How to produce industry standard audio from home!

 

Back in the old days it used to cost a mere £250,000 to set up a studio to broadcast standard.  Now we can do it on a Smartphone.  But what is still essential, no matter what equipment you are using from the cheapeast microphone to most the expensive, it’s actually all about the environment you are recording in and not the equipment that matters.  I had always dreamed of getting an old telephone box and turning that into a Vocal Booth, just the perfect size!

 

You can buy portable Vocal Booths/shields for as little as £40, so don’t think you need to have anything expensive and fancy.  You may of heard people joking about recording underneath a duvet, or during the pandemic seeing the News reporters in the homes with blankets and duvets hung up, but actually all of it works. Having said that recording under a duvet just not very practically as it gets very hot plus its too dark to read a script, yes i have done it many times!  But why not make your own vocal booth?  When people first start out making podcasts, its like with any hobby, it may not be for you, so don’t go spending money until you are 100% sure its for you.  To ensure your environment is at its very best then yes getting into a smaller space as possible is great as its all about capturing the soundwaves and stop them bouncing away, try it out.  Record some audio in a great big hall or a public toilet with hard floors, heigh ceilings and then go home, snuggle under the duvet and record a clip and see the difference.  Its like night and day.  Back in the day, presenters were chosen for their dulcet & resonant tones, especially women.  The only women you used to hear on the radio would be the “late night” show and they would be expected to speak in a completely in appropriate way to seduct the listener! (I know, I did it). Thank god for podcasts which has made the industry realise that listeners yearn for authenticity and that’s why Podcasts have boomed!  The radio industry is bound by Ofcom regulations so can limit a personality but what you can do is make sure you make your voice sound the best you can so ensuring your environment is the best way to start.  I even used to open my wardrobe doors and sit inside and record in there.  I then heard that egg boxes were great and then I thought hang on, I can literally make my own, see photo below:

 

 

I have now upgraded and spent just over £30 on a Vocal booth/sheild stand and wow, it makes such a difference, you really sound like you are in a studio.  So, don’t go spending money on expensive equipment when you can litearlly make your own or have a look at some like I got in the end:

 

 

 

If you would like to learn more tips or get some training either 1:1 or in a group setting we offer bespoke training for all levels from beginners to professionals, from third sector to corporate.  I am 70% visually impaired and have had the privielge of working with some amazing groups.  I taught a group the Visually Impaired People (VIP’s) how to make their first podcasts through the amazing City of Threads project.  There I met Jeff and Chris and we made the 1st Podcast toolkit for the VIP.  I have worked with the NHS to teach people with Dementia to make their 1st podcast and the list goes on.

Our main mission is to give opportunities to women from marganlised backgrounds and communities and make sure all women “find their voice” and our private training allows us to be able to offer free opportunities and workshops.

 

If you would like to find out more then get in touch and email us at:

soundwomensouthwest@gmail.com

 

We look forward to hearing from you and helping you FIND YOUR VOICE!