Quick fixes for better audio:
- Room selection: Choose spaces with existing soft materials that naturally absorb sound
- Acoustic treatment: Install foam panels on walls and ceilings to control reflections
- Isolation shields: Use portable reflection filters around your microphone ($50-200)
- Microphone choice: Select dynamic mics that reject room noise better than condensers
- Furniture placement: Add bookshelves, rugs, and curtains to break up sound waves
Today, we are starting a new video series around podcasting best practices: Podcast Pro Tips. In episode 1, we explain how reverb and room reflections make a mess of your audio and can make it hard for your listeners to engage with and listen to your content. We show ways to mitigate reverb and room reflections, and talk about room choices, furniture, gear that helps reduce reverb and reflection, and more!
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Transcript:
What are Reverb and Room Reflections in Podcast Recordings?
Reverb is short for reverberation. It is the persistence of a sound in a space after the original sound has been created. It happens when sound waves reflect off of surfaces like walls, ceilings, and floors, and cause a series of echoes that blend together.
Room reflections, compared to reverb, are similar. They occur when the sound waves bounce back directly from these surfaces, creating distant echoes that can make your recordings sound hollow or distant. Both, reverb and room reflections can make a mess of your audio and can make it hard for the listener to engage with the conversation and listen to your content.
How Can You Reduce Reverb and Room Reflections?
As you could have guessed, the room you record in has a huge impact on the quality of that recording.
Ideally, you want to pick a room that already has things in it that will start to minimize reflections. That can be as simple as furniture, curtains, or carpet. Avoid rooms with lots of hard surfaces, like big walls, concrete, wooden floors, or big glass windows. Also, if you want to take it a step further and treat your room for audio specifically, you can actually invest in a set of acoustic panels.
These panels are designed to absorb sound and can be hung on your walls and your ceiling and really do a lot to help with reverb and reflection in the room you’re recording. They even come in a variety of colors and styles, if you want to dial in the look of your recording studio.
Do Reflection Filters and Isolation Shields Improve Podcast Audio Quality?
Okay, so maybe building a studio might be a bit of a stretch, or you just don’t have a bunch of Persian rugs just lying around to style your space. What then? Fortunately, it’s never been a better time to start a podcast, even if you’re just curious and want to dip your toes in.
There are plenty of reflection filters and isolation shields available online or at most music stores. All you have to do is buy it, place your mic on the inside, and you’re already one step ahead at controlling those pesky room reflections that’ll make a mess of your recordings. Of course, once the room has been set up, picking the right podcast microphone is going to be the next crucial step in making your podcast sound professional.
5 Tips to Fix Reverb and Room Reflections
So, to recap, when it comes to producing your podcast, picking the right room does make a world of difference. If you can’t pick the most ideal room or want to improve your existing room, here are five ways that you can improve it overall.
- Choose a room that isn’t made of glass, concrete, or wood if you can help it.
- Add some rugs, furniture, and other things that’ll help naturally absorb the sound waves in your room.
- If you can, consider getting some acoustic panels to minimize reflections even further.
- If you can’t do much with your room, look into an isolation shield or a reflection filter.
- Pick the right microphone.
By following these simple steps, you’ll significantly reduce reverb and reflections and improve podcast recording.
What we have discussed in this episode of Podcast Pro Tips
- Podcast Microphones: The Ultimate Guide
- Acoustic panels (Amazon link)
- Isolation shields (Amazon link)
- RØDE PodMic: Why Podcasters Love It
- Shure MV7X: Unveiling a Podcast Microphone Gem
Frequently Asked Questions
Reverb occurs when sound waves reflect off hard surfaces like walls, ceilings, and floors, creating a series of blended echoes. Room reflections are direct sound bounces from these surfaces that make recordings sound hollow or distant.
Acoustic panels are designed with sound-absorbing materials that trap sound waves instead of reflecting them back into the room. When hung on walls and ceilings, they significantly reduce reverb by preventing sound from bouncing around the space.
Yes, isolation shields and reflection filters effectively reduce room reflections by creating a sound-absorbing barrier around your microphone. These portable solutions work well for podcasters who can’t treat an entire room.
Yes, you can reduce reverb by strategically adding household items that absorb sound. Hang heavy curtains, add area rugs, position bookshelves filled with books, place upholstered furniture in the room, and record in spaces with existing soft materials.
Acoustic treatment costs vary widely. Basic isolation shields and reflection filters range from $50-200. Acoustic foam panel packs cost $100-300 for enough coverage to treat a small room. Professional acoustic panels with better performance start around $200-500. Free solutions include rearranging furniture and adding household textiles.