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Living Room recording question (sopuli.xyz)
submitted 5 days ago by ThePJN@sopuli.xyz to c/budgetaudiophile@lemmy.world
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I’m pretty sure I know the answer already and I can foresee the other comments incoming already. (Eg; “Why are you recording in the living room in the first place? 🤪)

But here we go. My partner is recording audio occasionally while on the couch in the living room; while I work from home in an adjacent office. They are using a Blue Yeti on a cheapo $40 mic arm, bolted to a side table next to the couch.

Since we have hardwood floors in an ancient house, there’s some creaking being picked up in the recordings. Which is probably me adjusting my weight in my chair in the other room every now and then.

Question is, do we:

  1. Get a shock mount?
  2. Put carpet (or something) under the side table?
  3. Switch the mic stand to a sits on the desktop weighted one we also have and also put a pad o’ fabric or foam under that?
  4. All of the above?
  5. Additional crap?

Alright. Give us hell folks! Hehe.

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[-] khannie@lemmy.world 5 points 5 days ago* (last edited 5 days ago)

I'd recommend getting in someone to get rid of the creak for what it's worth. We had a guy replace the carpet on our stairs and he spent quite a while nailing stuff down so it wouldn't creak and I'm forever thankful to him.

Mostly he just added extra nails but he took his time with it.

Have you bare floorboards or laminate / similar on top?

[-] ThePJN@sopuli.xyz 2 points 5 days ago

No carpet. Just floorboards.

That sounds like a good idea but I can see that leading to a “You have to replace the entire floor” situation. Most folks brought in for estimates on things end up suggesting that when they see what’s up with the thing in question. (Old house, multiple half assed additions done over the years.) 😬

[-] khannie@lemmy.world 2 points 5 days ago

Ah yeah the old switcheroo. I would just cut that off in advance by saying you don't have the money for any new boards before they quote because you're spot on, that's a fine way to get your wallet emptied.

Plain floorboards are ideal for just getting nailed / tacked to remove the creaks. I'd say one day of a contractor/ handyman would be the absolute max. Quiet floorboards for life too. Our stairs is still silent ten years later.

[-] ThePJN@sopuli.xyz 2 points 5 days ago

Gotcha. Sounds about right yeah.

Good advice in general. 👍 Something else to add to the house repair list. Hehe. Thanks!

[-] JayleneSlide@lemmy.world 2 points 5 days ago* (last edited 5 days ago)

Your situation is going to require a whole bunch of mitigations. There are already some solid suggestions here. If repairing your wood floors isn't immediately within reach, a quick fix I've used when recording in spaces with old floors is talcum powder. It's a bit more difficult to source talcum powder these days, but it's definitely out there.

Identify the squeaky locations. Vacuum the joints thoroughly. Sprinkle rails of the powder over the joints. Walk over the areas that were creaking; this flexion helps the powder to work into the joint. The talc acts as a dry lubricant and gives you temporary relief from creaky floorboards.

Edit: replied at the wrong level; I meant to reply to OP

[-] ThePJN@sopuli.xyz 1 points 5 days ago

Ah interesting. Now we’re talking. Wacky solutions! Yes!

Might give this a try after locking down the pets. Thx!

this post was submitted on 17 May 2026
21 points (95.7% liked)

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