First, should you use headphones when recording?  For podcasting the answer is almost always yes. But more on that in a bit.

For some perspective, I know Voice Actors (myself included) who do not use them unless they absolutely must.  Mainly due to having a director or engineer “down the line” communicating with you. I find that hearing myself in my own head while recording changes my delivery for the worse. Not to go on and on but we find ourselves doing too much “self-directing” and not in a good way.  We also may focus on the literal sound of our voice and not the performance itself.  Conversely, I know great talent who can not record without hearing themselves via headphones. So, if you are by yourself you really need ot know that recording with headphones is the better option.

Back to podcasting. It depends on your setup, your show type and preferences.  If you record a show by yourself with no guests or necessity to hear anyone else, you may not want to use them. As mentioned, some people simply find it more comfortable to record without headphones, so you may want to experiment with both methods to see what works best for you.

If you do a show where you interact with a co-host or guests, especially via zoom or other digital connection, they are mandatory.

Wearing headphones while recording a podcast is essential for ensuring high-quality audio. By using headphones, you can monitor the audio in real-time and make any necessary adjustments, such as adjusting the microphone or speaking louder or softer.

Using headphones can help you monitor your recording accurately and avoid recording audio from your environment. However, it’s important to make sure that your headphones do not leak sound, as this can still cause unwanted feedback or background noise in your recording.

Additionally, headphones provide audio isolation, which helps to reduce background noise and minimize interference in your head (Note: they do nothing to help you record clean audio if you have a lot of background noise). This is particularly important when recording in noisy environments, where background sounds such as traffic or talking can interfere with your concentration.

Which headphones do you use?

Many podcast hosts and recording artists choose to use over-ear headphones, which are designed to provide a better audio experience. Over-ear headphones are preferred because they provide better sound quality, better isolation, and are more comfortable to wear for extended periods of time.

It is also important to choose a pair of headphones with a flat frequency response, meaning they do not enhance or reduce specific frequency ranges. This ensures that the audio you hear is an accurate representation of what will be recorded, allowing you to make the necessary adjustments to your recording.

In summary, wearing headphones while recording a podcast is a critical step in ensuring high-quality audio. By providing audio isolation and allowing you to monitor the audio in real-time, headphones help you produce the best possible recording for your listeners.