After five years of editing podcasts, my editor Paul has shared invaluable insights about what separates great-sounding podcasts from mediocre ones. The surprising truth? Most issues come down to a few fundamental principles that many podcasters overlook. ## The #1 Problem: Microphone Distance Let's start with the most common mistake Paul sees: **people are too far from their microphones**. When you're recording a podcast, proximity is everything. Most broadcast microphones are designed to be used just a few inches away from your mouth. Yes, this feels awkward, especially if you're used to video calls where the camera fills in the gaps your brain expects. But here's the key difference: **audio doesn't lie the way video does**. When you listen to your podcast with your eyes closed, you'll immediately hear what your brain was filling in during recording. Distance from the mic creates thin, hollow audio that's hard to fix in post-production. **The fix:** Move closer to your microphone and adjust your gain down as you move in. This gives you the rich, professional sound that keeps listeners engaged. ## Know Your Microphone Type Not all microphones are created equal. There are two main types: - **Front-address microphones**: Talk directly into the front - **Side-address microphones**: Talk into the side of the mic, not the top Paul frequently sees podcasters talking into the wrong end of their microphone. When you move your head even slightly away from the correct position on a side-address mic, your audio quality drops exponentially. **The takeaway:** Know exactly what type of microphone you have and position yourself accordingly. A few inches in the wrong direction can ruin your recording. ## Audio Setup Essentials Beyond microphone placement, three accessories make a dramatic difference: 1. **Wind screens** - Essential if you have any air movement in your recording space 2. **Pop filters** - Reduce plosives and harsh consonants 3. **Proper gain staging** - Keep your input levels consistent Paul spends significant time in post-production removing wind/AC noise from recordings. This is time that could be spent on actual editing and enhancement. A quality wind screen can eliminate this problem entirely. ## Input Levels: The Forgotten Fundamental Even experienced podcasters forget to check their input levels. Paul listens to some recordings that are so soft they're barely usable, while others are so loud they distort. **Best practice:** Before every recording session, do a quick sound check. Speak at your normal podcast volume and adjust your input levels so you're hitting around -12dB to -6dB on your meter. This gives you headroom and prevents distortion. ## The Bottom Line Professional audio quality doesn't require expensive equipment or complicated setups. It requires attention to the basics: - Get close to your microphone - Know your microphone type and use it correctly - Invest in a wind screen and pop filter - Check your input levels before every session These fundamentals apply whether you're just starting out or you've been podcasting for years. As Paul says, even experienced podcasters sometimes forget the basics, and that's okay. The good news? Once you nail these fundamentals, your audio quality will improve dramatically. Your listeners will notice. And that's what matters.