podcast studio – Podcastreporter.com

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In this episode of The Podcast Reporter Show, we discuss the possible resurgence (after the virus crisis of 2020-2022) of podcast studios (where you see from their picture you do NOT have to wear a face-diaper or mask).

The ad that caught my attention was from the Third Wheel Podcast Studio in West Los Angeles, California. By the way, they also have a location in Hollywood, California, and Seattle, Washington.

In the past, I did examine and pursue other podcast studios that were close to my area. Surprisingly, none of them had anyone inside their address, and soon their web sites had disappeared, in addition to the location of their studios.

But here, this studio is available at what appears to be reasonable fees:

PRO AUDIO RECORDING – $85/HR

1 CAMERA AUDIO & VIDEO – $150/HR

2 CAMERA AUDIO& VIDEO – $195/HR

From the initial $85 per hour rate to the $195 rate (depending upon whether you want pure audio or the selection of one or two cameras for video recording), the amount seems reasonable to even a newer or aspiring podcaster.

As you can see from their web site, they provide a screen backdrop so that you can have an image in the background (for video). And from the photos of the studio, it seems that they are using quality microphones for a podcaster and guest in a co-host setting or for guesting your episode in your podcast.

And, of course, they will record and deliver your files to you.

Now, why do I hesitate in giving them a great deal of promotion?

Well, it seems that podcast studios spring up, grow, and then finally shut down (possibly due to the lack of business and growth). The virus crisis shut down all the studios that I knew about (because of the mask mandate requirements and the physical separation mandates, etc.). But now, it seems that they may spring up again to service those podcasters who want quality from a good studio — from the novice and aspiring podcasters to even seasoned podcasters that want a studio setting and studio services (especially for guesting).

Now, we do not know how long this studio will last in either Southern California or Seattle, but perhaps they can gather enough podcasters to use their facilities for good audio podcasts, as well as for recording videos for both podcasts and youtube videos.

We shall see.

But, for myself, I would be a bit cautious and depending upon the studios for the success of my podcast episodes. I still think that most podcasters have now been used to the post-virus-crisis setting of using their homes or other locations in their settings (e.g., garages converted to studios, extra bedrooms or even closets, etc.) for recording their episodes or videos — and they have also become accustomed to editing and producing their final audio files and video files for upload in their home environment.

In my experience, I had one of my daughters use a studio near her location for recording podcast episodes and delivering final audio files to her — all the way to January, 2021. I even went to see her podcast interview recorded live at a downtown grill and restaurant. But that has all but disappeared — and, again, this may be the fate of podcast studios in this city where the span of existence may be limited.

However, if you happen to be in the California or Seattle area, perhaps you may want to do a quality recording (more for video than audio) for your episodes or videos in the comfort of a reasonably priced studio.

Thank you for listening and for your attention.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

In this episode of The Podcast Reporter, we discuss an earlier post by Ben Krueger, a podcaster at cashflowpodcasting.com, in which he posts the text by Adam Crookes in which the latter addresses the age-old topic of podcast studios. He gives some recommendations on how to set up a podcast studio as potential ideas.

Now, as I have stated many times before in this show, I do respect and admire the value that is delivered by Ben Krueger, as I have known him and interviewed him since the time I personally shared a booth with him the exhibit hall of the very first Podcast Movement conference in Dallas in 2014. So I thought that this would be a great topic to explore once more and get his perspective. However, I got some words from a guest post from Adam Crookes. And my perspective of the post follows after a brief summary of the article.

Summary of the Post

Now, for those interested in creating your own studio, the article gives you thoughts about what is required as food for thought:

Estimating the costs of setting up a studio;
What is required for the studio?
How do you set up a studio in your home? And the post then gives you a list of items and tasks required for your in-home studio:
- Here’s a list of equipment you should consider for your podcast studio:
  - “Computer
  - USB or XLR microphone
  - Audio interface
  - Mixer
  - Windscreen or pop filter
  - Microphone stand
  - Headphones
  - Acoustic treatments”
Then the post delves into the question about whether or not you can start your podcast shows with just your phone;
And finally, what is addressed is the age-old question about whether a podcast show is worth it to both you and your audience;
Then the article suddenly jumps into the subject of the necessity of headphones when starting a podcast;
And then a key question ends the post by asking if it is free to start a podcast on Spotify.

For these questions, I feel that this article, written by Adam Crookes, leaves out a lot of other key questions and statements that a new or aspiring podcaster needs to investigate before setting up a studio. One of these would be testimonials from those who have successfully set one up and are currently podcasting and reaching their success in their objectives at the time. Another would be the time it takes for a podcast studio to be written off or get a good ROI for your business, should you be creating a business podcast.

All in all, I find that this post does little in awakening a coherent target of your mind to investigate fully what is involved in setting up your podcast studio (other than the equipment and physical preparation of your home studio). I know that Ben Krueger would have addressed this topic with more research, more details, and with some personal and third-person experiences of successful podcasters who have set up their own studios and are showing great results from it — or experiences that did not see the studio succeed in the business.

One item you may want to explore is the Podcasting Business School site, where the main theme is to treat your podcast like a habit, but to grow it like a business. Within the 200 episodes so far, the podcaster did cite a few minutes on building a home studio for podcasting.

For myself, I have been a podcaster who has done remote reporting with adequate tools for the past 16 years, as well as have had a “podcast studio” (or a place where I record my podcasts with guests or by going solo) in several sites, from California to Texas in inbetween (including hotel rooms when I have been traveling and in transit). I will address the key areas that I propose for a studio in a later episode, as I will share with you my experiences for doing so.

Thank you for your attention.