With more and more people doing podcasts, creating optimal conditions for recording, at home, in offices, and elsewhere is becoming increasingly important. A press release from the Acoustical Society of America shares that “A high-quality podcast recording is one that does not capture sounds other than the podcaster’s voice. . . . Mechanical noise should be controlled so that you cannot hear HVAC systems in a recording. . . . Square room proportions should be avoided as this can cause room modes, or buildup of sound energy in spots of the room, creating an uneven acoustic environment. Carpet is ideal for flooring, and an acoustically absorptive material should be attached to the wall(s) in the same plane as the podcaster’s voice. Wall materials should be 1-2” thick. Ceiling materials should be acoustically absorptive, and window glass should be angled upward to reduce resonance within the room. Strategies for improving sound separation may include sound rated doors or standard doors with full perimeter gaskets, sound isolation ceilings, and full height wall constructions with insulation and multiple layers of gypsum wallboard.”
“Room Design Considerations for Optimal Podcasting.” 2022. Press release, Acoustical Society of America, https://acoustics.org/room-design-considerations-for-optimal-podcasting/