How to get great sound on BBC radio interviews “Working from Home”

Covid-19 now means distance radio interviews from home are not just a ‘thing’ but here to stay. I have wondered how the BBC manage to obtain great recording quality, when people are actually sat in their own homes recording off some pretty basic technology? I was lucky enough to find out some of the dark art behind good quality home recording from a recent BBC World Service interview for their Outlook series.

Previously, all the radio interviews I did were in professional recording studios, bar one outdoor recording ascending Snowdon in Wales, where the sound of the wind and trudging footsteps seemed to be of more interest to the interviewer than what anyone was saying! In your own home, there’s no-one overseeing your recording directly, and it can all feel a bit intimidating, despite the lovely producers and presenters easing you into it.

So I hope they don’t mind if I pass on a few of their tip-top-tips on recording from home so that you too could sound great for a podcast, interview or even to record your own speech to motivate staff working from home.

1.) Preparation: There is no point zooming straight into something you want to sound amazing without first sorting out the technology and ironing out the creases. Normally there will be a practice run to ensure everything works and the producer is happy with the quality of the sound. Sometimes you can gauge what shape the actual interview may take from the practice run, and this can assist you in preparing your thoughts for the actual recording. Having clarity of thought is quite useful especially when the very silky voiced presenter starts speaking ever so eloquently!
2.) Backup- The BBC use some great recording Apps that allow you both to talk with the sound recording shown visually on your monitor at home and enabling 2 or even 3 or 4 way conversation. This side is controlled by the radio producer, and all you have to do is talk and not get distracted by all those sound monitors wiggling about with your every breathe.
3.) Voice Memo: I had never realised the great quality you can obtain from a simple voice memo recording on your phone. Stack a pile of books on your table until the phone mic is neatly sat about 10cm from your mouth and press the record button to start recording. This can easily be sent to the producer by Wattsapp or similar and gives your version with great sound.
4.) Sound Proofing: Another handy hint is to ensure you record in a furnished room with curtains closed to reduce echo – you can try a duvet over your head, but I guess this might get a bit hot!
5.) Last Check: Just make sure you’re not wearing rustling or jangling clothes or tapping anything as you chat away! – And if you are unlucky enough to have a blocked nose then rescheduling will mean you don’t have to live with an extremely nasal version of your own voice going out on aire.

This is ofcourse vastly different from speaking to a live audience and is venturing into one of the new norms we are accepting now. I guess all types of speeches and addresses can be made in this way, so I hope that sharing my top tips you too can get a great recording sound from your own home.