What is Boom Arm?
A boom arm is a mechanical stand that attaches to a desk and holds a microphone, allowing the podcaster to position the mic perfectly in front of their mouth.
Why Boom Arm Matters for Podcasters
A boom arm is a staple of podcast studios. Unlike a standard desk stand, which sits on the table and transfers vibrations (like typing or bumping the desk) directly into the microphone, a boom arm suspends the microphone in the air. This isolation significantly reduces handling noise. Furthermore, it allows the host to position the microphone directly in front of their mouth for the 'proximity effect' (that rich, radio voice) while keeping the desk surface clear for notes or a laptop. Good boom arms have internal springs or tension knobs to hold heavy microphones in place without sagging.
Ready to get started?
Find the best boom arm for your budget with our Podcast Gear Picker.
Try Podcast Gear Picker →Related Terms
ID3 Tags
ID3 tags are metadata embedded directly into MP3 audio files that store information like the episode title, artist name, album name, and cover art. They help podcast players display the correct information about your episodes.
Metadata
Metadata is descriptive information about your podcast episode that helps platforms, players, and search engines understand what your content is about. It includes titles, descriptions, tags, and embedded file information.
Background Noise / Noise Floor
Background noise (also called noise floor) is the unwanted ambient sound present in your recording, such as air conditioning hum, computer fan noise, or room echo. It can distract listeners and make your podcast sound unprofessional.
Transcription
Transcription is the process of converting spoken audio into written text. For podcasters, transcriptions make content accessible, improve SEO, and enable repurposing into blog posts or social media content.