Chapter 2: Getting Setup - What You Need To Start (Your Recording Studio, Equipment, Software)

Creating high-quality audio at home is actually way easier than you think! This chapter covers essential equipment (microphones, interfaces, software), soundproofing tips, and beginner-friendly advice on how to set up and optimize your recording space for clean, intimate sound

🎙️ Why Audio Quality Matters

In erotic voice acting sound is literally everything. It’s how you seduce, tease, and transport your listener into an immersive fantasy without a single visual. You want to paint a picture with sound so the listener can close their eyes and be able to use their imagination to follow along

The good news is creating professional-sounding audio at home is way easier than you think. With a few essential tools and a basic setup, you can record clean, intimate, and emotionally engaging audio from your bedroom or closet (I do it in a closet!)

🔧 Equipment

I'm going to break this down as simply as I can, because at this point you’re probably getting amazon ad’s for microphones and pop filters and interfaces and sound proofing foam and a bunch of stuff you don't actually need right away

Ultimately if you are truly JUST STARTING OUT and have never recorded ANY AUDIO EVER; recording in a quiet space with your cellphone is a totally fine way to start so you can get your feet wet…

In fact; if you truly have zero experience and are hoping to use this guide to jump start your voice acting career; I recommend you record something right now and consider it your first test

Use your cellphone, go into voice notes and moan a little, talk dirty a bit. See if it's something you can actually manage to do without giggling. If you passed that test, you may continue...

If you do have experience in Erotic Voice Acting, I do have some suggestions on the equipment I prefer down below, but if you have your recording space already set up and aren’t looking to upgrade anything at the moment, you could probably skip this chapter

This may sound totally crazy, but sometimes the audience actually prefers the amateur sound over the polished professional one. As someone just starting; you should explore some of the erotic audio communities on reddit and literotica, practice acting out a few scripts - maybe record a few with your cellphone in your bedroom and post them for fun from a burner account just to get comfortable with it. Once you are comfortable; and want to take this more seriously you can start thinking about upgrading your equipment, starting a website and investing in your online brand/persona But again; If you are unsure about wanting to do this as a job, and want to explore it as a hobby at first - you really don't need to invest in any fancy equipment. Recording in a quiet room like a bedroom or a closet full of clothes will give you enough sound proofing and your cellphone will do the job. Remember, originally this all started out as phone sex anyway and most newer phones have pretty good microphones these days! Do not let anyone shame you for using your phone to record, we all start somewhere. Just try to get the best quality you can HOWEVER; since I am promoting this guide as a way to monetize your erotic audio, and if you realllllyyy want to take this seriously (maybe even do it as a full time job one day) you should invest in a few things. Don't worry; I'm not about to say you need a full studio or thousands of dollars in gear, invest in one thing at a time - and a few key pieces will help you go a long way Starting with the basics:

Microphone (Your Most Important Tool)

If you’re planning to turn this hobby into a real job you’ll want to upgrade from recording voice notes on your phone to something that sounds more professional and will give you more clarity. A condenser microphone is good for soft whispers, breathy tones, and detailed recordings

✅ Recommendations:

(Just Okay) USB Microphone:

You can easily get started with something like a BLUE YETI USB Microphone. I used one for years before I considered upgrading to what I’m using now.  A USB microphone is just an okay choice, but its budget friendly and straightforward for beginners, even though it’s not as crisp sounding as some other options

(Better) Condenser Microphone (XLR):

I currently use a Rode NT1 Condenser Microphone for most of my recordings. It lets you get a professional sound, and it isnt TOO much more expensive than the Yeti. ***An important thing to remember about using a condenser microphone is that you will NEED an audio interface to connect the microphone to the computer, this is what ends up raising the cost for this setup, whereas the Yeti is as easy as plugging it in and hitting record. If you choose this type of microphone, don't forget to also get the audio interface to go with it - I’ll go into more details about audio interfaces next

You don’t need to go over the top getting the most expensive recording equipment to ever exist, but you definitely need to avoid headset mics and built-in laptop microphones. This is NOT a zoom call with grandma

(Specifically for ASMR style audios that sound 3D) Stereo Microphone: This type of microphone captures sound in a way that mimics how human ears hear, with direction and space. It does this by using two separate microphone elements (usually built into one unit) to record sound from two different angles, left and right

This creates a stereo recording, meaning when you listen with headphones or speakers you can hear sounds coming from different directions just like in real life! These mics are specifically used by creators who are focusing on whispery ASMR and giving their audience “tingles” Stereo mics are for more experienced creators. The industry standard is a 3Dio microphone (its a funny little box with microphones built into little rubber ear pieces) The 3Dio requires an audio interface to work as well, but it must have 2 channels, whereas you can use a single channel interface for a single track (mono) recording. A 3Dio is quite expensive for a new creator and there are cheaper alternatives. I personally really like the sound of the Tascam Handheld Stereo Recorder. Its a lot more portable than the 3Dio and much more cost effective, but it doesn’t have the rubber ears, so you cant necessarily lick it the same way. Then again, if you aren't planning to focus specifically on ASMR and 3D binaural audio, a condenser mic will be a better choice for you

*Add on’s: - A pop filter helps prevents hard “P” and “B” sounds from distorting your recording - Mic arm or stand will keep your mic stable and at the right distance (around  6 - 12 inches from your mouth)

The Audio Interface

If you're using an XLR mic like the Rode NT1 (which is better for quality than a USB mic) you’ll need an audio interface to connect it to your computer. 3Dio mics require this as well

✅ Recommendations: -Single Channel USB Audio Interface (If you choose to go with the Rode Condenser Mic, they used to sell a package deal with the Rode AI-1 Single Channel USB Audio Interface. I use that interface with my Rode Mic, but it won't be suitable for the 3Dio since it is a single channel interface meaning you can only connect one line at a time, and a 3D mic requires 2 lines) The M-Audio Brand is good if you need one that is budget friendly. Or you can invest in the multi channel interface which you can still use with a mono mic. This way if you decide you want to try recording in Steror, you already have an interface with 2 lines -Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 (This is the one I use with my 3Dio Microphone, you could also use this interface for a single channel condenser mic) -Behringer UMC22

If you’re using a USB mic (like the Blue Yeti), you don’t need an interface, just plug it into your computer and start recording your smut!

Headphones

Ideally you would use closed-back headphones. These help you hear every detail of your recording and catch background noise or mouth clicks, but you don't need them. You can use any type of basic headphones, or ear buds but I don't recommend it for getting the best final sound… however these are what your audience will most likely use to listen to the audios you make anyway, so getting a fancy pair of headphones is up to you; I would invest in a better microphone first!

✅ Recommended: - Sennheiser Headphones (This brand is my favourite and I’ve used them for years) - Audio-Technica ATH-M50xDepending on the headphones you choose - you may need an audio adapter to plug it into your audio interface. You can get adapters for fairly cheap

🔇 Soundproofing: Creating a Quiet Space

You don’t need to build a recording booth in your basement (unless you want to). Just use what you already have to minimize background noise and echo. Personally, I record in the “Harry Potter closet” that's under my stairs. It's a little cramped in there, not a lot of leg space, but I have blankets on the walls and it's the best sound proof room in the house. Not 100% soundproof, but it does help make the audio sound better. When I'm recording I can sometimes still hear kids playing basketball outside, the neighbour mowing their lawn or a car drive by, but it's still better quality than recording with the echo in my office. A small enclosed space creates a warmer, closer sound overall

Some of My Budget Soundproofing Tips

-Record in a closet full of clothes; it’s naturally insulated-Hang or drape blankets or duvets over walls, doors, or furniture

-Use a rug or yoga mat on hard floors to absorb reverb -When you are recording, turn off fans, your AC, or anything that hums. I always have to unplug my standing desk because I can hear it softly buzzing in the background -Try to record when it’s quiet; late night or early morning often works best. Garbage day is on Wednesday in my neighbourhood, which means there are constantly big garbage trucks driving by and making noise. I don't record audios on Wednesday for that reason

💻 Software: Record, Edit, Export

You’ll need some kind of recording software (DAW = Digital Audio Workstation) to capture and clean up your audio. I often say that editing takes up more time than recording does, but this is different for everyone. It also depends on if you choose to edit in sound effects, like a door opening and closing to set the scene, the sound of high heels, or even beach ambience in the background. We will go over Choosing SFX in a bonus chapter. If you are overwhelmed by the thought of editing; you can consider hiring someone else to edit for you - but for someone just starting out; this may not be a cost effective option so you’ll probably want to learn this skill

✅ Some Beginner-Friendly DAWs: - Audacity (This is the one I use, its free and it does the job)

- GarageBand (For apple users)

- REAPER (Trial-based, not entirely free but very flexible)

- Adobe Audition (Not free and for most beginners this is overkill)

🔍 Basic Editing Workflow (using audacity, but the steps are similar for other programs)

1. Record a dry take (no filters/effects)
   

2. Edit out any mistakes or long unnatural pauses. I'd say it's optional to edit out mouth clicks - you don't need to remove these, but you can if you prefer. Once I finish editing out the mistakes, I like to run a de-clicker plugin for Audacity. I don't recommend removing your breaths, as it creates a natural break in the way you speak. I find when breaths are removed, the listener is more likely to hold their breath when listening and not find the natural rhythm in your voice. Plus, removing every breath in an audio is way more work than necessary. You can also add in sound effects. Make sure they are on their own tracks and make sure they aren't too loud! **BONUS STEP: Reducing Room Tone**If you feel like your “room tone” is too loud, once you finish editing and before you normalize your audio, select some of that isolated room tone, you only need a few seconds. Then go into “Effects” —> “Noise Reduction” and press “Get Noise Profile” This will exit out of the menu, but it will remember the room tone you’ve selected. You then want to select your entire track and go back into “Effects” —> “Noise Reduction” and press “OK” - This will reduce your “room tone” and make you sound clearer. If you have good sound proofing, you may not need this step, but it can help turn down some of that background humm if you think its too loud. Having some room tone is okay, you will have to be the judge on if it sounds clearer with or without it.
   

3. Normalize your voice track audio to a consistent volume (-3db) and leave 1 second of room tone at the start, and 3 seconds of room tone at the end.
   

4. Quality Conntrol: Listen to it one last time to make sure it sounds okay and you didn't miss anything!
   

5. Save/Export as MP3 or WAV (WAV = higher quality; MP3 = smaller file size)Make sure you name it after the title of your audio + your username/brand name (Its important to do this because you want the person who purchases (or downloads) your audio to be able to easily find it using your brand name
   

*Room Tone is the natural background sound of your space when no one is speaking or making intentional noise. When you first hit “record” sit in silence for a few seconds to capture your room tone

In audio editing, room tone is important because it helps create smooth, consistent sound when you're cutting or moving dialogue. Without it, you might hear awkward gaps or sudden shifts in background noise between edits. Editors use room tone to fill in these gaps so everything sounds seamless and natural

Think of it like this: Even in a "quiet" room, there's always some ambient sound like a faint hum from electronics, air movement, or outside noise. That’s the room tone. You don't want to eliminate it completely, but you also don't want it to be too loud

🎧 Mono Vs Stereo Audio 

Mono? Stereo? We’ve mentioned those terms a few times - so what do they actually mean?Most erotic audio creators record in mono. You don't need to offer 3D sound unless you specifically want to or are focusing on more of an ASMR style. Here’s a bit more information on the difference between the two types of audio Mono (One Channel) - All sound comes from a single source. The same signal is sent to both the left and right speakers or headphones. Most audiobook and audio roleplay content is recorded in this format - No directional movement. The voice will be centered as if it's coming straight at the listener- Simpler setup: one mic, less editing complexity - Smaller file sizes Generally mono is the easier choice, and can still be effective for close, whispered content

Stereo Audio (Two Channels — Left & Right) - Creates a sense of space and direction, sounds can move between the left and right ear. This is utilized more by ASMR creators - You can move your voice or effects (like breathing, movement, background ambiance) around the listener’s "head" - Adds realism and immersion, but the listener needs to be using headphones. They won't necessarily get the same effect listening to it via speakerphone per say

If you're going for ASMR style audios, stereo is the better choice especially if your audience listens with headphones (which most do for erotic audio considering its a private listening experience type thing)Tip: You can record mono voice but add stereo effects in post (like adding SFX that come from a R channel or L channel) to simulate stereo without needing a stereo mic setup

🛠️ Some Other Good Tips

- Warm up your voice before recording (humming, gentle stretching, tongue twisters) - Stay hydrated (mouth clicks increase when dehydrated) - Record 15 minutes at a time then take a break - Avoid touching the mic or standing up mid-recording - Use a consistent mic distance and speaking angle. 6 to 12 inches away from the microphone is best. Use headphones to listen to yourself while recording to adjust the distance and find your sweet spot. Closer to the mic for whispering, farther away for speaking louder

- Keep your energy consistent with the character or mood (e.g., soft dominance, nervous teasing, sultry confidence) - Set your microphone interface to record in a lower volume. Not too low, but remember - we will be boosting the audio after in post when you normalize it. Its better to have to turn it up, than to have to turn it down. Recording at a bit of a lower level will also help reduce background noise and clipping the microphone if you raise your voice a little

In conclusion... Your voice is your instrument but the sound quality is your stage. Even the best performance will fall flat if it’s buried under background noise or distortion. You don’t need a studio or tons of gear. Just a little know-how, the right tools, and a cozy setup.This is your space to play, seduce, and perform with total creative control. The better your audio, the more immersive and desirable your content becomes!