Home versus studio
Home is cheap and flexible but rooms add flutter echo, creaky chairs and fridge hum. At Mordancyedge we record in a treated space with monitoring for up to 6 people across 3 rooms; hourly €115 or €295 per episode up to sixty minutes.
Eight episodes as a season is €2,480 — useful when you batch for one consistent sound. Improving home only? Use the tips below and book us for finishing edits.
Acoustics without construction
Soft surfaces tame reflections: curtains, rugs, a full bookshelf, blankets in corners. Avoid bare walls parallel to your speaking direction. A rug under the table cuts chair rumble.
Do not sit in the exact centre of the room; move toward an absorptive wall to shorten reverb. In Amsterdam flats, door seals also reduce hallway bleed — neighbours notice.
Test with a short pass while speaking normally, not whispering: many hosts sound too quiet because they turn timid on mic. Set gain conservatively; digital gain later beats a clipped preamp.
Microphones and placement
Dynamic mics tolerate noise; condensers capture detail but pick up HVAC. Keep 15–20 cm distance, slightly off-axis to soften plosives.
Shock mounts and boom arms keep desk bumps out of the recording. In studio we test placement before you sit; at home you can send a short test via contact for feedback within 2 business days.
Multiple hosts and guests
One channel per voice — no shared stereo mic. Headphone monitoring stops guests from shouting. Avoid talking over each other; edits rarely fix that cleanly.
Panels up to 6 fit our live room; larger groups need planning via 020 244 9183. See about us for team and 145 m² of space.
Monitoring and level
Aiming speech around −18 dBFS average on meters is a safe start; we normalise in edit. Skip cheap USB auto-gain that pumps.
Podcast loudness differs from music targets — read streaming loudness targets. Keep intro music lower than speech so listeners do not ride volume.
Cables, laptop and backup
Record 48 kHz if you sync video; 44.1 kHz is fine for audio-only. Backup to an external drive right after the session — cards fill mid-episode.
Mute notifications; typing vibrates condenser mics. Wibautstraat 137 sits between metro Wibautstraat (M51, M53, M54) and Amsterdam Amstel. From metro Wibautstraat it is about a 4-minute walk. Tram 1 stops at Wibautstraat; bus 755 serves the Amstel station side. Street-level entrance with a step-free lobby. Leave cable paths clear so nobody trips on XLR. Our studio opened in 2019; engineers know how to hide chair squeaks in edit but fixing source sound saves your edit budget.
Rights and publishing in the NL
Music beds and news clips need clearance; use royalty-free or owned material. Guests should sign short consent for recording and publication — we cannot give legal advice but point to legal notice.
Guest data falls under privacy policy when you book Mordancyedge B.V.. Free cancellation up to 7 days; afterwards per terms.
Checklist before booking
- Room softened, no hard parallel wall behind you
- One channel per host, headphones on
- Test clip checked on a phone speaker
- Outline and timing set — studio hours Mon–Fri 10–19, Sat 11–17
Ready for studio quality? Book podcast recording or read FAQ. Sung intro? Pair with Vocal recording.
