Home Studio Mistakes Beginners Commonly Make (and How to Fix Them)

Let's get one thing straight: Beginners AND Pros ALIKE Make Home Studio Mistakes... THAT'S A FACT!

WHERE DO I START!?

Whether you’re an experienced actor expanding into voiceover or a total beginner just discovering the industry, your home studio is your most important tool. A professional-sounding recording space can be the difference between booking a job or being skipped over—no matter how strong your performance is.

Unfortunately, many voice actors (yes, even working pros) make common home studio mistakes that sabotage their sound quality, workflow, and confidence. The good news? Most of them are easy to fix once you know what to look for.

1. Using the Wrong Space

The Mistake: Recording in an untreated room with bare walls, open windows, or noisy appliances. Even expensive gear won’t save you from bad acoustics.

The Fix: Choose the quietest possible space in your home—often a closet, a small spare room, or even a corner with heavy blankets. Add soft, dense materials to absorb sound: thick curtains, acoustic panels, or moving blankets. Remember: soundproofing keeps noise out, while treatment makes the inside sound good.

2. Relying Only on USB Microphones

The Mistake: Thinking a USB mic is “good enough” for professional auditions and jobs. While they can be a great start, especially if you're not totally sure voiceover is going to be more than a hobby... and it is an amazing option for travel and on-the-go recording, they often lack the depth and flexibility of an XLR mic with an audio interface.

The Fix: Upgrade (when it makes sense for your budget) to an XLR microphone paired with a reliable audio interface. This not only improves sound quality but also gives you more control over gain and EQ settings. You can find all our recs here - on our Amazon Storefront (affiliate links) or Check out our Equipment Recs Blog Post for our microphone recommendations!

3. Ignoring Noise Floor Issues

The Mistake: Sending auditions with background hiss, hum, or street noise that distracts casting directors.

The Fix: Let's start with understanding what your "noise floor" is. A "noise floor" is the level of unwanted background noise present in the audio signal when no voice is being recorded. So... before recording, run a test take and listen back with high quality monitoring headphones. Identify and eliminate sources of noise—turn off fans, refrigerators nearby, or noisy electronics. If needed, add extra layers of sound dampening or schedule recording during quieter times of day.

4. Poor Mic Technique

The Mistake: Sitting too close or too far from the mic, causing distortion or thin audio. Moving around too much can also create inconsistent sound. Not paying attention to your gain and your speaking volume can cause your sound to "clip" or become distorted.

The Fix: Position yourself about 6–8 inches from the microphone. Use a pop filter to control plosives and keep your positioning steady. Practice your delivery without excessive movement to keep your audio clean and consistent. Be mindful of where to set your gain - a little lower for louder projection (i.e. yelling) a little higher for a quieter speaking voice (i.e. whispering, intimate scenes, etc.)

5. Skipping Proper File Prep

The Mistake: Sending files that are mislabeled, unedited, or in the wrong format. This makes you look unprofessional—fast.

The Fix: Always edit out mistakes, dead air, and background noise before sending. Export your file in the requested format (most commonly .mp3) and name it as instructed or if no instructions, just professionally: FirstName_LastName_ProjectName.mp3.

Why Fixing These Mistakes Matters

Casting directors, producers, and clients often have dozens (or hundreds) of submissions to review. Great performance plus great sound equals more opportunities—and your home studio is the foundation of that equation.

Ready to Level Up Your Home Studio?

Whether you’re just starting out or need to refine your existing setup, personalized coaching can save you time, money, and frustration. In a one-on-one coaching session at Voiceover Workshop NYC, we’ll have you work with one of our sound engineers to:

• Evaluate your current home studio

• Recommend gear and acoustic solutions for your budget

• Help you troubleshoot noise and quality issues

• Guide you on mic technique and recording workflow

Book your session today and take the guesswork out of building a professional voiceover home studio: Schedule One-on-One Coaching