Podcasts are all the rage these days. They are much like the old-time radio shows that used to be so popular. However, unlike some of those shows that only appealed to a limited audience, you can find a podcast these days that is about practically anything. If you have a particular area of interest, it is more than likely you will be able to find a podcast about it.
If you want to start a podcast, there are plenty of options for you there as well. You might want to check out a Dubai podcast studio if you are in that part of the world and looking for an appropriate facility.
Before you book some time there, though, you should check to make sure it is the best option for you. Let’s talk about some features you should look into before moving forward.
Does the Facility Let You Have a Soundproof Booth?
Let’s say you’re about to get a podcast off the ground, or maybe you already have an established one, and you’re looking for a new place to record. You locate a studio that seems like it might be suitable.
The first thing you will probably want to do is to go to the facility and to check out the recording booths. Are they soundproof? If you want your podcast to sound professional, then there should be padded walls that do not allow any sound to get in other than the show you’re creating.
If you’re not sure based on how a booth looks, talk to the owner or manager. The best recording studios have booths that allow in no sound other than the words your podcast stars are speaking.
How Much Does It Cost?
The cost of a recording studio is obviously going to be a factor that you need to think about as well. You probably only have a limited budget for the creation of this podcast. You may not be able to go over that set amount.
If the cost of one studio seems to be prohibitive, then you can look into some other ones. While they are all usually somewhat similar in price, you may be able to find one that is a little more reasonable. If it comes down to it, maybe you can haggle with the owner a bit and get them to knock the price down slightly.
Are There Fees for Going Over the Session Length?
You can book a recording studio for a podcast for a certain length of time. However, what if you find that the recording is running a bit longer than you anticipated?
You can ask the owner or manager what kind of overage fees you’re looking at if you need to stick around a little longer than anticipated. If they say that they have a very rigid structure in place, and they won’t let you go even a minute over the time that you booked, then you might need to go somewhere else instead.
Are There Any Content Restrictions in Place?
As we mentioned earlier, you can make a podcast about just about anything these days. You can make one that focuses on subjects as niche as antique clocks or advanced carpentry. However, some people like to make podcasts that are about controversial subject matter.
In theory, you should be able to talk about anything you want on your podcast if you pay someone for the use of the studio. However, it’s always possible you’ll run into ownership or management that doesn’t want you speaking about a particular subject.
If you find that you’re making a podcast about something that the owner or manager of a studio might consider controversial, it’s probably best that you run that by them before you start recording the show. You don’t want a station manager bursting in and shutting you down just when the content is getting interesting.
Is the Equipment State of the Art?
You should also talk to the station manager or owner about the state of the recording equipment. Is it new? Does it have all the latest instruments to make a podcast seem as professional as possible?
If you see that a recording studio looks shabby and features aging equipment, you should probably go elsewhere. You do not want to pay top dollar for a subpar facility.
Can You Come Back if You Need to Redo Any Segments?
You might also want to speak to the station manager or owner about whether you will be able to come back and redo any segments if anything goes wrong with one of them for some reason. Ideally, you will have podcasters who can do the whole recording in one take, and they won’t need to do any repeats. Just like actors, though, some podcasters might feel the need to do a rerecording sometimes.
If the studio has no problems letting you come back the next day, you can probably move forward. If it’s hard to get some additional studio time, that might be an issue for you.
Do They Do Sound Mixing or Editing for You?
You should ask if the employees there at the studio do any sound mixing or editing to make the podcast as professional as possible. Some studios will provide these services, but others will not.
You may be able to handle these sorts of tasks on your own, but if you can’t, you will probably want to give your business to a studio that does them for you.
Do You Need to Provide Your Own Crew?
One final question you should ask is whether you need to provide your own crew in addition to the podcasters who are the stars of the show. Some studios will make you bring in crew members to handle all of the technical details. Others will provide workers who can do that for you.
If you already have staff members who can handle all the technical aspects, then you won’t need to find a studio that provides these services.
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