With input from our experienced Quality Control (QC) agents, we’ve compiled a list of the most common audio quality issues - and how to address them using accessible techniques and tools.

Whether you're just getting started or are a seasoned voice artist, these best practices and tips can help you take your recordings to the next level. If you're ever unsure about how to tackle an issue, feel free to send us a sample that displays the problem, and our QC agents will be happy to provide feedback, tips and suggestions!
 

🔧 Most Common Issues & How to Solve Them
 

1. 🏠 Room Echo (Reverb)

Reflections from untreated surfaces give your audio a "hollow" or "boomy" quality.

Solutions:

• Treat your space: Use soft materials like thick blankets, pillows, rugs, or foam panels. Focus on corners and flat surfaces behind and beside you.

• Choose a small, soft room: Closets or furniture-filled spaces work best.

• DAW Tips: Use subtle reverb reduction tools like DeReverb (iZotope RX) or Waves Clarity Vx DeReverb if treatment isn't enough.

• Avoid overprocessing - less is more.

2. 🌬️ Background Noise

Fans, street noise, or appliance hums can creep into your recordings.

Solutions:

• Record during quiet hours (early morning or late night)

• Turn off AC units, fridges, or anything generating constant noise

• Use dynamic mics in noisy environments—they pick up less ambient sound than condensers

• DAW Tips: Apply a noise gate (set with caution!) to block out low-level background sounds, or use Noise Reduction plugins like:

  • iZotope RX Voice De-noise

  • Accusonus ERA Noise Remover

  • ReaFIR (in REAPER) for manual noise profiling

3. ⚡ Hiss / White Noise

Electronic interference or poor mic gain settings can create a high-frequency hiss.

Solutions:

• Keep your mic away from your laptop or USB ports that may cause interference

• Use high-quality cables and avoid USB hubs

• Set proper input gain—too high and you invite hiss, too low and you’ll need heavy boosting later

• DAW Tips: Use spectral noise reduction like:

  • Audacity’s built-in Noise Reduction

  • RX Spectral Denoise

  • Waves X-Noise

4. 📦 Boxiness (Muffled, Hollow Sound)

Boxiness happens when recordings sound like they were made inside a small box — muffled, echoey, or lacking clarity. It’s usually caused by room reflections, mic placement, or buildup of midrange frequencies.

Solutions:

• Record in a well-treated space with sound-absorbing materials (foam panels, curtains, or blankets).

• Move the mic slightly farther from reflective surfaces or away from corners.

• Experiment with mic positioning — avoid pointing directly at walls or hard surfaces.

• DAW Tips:

  • Use an EQ to gently reduce frequencies between 200–500 Hz, where boxiness often builds up.

  • Try a narrow cut rather than a wide one to preserve natural tone.

  • A light touch of room reverb or clarity boost (around 5 kHz) can help restore presence if needed.

5. 💥 Plosives and Blows (P, B, F sounds)

Air bursts from speech hitting the mic diaphragm cause harsh pops.

Solutions:

• Use a pop filter or make your own with stretched nylon over a hoop

• Speak slightly off-axis (at an angle to the mic) rather than directly into it

• Position the mic slightly above or below your mouth

• DAW Tips: Use a high-pass filter to reduce low-end rumble and soften plosive transients. Manual waveform editing can also help.

🎙️ Tips for Great Quality Without Expensive Gear

 

1. Choose a Decent Mic

A USB microphone like the Blue Yeti, Rode NT-USB, or Samson Q2U is a solid investment. These offer better clarity than built-in laptop or phone mics and work seamlessly with most DAWs.

 

2. Use a Reliable DAW

Start with Audacity (free and user-friendly) or explore Reaper, a budget-friendly DAW with powerful features. For Mac users, GarageBand is a great starting point.

 

3. Apply Basic Editing

Clean up recordings by learning these essential tools:

• Noise reduction

• EQ (cut muddiness below ~80Hz, smooth harsh mids)

• Compression (to even out volume)

• Limiter (to prevent clipping)
  
   

4. Record Smart

• Maintain a consistent distance from the mic (5–10 inches is a good range)

• Record multiple takes so you have backup options

• Avoid overprocessing—your raw quality matters more than piling on effects
  
   

5. Optimize Your Space

Build a quick DIY booth with:

• A clothes rack + blanket tent

• Mattress corners or closet recording setups

• Acoustic foam or thick curtains to absorb reflections
  
   

6. Practice, Review, and Repeat

• Revisit your Samples regularly and re-record outdated ones

• Experiment with mic placement, room treatment, and post-processing

• Ask for feedback from peers or our QC team in the Community
  
   

These tips can dramatically improve your audio, even without expensive gear. Remember: consistency, clarity, and natural delivery are what clients (and our QC team) value most.