How to choose a podcast studio: acoustics, microphones and recording

Most podcast studios look great in photos. What separates a good recording from an amateur one is rarely the room's design — it's the acoustics, the microphones and how many people the space can actually seat comfortably. Here is what to check before you book.

Acoustics and sound isolation

A treated room absorbs reflections so voices sound close and warm instead of hollow. Ask whether the walls have acoustic panels and whether the studio is isolated from street and neighbour noise — a single passing tram can ruin a take in an untreated room.

Microphones and number of participants

Confirm the studio has one broadcast microphone per guest (large-diaphragm condensers or dynamic mics like the Shure SM7B are the standard) and that the table comfortably seats your full panel. A four-person show in a two-mic room means people leaning and sharing — and it shows in the audio.

Recording and the engineer

Check whether recording is multitrack (each mic on its own channel, so you can fix one person in the edit) and whether an engineer is included or optional. For a first episode, an on-site engineer is worth the extra cost.

• Treated, isolated room
• One quality mic per participant
• Multitrack recording
• Optional engineer and post-production

Ready to record? Browse and book video and podcast studios in Amsterdam by the hour.