Tagged with 'School'

Podcasts aren't just for influencers, journalists, and comedians anymore; they're now part of the k-12 education system, with many high schools and middle schools now offering podcasting as part of the media studies curriculum, as an extracurricular activity, or as a tool for class projects.

Here's some tips to make sure your school's podcast studio has great sound:

1. Find the Right Room

Larger rooms (like auditoriums, cafeterias, or gymnasiums) tend to be more reflective of sound waves. That means echoes and reverberations that are difficult to control. Try to find a smaller room with low ceilings instead.

Ideally, you'll also use a room that is situated away from intrusive noises. For instance, a room or office attached to the library will likely have less outside noise to contend with than a room attached to a main hallway or gathering space, like a cafeteria or common area. Be mindful of HVAC systems, too - air conditioners and heaters can add high-pitched frequencies that microphones often capture.

2. Add Sound Absorption

Once you've found the right location for your studio or podcast room, review the space for hard surfaces. Glass, concrete, drywall - these surfaces reflect sound waves around the space, creating echoes and reverberations that will muddy your podcast's sound quality.

If your podcast studio is susceptible to such echoes and reverberations, add porous materials such as carpets, upholstered furniture, and curtains to absorb those sound waves.

Want to take your sound solution to the next level? Acoustic panels are specifically engineered to absorb sound within a space to reduce noise and improve sound clarity. Each Audimute acoustic panel is made with our eco-C-tex® sound absorption material; it's eco-friendly and lab-proven to absorb an average of 95% of echoes, reverberations, and mid to high frequencies. Fabric Acoustic Panels are durable and cleanable, while our Custom Image Acoustic Panels can be printed with your school's logo, its mascot, or your podcast's name to add that extra touch of school spirit (and branding!).

3. Use the Right Microphones

Unidirectional microphones, or microphones that capture sound from the direction they're facing, are generally better for podcasts than omnidirectional mics, which capture sound, including background noise, from throughout the space. Of course, in a room that has been properly treated for acoustical quality, background noise and echo is less of an issue; that said, if you're just trying to capture the voices of those speaking, unidirectional is still the way to go.

4. Use Headphones

Wearing headphones while recording your podcast is a great way to keep track of your audio quality in real time. Is your volume too low? Are you too close to the mic? Is there a glitch somewhere disrupting the sound quality? By wearing headphones during the recording of the podcast, you can identify and resolve issues in the moment instead of trying to fix them in post-production. Headphones also cut down on echo from any speakers within the room playing back audio during the recording.


Ensure your podcast studio is set up for acoustic success so students can instead focus on producing great content! And if you need free advice on how to set up your studio, contact an Audimute Acoustic Specialist at 1.866.505.MUTE or contact us here.

With school back in session, many teachers and educators are paying close attention to how their classroom environment impacts the students: from lighting to desk arrangement to decor, all sorts of visual elements play a big role in creating a classroom conducive to learning.

But something often forgotten about is the importance of good sound in a classroom. Let's take a look at classroom acoustics and why they should be addressed sooner rather than later.

What Causes Bad Acoustics in a Classroom?

Most schools and universities are built from highly reflective materials such as concrete, brick, and drywall — good for durability and cleanliness, but bad for acoustics. Elsewhere, the spacious common areas and open-layout classrooms found in many modern schools allow sound to travel freely without getting blocked by walls or partitions. Overcrowded classrooms and noisy, outdated HVAC systems also add to the acoustic woes.

How Do Bad Acoustics Impact Students?

If a classroom hasn't received a proper acoustic treatment, students are more likely to struggle with concentration and information retention.

The science backs it up: a 2021 study published in Frontiers in Built Environment found that excessive noise levels and reverb in elementary school classrooms correlated with lower math and reading scores, while a 2022 study from the Acoustical Society of America said students can miss up to 25% of information in a classroom due to poor acoustics.

Even at the preschool level, acoustics play a role: excessive reverb and noise in a preschool classroom can negatively impact speech intelligibility, listening comprehension, and behavior.

Simply put, a student's cognitive skills, academic performance, and emotional well-being can suffer when acoustics don't make the grade. That's not even taking into consideration how bad acoustics in a classroom can impact the teacher, who may strain their voice to be heard.

How Do I Fix the Sound in My Classroom?

Any acoustic solution will help significantly: we particularly like Fabric Acoustic Panels because they are durable and bleach-cleanable (making them perfect for high-traffic areas in a school like the hallway or cafeteria). Custom Image Acoustic Panels are a great way to add a touch of school spirit to your acoustic solution, while ceiling clouds, baffles, and direct mount tiles are excellent sound absorption options for areas with limited wall space, like classrooms, gymnasiums, auditoriums, and common areas.



Let's eliminate the echo so we can focus on the education!