When Apple first introduced the iPod and the mp3 quickly became the new standard format for music distribution, the door also opened for people to start making their own radio shows. These so-called 'iPod broadcasts', or podcasts, are now more popular than ever and, to make one, you don't need anything more than a microphone and a laptop or smartphone.
Recording Equipment for Your Podcast Setup
Before you start stocking up on podcasting equipment, it's worth figuring out what kind of show you'll be making. Will you be recording in the back bedroom or taking the show outside? Will you be a solo podcaster or will you be interviewing guests? If you need a little guidance, have a look at our blog: Podcasting Tips and the Gear You Need to Make it Happen.
Build Your Own Podcast Studio
Besides the right equipment, it's important to think about the room you're recording in and acoustics of your studio space. If you want that classic 'dry' radio sound, then we recommend hanging up some absorber panels. These will help dampen echoes in the room and dry up the recorded sound. But, before you start installing any panels, you might also want to think about where your studio space is. If you can, it's worth making sure that you're not recording or streaming near a window looking out onto a busy road or next to the room where your washing machine might be whirring and clanking.
Podcast Sets for Beginner Presenters
To make a podcast, you don't actually need all that much podcasting gear. In principle, you can get away with just using the built-in microphone of your smartphone or laptop to record speech. However, this may sacrifice on sound quality. A USB microphone is the easiest solution to this. For more tips, see our blog: How to Make a Pro-grade Podcast on a Budget.
Portable Podcast Mics for iPhones or Androids
If you're recording a podcast on location, then you probably already have the perfect gear in your pocket: your phone! A lot of USB microphones will also be compatible with iOS and/or Android devices and come in a few different forms, so you can get larger USB microphones that can be mounted on a stand and set up in your home studio, but for podcasting on the go, a clip-on lavelier microphone is a much better choice.
Podcasting Duos
If you're making a podcast with two or more people, then we recommend setting up every host or interviewee with their own microphone. To guarantee clear and professional sounding speech, it's best that every speaker is sitting no further away from the microphone than around 20 centimetres. So, unless you really get along with your co-host, it's worth getting at least two microphones. Another benefit of having separate microphones is that the recordings can also be separated, so you can adjust the volume and tone per channel. For more info, see our blog: How to Record a Podcast with Guests.
Podcast Hardware: A USB Mixer or Audio Interface?
If you're planning to work with multiple microphones at the same time, then we recommend choosing microphones with an XLR connection. These can be linked to your computer via an audio interface or mixer. But which is best? If you want to keep things simple and just record your voice and maybe the voice of an interviewee or co-host, then you can't go wrong with an audio interface. If you want to get into live streaming, then a mixer might be a better idea. Mixers offer more control options, so you can quickly adjust the volume of every microphone via a fader and, usually, you'll have equaliser controls on every channel. If you do go for a mixer, just make sure to pick a model with a USB output.
Frequently Asked Questions About Podcast Equipment
What gear do I need to make a podcast?
If you have a laptop, you can already start making podcasts. But, if you want better sound quality than the built-in microphone of your laptop can give you, then you can also add a microphone. Getting some audio software that you can use to record and edit your show is also going to be important. If you want to know more, see our blog: Podcasting Tips and the Gear You Need to Make it Happen.
What's the best microphone for podcasting?
If you're working at a desk in your podcast studio, a large-diaphragm microphone is the best choice. If you're planning to wander the streets or even visit the beach during your podcast, then an omnidirectional clip-on microphone with a good windshield will give you much better results.
How do you edit a podcast?
You can edit your podcast using any DAW or audio editing software. Once you've recorded your show, you can not only cut and fade the audio, but adjust the sound with an equaliser, a compressor and maybe a noise suppressor to polish it off more professionally.
How much does it cost to make a podcast?
If you're making a simple podcast with just one person, then all you'll need is a laptop. You can also pick up a
USB microphone
for as little as £30, which will already be a big upgrade on the sound of the built-in microphone of most laptops and, while a decent
studio microphone
might set you back between £100 and £200 or more, but you'll get truly professional sound in return.
What's the difference between an XLR microphone and a USB microphone?
XLR microphones come fitted with an XLR connection port (recognised by three pin holes)and can be plugged into an audio interface or mixer using an XLR cable. USB microphones can be directly plugged into the USB port of your computer without the need for an audio interface or mixer.
What's the difference between a dynamic microphone and a condenser microphone?
Condenser microphones are extremely sensitive to volume peaks and pick up every detail, which works brilliantly when working in a studio, but sometimes, all those details don't sound so good. Dynamic microphones have a slower response to sound, which results in calmer recordings that are cleaner of any background noise.
