Podcasting has skyrocketed in recent years and so has the demand for podcast recording studios.
In just a five-year period from 2017-2022, the percentage of Americans who’ve ever listened to a podcast rose from 40% to 62%. Go back another five years to 2012 and that number was just 29%.
And if you’re a small business owner, entrepreneur, or marketing professional, you know the power of podcasts to increase your business opportunities. Successful podcasts can help you reach a wider audience, boost sales leads, increase traffic to your website, and build brand authority.
But before you can realize those benefits, you need a place to record your podcast. And you don’t need a dedicated studio of your own to get started.
Here we’ll review what to look for in a podcast recording studio and why your local coworking space might be just the right fit.
What to Look for in a Podcast Recording Studio
With the variety of technology and tools at our disposal today, recording a podcast has never been easier. As long as you have a phone, computer, or device to record on and a platform where you can upload your episodes, you can create a podcast.
But to create a high-quality podcast, you might need to think about it a bit further.
Because podcasting is an audio medium, sound quality is very important to creating a great podcast. So, there are some specific things to look for in a podcast recording studio.
Podcasting Basics
To get that high-quality sound production your listeners will enjoy, prioritize a podcast recording studio space that has:
- Soundproof walls: You don’t want any background noise getting into your podcast recording, so a soundproof environment is key.
- Privacy: Ensure you’re somewhere that’s private and without interruptions.
- Quality microphones: This is the simplest way to significantly improve the audio quality of your podcast. A microphone picks up sound better and makes everything sound more crisp, clear, and professional. It also helps with volume management when you produce the episode.
- Good lighting: If you’re also video recording your episode, make sure there’s good lighting in your podcast recording studio.
- Nice backgrounds: Similarly, this option is for those who also record videos. A nice, clean background ensures your viewers aren’t distracted while listening to the episode.
- Comfortable seats: Many podcasts are 30, 40, 60+ minutes in length, so make sure you have a comfortable seat in your podcast recording studio so you aren’t moving around or feeling uncomfortable.
Extra Perks in Coworking Spaces
The reality is that this list of podcasting basics is possible to achieve from either your home office or another podcast recording studio.
But there are some extra benefits of utilizing a coworking space as your podcast recording studio that make all the difference.
- Administrative support: Besides simply recording a podcast, you have a number of administrative tasks and responsibilities to make it successful. On-site staff at a coworking space can help with this. At Launch, for example, our team can help check in your guests, troubleshoot A/V equipment, or manage your mail and phone calls through our virtual office services option.
- Community: Podcasters are creative by nature. But even the most creative person needs some inspiration! The community you build in a coworking space offers so much value—inspiration from other hardworking professionals, networking opportunities, and events and webinars to boost your knowledge.
- Productive workspace: Coworking spaces are designed for productivity. With spatially diverse options such as open common areas, private phone booths, or outdoor areas, you can work where and when you want.
- Work-life separation: Even the most ardent work-from-home champion can go a little stir crazy in their home office. Part of the reason for this is that there’s no separation to create work-life balance. A coworking space offers you that distinction between spaces—a short commute to a productive workplace can make all the difference in balancing home and work life.
3 Coworking Space Options for a Podcast Recording Studio
Coworking spaces, then, offer some unique benefits to podcasters. And since flexibility is a core principle of coworking spaces, there are a few options for how to use one as a podcast recording studio:
1. Dedicated Podcast Recording Studio
The first option is to look for a coworking space that offers a dedicated podcast recording studio that you can book. This is where you’ll get a professional set up designed specifically for your podcasting needs. A podcast recording studio in a coworking space will include:
- Soundproofed rooms
- All equipment, including microphones, headphones, computers, lights, and a mixer
- Comfortable seating and desk set up
- Technical support from on-site staff
At Launch, our Rockville, Maryland location has a podcast recording studio available to both members and those looking to book the space on a temporary basis.
Using a dedicated podcast recording studio at a coworking space means you don’t need to bring in your own equipment or worry that it’s not a soundproofed area. It’s ideal for creating high-quality audio content while also accessing the many other benefits of using a coworking space.
2. Private Office
Your second option is to use your private office in a coworking space as a podcast recording studio. Here you can guarantee privacy and ensure there are no interruptions while you’re recording.
You can also keep your microphone and other podcast recording equipment safely set up and stored in your office—no need to bring it in each time. Since it’s your office, you can keep the set up how you want.
The only thing to note with this option is that private offices in coworking spaces are not specifically soundproofed. While you’re unlikely to hear too much noise from neighboring rooms, it’s not going to be completely silent either.
You can read more about how Launch member Kevin transformed his private office into a podcast recording studio here.
3. Bookable Meeting Rooms or Flex Spaces
The last option to use a coworking space as your podcast recording studio is to book a meeting room or other event or flex space.
This option is likely best for one-off or infrequent podcast recordings, as you will need to set up your workspace and equipment in the room each time. Similar to a private office, it’s also not optimized for soundproofing and a larger room may be echoey. With a high-quality microphone, however, this shouldn’t cause too many problems.
The major benefit of this option is that it’s a larger space where you can accommodate guests. If you’re inviting one or a couple of people onto your podcast, you will have space to all sit together and record the episode.
How Much Does a Podcast Recording Studio Cost?
Since there are so many options for how and where to record your podcast, the costs vary. If you are recording from your own private office it’s included in your monthly membership, whereas a dedicated room is typically booked and paid for by the hours.
At Launch, you can expect:
- Private office memberships start at $500/month.
- Meeting rooms start at $30.00/hour for a small office of $50.00/hour for a conference room.
- Podcast studio (Rockville location) available for rent at $40/hour.
Using a coworking space as a podcast recording studio not only provides you with a private, sound-controlled area to record, but also allows you to access the many benefits of a coworking community.
If you’re interested in pursuing your podcasting goals in a supportive community of like-minded professionals, contact us today to book a tour of your local Launch.
