Tutorials Voice Over

How to Record Voice Over at Home

Beginner · ~60 min

Overview

Professional voice over recordings are made in homes every day. The key is controlling the acoustic environment before investing in expensive gear. A quiet closet full of clothes beats a reflective home studio every time. Some links in this guide are Amazon affiliate links. If you purchase through them, we earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.

What You Need

A large-diaphragm condenser microphone (Audio-Technica AT2020, Rode NT1) or a quality dynamic mic (Shure SM7dB)
An audio interface if using an XLR mic (Focusrite Scarlett Solo)
A pop filter
Recording software: Audacity (free), Adobe Audition, or Reaper ($60)
Closed-back headphones for monitoring

Steps

Choose and treat your recording space

The smallest room in your home typically has less reverb. Walk-in closets are ideal. The hanging clothes act as broadband absorbers. Avoid rooms with bare wooden floors, glass windows, and hard parallel walls. If you can't use a closet, hang a duvet behind you and in front of you, use a rug, and record in a corner.

Select a microphone

Large-diaphragm condenser mics capture the full warmth and detail of voice. The AT2020 ($100) and Rode NT1 ($180) are reliable entry-level choices. If you're in a noisy environment, a dynamic mic like the Shure SM7dB has higher noise rejection. Avoid USB mics with built-in preamps for professional VO. They limit your gain control.

Set up your signal chain

XLR mic → audio interface → computer via USB. Enable 48V phantom power on the interface for condenser mics. Place the mic on a sturdy stand (not resting on a desk. It'll pick up vibrations). Fit a pop filter 4 to 6cm in front of the capsule.

Configure your recording software

Set sample rate to 44.1kHz or 48kHz, bit depth to 24-bit, and record in mono (single track). Most clients want a 44.1kHz 24-bit WAV mono file. Record in WAV, not MP3. You'll encode to MP3 only as a final delivery step if required.

Set your recording level

Gain on your interface should be set so that your voice peaks between −12dB and −6dB on the DAW meter when speaking at full delivery volume. Louder isn't better, headroom prevents clipping during an unexpectedly loud line. You'll boost in post if needed.

Do a test and listen critically

Record 30 seconds of your script. Listen back on closed-back headphones. You're listening for: room reverb (boxy, hollow sound), proximity effect (excess bass when too close), plosives (popping on P and B), and background noise (air conditioning, traffic). Fix any of these before starting a real session.

Pro Tips

Record at consistent times: traffic, HVAC cycles, and neighbourhood noise are predictable. Early morning is quietest for most home setups.
Use our Voice Over Recorder for quick browser-based takes without setting up a full DAW session.
Always deliver a −3dBFS peak WAV file unless the client specifies otherwise. It gives them mixing headroom.

Knowledge Base

What You'll Learn

Build a professional home voiceover recording booth on a budget. Learn acoustic treatment, microphone placement, and how to achieve studio-quality recordings in non-ideal spaces.

Minimum Booth Setup (under $500)

Microphone: USB Audio-Technica AT2020 ($100) or wired version ($99) + interface ($50).
Pop Filter: $15-30. Reduces plosives.
Acoustic Treatment: Cheap foam panels ($30-50) or DIY blankets/towels.
Headphones: Any decent headphones ($30-50).
Boom Arm: Holds mic away from mouth ($20-40).

Room Selection

Smallest room with soft materials: closet, bathroom, bedroom. Avoid large rooms (echo), basements (humid), or kitchens (appliance noise). Goal is to minimize echo and ambient noise.

DIY Acoustic Treatment

Hang blankets or quilts on walls.
Bookshelves absorb sound.
Carpet is better than hard floors.
Avoid: bare walls, tile, hard flooring (creates echo).

Recording Position

Mic 6-8 inches from mouth at mouth level (not nose, not chin). Pop filter between you and mic. Boom arm allows adjustments without moving. Record multiple takes, aiming for natural delivery.

Where This Fits

This guide covers one specific part of podcasting. The wider picture. The whole setup from equipment and recording through editing, publishing, and handling remote guests, is in Best Podcast Setup for Beginners, which frames the discipline as a whole and links out to the detailed guides underneath it, including this one. If you are starting from scratch rather than solving a specific problem, read that first and come back here.

FAQ

Q: Do I really need acoustic treatment?
A: Yes. Echo kills professional voiceovers. Even cheap blankets dramatically improve quality.