# ¶ Audio Recording Quick Tips ### What is Bad Audio? To record good audio, it can be helpful to first consider what is bad audio. Listen to the sound clip to learn more. {% embed url="" %} ### Tips for Recording Good Audio To help you avoid these audio recording mistakes, here are some tips: * Speak directly into the mic (facing it fully) and be anywhere from 6 to 12 inches from it. * Record in a space with as little background noise as possible. This might mean choosing a space that is quieter at a certain time of day. Also, use a space that has as little reverb as possible. In the O’Neill Library, we have the [Podcasting Room](https://libcal.bc.edu/booking/digitalstudiopodcastingroom), and the [Sound Room](https://libcal.bc.edu/booking/digitalstudiosoundroom), which meet these requirements. * Pay close attention when setting your levels at the beginning of your session, making sure to set them based on the volume you will be speaking with while recording. Also, set the levels based on the distance you plan to sit from the mic. Be about 6 to 12 inches from the mic. * Record at least 10 seconds of the room's ambient background noise of the space you are in. (This means being completely quiet and still for 10 seconds and just recording the room tone.) Later you can use this clip in conjunction with a noise reduction filter, which reduces or removes steady noises like the air conditioner runner. It will not remove sounds like cars going by or people talking in the background. --- # Agent Instructions: Querying This Documentation If you need additional information that is not directly available in this page, you can query the documentation dynamically by asking a question. Perform an HTTP GET request on the current page URL with the `ask` query parameter: ``` GET https://bcds.gitbook.io/multimedia/audio/audio-recording-quick-tips.md?ask= ``` The question should be specific, self-contained, and written in natural language. The response will contain a direct answer to the question and relevant excerpts and sources from the documentation. Use this mechanism when the answer is not explicitly present in the current page, you need clarification or additional context, or you want to retrieve related documentation sections.