Recording a Podcast in Toronto đď¸: What You Can Expect Before, During & After the Session
Booking a podcast studio for the first time? Whether youâre launching a new show or moving on from your home setup, stepping into a professional recording space is a big upgrade. The good news is: itâs a simple process once you know how it works.
This guide breaks down what you can expect before, during, and after full-service podcast studio sessions in Torontoâso you can focus on creating instead of guessing.
đ Before the Session: Booking & Prepping
Booking your session usually starts online. Most studios in Toronto use a calendar or contact form to let you choose a time, set your duration, and tell them what you need.
â Youâll likely need to share:
How many people will be recording
Whether you want audio-only or video
If you need help from an engineer
What kind of file delivery you prefer (cloud, USB, etc.)
Some studios follow up with a confirmation email and instructions. Others might give you a call if itâs your first time to make sure youâre booked correctly.
đ§ What to prep before you arrive:
An outline of your episode (not a word-for-word script, unless thatâs your style)
Questions for your guest, if youâre doing an interview
Notes or bullet points to stay on track
Your phone, charger, water, and maybe a backup SD card if the studio allows it
If you have a co-host or guest joining, send them a clear calendar invite with the address, start time, and contact details. That saves you from delays or confusion the day of.
đ˘ Arrival: What Happens When You Walk In
When you get to the studio, you might have to buzz in or check in at a shared entrance. Many podcast studios are inside coworking spaces or creative buildings.
Once youâre in:
Someone from the studio greets you and walks you in
The room is already set up or being prepped
Youâll do a quick sound check with the engineer or staff
Youâll get a chance to ask questions or adjust anything before recording starts
Showing up early (even by 10 minutes) makes the whole process smoother. It gives you time to relax, test your mic, and settle in.
If youâve booked a full hour of recording, keep in mind that setup and teardown usually happen within that same booking time. If youâre tight on time or want to record multiple takes, book a bit more than you think youâll need.
đď¸ During the Session: What Itâs Like to Record
Once the sound check is done and everyoneâs ready, the session begins. Youâll hear yourself through headphones, which helps you control your voice and pacing.
The engineer (if youâve booked one) usually stays nearby or in an adjacent control room. Theyâll monitor the sound in real-time, adjusting mic levels or stepping in if something goes wrong.
You can focus entirely on the conversation.
If you need to stop for any reasonâlike rephrasing a question, re-recording a sentence, or taking a quick water breakâthatâs totally normal. Just pause and pick up where you left off. The final edits can remove any mistakes or long silences later.
Hereâs what most podcasters experience during their first in-studio session:
Real-time feedback through headphones
A more focused, distraction-free environment
Better pacing, because youâre not worrying about tech
Confidence from knowing everythingâs being recorded properly
If youâve recorded at home before, the biggest difference youâll notice is how much easier it is to stay in the moment.
𧊠Whatâs Usually Included
Studios are different, but there are a few things you can usually count on:
High-quality microphones, usually on boom arms
Comfortable headphones for each guest or host
A quiet, sound-treated room with acoustic foam
An engineer or staff member to help with setup and audio levels
Cloud-based file delivery (or your own USB or SD card, if you prefer)
If you booked a video add-on, youâll have lighting, camera setup, and possibly someone running the cameras for you. You donât need to worry about switching angles or syncing audioâthatâs handled by the team.
đ How Long to Book
If youâre recording a one-hour episode, donât assume you only need one hour of studio time. The setup, mic check, and wind-down all take time too.
Plan for:
10 to 15 minutes for setup and sound check
45 to 60 minutes of actual recording
10 minutes after the session for file transfer or questions
Booking at least 90 minutes is a good idea for your first time, especially if youâre bringing a guest or want to try a few takes.
đž After the Session: What You Get
When the recording wraps up, youâll get your filesâusually the same day, sometimes within minutes.
Most studios will provide:
Raw audio files (typically WAV or MP3)
Raw video files if you recorded video
Optional backups (if you brought your own drive or card)
Links to download your files from Google Drive, Dropbox, or another cloud service
If you booked editing help, you might also get a timeline for when the polished files will be ready. Some studios offer light editing (removing silence, trimming the start and end), while others offer full post-production.
Make sure you know ahead of time whatâs included.
đ§ What To Do With Your Files
Once you have your recorded audio or video, hereâs what most podcasters do next:
Save the files in two places (cloud and local)
Use editing software like Descript, Audacity, or Adobe Audition to trim and clean the audio
Add your intro and outro music
Export the final episode in MP3 format
Upload to your podcast hosting platform (Buzzsprout, Transistor, Spotify for Podcasters, etc.)
Schedule or publish your episode with show notes and a title
If youâre producing clips for social media, you can grab highlights from the audio or video and upload them separately using tools like CapCut or Riverside.
đŁ Tips for Making the Most of Studio Time
Want to make sure youâre not wasting a second? Try this:
đ Bring a list of talking points or segment ideas
đ Rehearse your intro out loud once or twice
đ Take a short behind-the-scenes photo or video for social
đ Ask your tech for a quick sound tip or mic placement pointer
đ Leave a few minutes at the end to record a trailer or teaser
Even 5â10 minutes of extra planning makes a huge difference in how your episode turns outâand how confident you feel doing it.
đŻ Final Word: Itâs Easier Than You ThinkâWhen You Know What to Expect
Your first podcast recording in a studio isnât about being perfect. Itâs about getting your message out in a way that sounds clean, clear, and intentional. Most people find they actually enjoy the process more in a proper space.
You donât need to figure everything out before you start. Book a session, bring your notes, and take it one episode at a time. The rest falls into place.
