Podcasting in Richmond: Rent a Studio or Record at Home?

Plenty of great podcasts are recorded at a kitchen table. So why would anyone pay for a studio? The honest answer is that it depends on your show, your guests and how much time you want to spend fixing audio afterward.

Recording at home

Home recording is cheap and convenient. A decent microphone and headphones will get you a long way, and you can record whenever you like. The downsides show up over time:

• The room. Hard walls and bare floors make echo, and echo is hard to remove later.
• Noise. Dogs, deliveries, neighbors and traffic don't wait for you to finish a sentence.
• Guests. Inviting someone into your home to record can feel awkward for both of you.
• Your time. Every recording problem becomes an editing job.

Recording in a studio

A studio solves the room problem. Sound treatment keeps your voice clean, the equipment is already set up, and your guests come to a professional space. It also helps you show up properly: when you've booked the time, you record.

What it costs at HLS

Our podcast studio on East Main Street is sound treated and fits up to ten people. There are three ways to use it:

• Studio only, $50 an hour. Use the room and run your own recording, with the studio's equipment or your own gear.
• We record and edit, $110 an hour. We set up, record and edit with you, so you can focus on the conversation.
• Monthly podcaster plan, $150 a month for 4 hours of studio time every month, for regular shows.

Hourly bookings get 15% off when you book 4 hours or more, so recording several episodes in one session saves money as well as time.

A simple way to decide

• Solo show, quiet home, happy to edit? Record at home.
• Interview show with guests in person? A studio is worth it.
• Video for social media as well as audio? A good-looking room makes a big difference.
• No time or interest in editing? Let someone record and edit for you.

Many people do both: everyday episodes at home, and guest or video episodes in the studio.

Come and record

The studio is available Monday to Friday, 9 AM to 5 PM. Book studio time online, or ask us about the monthly plan. And if you want to hear what gets made here, have a listen to Trauma Philosopher, the podcast from our founder, Charlie Inch.