After publishing this post, I, too, decided to jump headfirst into the world of podcasting. It had always been something I wanted to try and I finally found myself with the motivation to make it happen. And while motivation is fantastic, I still needed to the knowledge to turn my motivation into a published product.
In order to start recording, I needed, well, recording equipment. And there is no shortage of blogs and videos from experienced podcasters espousing their favorite brands of microphones, audio interfaces, editing software, and accessories in a wide range of prices and qualities. At the risk of making you potential podcasters feel overwhelmed, I decided throw my hat into the ring as well. Hey, I’m just trying to help you out.
I still consider myself a baby podcaster, so please know that the gear recommendations I make in this post are from the perspective of a newbie. But if you’re a seasoned pro you’re probably not reading an article on the equipment you need to begin podcasting anyway. I use many of these products in the production of my podcast, Caught By Happy.
A note about content
The most important piece of advice I can give you has nothing at all to do with equipment or production. Throughout your podcast journey, it is important to always keep your content and your message your first priority. Make great content that connects with your intended audience and they will reward you with listens. You can get away with sub-par sound quality if your message resonates. Lead with your message. Scale up your equipment as you grow, but never make gear your first priority. You can buy a $900 mic that sounds like angels licking the microscopic follicles inside your ear canal, but if your message is unrefined or self-serving, you just spent $900 on something that no one will care to hear, no matter how great it sounds.
Do you have any gear recommendations? By all means, please leave them in the comments. I’ll be updating this post periodically as I become familiar with more equipment. The following contains affiliate links and I will earn a small commission if you use those links to shop.
Podcasting beginner recommendations
The earbuds included with your phone are fine. The microphone is fine. And you can certainly use it to record your voice. The microphones I am recommending here are not earbud mics. These microphones are designed for recording a broadcasting voice, so they will instantly take your sound quality to a level only achieved through spending a little bit of money. But you don’t have to break the bank (if you don’t want to).
I know many podcasters use Blue Yeti microphones and they are especially handy when recording multiple people in one room with one mic. In that regard, they are super affordable and versatile. This particular model has 4 pickup patterns (Cardioid/Omni/Figure-8/Stereo) so you can set the direction from which the mic picks up sound. As a disclaimer, I do not have experience with this brand of microphones, so I have no real world experience to pull from. It very well could be the perfect mic for your recording room and your podcast format.
Recording an episode of the Caught By Happy podcast on location in my guest’s garage.
The Audio-Technica ATR2100-USB Cardioid Dynamic USB/XLR Microphone is a fantastic choice for entry level podcasters. Heck, it’s a fantastic choice for grizzled podcast veterans as well. It’s truly a “plug and play” solution. And disclaimer - these are the mics I am currently using on Caught By Happy. The ATR2100 connects via USB - just plug it into your laptop and you’re ready to go. But wait, there’s more! You can also connect via XLR cable so you can use it with an audio interface or mixer as well. And it has a built-in headphone jack so you can connect it directly to your phone (with appropriate connector) and have a completely mobile recording operation that fits into a couple of pockets. It’s a great mic that has the ability to grow with you and your show.
The absolute best thing about this microphone is the quality you get for a price most people can afford. It’s $69 on Amazon.
Here are a few accessories you should consider for this mic or any podcasting microphone, really. You’ll need an adjustable swing arm (or suspension boom). This model by Neewer clamps on a table or your desk, and is super lightweight so you can pack it up and take it on the road for remote recording. This is what I currently have clamped to my desk in my home office.
And since we’re minimizing pops and wind sounds, you may as well reduce movement noise. A good shock mount significantly reduces vibrations and other sounds from being knocked around. If you or your guests tend to move the mic around as you adjust positions, or if your kids are jumping up and down upstairs and shaking your entire house as you’re trying to record, a shock mount will keep the mic stable. Make sure you get one that fits your mic. This shock mount fits the ATR2100 microphone.
You should definitely pick up a pop filter (or buy them in bulk if you have multiple mics) to go over the head of your microphone as well. Nothing ruins a good vocal recording more than those popping ‘p’s and ‘t’s. A windscreen mitigates those nasty noises. They’re also extremely helpful if you are recording outdoors where wind may be a factor. By the way, the pop filters I use on my ATR2100 microphones are blue. I like to stand out, I guess.
If you’re a solo podcaster and never intend on having guests, and you have a USB mic you can plug directly into your laptop, using an audio interface is probably overkill (at least in the beginner stages). My podcast is interview format, so I need to run multiple mics (recorded to separate tracks). I found this Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 for the fairly affordable price of $160 on Amazon. Are there cheaper options available? Probably. But I found the 2i2 to be compact and extraordinarily easy to use. I don’t have time to learn how to use new audio equipment and this interface is just another example of “plug and play” right out of the box. One drawback is that it only has one headphone output jack, but you can use a headphone splitter so you and your guest/co-host can monitor audio. Note: the 2i2 is for running 2 microphones via XLR cables. If you need to expand your interface to include up to 4 mics for multiple podcast participants, you can upgrade to the 18i8.
You may see some podcasters using full mixing boards like this one as their audio interface. If you’re a musician who already has something like that in your hoard of gear, then by all means use it. But if you’re just starting out and primarily recording voice, I would argue against it, especially since the recording program you’re using (I use GarageBand on my MacBook Pro), has the ability to mess with levels and EQ settings to your heart’s content. Again, this is coming from a semi-novice podcaster with limited knowledge of audio equipment. But for my money, a full mixing board is unnecessary when you’re first starting out. Over time, you’ll upgrade your gear and you may find yourself in need of a preamp or mixer. It all depends on what you’re trying to achieve with your sound and the capabilities of your mic and recording software.
Level up with these upgrades
Once you get your bearings and you’ve turned this little podcasting hobby into a sustainable show (or series of shows), you’ll no doubt feel the need to make it sound a bit more polished. It’s amazing that for a relatively low cost of entry you can have a fantastic sounding podcast, but upgrading to mid-level or professional-level equipment can move you into the stratosphere in terms of sound quality. Here are few recommendations for those of you who have deep pockets and are willing to make a commitment to recording and publishing. If you’ve already successfully monetized your podcast, spending a little cash on these upgrades won’t be too terrible to afford. Keep in mind I do not currently use any of the following mics, but I am looking to upgrade my setup to include one of these. I’m not yet sure if I’m going for the mid-range or the pro level.
The big momma, the cream of the crop, the gold standard in voice recording, however, is the Shure SM7B cardioid dynamic microphone. This bad boy is what the pros use. At at $400 each, you can see why. Even legendary recording artists like Tom Petty and Michael Jackson used this microphone, so it’s not your average streamer’s mic. The mic has a wide-range frequency response for the most balanced and well-rounded natural tone reproduction, so it really does lend itself perfectly to spoken-word voice recording and music recording.
And if you really want to go all the way with this mic, grab yourself the ultimate podcasting bundle, which includes the SM7B, a Cloud Mic CloudLifter CL-1 single channel mic activator, On-Stage MBS5000 boom arm, H&A pop filter, 20' HD 7mm XLR mic cable. But for $600 you better be serious about recording.
The Audio-Technica AT2020 cardioid condenser microphone is a fantastic upgrade for the serious podcaster. Coming in at $100, it’s the logical step-up choice from the ATR2100. This microphone is perfect for picking voice sounds from 3-6 inches away without picking up external room noise. You can even get it in the “podcasting pack,” which includes a boom arm and some sweet headphones.
Another audio recording device many podcasters use is the Zoom H6. This is a great, albeit expensive option for recording multiple tracks on location or out in the field. It also has a camcorder or DSLR mount if video is a part of your podcast production. It’s a handy, versatile little recorder you can upgrade with a ton of accessories as your show grows. Zoom also makes the H4N Pro, which is a 4 channel recorder.
Accessories to consider
Depending on your setup, you might find yourself in need of some low-cost accessories to make the recording and publishing process easier. Below are some accessories you might want to pick up for your home studio or as backup mobile recording gear you can store in a backpack so it’s ready to grab-and-go.
Don’t forget your podcast host
One final word, for those of you who are still deciding if starting a podcast would be a worthwhile endeavor. You will need a podcast host. I use and wholeheartedly recommend Buzzsprout.
They make it super easy to launch, promote, and track your podcast. And, of course, they take care of submitting your show to all the major podcast directories (like Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, and more) within minutes of finishing your recording. Buzzsprout also has a ton of resources on their site to help you succeed, from more gear recommendations to connections with potential affiliate partners. If you sign up for a paid plan with this link, they’ll throw in a $20 gift card.
Good luck and happy podcasting!