How should gain staging be handled when recording podcasts with multiple microphones?

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How should gain staging be handled when recording podcasts with multiple microphones?

Asked on Nov 21, 2025

Answer

Proper gain staging is crucial for maintaining audio quality and consistency when recording podcasts with multiple microphones. It ensures that each microphone captures clear and balanced audio without distortion or excessive noise.

Example Technique:

Step 1 – Set up each microphone and ensure they are positioned correctly for the speakers' voices.
Step 2 – Adjust the gain on each microphone preamp so that the audio levels peak around -12dB to -6dB on your recording device or software.
Step 3 – Monitor the levels during recording to maintain consistency and avoid clipping, making adjustments as necessary.

Additional Comment:

Use headphones to monitor audio quality and detect any issues during recording.
Ensure that each microphone is capturing audio at a similar level to avoid post-production challenges.
Consider using a limiter to prevent unexpected peaks from causing distortion.

✅ Answered with Podcasting best practices.

Ask any question about Podcasting here... and get an instant response.

How should gain staging be handled when recording podcasts with multiple microphones?

Asked on Nov 21, 2025

Answer

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