How to Record a Podcast with Multiple People

To record a podcast with multiple people, give each person their own microphone, record every mic to its own track, and keep speakers far enough apart to reduce bleed. The single biggest upgrade over one shared mic is multitracking — separate tracks let you fix levels and edit each voice independently.

How you do this depends on whether everyone is in the same room or joining remotely. Below covers both, plus the gear and habits that keep the audio clean.

One mic per person, one track per mic

The golden rule is simple: one microphone per voice, recorded to its own channel. When you record a podcast with multiple people on a single shared mic, you lose all control — one loud talker buries a quiet one and you can’t fix it later. With separate tracks you can balance levels, mute coughs, and cut crosstalk cleanly.

For in-person shows, this means an audio interface or mixer with enough inputs. Two guests plus a host is three mics, so you want at least a 4-input interface (a spare channel is handy). Dynamic mics like the Shure SM7B or a Samson Q2U reject room noise and bleed better than condensers, which matters when several people share a space.

In-person setups

You have three common routes:

• Multi-input audio interface: Mics plug into something like a Focusrite Scarlett 4i4 or a larger interface, and your DAW records each on its own track. Most flexible for editing.
• Podcast mixer/recorder: Dedicated units such as the RØDECaster or Zoom PodTrak give each mic a fader and record multitrack to an SD card or computer. Great for live-to-tape shows.
• USB mics (avoid for multi-person): Most computers only address one USB mic cleanly. Use these only for solo recording.

Seat people so mics point away from each other, and use a cardioid or supercardioid pattern to focus on each voice. If you’re new to interfaces, our guide on how to set up an audio interface walks through the connections.

Remote setups

When guests aren’t in the room, never rely on the call audio alone — internet compression makes voices sound thin. Instead use double-ender recording or a remote platform:

• Local recording (double-ender): Each person records themselves locally with their own mic, then sends you the file. You combine the full-quality tracks afterward.
• Remote recording platforms: Tools like Riverside or Zencastr record each participant locally and upload separate tracks automatically, so you get isolated audio without manual file-swapping.

Ask remote guests to wear headphones (this stops your voice leaking back into their mic) and to record in a soft, quiet space.

Set gain before you hit record

Good levels at the source save hours of cleanup. Have everyone speak at normal volume and set each mic so peaks land around -12 to -6 dBFS, leaving headroom for laughs and loud moments. This is gain staging, and getting it right is essential — see gain staging explained for the full picture. If you hear hiss, the mic gain is likely too high or the mic is too far from the speaker.

Reduce room noise and bleed

Multiple voices in one room means more reflections and more chance of bleed. A few easy fixes:

• Record in a smaller, soft-furnished room (carpet, curtains, sofas absorb reflections).
• Keep mics close to mouths — a few inches — so the voice dominates the room.
• Add light acoustic treatment behind and around the table if echo is a problem.
• Turn off fans, fridges, and notifications.

If you also record solo episodes, the fundamentals in how to record a podcast at home carry straight over.

Editing and mixing the tracks

With each voice on its own track, editing is far easier. Trim crosstalk, balance levels so everyone sits at a similar loudness, add gentle compression to even out dynamics, and apply a light high-pass filter to remove low rumble. Aim for a consistent loudness across the episode, then export. For more on smoothing voices, our how to mix vocals guide applies to spoken word too. Browse more recording techniques for related workflows.

Frequently asked questions

Can I record multiple people on one computer?

Yes — use a multi-input audio interface or a podcast mixer that connects via USB. The computer sees one device with several channels, and your DAW records each mic to a separate track. You can’t reliably run several separate USB mics into one computer at once.

What’s the best mic setup for a multi-person podcast?

One dynamic cardioid mic per person, each on its own track, with mics positioned close to each mouth and angled away from neighbours. Dynamic mics reject room noise and bleed better than condensers, which is ideal when several people share a space.

How do I record remote guests in good quality?

Use local recording: each guest records themselves with their own mic and sends you the file, or use a platform like Riverside or Zencastr that records every participant locally. Have guests wear headphones so your audio doesn’t bleed into their microphone.