Why In-Person Podcast Recording Is Back: A Look Inside Hangar Studios's Midtown Manhattan Studio
New York, United States - August 1, 2026 / Hangar Studios /
Hangar Studios, the podcast production company behind shows for Microsoft, JPMorgan Chase, Viatris, and dozens of other Fortune 500 and independent productions, is spotlighting its Midtown Manhattan studio at 417 Fifth Avenue, Suite 817 as in-person podcast recording returns to favor in 2026.
The Midtown facility has been Hangar Studios's primary production home since the company's founding in 2009. In 2026, the studio is seeing a measurable shift back toward in-person sessions across both branded podcast clients and independent host bookings. Brand-side production teams report that in-studio recording delivers cleaner source audio, stronger guest performance, and a finished episode that holds up when it gets used in paid advertising, brand campaigns, or longer-form internal communications.
"There is no single moment when in-person recording came back. It happened gradually," said Jennifer Chernicky, founder and CEO of Hangar Studios. "Brand teams started asking for it on flagship episodes. Independent hosts started asking for it when they wanted to launch a vodcast. Editorial podcasts started asking for it when they wanted a guest in the room. By the start of 2026 it was the majority of our booking pattern. Our 17 years of experience and deep expertise helps clients save time and money by guiding them toward their show's specific goals."
What a session at 417 Fifth Avenue looks like
The Midtown studio's standard session block is one hour for a 20 to 45 minute audio episode. Hosts and guests arrive 15 to 20 minutes before call time. The room is treated for podcast production and outfitted with broadcast-grade equipment, and every session is run on Pro Tools by an in-session engineer who monitors levels, manages the workflow, and handles the technical layer so the host can focus entirely on the conversation.
For vodcast clients, the same room supports either single-camera capture for hosts working alone or with one guest, or a multi-camera grid for shows with three or more participants. Vodcast timelines run six to eight weeks from concept to first published episode. Audiobook clients use a dedicated booth setup, with finished output averaging 9,000 to 9,500 finished words per finished hour of audio, depending on the cadence of the voice actor.
"What a working host or a brand team is buying when they book the Midtown studio is not a room," Chernicky added. "They are buying a treated room paired with an in-session engineer and a workflow that has been running for 17 years. We focus on ROI and measurable outcomes, not just recording, by helping our clients reach their audience effectively. The room is the easy part. The engineering and the workflow are what make the difference."
Production team behind a Fortune 500 client list
Hangar Studios's confirmed show portfolio includes the Microsoft Threat Intelligence Podcast, Microsoft Scott and Mark Learn To, Afternoon Cyber Tea with Ann Johnson, JPMorgan Chase's Market Matters, Viatris's Listen Well, Sakara Life, Move with Heart with Melissa Wood Health, Five Things with Lynn Hirschberg for W Magazine, Beauty Curious with Dr. Elyse Love and Ian Michael Crumm, The Knot's XOXO, Thrive Market's But Are You Thriving, The Chairish Podcast, and Refinery29's Go Off Sis. Audiobooks produced at the studio include Powering Up by Anne Doyle, Being Cancer Free by Joyce and Kevin O'Brien, I Might Be You, and Actor Writer Whatever.
Across 17 years of production, the studio has served more than 600 clients and reached more than 50 million listeners worldwide. Hourly room rental with an in-session engineer is available as a real, ongoing offering alongside full-service production engagements. The studio also offers marketing services, such as audiograms and social clips, to engage listeners and support show growth. Post-production is an add-on configured to the show's mastering and distribution needs.
Brand teams and independent hosts can review the full studio details at the Midtown Manhattan podcast studio page on thehangarstudios.com.
About Hangar Studios
Hangar Studios is a New York City podcast production company founded in 2009 by Jennifer Chernicky, the first woman of color to own and operate a major NYC podcast production studio. From its 417 Fifth Avenue studio in Midtown Manhattan and through remote and on-location production across six continents, the company has produced thousands of episodes for Fortune 500 brands and independent creators, reaching more than 50 million listeners. Services include podcast production, vodcast and video production, audiobook production, on-location production, and consultation and audits. Learn more at thehangarstudios.com or call 516-366-0333.
Contact Information:
Hangar Studios
417 Fifth Ave. 8th Floor
New York, NY 10016
United States
Jennifer Chernicky
+1-516-366-0333
https://thehangarstudios.com
