9 Mic Placement Tips for Clear Podcast Audio

If you’re recording a podcast—whether at home or in a professional podcast studio in Saigon—one thing matters more than most: your mic placement.

In this blog, I’ll share simple mic placement tips that I’ve learned after recording hundreds of episodes and working with many podcasters. These mic placement tips will help you sound more professional in every episode.

Why Mic Placement Matters

Camera settings help you look good on the video, but remember, with podcasting, audio quality is even more important. When you place your mic the right way, your voice sounds clear, full, and pleasant. Listeners will stay with you longer. Your message gets across better.

When mic placement is wrong, your podcast can sound:

• Echoey
• Distant
• Full of harsh “P” or “B” sounds (called plosives)
• Boomy or distorted

This happens more often than you think—even in good podcast studios.

At my Saigon podcast studio, I often help podcasters fix their sound just by adjusting the microphone. Small changes can make a big difference.

1. Keep Your Mic 2-3 Inches from Your Mouth – like 2-3 inches

The best distance between your mic and your mouth is about 2 to 4 inches. That’s about the size of your fist or the “shaka” hand sign.

Why this matters:

• Too close: your voice will sound boomy, and it might distort.
• Too far: you’ll pick up echo and background noise.

Here’s a quick tip I give my clients at the studio:
Sit comfortably, keep your back straight, and make sure your mouth is always about a fist away from the mic.

If you move while talking (which is natural), try not to lean too far back or forward.

2. Speak Slightly Off-Axis to Reduce Plosives

Plosives are those sharp “P” and “B” sounds that hit the mic like a mini gust of wind. They cause unpleasant pops in the audio.

To reduce this, try speaking slightly off-axis.

What does that mean?

• Instead of speaking directly into the mic,
• Speak at a slight angle—just a little to the left or right, or slightly above or below.

This simple trick helps the air from your mouth miss the mic’s center, which means fewer harsh sounds.

This works especially well if you’re using a dynamic microphone, which is common in most podcast studios—including mine in Saigon.

3. Use a Pop Filter or Windscreen

If you don’t already have one, get a pop filter. It’s a cheap and easy way to improve your sound.

What’s the difference between a pop filter and a windscreen?

• Pop filter: a thin mesh screen placed in front of the mic
• Windscreen: a foam cover that goes over the mic
  

Both help reduce plosives and mouth noise. At our podcast studio for hire in Ho Chi Minh City, every mic is already equipped with one—so you don’t have to bring your own.

They also keep the mic cleaner (bonus!).

4. Check the Mic Angle

Mic placement isn’t just about distance—it’s also about angle.

Your mic should be:

• Slightly below your mouth and angled up
• Or slightly to the side and angled toward your mouth

This avoids picking up too much breath or saliva sounds.

Also, place the mic so it’s not pointing toward a noise source like a fan, aircon, or window.

5. Use a Boom Arm or Adjustable Stand

If your mic is sitting on your desk, it can pick up vibrations when you move or type.

Instead, use:

• A boom arm that attaches to your table
• Or an adjustable stand that keeps the mic steady

This helps reduce handling noise, keeps your hands free, and allows you to place the mic at the perfect height and distance.

In my Saigon podcast room, every mic is mounted on a boom arm to make setup easy and consistent for each guest or host.

6. Watch the Room You’re Recording In

Mic placement also depends on your room.

A bad-sounding room can ruin good mic technique. Here’s what to avoid:

• Hard surfaces like empty walls, glass, or tile
• Echo from large open spaces
• Background noise from windows, AC, or street traffic

Here’s what to try:

• Add soft materials like curtains, rugs, or blankets
• Record in a smaller room with less echo
• Choose a professional podcast studio in Saigon with acoustic treatment (like ours 😉)

7. Always Do a Sound Check

Before you hit record, always do a quick sound check.

Here’s a simple checklist:

• Is the mic at the right distance (6–8 inches)?
• Are you slightly off-axis?
• Is the pop filter in place?
• Can you hear any background noise?
• Is your voice clear and not too loud?

If you’re not sure, record a short test clip and listen back using good headphones.

This is something I do with every client before they start recording in our Saigon podcast studio for rent—because once you record a full episode, it’s hard to fix bad sound later.

8. Sit Still and Control Your Movements

Even with perfect mic placement, if you move too much while recording, your voice can become inconsistent.

Why this matters:

• Leaning back or turning your head can make your voice sound distant.
• Tapping the desk or fidgeting can cause unwanted noise.
• Moving away from the mic can change your sound quality mid-sentence.

How to fix it:

• Sit comfortably in one position.
• Keep your mouth the same distance from the mic as you speak.
• If you need to move, use a swivel chair or a boom arm so the mic moves with you.

This is one reason why I always recommend using a boom arm and headphones, especially at our podcast studio in Saigon. It helps you hear how you sound in real-time and keeps your voice consistent throughout the recording.

9. Extra Tips for Multi-Host or Interview Podcasts

If you’re recording with more than one person:

• Don’t share one mic—it’s never a good idea.
• Give each person their own mic, placed 2-3 inches from their mouth.
• Angle the mics away from each other to reduce crosstalk (when one mic picks up both voices).
• Use headphones so you can monitor in real time.

At our studio in Ho Chi Minh City, we have multiple mic setups ready for interviews, co-hosts, and guests—no need to bring anything.

Final Thoughts: Mic Placement = Better Audio

You don’t need to be a sound engineer to get better podcast audio. You just need to:

• Keep your mic at the right distance
• Angle it properly
• Use a pop filter
• Choose a good recording space

It might take a little practice, but once you get it right, your podcast will sound so much more professional.

If you’re still struggling with your audio quality, whether it is because of your technical setup or your equipment, you can choose to outsource podcast editing. Don’t hesitate to contact me at Seven Million Bikes Podcast for more podcasting services.

Vietnamese Version