Our Complete Guide on How to Set Up a Two-Person Podcast [+Best Practices]

Quick Summary

This article explains how to set up a two-person podcast, from selecting the right equipment and creating a quiet recording space to positioning microphones, testing audio levels, and keeping a consistent editing workflow.

Cleanvoice helps remove filler words, background noise, stutters, mouth sounds, reverb, and heavy breaths. And saves you time and improves your audio quality. For more tips, check out the Cleanvoice blog.

Looking for a Flawless Two-Person Podcast Setup?

Most successful podcasts are co-hosted, demonstrating the value of a strong two-person setup for producing professional and engaging content. The process can feel overwhelming, but it doesn’t have to.

In this Cleanvoice guide, we’ll cover everything you need for a two-person podcast setup, from choosing gear and creating a quiet recording space to positioning microphones and editing for polished results.

Why Listen to Us?

More than 15,000 podcasters use our AI-powered features to remove filler words, mouth sounds, and background noise, improving clarity and saving editing time.

Our features also include studio sound enhancement, transcription, and show notes, all in a simple workflow that delivers professional, polished audio quickly.

What is a Two-Person Podcast?

A two-person podcast features two hosts discussing topics or interviewing guests in a conversational format. This setup is popular for creating engaging, dynamic content with multiple perspectives.

It requires careful planning, including microphones, headphones, and a solid editing process to ensure high audio quality. This format works well for creators who want lively, back-and-forth discussions and a strong connection with their audience.

Why Do You Need the Perfect Setup for a Two-Person Podcast?

• Clear and Balanced Sound: A proper setup ensures both voices are captured with precision, eliminating interference or imbalance and making every word easy to hear.
• Reduced Editing Time: High-quality equipment and an optimized setup minimize audio issues, so you spend less time editing and more time creating content.
• Improved Listener Experience: Crisp, professional audio keeps listeners engaged, helps your audience connect with the conversation, and encourages repeat listening.
• Consistency: A reliable setup delivers uniform sound across episodes, giving your podcast a polished, professional identity your audience can trust.

How to Set Up a Two-Person Podcast in 6 Steps

Choose the Right Equipment

Selecting the right gear lays the foundation for a professional, high-quality podcast. Focus on tools that improve audio clarity and make the recording process smooth and reliable.

• Microphones: Invest in high-quality dynamic microphones, such as the Shure SM7B or Audio-Technica ATR2100x, for clear, consistent sound and minimal background noise. Avoid condenser mics like the Neumann U87 unless you’re recording in a controlled, quiet environment, as they are highly sensitive to ambient sounds.
• Headphones: Invest in closed-back headphones to prevent audio bleed and ensure precise monitoring during recording, so you can maintain clear, professional sound.
• Audio interface: Choose a reliable audio interface to connect your microphones and improve sound quality, reduce latency, and control recording levels.
• Recording Software: Select software with multi-track recording and real-time monitoring to capture professional audio efficiently. Popular options include Audacity, Adobe Audition, and Reaper.

This lays the foundation for efficient editing, polished audio, and engaging podcast episodes.

Set Up Your Recording Space

Creating an ideal recording environment is essential for high-quality sound. A well-prepared space reduces unwanted noise and ensures professional recordings every time.

• Control Background Noise: Select a quiet room away from traffic and household sounds, and close windows and doors to reduce external noise.
• Acoustic Treatment: Use foam panels, carpets, or curtains to reduce sound reflections and echoes. For a DIY approach, blankets and pillows can also help.
• Microphone Placement: Keep microphones away from noisy appliances and vents, and position them to capture clear, direct sound from each host.

If you’re recording remotely, ensure your guests also have a quiet environment. For any remaining background noise, Cleanvoice’s Background Noise Remover eliminates lingering distractions.

Our Studio Sound (Audio Enhancer) goes further, removing background noise, distortion, echo, breath sounds, and white noise in a single step for a polished, professional recording.

Position Your Microphones

Proper microphone placement is essential for clear, balanced audio. How you position your microphones directly affects the quality of your recording.

• Distance and angle: Position the microphone 6–8 inches from your mouth, angled slightly to minimize breath sounds.
• Avoid Plosives: Position the microphone off-axis to reduce popping sounds from “P” and “B” pronunciations.
• Symmetry: Ensure both hosts have equal access to their microphones to maintain consistent audio levels.

If you’re recording remotely, ensure your co-hosts follow similar setups to prevent disparities in sound quality.

If any microphone inconsistencies still appear, Cleanvoice’s Studio Sound (Audio Enhancer) smooths out volume imbalances by normalizing, equalizing, and balancing sound levels. Additional features like Silence Remover, Breath Remover, and Mouth Sound Remover help correct minor audio issues, ensuring a polished, professional recording.

To catch potential issues before recording, Cleanvoice’s Online Mic Test checks your microphone setup in seconds, giving visual feedback on distance, gain, background noise, and echo so you can adjust before recording. It works with any mic and helps catch issues early, saving editing time.

Even a small misplacement can affect audio quality, so proper mic positioning makes a noticeable difference in your final recording.

Test Audio Levels

Test audio levels before recording to prevent distortion, clipping, and unexpected issues, ensuring a smooth session and easier editing.

• Start with a Soundcheck: Speak at your normal volume and have your co-host do the same. Aim for peaks around -6 dB to -3 dB to ensure clarity without distortion.
• Adjust Gain Settings: Fine-tune your microphone gain to prevent clipping, which causes harsh or unintelligible audio. Keep levels clear and balanced, even during louder moments.
• Monitor Levels During Recording: Wear headphones to continuously check audio throughout the session, maintaining consistent levels and preventing unexpected spikes or drops.

Don’t underestimate the power of a thorough audio test before you start. This can save you from tedious adjustments later.

With your levels set, you’re ready to record confidently. Cleanvoice tools help maintain balanced, clear audio throughout the session.

Record the Podcast

Once your setup is ready, it’s time to record. Maintain a natural flow while staying aware of the technical aspects to ensure a smooth recording process.

• Stay Mindful of Mic Techniques: Avoid sudden movements that can cause unwanted noise. Speak directly into the microphone to maintain consistent sound levels.
• Pacing and Tone: Maintain a steady pace so both hosts stay engaged and speak clearly. Avoid talking over each other to simplify editing.
• Monitor Live Audio: Wear headphones during recording to maintain consistent audio and catch any issues in real time.

Remember to record a backup file in case of technical glitches, and continue monitoring sound quality throughout your session.

To keep the conversation flowing smoothly, Cleanvoice’s Podcast Questions Generator suggests episode-specific questions tailored to your topic. This prevents awkward pauses, saves planning time, and helps keep your recording focused and engaging.

Edit and Enhance Audio

Editing is where your podcast comes to life. Clean up your audio to remove distractions, enhance clarity, and produce a polished final episode.

• Trim Silence and Filler Words: Cut long pauses and unnecessary filler words like "um" and "uh" to create a smooth, professional, and engaging listening experience.
• Balance Levels: Adjust volume for both hosts to maintain consistent audio throughout the episode. Ensure no voice overpowers the other for a smooth listening experience.
• Remove Background Noise: Cut hums, static, and other distracting sounds to ensure a clean, professional listening experience.

Maintaining all these edits manually can be challenging. Cleanvoice offers a suite of features, including Studio Sound, that automatically remove unwanted noise and enhance your audio quality for a polished, professional result.

Beyond Studio Sound, Cleanvoice includes features to simplify every step of editing:

• Audio Editing API: Our API automates editing by integrating noise removal, filler word elimination, and volume leveling directly into your app or workflow.

• Audio Trimmer & Audio Joiner: Trim unwanted sections and seamlessly combine multiple audio files, perfect for removing mistakes or merging segments without extra effort.
• Intro/Outro: Automatically add intros and outros to your podcast episodes, saving time and ensuring a consistent, professional start and finish for every show.
• Video Podcast Editing: AI-powered tools for video podcasts that ensure seamless transitions, enhance audio quality, and integrate visual elements effortlessly.
• Podcast Transcription: Automatically transcribes your podcast episodes into text, improving accessibility and making it easier to create show notes or captions.
• Podcast Summarization: Generates concise summaries of your podcast episodes, simplifying the creation of show notes, captions, or promotional materials without manual effort.

All of these features help you focus on creating content rather than spending time on tedious editing tasks. The result is a streamlined, high-quality podcast that captivates your audience without distractions.

Best Practices for a Two-Person Podcast Setup

Use a High-Quality Audio Interface

A reliable audio interface ensures clear sound capture and smooth connectivity between your microphones and recording software. Choose one with clean preamps and consistent performance to prevent hums or static.

Models like the Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 or PreSonus AudioBox deliver excellent results, enhancing overall sound quality and avoiding issues common with lower-end interfaces.

Leverage Remote Recording Tools Effectively

High-quality recording tools are essential for remote podcasts.

Choose a platform that supports high-quality audio and seamless multi-track recording, such as Zencastr. Ensure a stable internet connection to prevent dropouts, and encourage your guest or co-host to use quality microphones and headphones.

Have a backup recording method ready in case issues arise. Remote recording platforms also make post-production smoother, helping your editing process stay efficient.

Create a Standardized Post-Production Workflow

Consistency is key in podcast editing.

Establish a step-by-step workflow that includes noise reduction, removing filler words, adjusting audio levels, and applying equalization. Follow this routine for every episode to make the process more efficient and reduce time spent on each episode.

Standardizing your process not only speeds up editing but also gives every podcast episode the same professional finish, creating a predictable listening experience for your audience.

Optimize File Formats for Different Platforms

When exporting your podcast, it’s important to optimize the file format for each distribution platform.

Popular podcast platforms like Apple Podcasts and Spotify have specific file size and format recommendations. Typically, MP3 files with a bitrate of 128 kbps to 192 kbps work well for podcasts, balancing file size and quality.

Additionally, adjust the metadata, including episode titles and descriptions, so they appear correctly across platforms, making your podcast more accessible and professional.

Use Cleanvoice’s AI Features Proactively

Cleanvoice’s AI tools are essential in post-production. Apply automatic noise removal, filler word reduction, and stutter elimination as part of your editing workflow.

These features save time while enhancing the listening experience with smooth, distraction-free audio. Using them early reduces the need for manual corrections, allowing you to focus on content creation without technical hassles.

Achieve Clear Professional Audio for Your Two-Person Podcast with Cleanvoice

Setting up a successful two-person podcast requires more than microphones and software. Consistent mic placement, high-quality remote tools, a standardized workflow, optimized file export, and Cleanvoice’s AI features ensure your podcast sounds professional, balanced, and engaging.

Cleanvoice streamlines post-production with AI-powered tools. Remove noise, filler words, and stutters automatically. Trim unnecessary sections and balance audio for a polished, professional sound. Cleanvoice handles the technical work, so you can focus on creating engaging content while every episode remains clear and consistent.

Elevate your podcast with Cleanvoice today and deliver professional, distraction-free, consistently clear, high-quality audio that engages and captivates your audience every episode.