28 Apr Podcasting or Presenting Like a Pro: Tips and Tricks to Improve Your Audio
Who doesn’t love a good podcast? If you’ve ever contemplated starting your own, you might be surprised to learn just how easy it is to set up a recording space.
Even if a podcast isn’t in your future, as a remote worker or even as an office worker taking part in video conferences, there are some simple and easy-to-implement changes you can make that will improve the quality of your audio for more professional and polished presentations.
Interested in learning what those changes are? Read on!
How to Equip Your Space
Mic Matters
First, consider upgrading the microphone you’re using. While the microphone that is integrated into your PC or laptop will get the job done, sometimes the off-the-shelf solution isn’t up to the task at hand, especially if it is centrally located and multiple speakers (people, not audio outputs) are spread throughout the room.
There are two types of microphones well-suited for a podcast: dynamic and condenser. What’s the difference? In short, dynamic microphones tend to eliminate background noise well, and therefore are good options for voice recording. Condenser microphones typically deliver a smoother output but might come at a higher price point.
You might also wish to consider the addition of a reflection shield. This is a sound absorption device that can be mounted directly to an external microphone for refined audio output. If you tend to conduct a lot of remote business, you may find that this quick fix makes a world of difference in terms of how you are heard and understood by those on the other end of your remote meeting.
With that said, the microphone is but one consideration for your space. Adding some soft design elements like a throw rug or wall covering can help to overcome acoustic issues.
No Reverb, Please
If you’ve ever seen a photo of your favorite recording artist in a studio, you might have taken note of foam on the walls and/or ceiling. Why? Adding soundproofing material improves the speaker’s (or singer’s) vocal clarity. In an office setting, while this application would help with acoustics, it wouldn’t be especially aesthetically pleasing or practical. An alternative would be the introduction of a PET product that offers a similar NRC (Noise Reduction Coefficient) with a more pleasing appearance.
One such option is PIXL, our newest acoustic panel. Shown here in a recording space, it’s easy to recognize the visual upgrade compared to acoustic foam products.
The panels in the left image feature square, grey poofs. In the image to the right, you’ll also see the same product, with custom printing applied. Acoustically, there is no difference between plain or printed-on panels, but visually, the difference is dramatic.
If you regularly present on camera, you’re no doubt equally concerned with your acoustics as you are your appearance. If that is the case, you might wish to consider a full-wall artistic PIXL installation like the one shown below.
Of note is PIXL’s ability to be applied to the ceiling and/or as a drop-in product to an exposed T-Grid. Pairing wall and ceiling acoustic panels will improve the sound quality of a space.
