I’m Niall Mackay, founder of Seven Million Bikes Podcasts and owner of Saigon Podcast Studio. I’ve recorded, hosted, edited, and produced podcasts for years, and I’ve seen the same podcast recording mistakes happen again and again.
I guess you may be one of them. Let’s walk through these to see if you’re making the same mistakes.
Table of Contents
Mistake 1: Recording in a Noisy Room
One of the biggest podcast recording mistakes is choosing the wrong room.
Many beginners think the microphone is the most important part of podcast sound quality. The microphone matters, but the room matters too.
A bad room can create:
- Echo
- Traffic noise
- Air conditioning noise
- Fan noise
- Keyboard clicks
- Phone sounds
- Background voices
Empty rooms are often the worst. Hard walls, floors, and windows can make your voice bounce around. This creates an echo, which is hard to remove in editing.
A simple fix is to record in a quiet room with soft things around you. Curtains, rugs, sofas, and cushions can all help reduce echo.
Before you record, sit quietly for 30 seconds and listen. You may notice sounds you normally ignore. Turn off fans, close windows, silence phones, and move away from noisy equipment.
Mistake 2: Sitting Too Far From the Microphone
Another common podcast mistake is sitting too far away from the mic.
When you are too far from the microphone, your voice sounds thin, quiet, and full of room echo. The microphone starts to pick up more of the room than your voice.
A simple rule is to keep your mouth about one fist away from the microphone.
Try not to move back and forth while speaking. If you move around a lot, your volume will keep changing. This makes the recording harder to edit and harder to listen to.
Your microphone should be close enough to capture your voice clearly, but not so close that every breath and pop sound becomes too loud.
Mistake 3: Not Wearing Headphones
Many new podcasters do not like wearing headphones. I understand why. They can feel strange at first.
But headphones are one of the best tools you have when recording a podcast.
Headphones help you hear what the microphone is hearing. That means you can notice problems while they are happening, not after the recording is finished.
With headphones, you can hear:
- Background noise
- A microphone problem
- A guest speaking too quietly
- Audio that is too loud
- Buzzing or crackling sounds
- People talking over each other
At Saigon Podcast Studio, we always use headphones during recording. It helps the host, guest, and producer catch problems early.
Without headphones, you may only find the mistake after the episode is over. By then, it may be too late.
Mistake 4: Poor Microphone Setup
Podcast microphone mistakes are very common.
Some people speak into the wrong side of the microphone. Some place the mic too low. Some put it too far away. Others leave the mic on the table, where it picks up every tap, bump, and movement.
A good microphone setup should be simple.
Place the microphone at mouth level. Speak into the correct side of the mic. Use a stand or boom arm if possible. Try to avoid touching the mic or the table while recording.
A pop filter can also help reduce harsh “p” and “b” sounds. These sounds can create loud bursts of air that hit the microphone.
Good microphone technique is not about being perfect. It is about being consistent.
If your mouth stays in the same place, your voice will sound more even and professional.
Mistake 5: Not Testing Before Recording
A one-minute test can save your whole episode. Before every podcast recording, do a short test. Ask each person to speak for a few seconds. Then listen back.
Check these things:
- Is every microphone working?
- Is each voice clear?
- Is the volume too loud or too quiet?
- Is there background noise?
- Is the recording software working?
- Is there enough storage space?
- Are phones silent?
This sounds simple, but many people skip it. They press record, talk for an hour, and only later find out that one microphone was not working.
Don’t forget: 5 Steps for a smooth video: Sound Check for a Podcast Recording
Mistake 6: Talking Over Each Other
Talking over each other is natural in real conversation. But in a podcast, it can be a problem.
When two people speak at the same time, the listener may not understand either person. It also makes editing more difficult.
This happens a lot in remote recordings because there can be a small delay. It also happens in person when the host is nervous or the guest is excited.
The best fix is to slow down.
Let the other person finish their point. Pause for a second before answering. The host should guide the conversation and give the guest space to speak.
In the studio, simple hand signals can help. A small gesture can show someone when to pause, continue, or wrap up their answer.
A good podcast does not need to sound rushed. A short pause is fine. It often makes the conversation feel more thoughtful.
Mistake 7: Not Preparing Enough
You do not need a full script for every podcast episode. In fact, reading from a script can sometimes sound stiff.
But you do need a plan. A lack of preparation can lead to weak questions, long pauses, unclear topics, and a messy episode.
Before recording, know the main goal of the episode. What do you want the listener to learn, feel, or do?
Prepare 5 to 8 strong questions. Share the topic with your guest before the session. Plan your opening and your ending.
Good preparation helps everyone relax. Your guest knows what to expect. You feel more confident. The conversation has a clear direction.
The best podcasts often sound natural, but they are still planned.
Mistake 8: Trying to Fix Everything in Editing
Editing is powerful, but it is not magic.
You can remove long pauses. You can cut mistakes. You can improve levels. You can clean up some background noise.
But editing cannot fully fix a bad recording.
Echo is hard to remove. Loud background noise can damage the voice. A poor microphone setup can make the whole episode sound weak.
This is one of the most important podcast recording tips I can give:
Get the best sound possible at the recording stage.
A clean recording gives the editor more control. A bad recording limits what can be done later.
The better the recording, the better the final episode.
Mistake 9: Ignoring Your Guest’s Comfort
A podcast is not only about equipment. It is also about people.
If your guest feels nervous, they may speak too quickly. They may give short answers. They may forget important points. They may sound less confident than they really are.
A comfortable guest usually gives a better interview.
Before recording, explain what will happen. Tell them it is okay to make mistakes. Let them know you can pause or repeat an answer. Offer water. Have a short warm-up chat before you start.
This is one reason I like recording in a podcast studio. The guest walks into a space that is ready. The microphones are set up. The headphones are ready. The producer knows what to check.
That helps the guest relax and focus on the conversation.
Mistake 10: Not Having a Backup Recording
This is one of the podcast recording mistakes you may only make once.
Recording software can crash. Files can be corrupted. A battery can die. A remote platform can fail. A cable can come loose.
If you do not have a backup, you may lose the whole episode.
When possible, record a backup. This could be a second recorder, a second software recording, or separate local tracks for each speaker.
After recording, check the file before leaving the room. Make sure it saved properly. Back it up as soon as possible.
This small habit can protect you from a very stressful problem.
Should You Record at Home or in a Podcast Studio?
You can record a podcast at home. Many people do.
Recording at home can work well if you have a quiet space, good equipment, and time to test everything.
Home recording is good if:
- Your room is quiet
- You understand your microphone
- You are comfortable with recording software
- You have time to edit
- You are still testing your podcast idea
But a podcast studio is a better choice if you want professional sound and less stress.
A studio is useful if:
- You have an important guest
- You want high quality audio
- You want video as well as audio
- You do not want to handle the tech
- You want help from a producer
- You want the recording to feel professional
Read more in details: Podcast Studio in Saigon vs Home Setup: 5 Key Differences and What To Choose
At Saigon Podcast Studio, we help podcasters avoid these common podcast recording mistakes by setting up the room, microphones, headphones, cameras, and recording software before they arrive.
That means you can focus on the conversation, not the cables.
