Podcast Studio Design Tips For Beginners With Starting Cost

Are you ready to take your podcasting to the next level? Let’s set up your ideal podcast studio design following these tips!

An excellent podcast studio design will help you retain your audience. How? Your studio will add to your aesthetic. Plus, if done well, it will improve the quality of your recording. 

But what exactly do you need for a podcast studio? This post includes beginner-friendly tips to level up your podcast set-up ideas and equipment required before you invest your time and money in it.

What Is Needed For A Podcast Studio?

Before you begin your venture on reorganizing your workspace or home, be clear on what type of podcast you will start.

In my previous blog on podcast introduction, I mentioned the difference between audio and video podcasting. Generally, you will need the similar set-ups for both types.

However, video podcasting requires more equipment such as clear lighting, a camera, a tripod, and extra memory cards for sound and visual recordings.

Okay, we got the types out of the way. Let’s move on to the details!

Essential Podcast Equipment Needed In Your Podcast Studio

Computer

The most essential piece of equipment for podcasting is your computer because it’s where you record, edit, and create your shows. Getting a reliable computer is important if you want your podcasts to sound professional, no matter how long you’ve been doing them or how new you are to it..

Make sure your computer or laptop is cleared up before you start recording hours of audio and know which audio editing tool will you use.

When choosing a computer for podcasting, think about its processing power, memory (RAM), and storage capacity. A strong processor makes it possible to record and edit audio without problems, and enough RAM lets you use editing software and other programs simultaneously without any lag. It’s also essential to have enough storage space to keep your podcast episodes, audio files, and other multimedia files.

Your computer is the most essential part of your podcast. Investing in a computer with enough processor power, memory, and storage space sets you up for a smooth and easy podcasting experience. This way, you can focus on making exciting content without worrying about technical issues.

Microphone

How will you record any audio without a microphone? A good microphone is necessary for professional sound clarity that keeps people listening. There are a lot of medium-range mics that can be great if you want to start podcasting.

Investing in an appropriate microphone will make your voice more clearly and richer, so your audience can fully understand what you’re saying. USB microphones, like the Blue Yeti or the Audio-Technica ATR2100x, are great for beginners because they are cheap and easy to use. You can connect these microphones straight to your computer without using any extra audio interfaces because they are plug-and-play.

If you want to improve the sound quality, XLR mics are a more professional and flexible choice. For example, the Shure SM7B and the Rode PodMic are both XLR mics that reproduce sound very well. Remember that in order to connect an XLR microphone to your computer, you will need an audio interface. This will give you more control over the sound settings.

You can get any podcasting mic, too – just make sure you have one. 

Headphones

Podcasters wear headphones during recording serves multiple crucial purposes in ensuring the overall quality of the audio content.

Headphones provide real-time feedback, allowing podcasters to monitor their own voice, the voice of co-hosts or guests, and any background noise. This is invaluable in making on time adjustments to microphone technique, voice modulation, or identifying and addressing potential audio issues during the recording process.

Additionally, headphones helps you maintain a consistent audio environment. By actively listening to your audio feed, you can detect and address any unwanted noises, disturbances, or technical glitches as they occur. This proactive approach ensures a smoother recording experience and minimizes the need for extensive post-production edits.

Furthermore, headphones are crucial for facilitating communication among podcast hosts and guests, especially in remote recording setups. Clear and direct communication enhances the flow of the conversation, helps avoid talking over each other, and contributes to a more professional and polished final content.

So make sure you got your headphones ready to use. If not, then find a simple pair of earphones.

Memory Storage

Once you start recording videos, interviews, other audio files, your storage will fill UP. I say, better safe than sorry, so get yourself memory cards or subscribe for more storage on Google Drive.

Investing in high-capacity memory cards is a practical solution to meet the storage needs of your recording equipment. Memory cards with more space let you record more before you have to move the files to your computer or an external hard drive.

Additionally, this is helpful for podcasters who record while traveling or during long conversations. It lets you focus on making content without having to worry about running out of space all the time.

Another effective strategy is to leverage cloud storage services, such as Google Drive, to expand your storage capabilities. Subscribing to additional storage on platforms like Google Drive provides a secure and accessible repository for your podcasting files. Cloud storage not only acts as a backup but also allows seamless collaboration, as you can access your files from various devices and share them with collaborators or guests.

This approach lets you have enough storage space to properly record and store your podcast content, so you can focus on making shows that are interesting and powerful without having to worry about storage space.

Space

Before investing your time and equipment, decide if you have a spare room or space to set up your podcast studio. I understand that not everyone can afford a luxurious extra room for the sake of podcasting (I’ve been there!), but try to stay realistic with your expectations.

For example, you can start off with just a simple audio podcast in the corner of your bedroom, and once you’ve got extra income to spare, you can try to rent out an office or co-working room for special episodes.

Keep reading if you are ready to set your small room for podcasting. 

Small Room Set-up For Podcast Studio

Choose your corner or room

If you have a quiet corner in your room or a basement floor, I recommend choosing that spot. Ensure you keep the equipment out of direct sunlight if you live in a sunny place!

Plus, check if the corner of the room is quiet enough, such as the wall is not shared with loud neighbors or bathrooms. You should keep your corner as quiet and calm as possible to record your podcast episodes smoothly and professionally.

Soundproof your walls

Okay, now you’ve got your spare room or corner to build your podcast studio, it is time to soundproof your walls and floors.

The sound quality of your recording space can be improved without spending much money. Thick blankets or rugs can work well as a temporary soundproofing option for building your podcast studio design. This method is not only low-cost but it can also be used in many different ways.

First, figure out which parts of your recording place are most likely to cause sound reflections or outside noise interference. Walls, doors, and floors are common places to look. By putting thick blankets or rugs in these spots on purpose, you can make a barrier that absorbs and dampens sound waves, which lowers the background noise in your recording space.

You can hang heavy blankets or rugs on the walls, making sure they cover a lot of space to absorb sound as much as possible. To stop sound from leaking under doors, put down a heavy blanket or folded rug to make a seal and stop sound from leaking. And putting rugs or carpets on the floor adds another layer of sound absorption, especially if the floor in your recording place is hard.

While this makeshift solution may not offer the same level of soundproofing as professional acoustic treatments for podcast studios have, it provides a practical and budget-friendly way to improve the sound quality of your recordings. Experiment with the placement and layering of blankets or rugs to find the configuration that best suits your space and effectively minimizes unwanted noise.

This simple yet effective approach allows you to create a more acoustically controlled environment for your podcast recordings without breaking the bank.

I recommend investing in proper carpeting for a more advanced podcast studio set-up.

Get A Spacious Desk

Your desk will be your core podcasting station, so clean and organize that desk well enough that all your equipment can fit on it and your laptop and snacks. Also, your desk has to be close to a charging port or electric outlet.

Podcast Studio Design For Video Podcasts

If you decide to go all-in and do a video podcast, you can start with a simple Zoom call, so you can just use your default webcam or get a webcam.

Consider Extra Cameras

However, consider investing in 1-2 high-quality cameras for more advanced set-ups and get yourself stable tripods. This way, you can record yourself and your guests in-person and have a high-quality recording the entire time. 

Video recordings are a fantastic way to engage with your listeners. Initially, video calls are also great, to begin with. However, you might have issues with the audio quality as it also depends on the internet connection of your guests.

What Background To Use For Podcast Studio
(Video Podcasting)

Clear Lighting

Let your listeners see you clearly. This requires good lighting and better camera quality.

Does it look appealing to you when the video is dark, and you can barely see the person’s face? Yeah, we want to avoid dark recordings. 

Virtual Background

If you are on a budget and you are still in the process of setting up your podcast studio space, virtual backgrounds could be a way to save your podcast background. 

It is not ideal yet. However, a better solution than having your audience see an “under construction” room, am I right?

There are plenty of virtual backgrounds available, or you can design your own on Canva.

White Wall And Nature

It may sound cliche but adding some vivid indoor plants in the background gives a friendlier feel to your podcast studio for video recordings. Pair this with lovely white walls and precise lighting, then your video podcast is good to go.

Overall Cost Of A Podcast Studio Set-Up

The overall cost of podcast studio set-up depends on the investment you are willing to take in your equipment, room set-up, type of podcast etc. 

According to Riverside FM, advanced podcasters can spend up to $1000 on podcasting equipment and setting up their podcast studio. However, just using some common sense, here is my practical estimation on a podcast studio set-up cost. 

Generally, a podcast set-up for beginners with a low investment into equipment would be around $65 with a $50 microphone and $15 hosting. As a more advanced audio podcaster, the cost can start from $420 based on this very simple average calculation:

• Hosting $15
• Microphone $130
• Podcast editing $25
• Audio mixer $100
• Headphone $150

Podcasting With Seven Million Bikes

Starting a podcast can cost however much you want, but always consider the time as your most sacred currency. Podcasting takes time, and if you aren’t prepared for it, you can waste a lot of it.

If you are interested in starting your podcast, you can book a free consultation with me or download my free e-book to kick-start your podcast channel!