Table versus separate chairs
A shared table with boom mics suits overlapping conversation and eye contact — interview shows or co-hosts who interrupt politely. Separate chairs with individual stands allow movement and reduce table reflection, useful for solo record with an occasional guest unused to studio habits.
At Nephilimrivo we walk hosts through both; Noor van Dijk often assists podcast days under engineer supervision. The live room at roughly 42 m² fits a larger table; tighter setups sit in treated areas nearer the control room.
Two, three or four voices
Two voices set up fastest: monitoring, pop filters and levels within twenty minutes. Three hosts need tighter placement to control bleed — avoid talking straight into each other’s capsule. Four at one table is our usual ceiling; more simultaneous speakers means rotation or an extra day.
Remote guests on video are fine; laptop speaker audio in the room is not — use a proper call-in or record the guest separately. Sync in post costs hours billed at €125.
Room sound matters
Podcast listeners notice room noise faster than music fans: HVAC, Overtoom tram rumble, rings on table. Panels and carpet tame reflections, but silence during takes is shared duty — phones off, no ice in glasses. We stock 8 headphones; bring clean in-ears if you prefer.
Room monitors stay quiet while recording; hosts usually hear themselves plus a mix-minus. After capture you can rough-check edits on 4 nearfield pairs in the control room.
What hourly rates include
Podcast recording is €125 per hour with engineer, or €460 for four hours plus export. That covers table setup, basic monitoring, level check and per-track WAV export — not heavy sound design or music production. Deep editing, jingle cutting or distribution mastering are separate.
The four-hour pack fits one episode with breaks; series bookings block time so setup happens once. Listed prices include 21% VAT.
Host preparation
Send an outline or script, participant names and target length beforehand. Print notes or use dim tablets — paper rustle hits sensitive capsules. Skip heavy fragrance in the room; mics pick up everything.
Bring intro music as WAV without baked voice-over. Music rights stay yours; we do not clear licenses. General voice care tips live in the vocal session checklist, useful for narrative shows too.
Scheduling, cancellation and access
Book via contact or 020 244 8916; we usually reply within 2 business days. 40% deposit on confirmation; free cancellation until 7 days ahead per terms and conditions. The studio is on Overtoom in Oud-West. Tram 1 stops at Overtoom (Overtoom / Vondelpark); from there it is about a six-minute walk. You can park bicycles at the entrance; cars use paid street parking or Q-Park Byzantium on Vondelstraat, roughly a ten-minute walk. — about six minutes from Overtoom / Vondelpark tram stop.
Hours: Tuesday to Friday 11:00–22:00, Saturday 12:00–18:00. Closed on Monday. Sessions by appointment.. Evening slots suit after office work; Saturday hours are shorter. Bikes at the door; cars use paid street parking or Q-Park Byzantium.
After capture: edit, mix and publish
Basic export is raw to lightly cleaned per-track audio. Heavy edit (ums, crossfades, line-by-line noise reduction) can be added by the hour. Need a sung intro the same day? Sometimes the vocal booth works if the diary allows — separate rate.
Spotify or Apple Podcasts often expect loudness targets; mastering or a podcast loudness pass can go through our mastering service. Multi-track music mix? See mix turnaround planning. More Q&A on FAQ.
