Control the environment
Turn off avoidable fans and appliances, silence notifications and record when outside noise is lower. Listen to the room with the microphone gain set before recording a full take.
Do not cover ventilation or create unsafe conditions to make a room quieter. If a computer fan is audible, increase the distance or change the microphone angle while keeping the performer comfortable.
Set gain and microphone distance
Set the input level so loud phrases do not clip, leaving headroom for unexpected peaks. Keep a consistent distance and angle to reduce changes in tone and level.
A pop filter helps control plosives, while slightly turning away from the capsule can soften strong bursts of air. Avoid compensating for a distant microphone by adding excessive gain, which may reveal more room noise.
Edit carefully
Use clip gain and gentle fades to manage quiet gaps. Noise reduction can help with steady background sounds, but strong processing may create watery or metallic artefacts.
Compare processed and unprocessed versions at similar loudness. Preserve breaths and natural pauses where they support the performance rather than removing every trace of room sound.