Audiobooks are the fastest-growing segment in publishing and podcasting is one of the best ways to market audiobooks, since you are already in people's ears, but both require good quality sound recording. In this article, I'll outline how I (finally) built my own audio sound booth.
I found the process exhausting and decided to work with pro narrators for my books, but of course, you have to find a good ‘voice' match for your work, and I believe voice brand is going to become even more important as time passes.
[Here's why you should consider narrating your own audiobooks.]
In late 2018, after voice coaching for improvement, I started recording more audiobooks — The Dark Queen, and A Thousand Fiendish Angels, both in my walk-in closet at my old flat. [Links to all my audiobooks here.]
Then I decided to double down on audio and make it a significant part of my author business, so when we moved house in May 2019, I wanted a proper audio booth so I could record better quality sound. Of course, it can be cleaned up later, but the base level sound quality takes the files a long way towards the finished product.
There are options for your home studio, including a full-on professional self-contained booth with ventilation and fan installed (basic starts at US$5000 on VocalBooth.com), all the way to putting an audio blanket over your head in a closet.
I thought I was going to go for the expensive pro setup, but then my wonderful audio producer, Dan Van Werkhoven, sent me this article on the best DIY vocal booth from Musician on a Mission, which includes some basic options as well as some more developed ideas. We decided to build a variation of the blanket booth, option 4.
Once in my new house, I called a local carpenter who measured up the available space and built a simple timber frame for £320 (around US$400). It's sturdy but I can still lift it, and it can be disassembled if we move house again.
I covered the frame with 4 audio blankets (£250, around $310) and linked them together with shower curtain rings so they hang down either side of the booth as well as around both ends.
[Specifically VB72G Sound Absorption Panels Producers Choice – White- Black. Size 200 x 243 cm, with Grommets from Vocal Booth To Go, who also have other options.]
It's perfect 🙂 I can go inside and seal the door behind me with a bulldog clip and the sound is brilliant. It's incredible how much difference the blankets make.
I've been using this new booth for my podcast introductions for the past month and have also recorded Successful Self-Publishing as an audiobook, with 3 more audiobooks on the way.
The process is much easier as I just move my laptop into the booth, plug in the microphone, close the door and start recording. Since my energy is variable during the day, I can do a couple of hours and then work on something else.
Here's a list of all the equipment for the whole booth with prices in USD:
- Wooden frame – $400
- Sound blankets – $310
- Curtain rings – $6
- Bulldog clips to hold the door shut – $5
- Microphone stand – $45
- Blue Yeti microphone – $90
- Pop filter – $10
- Light – $20
- Small fan (although obviously, you can't have that running when you are in the booth, only in between sessions) – $5
- Music stand – $9
- Barstool to put my laptop on – $30
TOTAL: $930
I have had different setups over the years in rental property but now I have my own office in my own house, I am really happy with this booth and it will last a while.
Considering my audiobook sales have doubled twice in the last 2 years, I am anticipating doing a lot more audio, so the investment is already paid for.
Do you have a home audio setup? Any recommendations or tips? Please do leave a comment and join the conversation.
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1 2 3 Next »I was recording sample stories with a huge thick blanket over my head and the microphone. It improved sound quality, but it got kind of hot during long recording sessions. Yours looks like a much higher tech version, and probably less smothering. :-D
I've got the perfect space already but it's got a pair of bats in it. I'll have to get them to move house. Thanks for the prompt.
Thank you for this, Joanna! I've been so curious about your at-home recording booth. I might have to give a similar set-up a try. I've long wanted to narrate my non-fiction myself, but living in a remote place, I haven't had access to a professional recording studio.
The PVC option mentioned in the article you link to looks like a good option for me, as I don't have a place in my home where I'd want to leave a booth up long term. With the PVC option, I'd have to set it up and take it down more often, so it would be a bit more trouble, but that would work well with my living space. Love that these things are even an option!!!
Glad it's useful :) Putting it up and down a lot would be annoying but you could set aside some time to record after a book is finished, do that and then take it down. Would work well!
I'm currently setting up as a narrator-for-hire, as I'm an actress as well as an author. I've voiced my first book, which went pretty well. At the moment, unfortunately, my audio booth consists of every single mattress in the house set up as a little fort, with a tiny table and chair. It's also covered with all the kids' duvets. It works pretty well and is quite cheap, but, when the neighbour needed to borrow part of my audio booth because she had family coming to stay, it didn't work quite so well. I like your set up of a frame (which I think my husband could build) and those audio blankets. Perhaps when I'm more established as a narrator.
Then there's the trouble with the internet. I kept having strange noises showing up in the recording, though I couldn't hear anything while I was doing it. I finally turned off our broadband and put my phone and laptop in 'aeroplane mode' and they disappeared. I have no idea how to solve that issue without having to do that. Any suggestions?
When planes fly overhead, I have to stop for a while - if I hear them in the first place (I can be concentrating too hard and only hear it when I'm editing, grrrr!).
Great article - thank you!
I also make sure wifi is turned off on my laptop and my phone is set to airplane mode. Tech makes invisible sounds that turn up later :)
The audio blankets stop noises of planes and you also might check the settings on your mic as it should be directional and not pull in sound that far away.
Hi, Susan and Joanna!
I also have planes flying directly over our house, every three minutes or so. Lots of decibels there.
I will have to work out recording between planes.
:^)
Michèle
You might try layering the sound blankets and use a directional mic?
Hi Joanna
How do you optimize the post production process after audio recording. This takes soooo long !
Any tips or methods ? Self made or outsourced ?
Thanks for the valuable sharing
I do the editing myself in Amadeus Pro. I copy the raw file into another folder so I always keep the raw, then I go through and edit, removing all the repeats, sounds etc - yes, it takes ages! - and then Dan Van Werkhoven does my mastering, so he does another pass on sounds and masters. You can learn all the sound stuff but it's definitely another skill altogether!
You don’t have to worry about turning off HVAC when you record in here, do you? I feel like that would be a pain.
I decided I wanted to make audio recordings of my blogs so people can listen instead of read if they like. A more comfortable place where I can control the sound would be great. Also, I will probably be doing an audio version of the book I’m trying to finish as well. I think I would make mine out of PVC pipe like the example you adapted so it’s not as permanent in the space.
I don't have air con so that's not a problem. You'd have to see what works for you.
Thank you for all of your ideas! I absolutely love visiting your site! I have recorded one audio-book and I am working on the second. I am loving the process. Creative and learning a new skill!
Fantastic :) Self-development is always worth doing and you're adding another income stream, too!
Thanks for sharing this. Makes me want to move even more so I can have a space to set something like this up. I am anxious to get my books into audio. Your podcast episodes about your recording journey have been inspiring me to be brave myself.
Great :) It's such a good skill to expand into and changes your writing as well — for the better!
I started recording in my walk in wardrobe, too, but had to find another option when we moved house. As a military spouse, we will move every three years, so I needed a portable option.
I got hubby to build 4 timber frame panels, hinged together in pairs. He stapled packing blankets to them and I have an extra blanket to throw over the top as a roof. I set it up in the lounge room, then pack it away.
Glad you found a solution that works for you :)
I also have to pause for military planes and helicopters. Guess that’s what happens when you live near a base. But one trick for editing is clapping in front of the mic after you make a mistake and then sowing the retake. The visual spike in the waveform makes editing faster! I also do my own mastering but I worked with a sound designer one-on-one to get that process up and running. Now I need to work on my craft. I’m considering hiring a voice coach. Any tips for hiring the right person? Can put hire an online coach? I want to spend my money wisely.
Scary! I would not want to be in that small space.
It's kind of important for sound quality :)