Best Podcast Equipment – How To Set Up a Professional Podcast Recording Studio
Want to start a podcast but not sure what equipment to use? You’re in the right place.
If you’ve listened to some of the most popular podcasts – educational podcasts or any other podcast topics – you’ll find they all have one thing in common (no matter what genre they are) – they have high audio quality.
A podcast is essentially an audio form of entertainment/ knowledge. That means all the focus is on the sound quality of the program.
The crispness of the speakers’ voices, the reduction of background noise, and the clarity of sound – all play a crucial role in the quality of a podcast.
That is why it is so important to use the best podcast equipment for your podcast. You may have excellent content and interesting interviews going on in your podcast show. But if your sound quality is not that great, you’re going to put off many people from tuning in.
If you’ve just started your podcast, you need to invest in some great podcast equipment for beginners so that you can maintain quality within your budget.
Take this Podcast Production Treasure Map for instance:
It talks about all the things you need to take care of to ensure that your podcast recording environment is helping you deliver the best possible audio quality.
The most crucial elements that help create higher quality recording? A professional setup and the best podcast equipment that you can afford.
In today’s post, we will talk about the most essential podcast equipment you need to set up a podcast studio. I have broken it down into three sections depending on your budget so that you can decide which podcasting equipment will suit your requirements and your budget as you begin to produce your professional-sounding podcast.
We will also talk about:
- What podcast equipment is needed?
- How much does podcast equipment cost?
- How do podcasts make money?
- Can I start a podcast by myself? solo podcast
- What do I need for a 2 person podcast?
The good news is that it is possible to put together an amazing podcast studio no matter where you are in your journey as a podcaster.
I hope you’re excited to begin!
Let’s dive in.
Disclaimer: If you buy something using the links in this article, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you. Know that I only promote stuff that I use and trust for the sake of my readers and the reputation of this website.
Best Podcast Equipment – What Podcast Equipment Do You Need To Start A Podcast?
Choosing the best podcast equipment for your new podcast can be challenging.
It all boils down to two main things –
- What are your long term goals for your podcast? and
- What is the budget that you can send for your podcast starter kit?
Take a moment to write down your goals for your podcast. Do you intend to start a podcast as a hobby? Or do you have bigger plans for using your podcast as a way of growing your business?
Next, plan out your budget for podcasting equipment. Do you want to set up a very basic podcast studio? Or can you set aside a bigger budget to get the best podcast equipment to create podcasts with better sound quality?
Once you’ve answered these two questions, it’s time to look at the most essential podcast equipment you will need for your podcast.
A beginner podcast setup will require at least three pieces of equipment – a microphone, a set of headphones, and podcast recording and editing software.
Here is a list of all the equipment you will need to grow your podcast:
1. Podcast Microphone
If you plan to be the only speaker on your podcast, you will need just one microphone. However, if you plan to interview podcast guests, you will need at least two microphones.
Depending on the sound quality that you want, you can choose between a dynamic mic and a condenser mic.
Dynamic mics are usually more focused and with a warmer quality whereas condenser mics have a crisp sound but with more ambient noise.
You can also choose between an XLR mic (which has an external power source and comes as both dynamic and condenser mics) or USB microphones that you can connect to your computer through a USB port (USB mics are mostly condenser mics).
A USB interface, however, will not perform as well as XLR.
Here are the best microphones for beginners, intermediates, and professionals:
Best Microphone For Beginner Podcasters:
Audio-Technica AT2020USB
You can buy Audio-Technica AT2020USB here on Amazon.
RODE NT1-A Condenser Microphone
Buy RODE NT1-A Condenser Microphone here on Amazon.
Blue Microphones Yeti USB Microphone
Buy Blue Microphones Yeti USB Microphone here on Amazon.
Best Microphone For Intermediate Podcasters:
RODE PROcaster Dynamic Microphone
You can buy RODE PROcaster Dynamic Microphone here on Amazon.
Best Microphone For Professional Podcasters:
Heil PR 40 Dynamic Studio Microphone
You can buy Heil PR 40 Dynamic Studio Microphone here on Amazon.
2. Podcasting Headphones
Podcasting headphones allow you to cancel out the background noise and focus on the sound that is being recorded.
Using headphones while editing your podcasts can help you to keep your volumes and sound within desirable ranges while canceling out background noise.
Choosing a headphone to use depends on many factors.
Comfort: are they light enough to be worn for a long time? are they padded well?
Noise-canceling: do they cancel out ambient noise well enough?
Portability: are they light enough to be carried around easily? are they foldable?
Closed-back headphones are ideal for podcasters because they reduce the leakage of sound.
Also, opt for wired headphones as they facilitate the travel of sound through the headphone jack better than wireless headphones. It helps improve audio quality of your recordings.
Here are the best podcasting headphones for beginners, intermediates, and professionals:
Best headphones for beginner podcasters:
Audio Technica m20x
You can buy Audio Technica m20x headphones here on Amazon.
Sennheiser HD 280 Pro
You can buy Sennheiser HD 280 Pro headphones here on Amazon.
Best headphones for intermediate podcasters:
Audio Technica ATH – M50X
You can buy Audio Technica ATH – M50X headphones here on Amazon.
Beyerdynamic DT 770 Pro
Buy Beyerdynamic DT 770 Pro headphones here on Amazon.
Best headphones for professional podcasters:
Shure SRH 1540
Buy Shure SRH 1540 headphones here on Amazon.
V-MODA Crossfade M-100
You can buy V-MODA Crossfade M-100 headphones here on Amazon.
3. Podcast Recording And Editing Software
Every podcast needs editing before you can show it to the world. Look for recording software and editing software that you can learn to use quickly and easily. There are tons of options out there, but you can start with these till you find the one you love:
GarageBand
Adobe Audition (part of the Creative Cloud Subscription)
Audacity
4. Audio Interface
Audio interfaces are what connect your microphone to your computer. An audio interface converts the analog signal from your microphone to a digital signal that can be processed by your computer.
The audio interface that we recommend for anyone starting out is Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 (3rd Gen).
You can buy Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 (3rd Gen) here on Amazon.
5. Microphone Arm Or Mic Stand
A microphone arm or mic stand will help you improve your posture, thereby improving your audio quality.
A microphone arm allows you to store the mic above your desk, clearing up your desk and making it easy to shift the position of your microphone according to your convenience.
Here are the microphone arms/ mic stands I recommend:
NEEWER Adjustable Suspension Boom Scissor Arm Stand
You can buy NEEWER Adjustable Suspension Boom Scissor Arm Stand here on Amazon.
Samson MBA38-38” Microphone Boom Arm
You can buy Samson MBA38-38” Microphone Boom Arm here on Amazon.
Samson MD5 Desktop Microphone Stand With Pop Filter
Buy Samson MD5 Desktop Microphone Stand With Pop Filter here on Amazon.
6. Shock Mount With Pop Filter
Microphones are extremely sensitive to the tiniest noises that may be produced by tapping your desk, typing, or just by moving the microphone.
A shock mount will absorb these vibrations and reduce noise when your record your podcast.
Some shock mounts come with pop filters that reduce the “pop” sound that is made when you sound out the letter ‘P’. This is because of fast-moving air that hits the microphone.
You can also reduce echo or reverb in your room by acoustic treatment. Acoustic treatment is done by installing acoustic panels in the room.
Here is a good shock mount that comes with a pop filter:
Microphone Shock Mount with Pop Filter
You can buy Microphone Shock Mount with Pop Filter here on Amazon.
7. Podcast Mixers
Audio mixers, or podcast mixers can help you increase to decrease the volumes of certain frequencies of sound in your recording and help you create great audio.
You may not require podcast mixers when you are just starting out, but it is a good investment if you are serious about podcasting and want to produce good quality podcast recordings.
Here are some of the best podcast mixers you can consider:
Creative Sound Blaster K3+ Digital Mixer
You can buy Creative Sound Blaster K3+ Digital Mixer here on Amazon.
Zoom LiveTrak L-8 Podcast Mixer
You can buy Zoom LiveTrak L-8 Podcast Mixer here on Amazon.
8. Microphone Cords/ Cables For Your Podcast
You will need cords or microphone cables to plug your microphone into your computer or into a mixer.
Here are some of them you can buy:
Silverback Roar XLR Microphone Cable
You can buy Silverback Roar XLR Microphone Cable here on Amazon.
EBXYA XLR Cable 3ft Microphone Cords
You can buy EBXYA XLR Cable 3ft Microphone Cords here on Amazon.
9. Digital Recorders
A digital recorder helps you record remote interviews while on the go. If you have plans to record audio interviews at a place outside your recording studio, you can invest in digital recorders.
Here is a good digital recorder if you are just starting out:
Zoom H4n Pro 4-Track Portable Recorder
You can buy Zoom H4n Pro 4-Track Portable Recorder here on Amazon.
10. Podcast Starter Kit
You can also consider this convenient podcast starter kit that includes all the essential equipment you require to start a podcast:
Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 Studio Audio Interface Bundle
You can buy Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 Studio Audio Interface Bundle here on Amazon.
11. Podcast Hosting For Your Podcast
Another aspect to consider before you begin podcasting is your podcast hosting.
A podcast hosting site helps you to store all your podcast episodes in the form of audio files instead of storing podcast files directly on your website.
A podcast hosting service also offers other features such as podcast hosting, podcast analytics, marketing tools, customer support, RSS feed generation, and distribution to Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, etc.
I recommend BuzzSprout as the best podcast hosting whether you’re just starting out or are a pro.
You can read this post for my other recommendations for the best podcast hosting sites:
11+ Best Podcast Hosting Sites For 2021 – 5 Of Them Are Completely Free!
Conclusion
If you are a podcast host or producer, there are many things you need to consider before you start investing in a digital audio workstation.
Choosing the best podcast equipment depends on many different factors:
- Are you going to host your own private podcast or will you be recording multiple people on your podcast?
- What sort of quality do you want your recorded audio to have?
- How much do you want to spend on a home recording studio?
- Do you want to buy your podcast equipment separately or would you rather invest in podcast starter kits like the one we mentioned earlier?
- Do you want to use a USB mic? Or do you need something more powerful for your podcast?
Once you have a clear picture of what you want your recording setup to be like, you can start looking for the best audio gear and start setting it up.
What is your ideal podcast setup? Which is the best podcast equipment you use?
Feel free to leave a comment below and let me know so I can add them to the list! 🙂
