We Share Essential Home Studio Soundproofing Tips For Clearer Podcasts

Quick Summary

In this article, we guide you on how to soundproof your home studio in easy steps. We cover practical tips like sealing gaps, using acoustic treatments, and optimizing your space layout. You’ll also learn best practices for choosing the right materials and improving overall sound quality.

Want to Soundproof Your Home Studio for Clearer Podcasts?

Have you ever recorded a brilliant podcast episode, only to play it back and hear your neighbor’s dog barking? Not a very pleasant experience. But that’s what happens when your home studio is not soundproof. All your hard work gets ruined by random noise.

The good news is, you don’t need an expensive setup to fix it. With the right tips and a few clever tweaks, you can keep outside noise out, tame the echoes inside, and make your podcast sound sharp and professional.

In this Cleanvoice article, we’ll share essential home studio soundproofing tips that will help you block unwanted noise, improve your audio quality, and create a polished podcast from the comfort of your home.

But first…

Why Listen to Us?

At Cleanvoice, we’ve worked with many podcasters to improve audio quality, no matter how soundproofed their studio may be. We’ve seen how even the most carefully treated rooms can still let noise in. From editing out background noise to removing echoes and reverbs, we understand what it takes to achieve clear and crispy sound.

What Exactly Does “Home Studio Soundproofing” Mean?

Home studio soundproofing means blocking out the unwanted noise that creeps into your recordings. It could be the traffic outside your window, the hum of your refrigerator, or the sound of your partner's Zoom meeting in the next room. Soundproofing helps keep those distractions away so that the only thing your mic picks up is your voice.

Materials for Soundproofing a Home Studio

To soundproof your home studio effectively, you'll need a mix of materials that can block, absorb, and control sound. Here's a list of the essentials:

• Mass-Loaded Vinyl (MLV): MLV is a dense, flexible material that’s great for adding mass to walls, doors, and windows. It helps block sound from escaping or entering your studio.
• Acoustic Foam Panels: These are designed to absorb sound and reduce echoes.
• Bass Traps: These absorb low frequencies that can linger in corners and can cause muddiness in your recordings.
• Soundproof Drywall: Thicker than regular drywall, it contains soundproofing materials that reduce noise transmission through walls.
• Weatherstripping and Acoustic Sealant: Used to seal gaps around doors, windows, and electrical outlets.
• Isolation Pads: These are used under speakers or monitors to prevent vibrations from transferring into the floor or desk.
• Heavy Curtains or Soundproof Curtains: If replacing windows isn’t an option, heavy curtains can help block out some external noise. Soundproof curtains, designed with thick, dense materials, can also help dampen sound reflections within the room.
• Carpet or Area Rugs: They help reduce reverberations and keep your studio acoustics in check.
• Double-Glazed Windows or Window Inserts: These are used for blocking the noise coming through your windows.

How to Soundproof Your Home Studio: A Step-by-Step Guide

Step 1: Identify Your Noise Sources

Before soundproofing your studio, walk around and find out where the noise is coming from. Is it traffic? The hum of your HVAC system?

Or maybe the sounds from the neighboring rooms? Understanding the sources will help you decide where to focus your efforts.

Step 2: Seal the Gaps

Noise can slip in through the smallest gaps. So start by sealing any cracks or gaps around doors, windows, and electrical outlets.

Use weatherstripping to block sound from leaking through doors and windows. For gaps around outlets, you can seal them with specialized outlet gaskets.

Step 3: Add Mass to Your Walls

Add mass-loaded vinyl (MLV) to your walls and windows. You can hang MLV on your walls or use it to cover windows that let in too much noise. If you’re not into vinyl, soundproof drywall is another great option, though it requires a bit more effort.

Step 4: Install Acoustic Treatment

Once your walls are sealed up, it’s time to deal with the sound inside your studio. Acoustic foam panels help absorb sound and reduce unwanted reflections, while bass traps help with low-frequency sounds. Place these on the walls and corners where sound tends to bounce the most.

Step 5: Soundproof Your Door

Your door is probably one of the weakest points for sound leakage. It’s best to get a solid-core door (thicker and denser than regular doors) and add a door sweep to seal the gap at the bottom.

If it’s a hollow-core door, swapping it out for a solid one will work wonders.

Note that unwanted studio sounds aren’t just the noise escaping through doors. Breaths and mouth noises can also affect your recordings. That's why you need AI tools like Cleanvoice.

With features like the mouth noise remover and breath remover, it automatically eliminates these distractions, ensuring your audio is smooth, clear, and professional.

Step 6: Double-Glaze Your Windows

If you’re dealing with a lot of outdoor noise, upgrading to double-glazed windows (or even triple-glazed) will make a noticeable difference. These windows have two (or three) layers of glass that help block external noise.

But if replacing windows isn't an option, try using heavy curtains designed for soundproofing. They won’t block everything, but they’ll certainly help dampen the noise.

Step 7: Treat the Floor and Ceiling

Floors and ceilings are often overlooked, but they can contribute to sound leakage, especially if you have thin walls or hardwood floors.

Carpet or rugs with thick padding can help absorb sound on the floor. For the ceiling, consider adding acoustic tiles or a layer of soundproofing foam to reduce any noise coming from above.

8. Step 8: Test and Tweak

Once you’ve set everything up, it’s time for testing. Play back some recordings and see if there are any lingering noise issues. If something’s still coming through, try adding more foam, rearranging your treatment, or addressing additional gaps.

If there are still leaks, try AI noise removal tools like Cleanvoice to completely clean up your recordings for a crisp, clear sound.

Best Practices for Home Studio Soundproofing

Arrange Your Space for Soundproofing

The layout of your studio can influence how sound behaves in the space. Try to avoid placing your desk or recording equipment directly against walls, especially exterior ones. If possible, position your gear in the center of the room or away from reflective surfaces to reduce sound bounce.

Also, experiment with your furniture; bookcases, couches, and even thick rugs can absorb sound and add a layer of soundproofing.

Use Dense Materials

Dense materials like mass-loaded vinyl, soundproof drywall, or heavy curtains do a good job of blocking sound. They add weight to walls and windows, preventing sound from leaking in or out. The denser the material, the better it absorbs sound. For additional noise control, Cleanvoice’s Audio Enhancer can handle any residual audio imperfections, making your podcast sound even more professional.

Invest in Quality Isolation Pads

If you use monitors or speakers, make sure they’re placed on isolation pads. These help decouple the speakers from your desk or floor, reducing vibrations that can cause unwanted noise and distortion. This small investment will keep your audio playback accurate and free from low-end rumble. After recording, Cleanvoice can automatically refine your audio, smoothing out any remaining imperfections.

Control Low Frequencies with Bass Traps

Low frequencies are notorious for lingering in corners and bouncing around the room. Bass traps are specifically designed to handle these deep sounds and should be placed in the room's corners. Adding bass traps ensures that your recordings have a fuller, more accurate sound without muddy low-end frequencies.

Create a Double Barrier for Soundproofing

For critical areas like windows and doors, adding a double barrier can significantly reduce noise. Use a combination of heavy curtains and secondary glazing or thick shutters on windows, and pair a solid-core door with extra insulation or MLV to block out sound from the outside.

And if you want extra insurance for crisp and polished recording, try Cleanvoice’s Echo and Reverb Remover for a professional-grade sound.

Use Portable Soundproofing Solutions

If your space is limited or you’re renting and can’t make permanent changes, portable soundproofing options like acoustic booths or soundproof blankets are a great alternative.

These can be set up around your recording area to create an isolated environment without the need for structural changes.

Perfect Your Podcast Audio with Cleanvoice

Soundproofing your home studio helps keep most of the unwanted noise out. But even the most carefully treated rooms can still let a few sounds slip through.

That’s why pairing your setup with a tool like Cleanvoice is what you need for a polished recording.

Cleanvoice automatically removes background noise, filler words, and awkward silences, giving you crystal-clear audio without hours of manual editing.

With features like the Audio Enhancer and Echo Remover, your voice becomes sharper, clearer, and your recordings more professional.

Want cleaner, crispier audio? Try Cleanvoice for free today.