Recording clear audio in an untreated room can be tough, but employing certain microphone techniques can help reduce background noise and enhance your podcast quality. Choosing the right microphone is crucial; in a non-soundproofed space, a dynamic microphone is usually preferred over a condenser one. Dynamic mics are less sensitive to distant sounds and better at rejecting room noise. Opt for a microphone with a cardioid or supercardioid pickup pattern to focus on capturing sound from the front and minimizing side and rear noise.
Practicing close-miking by placing the microphone near your mouth (around 2 to 6 inches away) can lower the input gain and minimize background noise pickup. Always aim the microphone directly at your mouth and position it to face the main source of noise in the room. Additionally, controlling your recording environment by closing windows, reducing appliance noise, and adding soft furnishings can help dampen sound reflections and echo.
Using a pop filter and monitoring your audio with headphones during recording are also essential for maintaining consistency and identifying intrusive noise. While post-production software can assist in noise reduction, focusing on capturing clean audio from the source through these microphone techniques will yield the best results in an imperfect recording space.
Best,
Sean