There is no denying that a captivating and interesting podcast requires good audio. If you have been podcasting for a while, you know how challenging it can be to achieve good audio quality. Notice how recorded audio might sound roomy and muffled? This sound quality is caused by reverb, which is reflected sound bouncing off different surfaces. Excessive reverb results in patchy audio that can be improved for a better listening experience.

If you are setting up a soundproof booth for podcasting, you need to reduce reverb on surfaces like walls and ceilings. To learn about improving audio quality, let’s explore the basics of acoustic treatment and effective soundproofing materials for your podcast setup.

Understanding Acoustic Treatment and Soundproofing

Acoustic treatment refers to improvements made to enhance a room’s sound quality. Because each recording space is different, effective acoustic treatment involves room design and using materials that absorb and diffuse sound.

Here’s how to distinguish sound absorption from sound diffusion:

·         -  Sound absorption: When sound travels through a wall with a porous material, it loses energy and weakens. The sound is absorbed and cannot escape the wall, resulting in a quieter space. Sound absorption materials like foam or fiberglass can be placed on walls and other reflective surfaces to keep sound waves from bouncing off.

·         - Sound diffusion: Sound that spreads from one area to another is called diffusion. When sound energy spreads out evenly in a room, it reduces reverb and produces good sound quality. A room with different angles and hard surfaces results in uneven sound diffusion and poor sound quality. Sound absorption materials can be placed in your room to manage uneven diffusion.

Now, think about your space. To improve sound quality, it helps to cover your podcast booth’s walls with thick materials like a curtain or blanket. You can also use acoustic panels, bass traps and diffusers to manage how sound bounces inside a room. These materials reduce noise and reverb to help produce a clear and balanced sound quality for recordings. 

How Is Acoustic Treatment Different From Soundproofing?

Soundproofing essentially contains sound within a space. When a room is soundproofed, external sounds cannot be heard inside, and sound from inside cannot be heard outside that space. Soundproofing works by using dense materials that create a solid layer between two spaces.

For example, a concrete wall with soundproofed insulation is denser than drywall. Sound energy weakens and cannot pass through it. If you want a well-soundproofed room, consider constructing your podcast room’s walls with thick, soundproofed material.

What if I want to soundproof an existing space? Soundproofing materials such as high-performing soundproofing barriers, flooring underlayments and sound-blocking door sweeps can help confine sound in a room. You can get your podcast soundproofing kit at Soundproof Cow — we offer a free acoustic analysis!

Setting up a Podcast Studio at Home

Creating a successful home recording studio involves more than using quality computers, microphones and cameras. While equipment is important, podcast room design is a critical factor that impacts your studio’s sound quality. Use acoustic treatment and soundproofing materials to set up an existing space or create a new room.

Acoustic Treatment for Your Podcast Room or Booth

You can acoustically treat your home recording studio by choosing superior-quality sound absorption materials. Be sure to place your materials in the best spots to control and reduce reverb in your podcast studio.

We recommend the following sound absorption materials:

1. Acoustic Foam

Acoustic foam panels are a lightweight, cost-effective solution for covering the surface of your podcast studio walls. For optimal results, install acoustic foam panels in a checkerboard pattern, with each panel directly across a blank space on the opposite wall. This strategic layout helps increase surface coverage to reduce echo and reverb.

2. Acoustic Panels

Ceilings are another reflective surface that needs to be covered to reduce reverb. Acoustic panels are usually larger than acoustic foam and can be mounted or hung on ceilings, making them a versatile choice for acoustic treatment and soundproofing for podcasters.

Choose stylish Art Acoustic Panels from Soundproof Cow to minimize reverb and noise while adding character to your studio. Our Art Acoustic Panels are custom and made to order, allowing you to take your images and place them on a fade-resistant, fabric-wrapped acoustic panel.

3. Bass Traps

Bass traps are installed to reduce low-frequency sound waves that travel farther and penetrate through walls. For the most effective sound absorption, bass traps are strategically placed in the corners of a room, which is why they are also called “corner traps.”

Soundproofing for Your Podcast Room or Booth

Soundproofing materials are strategically placed to confine sound and enhance your room’s audio quality. You can do this for an existing room or when building a new one. For more effective soundproofing, consider installing soundproofing material in new construction.

Choose from the following soundproofing options:

1. Acoustic Insulation

Installing acoustic insulation in your walls traps sound waves, reducing noise and reverb. The thickness of the insulation makes it harder for sound waves to pass through the wall. Sound waves that travel through acoustic insulation are caught by dense fibers, weakening sound energy. As a result, less sound passes and escapes through your podcast room’s walls.

2. Soundproofing Barriers

Soundproofing barriers prevent loud external sounds from disturbing your podcast. These acoustic barriers are often made with dense layers of foam, vinyl, or fiberglass to fend off and reduce external noise. Sound barriers can have an adhesive that easily sticks to drywall, pipes and other surfaces that reflect external noise.

3. Soundproof Flooring Underlayments

Flooring can transmit loud sounds from people passing or moving in rooms. Soundproof your recording space with flooring underlayments that can be fitted under tile, carpet, rug, laminate, hardwood and stone floors. These effectively reduce sound vibrations and keep sound from penetrating your room’s floor.

Conclusion

Audio quality can make or break a podcast. That is why it is essential to soundproof your recording space to prevent interruptions and distractions, thereby keeping your listeners engaged. While soundproofing will require an initial investment of money and time, but it is worth it and will pay off in the long run in elevating your podcast's reputation.