproof window. We offer 3 levels of Tru Acoustics soundproof windows – STC 45, STC 49, and STC 56.
Walls, Ceiling, & Floor in a Bedroom podcast studio
For a home podcast studio, you can likely avoid this step if you picked a quiet room. For a professional studio, soundproofing all 6 surfaces (4 walls, 1 ceiling, 1 floor) is required and will be part of the architect’s specifications. Let’s jump back to the home podcast studio though. If you’re having trouble recording because sound is getting through the walls of your studio, you will need to soundproof them. As we mentioned earlier the key to soundproofing a room is making it as airtight as possible and then adding density. Consider every way sound can get into your space, and seal it up. For an existing room, the easiest way to do this is with acoustical sealant and a new layer of 5/8” drywall with Green Glue between the two drywall layers.
If you are building the podcast studio from the ground up, there are a slew of solutions for soundproofing your walls, ranging from adding mass loaded vinyl to Green Glue to a sound isolation clip system. For a more detailed breakdown check out our full guide to soundproofing walls. If you have issues with sound coming from above or below you, you will need to soundproof your ceiling and floor. For the ceiling, you can use the same strategy as you’d use for a wall (see our ceiling soundproofing article for more details). If you are wondering how to soundproof a floor, we recommend using our 10mm UnderBlock rubber flooring underlayment.
Now Record Your Podcast like a Pro!
Whether you’re discussing true crime, sports, or your love for meatballs (what? just me?), a good podcast has to sound great to build a following. And while we can’t promise you’ll get to the top of the Spotify charts, we can help you sound like you belong there. If you have bigger space needs for recording or performing, check out our article on how to soundproof a room for music. Give us a call or chat with us to to get expert help with materials or gameplanning your project!