Starting a podcast is a very exciting time, and I’m sure you are bubbling over with plans, ideas and anticipation. Ideas are a great first step, but you need to start planning how to create your podcast from a technical standpoint. No need to panic, here is our guide to what you will need in terms of podcast equipment!
Podcast Equipment: What You’ll Need
Microphones & Audio Recorders
The most obvious piece of equipment that you will need to start podcast is a microphone and audio recorder.
There are lots of choices available. Great audio recorders include the Zoom series and those made by Tascam, which are all handheld. Most audio recorders allow to you plug external microphones into it. The built-in recorder mics work fine, but if you are interviewing somebody, a lapel microphone attached to your subject’s shirt works great too. Another option is a directional microphone, which plugs into your laptop via USB. Figure out what sort of content you’ll be making, and which option will work best for you. If you want to record directly into your laptop, you will need an audio interface. This allows you to record directly into your audio editing software.
Audio Interfaces
An audio interface is a piece of equipment that converts the audio from your microphone into a signal. This can then be edited with audio editing software. Standard choices include the Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 and 4i4, depending on how many inputs and outputs you need. If you want to record more than one interview subject at a time, you will need three or more XLR inputs.
Editing Software
Here comes the part that can seem a little overwhelming. But it doesn’t need to be! Garageband (which comes free with Macs) has the basic audio editing features you’ll need. Another option is Audacity, which is free for both Mac and Windows users. More expensive options include Apple Logic, Pro Tools or Adobe Audition.
Audio software will allow you to cut and mix your interview, as well as cleaning up the audio and adding sound effects. You can also add in any intro music using your software.
Music & Sound
You will probably require theme or intro/outro music for your podcast, as well as transitional music for breaks in the dialogue. Licensing music correctly and understanding music copyright can be tricky and expensive. But don’t fret – keep reading to find out how Audiosocket can streamline the process and make it easier. We can also help with providing sound design effects for when you’re ready to experiment more within your podcast!
Other
Other pieces of equipment you might need include:
- Over-ear/studio headphones
- Pop filters for your microphones to cut out any spikes, breath etc that can be distracting in your recording
- A headphone amp so that you can split the signal if your podcast has more than one host
- XLR microphone cables
Closing Thoughts & How Audiosocket Can Help
Starting a podcast doesn’t to be an overwhelming experience. If you do your research and keep it simple, you won’t need to break the bank. As you learn, you can increase the amount of equipment. The main things that you need are a laptop and a microphone if you want to keep things simple when starting out.
In terms of music and sound design, Audiosocket can help! We offer a wide catalog of over 80,000 tracks and 2,000 sound designs that are perfect for podcasting. Starting at just $10 a month, you can have unlimited access to tons of tracks. So, what are you waiting for? Get started now!