Having the right audio equipment makes a big difference in the quality of recorded audio. Surprisingly, basic audio equipment can be relatively inexpensive; your equipment should include some if not all of the following:

Computer with a sound card

The sound card installed in your computer acts as a digital recorder for audio.

Microphone

If possible, avoid using the USB microphone packaged with your computer. Use a professional-quality microphone cable and a stand to hold the microphone while you are recording.

Microphone preamplifier

A preamplifier boosts the signal of the microphone. The microphone input of your computer’s sound card probably includes a preamplifier, but it’s most likely a poor quality one. When purchasing a preamplifier, you can choose a small mixer or a stand-alone version. Mixers let you connect several microphones and devices to one location, and you can adjust their volumes independently. Stand-alone preamplifiers can be better than mixers at filtering out unwanted noises.

Speakers

The speakers that came with your computer are probably good enough for listening to any audio you record. For best results, check the specifications of your speakers and use the highest quality speakers possible.

In Microsoft Windows operating systems, you can usually find speaker (sound) settings by clicking Start in the lower-left corner and selecting Settings > Control Panel > Sounds.

Recording software

A wide range of recording software is available. Important software features include editing capabilities (to fix mistakes), music and sound-effect options, and the capability to create the file format you require (such as MP3 or WAV).

Recording area

You need a quiet place to record. Try closing doors, turning off any unnecessary computer equipment, turning off or lowering lights that might be making noise, turning off phone ringers, beepers, and pagers. Also, tell coworkers that recording is in progress.