Hey! Aaron from the future (2019) here. You can check out my updated gear guide at https://kit.com/thepodcastdude.

There are a few things you’ll need to buy if you want your podcast to sound great. In this episode, I talk about why a great microphone is an essential investment for your show, and how much you’ll need to invest if you want your show to sound great and stand out from other podcasts.

My goal was to create a comprehensive podcasting equipment guide for a beginner podcaster. I won't talk about every microphone, interface or pre-amp available, but I'll cover the essential pieces of gear you’ll need to get your show started.

Podcasting Equipment Guide

There are a lot of things you'll need to buy if you want to start a podcast. In this episode, I talk about why a great microphone is an essential investment for your show, and how much you'll need to invest if you want a great setup that will set you apart from other podcasters.

My goal was to create a comprehensive podcasting equipment guide. I don't talk about every microphone, interface or pre-amp available, but I cover the essential pieces of gear you'll need to get started, and share what some of the best podcasters in the world are using to record shows. After listening, you'll know what the best options are for your budget.

Key Takeaways:

• A great microphone is the most important piece of gear you'll buy.
• To stand out from other podcasts in a crowded market, you have to provide great content and high quality sound.
• Great sound quality makes your show easier and more enjoyable to listen to.
• You only get one chance to make a first impression. Make it a good one.
• If you have a tight budget, consider buying used gear online.
• When deciding which interface to buy, consider how many mic inputs you'll need.
• Always, always, always use a pop filter.
• Wear headphones to avoid causing echo from guests in your recording.
• If you're serious about making a great podcast and growing your audience, don't settle for the cheapest option.

How to Stand Out in a Sea of Podcasts

There are thousands of other podcasts vying for your listener's attention. To stand out, you have to provide great content, but you also need to have good sound.

Great sound quality makes your show easier and more enjoyable to listen to.

Attention to sound quality shows your listeners that you take podcasting seriously, which means they will take you seriously and be more likely to invest time listening to you.

You only get one chance to make a first impression. Make it a good one.

A Great Microphone Needs Less Post-Production

Good mics require less post-production. Most recordings can be improved with post-production (noise removal, EQ, Compression, etc), but a great mic will require less post-production.

If you're going to be podcasting, you can either hire someone to edit, mix, and master your show, or spend a little time to learn how to do it yourself.

Cheaper mics just don't sound as good. They often have harsher high end, they sound brittle and don't have a good low-end (bass frequencies).

A lot of people ask me, “What's the minimum I can spend to get started?”

I don't want you to just meet the minimum. If you're going to do it, do it right. Get a great microphone as soon as possible. If you can't afford a decent mic, practice with what you have, but save money to get the mic you want.

If You Have a Small Budget, Consider Buying Used Gear

I understand that not everyone can spend $800 on a podcasting setup. When I started podcasting, I was using a Shure PG42 USB mic, but I wish I had invested in a better mic right away.

If you have a small budget, I recommend checking out Guitar Center's used gear online, or checking your local music store for used gear. Make sure to save the receipts in case anything doesn't work, and make sure you buy from reputable sellers who offer returns if you're shopping on Ebay.

If you have a tight budget, consider buying used gear online.

Should I Buy a USB Mic, or a XLR Mic?

One of the questions I often get asked about microphones is, “Should I get a USB mic, or an XLR mic?”

If you're just starting out, and you want to spend the bare minimum, you can get a USB like the Audio Technica ATR-2100 ($60), or the Samson Q2U (also about $60).

However, keep in mind that these are budget microphones, and will not give you great sound. Additionally, it's a pain in the butt to record multiple USB mics at the same, so if you plan on recording anyone else in the same place as you, go with XLR mics and an audio interface instead.

If you want a good USB mic and are willing to spend a little more, check out the Rode NT USB mic. It's $170 but sounds noticably better than the cheaper USB mics.

You'll also need to get a mic stand and a pop filter for each mic too: More on that a bit later.

What about Dynamic vs Condenser?

A dynamic mic will give you more mid-range warmth and has better off-mic noise rejection, so it won't pick up as much of the room sound or background noise.

A condenser mic will give you more detailed recordings, but are often more sensitive than dynamic mics, so they may pick up more room echo and background noise.

Dynamic microphones are usually a better choice for podcasting (there are a few exceptions, such as the Shure Beta 87A which is a condenser mic). If you're interested in learning more about dynamic vs condenser mics, check out Dynamic-Microphones.aspx">10 Statements on Condenser Microphones vs. Dynamic Microphones.

The pickup pattern of the mic also affects how much background noise it'll record. Click here to learn more about microphone pickup patterns.

XLR Microphones

I love and recommend XLR microphones for podcasting. The microphone I use is the Shure Beta 87A. It's $250 new but you can find them used for less, and they sound great and pick up much less background noise then the other mics I've tested in that price range.

If you're looking for an affordable XLR mic, you can't go wrong with a Shure SM57 or SM58. They sell new for $100, but you can find them used online for half that price. Pair a SM57 or SM58 with a simple USB interface (like the Focusrite Scarlett 2i2), and you've got a great sounding, affordable recording setup.

Recording On the Go

If you need to record with multiple microphones on the go, the Zoom H4N ($199) is a great option. This is a small, handheld device that has 2 microphone inputs plus a built-in condenser mic on top.

If you need more than two mic inputs, get the Zoom H6 ($399) instead. The H6 has 4 mic inputs in addition to a built-in condenser mic on top.

Lavaliere Mics

I don't have much experience with using lav mics, but they're commonly used on stages, and they can work pretty well if you're out and about recording interviews.

If you're looking for a lav mic you can use with your smartphone, check out the Rode Smartlav ($80), which is an affordable option for recording to an phone. I took a listen to the audio, and it wasn't as high quality as more expensive lav mics, but it's more affordable and convenient for mobile recordings.

USB Audio Interfaces

If you decide to get a XLR microphone, you will need an interface to convert the analog signal from the mic into a digital signal that your computer can record.

Most interfaces connect to your computer via USB, and the smaller ones use USB for power as well.

When deciding which interface to buy, consider how many mic inputs you'll need.

Things to consider:

How many mics will you be using at the same time? If you're just going to be recording yourself, an interface with one or two mic inputs will work fine. If you're going to be recording multiple people in the same room, you'll need an interface with four or maybe eight mic inputs.

How many headphone monitoring channels will you need? Most interfaces offer one or two headphone monitoring ports (so you can listen to yourself while recording, or run your computers audio out through your interface).

If you need more than one or two headphone jacks, you may want to invest in a headphone amp that you can plug additional headphone lines into.

The audio interface that I'm using to record this episode is the Scarlett 2i2 ($149). It's USB powered, has two microphone inputs, and a single headphone jack.

Quick note: most interfaces will give you phantom power (or 48v), which is used to power XLR condenser microphones. If you're using a dynamic microphone, you won't need to use phantom power (in fact, make sure it's turned off before you record).

If you need more mic inputs (or headphone jacks), you'll want to go with the Scarlett 18i8 ($299). This has 4 mic inputs and 2 headphone jacks.

If you need an interface with 8 mic inputs, get the Scarlett 18i20 ($350).

Even though this interface has a higher price than the others I've listed so far, I wanted to mention the Apollo Twin Solo ($599). It's not cheap, and this model only has two mic inputs, but if you want to invest a little more money and get a fantastic interface, check it out.

Cables, Stands, Pop Filters, and Other Accessories

If you go with an XLR microphone, you'll need an XLR cable to connect your microphone to your interface. I use the Monoprice 15ft XLR Cable ($10). It's affordable and works great.

You'll also need a mic stand. I use a normal microphone boom stand like the Samson Mic Stand ($20), which works fine for most mics.

I would recommend the standard boom stand for most people, but if you want to invest a little more money and get something nice, you could go with the Heil Sound PL-2T Overhead Broadcast Boom ($120. This is a swiveling boom arm that attaches to your desk, and is very convenient for moving the mic around to any position you want.

I recommend avoiding any stand that sits directly on your desk. They may cause your mic to pick up any vibrations (caused by typing or bumping the desk), which will cause thumps in your recordings. A shock mount for your mic might alleviate that, but I recommend using a standard boom stand or a boom arm instead.

Always use a pop filter.

A pop filter diffuses and prevents plosives and sibilants, and lets you get closer to the mic which will make your voice sound more rich and warm and gives a sense of intimacy to your recordings. The Nady Pop Filter is $10 on Amazon and is a no-brainer (pretty much any pop filter will get the job done).

Power Conditioner

A power conditioner cleans and filters noise and hums that might come through your computer or interface's power supply. You might not need one of these, but if you hear a hum or buzz in your recording that you can't eliminate, try a power conditioner to see if it helps. I plug my computer and pre-processor into a Furman Power Conditioner ($55).

Audio Pre-Processors

You may have heard about the DBX 286 ($200) before. The DBX 286 is pre-amp, compressor, de-esser, and noise gate. It's a pre-processor used by many professional podcasters to improve the sound quality of raw recordings.

If you are brand new to audio, you'll need to invest some time in learning how to use the various controls of this unit, but if you want to get even better sound out of your XLR microphone, it's a solid investment. If you decide to buy a DBX 286 or any other pre-processor or pre-amp, you'll need to buy an additional XLR cable to connect it to your interface.

Headphones

Headphones are essential for both recording and editing. If you are talking to someone over Skype and you aren't wearing headphones, the sound will come out of your speakers and get recorded in your track which will cause a really annoying echo (and ruin your recording).

Wear headphones to avoid getting echo from computer speakers in your recording.

The headphones I use and love are the Sony MDR-7506 ($85).

If you want to spend a little less, there are a lot of other options, including the Sennheiser HD-280 ($69) and the Panasonic RPHJE120K Earbuds ($12) (fine for listening and even mixing).

Recording Software

After you buy your recording gear, you'll need to use some kind of software to record audio.

If you have a Mac, Quicktime is an easy way to record an audio track. It should already be installed, so you can open it up, select your mic or interface and be good to go. You might also have Garageband included in your Mac, and that works fine for recording audio as well.

Audacity is a free program that works on both Mac and Windows. Here's a short tutorial on how to record an audio track in Quicktime or Audacity.

If you'd like to spend a little bit of money on a real DAW (digital audio workstation), Reaper is a good affordable option (both Mac and Windows, $60).

I use and love Logic Pro X, and there's also Pro Tools or Adobe Audition

These programs are more for the audio professional, someone who is going to be doing a lot of editing, mixing and mastering. If you plan on learning and doing the post production yourself, you should invest in one of these programs.

Recording Skype Conversations

If you're going to be interviewing someone or talking to a co-host over Skype, there are a few options for recording Skype calls including Ecamm Call Recorder (for Mac), and MP3 Skype Recorder (for Windows).

I recommend that each person on the call record a track on their computer and then send those to the person responsible for editing (this is called a "double-ender"). You should also record the audio from the Skype conversation to have as a backup.

You might also check out Squadcast.fm, it's a web app that makes it easy to record multiple people at the same time. It costs $20/month but does come with a free 14 day trial.

My Recommended Setups

If you're looking for the most affordable option, I recommend the Samson Q2U with a pop filter and mic stand. This will cost about $100.

The setup that I'm currently using is the Shure Beta 87a and an Scarlett 18i8 interface, with a few Shure SM58 mics to have as backups.

I invested around $500 for this setup (buying everything used), but it sounds great and I can record up to 4 people at the same time if I need to.

If you're serious about making a great podcast and growing your audience, don't settle for the cheapest option.

Consider waiting to start recording your podcast until you've saved up enough money to be able to buy the gear you want, so you can make a show that sounds good from the start. You'll thank yourself later, and your listeners will too.

Cool Stuff to Check Out:

• Recommended Gear: https://kit.com/thepodcastdude
• Podcast: https://thepodcastdude.simplecast.com
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/thepodcastdude
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/c/thepodcastdude
• Successful Podcasting: http://successfulpodcasting.com
• Simplecast Blog: http://blog.simplecast.com/