Good podcast recording comes down to five things: a clear idea of who the show is for, a quiet room, a microphone close to every speaker, a test recording before the real one, and a checklist you follow every time. You can genuinely start with a phone. You can also outgrow a spare bedroom faster than you expect, and this guide covers both ends.
We run a photography and content studio in central Leeds, and a growing share of our hire bookings are podcasts and video podcasts. What follows is what we see go right — and wrong — in real sessions, backed by public guidance wherever a fact can be checked.
Start with the listener, not the microphone
Most recording problems are really planning problems. A show with no defined listener ends up with no defined length, no defined format and no reason to sound a particular way.
The BBC's podcast masterclass material treats podcasting as more than an equipment purchase — audience, authenticity and production choices all matter. For a business or personal-brand show, we'd put it more bluntly. Write down three things before you record anything:
- Who is it for? One sentence, specific enough that you could name a real person who fits.
- What should they do afterwards? Subscribe, book a call, visit a shop, share a clip.
- How will you know it worked? Downloads, completion, enquiries or sales. AudioUK showcase reporting points to tools like listener surveys and pixel tracking — agree the measure before you record anything sponsor-related.
It also helps to hear how other business owners explain their work to a general audience rather than to peers. A local radio interview with a UK app company's chief executive is a good example of that register — plain answers, no jargon, one idea at a time.
Is there an audience worth recording for?
Yes, and a large one. Ofcom's 2025 research found that over a fifth of UK adults listen to podcasts weekly, rising to 30% among 35 to 44-year-olds. Smartphones are the most used listening device, which matters for how you mix: your episode will usually be heard on cheap earbuds on a train, not on studio monitors.
A word on money, because people ask. Radiocentre's analysis shows UK podcast advertising revenue grew 55% over the two years to 2024, and Ofcom suggests just over a third of listeners would pay to subscribe to a favourite podcast. But growth in a market doesn't guarantee income for any one show. Build trust first; monetise second.
Your podcast recording setup: three layers
Think of the setup as a chain. The BBC Academy's Podcastology episode makes the point that a podcast is an end-to-end technical chain — capture, monitoring, editing, processing, export and delivery all shape what the listener hears. A weak link anywhere spoils the rest. Here's how we split it.
Layer one: the room
Hard, bare surfaces bounce your voice around, and the microphone records that echo along with you. The BBC's beginner advice is to record somewhere quiet with soft furnishings to reduce echo, keeping a phone around 20 to 30 cm from the speaker. At home, that means:
- A smaller room beats a big one. A bedroom with a bed, curtains and a rug usually beats a kitchen or an open-plan living room.
- Turn off anything that hums — the fridge next door, fans, a boiler on a timer.
- Phones on silent; close any windows facing a road.
- Sit away from bare walls. Duvets, cushions and a full bookcase all help.
Layer two: the microphone and the signal path
Microphone distance matters as much as microphone price. Too far away and you record the room; too close and you get plosives — the popping on "p" and "b" sounds. If you move up to a dedicated microphone, remember the signal also needs a pre-amp, built into an audio interface or a mixer, as the BBC Introducing equipment guide explains. That's why a bare microphone on its own doesn't guarantee a professional result.
A simple way to choose:
| Situation | Sensible starting point |
|---|---|
| Solo, first episodes | Phone or laptop in a quiet, soft room, free recording app |
| Solo, regular show | One USB or XLR microphone, headphones, pop shield |
| Two or more speakers | One microphone per person, interface or mixer, closed-back headphones for everyone |
| Video podcast | All of the above, plus cameras, lighting and a plan for who is on screen |
For the two-speaker case, our walkthrough of a two-person podcast setup covers positioning and sound in more detail.
Layer three: software and file format
Free recording software is fine to begin with. Our habit is to record in WAV, which keeps full quality for editing, and make an MP3 only for the final upload. And if you have a guest, record each person on their own track where you can — a separate track per speaker is the difference between a five-minute edit and an unfixable one.
Recording habits that save the episode
These are the habits we see separating calm sessions from stressful ones.
Set levels so you never clip
Aim for levels about three-quarters of the way up: not so quiet that you lift hiss later, not so hot that the peaks distort. Distortion can't be repaired afterwards; quiet audio can be raised, at the cost of some noise. Ask each speaker to talk at the volume they'll actually use — including the moment they laugh.
Always record a test
Two minutes, then play it back on headphones, not laptop speakers. Listen for hum, echo, rustling clothes, a table knock and any difference in volume between speakers. The BBC's filming advice says the same for video: make a test recording before the full take.
Look after the voice — and the guest
Take breaks, keep water on the desk (not a hot drink near the kit — save the brew for the break), and don't talk over your guest. On a single-track recording, an "mm-hm" on top of someone's sentence is almost impossible to remove. Nod instead. It feels odd for ten minutes and then becomes natural.
Plan the running order
A short list of topics, not a script. Write the first question and the last question in full, because that's where people stumble. A tight brief makes the session shorter, and shorter sessions mean fewer problems with fatigue and background noise. If audio and video are recorded separately, one clap at the start gives the editor a spike to line them up.
Recording a video podcast
Video makes everything harder at once: sound, light, framing and the background. The most common failure we see is treating the camera's built-in microphone as the audio solution. The BBC's filming guidance is to get close to the subject or use a separate microphone, then test — and this matters most when you plan to cut clips for social media, where people judge quality in seconds.
Practical points for filming:
- Frame with deliberate headroom — not a gap so big the speaker looks tiny, nor so tight the top of their head is cropped.
- Light faces, not the room. A soft light at roughly 45 degrees to the face beats an overhead bulb — our guide to podcast lighting from budget to pro goes deeper.
- Keep the set simple. A tidy background with one or two interesting objects reads better than clutter.
- Decide camera angles before the session, not during it.
Our longer piece on video podcast production walks the full chain from set to export.
Music, guests and the legal basics
This is the part that catches people out after the recording is finished. Don't assume a track you can stream is free to use as your intro. GOV.UK says podcast downloads using copyright music may need licences involving PRS for Music and PPL, and copyright material generally needs permission, a licence or a valid exception.
The lower-risk option is music you hold a clear written licence for, or music made for you. Whichever you choose: keep the licence terms somewhere you can find them, get a short written yes from each guest covering recording, publishing and clips, and note anyone else's voice or music that appears in the episode — including a song playing in the background of a café recording.
A podcast recording checklist you can reuse
Print this, or keep it on your phone.
The day before
- Confirm guest, time, and how they'll join (in person or remote).
- Send topics and the first question.
- Charge everything, free up storage, update software.
- Confirm music licences and guest permission.
Before recording
- Silence phones and notifications, close windows, switch off fans.
- Microphones 20 to 30 cm from each mouth, or as your microphone recommends.
- Headphones on everyone.
- Record a two-minute test and listen back.
- Check levels peak well below the red.
- Water to hand.
During recording
- Say the date, episode title and guest name once, to help the editor.
- Clap once if audio and video are separate.
- Leave a pause after each answer.
- Fluffed a line? Pause, then repeat the sentence cleanly. The editor will find it.
After recording
- Copy the files to two places before you do anything else.
- Name files with the date and episode.
- Note timecodes of any problems so editing is quicker.
When a studio makes more sense than home
A home setup is fine for a first season — neither option is automatically better. Problems tend to show up when you want any of these: two or three people in the same room, each with their own microphone and camera; a video podcast that looks the same every episode; a guest who won't travel to your house; or social clips cut at the same time as the full episode.
If you do book somewhere, ask what the booking includes before you pay. A microphone alone doesn't make a signal chain, so confirm whether the package covers microphones, stands, headphones, interface or mixer, monitoring and an operator. A room that handles a single voice beautifully can come apart on a four-person panel. Our studio hire page sets out exactly what's included in ours, with current rates:
| Option | Price |
|---|---|
| Dry hire | £125 |
| Half day (4 hours) | £175 |
| Full day (8 hours) | £300 |
| Add a photographer | £350–550 |
| Runner | £175 |
What we see most often is people spending money in the wrong order. They buy a microphone, then discover the room echoes. They book a studio, then discover they have no plan for the first five minutes. Reverse that: define the listener, choose the simplest room that works, test, then upgrade one thing at a time. And if you're not sure what you need, ask us before you book — we'd rather tell you a half day is plenty than sell you a full one.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I record a podcast with just my phone?
Yes. The BBC's beginner guidance says a phone, a quiet room and free recording software are enough to start. Keep the phone about 20 to 30 cm from your mouth, record somewhere with soft furnishings, and listen back to a short test before the real thing.
What setup do I need to film a video podcast?
A camera or phone framed with sensible headroom, a microphone close to each speaker, soft light on the faces and a tidy background. Test before the full episode. With two or more people on camera, a studio with lighting and microphones already in place saves a lot of setup time.
How does a beginner start a podcast?
Decide who the show is for and what you want them to do after listening, pick a simple format, and record a short pilot with what you already own. Listen back, fix the biggest problem — usually the room — and only then think about new kit.
How much does a podcast with 50,000 listeners make?
There is no honest single figure. Income depends on your sponsors, your audience and what you measure. UK podcast advertising is growing, but a growing market doesn't guarantee earnings for any one show. Agree what success looks like before you approach sponsors.
Where can I record a podcast in Leeds?
Our studio is at Unit 9, 30–38 Dock Street, Leeds LS10 1JF — central Leeds, a short walk from the train station, with onsite parking. It's set up for audio and video podcasts with all equipment included, and you can book by the half day or full day.
Sources
- BBC Bitesize: How to Create a Podcast, Basic
- BBC Bitesize: How to Film, Basic
- BBC Masterclasses
- BBC Academy Podcastology: From mic to ear
- BBC Introducing: The right gear, equipment
- Ofcom: Top trends in UK listening habits 2025
- Ofcom: Top podcast listening trends
- Radiocentre: Speed of Sound
- Sounds Profitable: UK podcast advertising opportunity
- GOV.UK: Licences to use music online or on mobile technology
- GOV.UK: Using somebody else's intellectual property, Copyright
Book your podcast session in Leeds
If you'd like to record in central Leeds — audio or video, one voice or a panel — bring us the show, the format and a couple of episodes you admire, and we'll talk it through properly and work out the setup that will earn its keep. Book online, email mark@isophotographic.org, or call 0113 4400102.
Written by Mark Wheelwright
Commercial photographer & studio owner, Leeds | ISO Photographic Ltd
Dock Street Studio, Unit 9, 30–38 Dock Street, Leeds LS10 1JF
18+ years' experience | 900+ projects | 300+ five-star reviews | 1M+ shutter count
dockstreetstudioleeds.co.uk
Shot, written and built by the Dock Street team
Every guide on this blog comes from the team at Dock Street Studio — Mark behind the camera with 18+ years' experience, Nicole on styling and lighting, Beya on video and bookings and Austin keeping the site fast and findable. If you'd rather have us do it than read about it, book a session or explore our photography services in Leeds.