Yesterday evening at Syracuse CoWorks, Euphony founder and CEO Fuz Eller presented an Introduction to Voice Recording and Production. The objective of the talk was to ease individuals into digital recording, and to share insight into what it takes to generate quality recordings using cost-effective tools and resources.

Here are five key takeaways from the talk:

The mistake everyone makes when they first start recording

More often than not, when individuals first start recording they don’t realize there are sources of noise everywhere that will impact the quality of their recordings. For instance, refrigerators and their subtle electrical humming can easily be picked up by microphone. Furniture, too, with its squeaks and squeals has a tendency to find its way into audio recordings and diminishes their quality. Be aware of what sources of noise are around you and what you can do to mollify their impact upon your recordings.

Speaking too close to the microphone

Speaking too close to the microphone is another common mistake beginners make. In particular, words starting with ‘B’s’ and ‘P’s’ will record with pronounced Buhhh and Puhhh sounds. This creates a breathy sounding experience for the listener. Fortunately, it can be mitigated through the use of a pop filter.

Content quality outweighs audio quality

It’s certainly important to be cognizant of common mistakes beginners make when first starting. However, at the end of the day the quality of the content far outweighs the quality of the audio itself. If you’re not creating interesting and compelling content, no one will listen. If no one listens, you won’t be able to solicit the feedback necessary to learn how to improve. First and foremost, focus on generating and sharing engaging audio content that will resonate with your audience. Then, worry about polishing up the quality of the audio later.

No need to break the bank on equipment

When it comes to audio recording there are plenty of expensive tools and resources out there. However, there’s no reason to break the bank. Many of the tools and resources you need to get started are available for free. In some cases you can even address your audio needs with your own creative solutions (e.g., using a closet or a pile of pillows to soak noise).

External recording devices will produce the best results

As you’re getting started, using your laptop as means to record your audio is absolutely fine, and certainly economical. With that said, to produce the best results possible you should use an external recording solution, though, avoid recorders meant for taking notes. Using external recording equipment will improve the quality of your recordings and ensure they are clear and sound polished.

When it comes to external recording solutions there are a multitude of tools available. For beginners, here’s a good place to start.