Found a hidden studio in downtown Austin that rents by the hour for $25

Was scouting locations for a podcast shoot. Walked into this old building on Congress Ave. Guy at the front desk said they had a soundproof room in the back. Full audio setup, good mics, treated walls. Used it for 3 hours. No one else was there. Way cheaper than my usual space. Anyone else find random cheap rental spots like this?

3 comments

3 Comments

john_cooper1mo ago

Ngl, I gotta disagree a bit here. Yeah, finding a cheap spot feels great at first, but you get what you pay for most times. Tbh, those hidden rooms usually don't have proper soundproofing or real audio gear like they claim. I've walked into a few "soundproof" spaces that were just a room with carpet on the walls and buzz from the AC in every recording. Honestly, you're better off paying a little more for a place that actually lists their specs online and has reviews. Saves you the headache of showing up and finding out your podcast sounds like it was recorded in a garage.

jamesfox1mo ago

That spot on Congress Ave is a total game finder. I was paying over a hundred bucks an hour for a similar setup in a fancy media hub last year. Finding a hidden room like that, where you can just focus on the work without the crazy cost, feels like winning the lottery. It makes you wonder how many other perfect little spaces are just tucked away in plain sight.

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jamesm481mo ago

Honestly, the trick is to just ask around at older buildings that don't have a big online listing. Tbh, I've found two spots like that just by talking to the guy at the corner store who knows everyone. Landlords with one or two small rooms often don't bother with the fancy websites, so they charge way less. You gotta be willing to walk in and ask if they have any back offices free.