Dynamic or condenser
Dynamic mics (broadcast-style) handle louder voices and a little room noise. They suit table talk with varying speakers. Condensers capture detail and air but pick up plosives, table knocks and HVAC more easily.
In studio we test what fits each cast. For podcast recording per hour (€115) or per episode up to sixty minutes raw (€310), consistency beats the most expensive model.
Table and boom arms
Boom arms keep mics stable and out of frame. Place the capsule slightly off-axis from the mouth to spread plosives. Ask guests not to lean on the table — rumble transfers into the recording.
Our table suits two to four guests; larger groups need planning via contact. See recording day checklist for travel and timing to Kinkerstraat.
Plosives and pop filters
Pop filter or foam windscreen is standard. Guests with glasses or masks: slightly higher mic, slightly more distance. Whispering feels intimate but raises noise-to-speech; calm normal-level talk at normal distance works better.
Drinks on the table: sturdy cups only, well away from capsules. Ice rattles on mics.
Separating multiple voices
With four mics on one table leakage is inevitable; we use placement and directionality to limit bleed. Cross-talk is harder to edit than clear turn-taking.
Basic edit is in the episode rate; heavy reconstruction we quote separately. A bundle of ten episodes (€2,580) suits fixed schedules — we set mic choice once for the run.
Home vs studio
Home USB mics can work for remote inserts, but room tone and Wi-Fi glitches stand out next to studio tracks. Remote via clean feed or separate local recording per guest, then sync in edit, is often cleaner.
In Amsterdam trams and street noise show up in untreated rooms; our spaces are built for conversation, not full band (for that see vocal recording or the live room at 24 m²).
Monitoring and levels
Guests hear themselves and others in headphones. Too loud monitoring makes people speak quietly into the mic; too quiet and they shout. The engineer sets starting gain; you say what feels comfortable.
We record 24-bit; peaks leave room for laughs and emphasis. Clipping in raw audio is harder to fix than a slightly quiet take.
If someone sounds congested, lower level slightly and normalize in edit rather than heavy compression on the way in. Coughs and throat clearing: pause recording — they do not belong in a clean podcast track.
After recording and delivery
After the session you get raw export as agreed; basic edit is included in the episode rate. Heavy noise reduction or music under speech is out of scope unless quoted upfront.
We keep files for 18 months. Download everything to your podcast host; we are not a permanent CDN. For corporate shows with B2B invoicing the payment term is 21 days — see terms and conditions.
Rights and publishing
Podcasts with music clips or jingles need clearance — we do not give legal advice. Use royalty-free or owned material, or licences via your host. For voice-over lines in intros, voice-over in the booth can give a clean base.
Guest privacy: tell participants audio is stored under our privacy policy (retention and purposes).
Practical checklist
- Send a brief with guest list and topic to [email protected].
- Discuss mic type — dynamic for lively tables.
- Pop filter; no jewellery tapping clothing.
- Water, no ice; phones on silent (vibration!).
- Sessions by appointment within Mon–Fri 9:30–18:30, Sat 12–16 (by appointment); Saturday limited.
- Agree export: WAV per track or stereo mixdown.
Book via contact or call 020 245 8317. More technical questions in FAQ.
