Most podcasters chase better audio quality by upgrading their equipment, like buying a new microphone, better headphones, or a nicer audio interface. Gear absolutely matters, and we’ve written before about which microphones and headphones you should purchase along with a full breakdown of steps to deal with echo, crackle or room noise. But there’s a layer of audio quality no microphone can fix: your voice.
Your voice is the actual source of your show’s sound, and how you use it determines whether an episode sounds polished or amateurish long before editing software gets involved. Voice actors have developed techniques over the years to protect their voices and keep them pleasant to listen to for long stretches of time, and podcasters can use those same tips and tricks as well.
Let’s look at some tips, tricks, and techniques that shape how your voice actually sounds once you’re on the mic. Practicing fundamentals will help strengthen your voice and stay consistent with every episode. If you’d rather have a trained ear walk through your setup and technique together, reach out and ask about our podcast consulting services, or sign up for our newsletter for information like this delivered straight to your inbox.
Tip #1: Drink Water
Dry mouth is a common cause of bad voice quality, but it’s also the most avoidable. When your mouth isn’t properly hydrated, your saliva thickens and starts to create small clicking and popping noises every time your tongue moves away from the roof of your mouth or when your lips separate. On a sensitive microphone, those sounds are picked up clearly, and they’re much harder to remove in post-production than they are to prevent in the first place.
Start hydrating well before you begin recording, not the moment you sit down at the mic. Water needs time to reach your vocal tract and saliva glands, so a helpful tip is to sip room-temperature water at least an hour or more before recording. This works better than chugging a full glass before you start talking because you’re also taking in air which could come up later as a gasp. Keep a glass or a water bottle nearby during recording and take small silent sips between segments rather than waiting until your mouth already feels dry and drinking in a hurry.
Avoid dairy right before recording if you’re prone to mouth noise, since it can thicken saliva and make clicks more likely. Caffeine and alcohol are dehydrating as well, so if you notice more mouth sounds on days you’ve had multiple cups of coffee or cans of soda, that’s not a coincidence. If you can’t do without them, make sure to consume them alongside some water to stay properly hydrated.
Tip #2: Have a Light Snack
Here’s a useful tip borrowed from the voiceover world: eat a slice of green apple a few minutes before recording to temporarily reduce mouth noise. This isn’t a permanent fix, but the pectin in green apples stimulates saliva production while also having a slight astringent effect that thins out any saliva already in your mouth. This can cut down on the sticky clicks that come from a dry mouth.
Other foods you can snack on that help with voice quality include almonds or a small piece of celery. Avoid dairy products, or any heavy or excessively sugary snacks before you record, since those can make your mouth sound worse rather than better. Wash this all down with some water and you’re good to go.
Tip #3: Reduce Mouth Noises
Beyond hydration and eating the right foods, there are a few other tricks you can adopt to improve your voice quality. Try not to let your mouth sit closed and still for long stretches while a co-host or guest is speaking. When your mouth’s closed, saliva pools and clicking sounds build up, so keep your mouth slightly open and relaxed when you’re not talking.
Positioning matters as well, which we covered in our article about how to make your voice sound better on podcast recordings. A microphone pointed directly at your mouth captures plosives and clicks at full volume. Angling your microphone slightly off-axis, roughly 15 to 40 degrees from being directly in line with your mouth, is a technique voice actors use in the booth to soften harsh consonants without changing your natural speaking style.
Even if you use these tricks, mouth noises can still happen, so resist the urge to stop and start over while you’re talking. Pause briefly, take a sip of water if needed, and repeat what you’re saying cleanly and clearly. That gives your editor a clean alternate take to drop in later, which is a much simpler, less destructive fix than adding artificial de-clicking effects in post-production.
Tip #4: Control Your Breathing
Loud, heavy breathing is a quick way to make a podcast sound amateurish, but it’s also very easy to fix with a bit of technique. Most people breathe shallowly from their chest when they’re nervous or focused, which creates quick, audible gasps between sentences. Voice actors and narrators are trained to breathe from the diaphragm instead, using slower, deeper breaths that are quieter and give you more air to work with as you speak.
If you’re not familiar with your diaphragm, take a minute or two before recording to get in touch with it by practicing a few deep breaths. Place a hand on your stomach and breathe in slowly through your nose, feeling your stomach push out and expand. You should also feel a bit of tension right below your lungs as you breathe in; this activates your diaphragm. Keep your shoulders steady, then exhale slowly and speak on that controlled exhale. Repeat this a few times so your body gets more comfortable with the feeling.
Tip #5: Warm Up and Don’t Slouch
Voice actors don’t step to the microphone without warming up, and podcasters shouldn’t either. A quick two- or three-minute vocal exercise loosens your jaw, tongue, and throat muscles, which reduces tension that can lead to strained or inconsistent voice quality across a long episode.
There are a few simple warmups you can do, like lip trills, humming a few scales, gently stretching your jaw side to side, or running through a tongue twister or two at a slow pace before speeding up. You don’t need an elaborate routine. The goal is just to get your mouth and voice moving so you’re coming to the mic prepared and ready to talk.
Something else to consider is how your posture affects your voice quality. Sitting up straight, or even standing while you record, relaxes your shoulders, opens up your chest and throat, and allows for fuller, more resonant sound. Slouching rounds your shoulders and compresses your diaphragm and chest cavity, restricting airflow and making your voice sound thinner or more strained over a long podcast recording. This is even more obvious if you’re recording a video podcast because listeners can see and hear you. Good posture supports your voice and on-camera presence at the same time, so it’s worth building the habit regardless of whether your show is video-first or audio-only.
Conclusion
The tips, tricks, and techniques we mentioned here don’t require any new gear, special equipment, or a bigger budget. You just need a few minutes of preparation before you record and a bit of awareness while you’re talking. Hydrate early, keep a light snack or a glass of water nearby, reduce mouth noises, breathe from your diaphragm, and sit up straight and warm up your voice before you begin. Combine these habits with a solid recording setup and you will notice a real difference in how your voice quality improves.
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