Podcast Setup & Recording Equipment

Podcast Equipment

When it comes to starting your own podcast, finding the right podcast equipment is just as important as choosing a subject. After all, what good is having an idea for the next great podcast if you don’t have the right equipment to share it with your audience? You can explore kits & bundles to get started.

Choosing a Podcast Microphone

Choosing the best microphone for your podcast depends on several key factors, including your recording location, format, the number of speakers, and budget.

In general, dynamic microphones are the preferred choice for podcasters because they naturally mask and filter out unwanted sounds, while condenser mics, which are more sensitive, tend to pick up and amplify background noise and other unwanted sounds.

You will also have to make a decision regarding your mic’s connector type, whether to go with a USB or XLR connector. Generally speaking, XLR microphones are the preferred choice for professional recording applications; they produce a rich, pleasing sound that’s flattering to most voices.

USB mics offer a number of advantages that make them popular among podcasters. One of the biggest benefits of a good USB microphone are that they are typically more compact than an XLR mic, and thus more portable. USB mics are also more accessible: They’re compatible with most phones and computers; they’re easy to set up; and unlike XLR mics, they don’t require an additional audio interface to use.

Audio Accessories for Podcast

Once you have chosen the best mic for your podcast, you’re going to want to consider adding a couple of key audio accessories to optimize your mic’s performance and enhance the overall quality of your podcast as much as possible.

Of those accessories, one of the most important is a good pair of podcast-friendly headphones. Closed-back headphones are the preferred style of podcast headphones, as they ensure the most accurate audio reproduction and playback.

If you’re using an XLR mic, one audio accessory you’re likely going to need is some kind of mixer or audio interface. In addition to facilitating your XLR connection, mixers offer lots of podcast-friendly features, including mix-minus features for phone calls and Zoom interviews, assignable sound pads, multitrack mixing and recording options—just to name a few.

Another important audio accessory you should consider is a broadcast arm for you mic. A broadcast (or boom) arm allows you to position your mic exactly where you want it for optimal sound quality. It also looks more professional than having a mic just sitting there.

Choosing a Camera for Podcasting

If you plan on starting a video podcast, you’re going to need more than just audio equipment. First and foremost, you’re going to need a suitable camera. Keep in mind that finding the right camera for your podcast is less about camera type and more about capabilities. Regardless of whether you’re using a webcam, a mirrorless camera, or even a camcorder, as long as your podcast camera meets the necessary performance threshold, you should be good to go.

Specifically, you want to make sure your podcast camera offers good video quality (1080p is OK, but 4K is ideal). Your podcast camera definitely also needs a strong autofocus feature to ensure everyone who appears on screen looks good and stays in focus. Another important feature to consider is frames per second (fps). Most videos on YouTube are displayed at 30 fps, so you want a camera that can capture video at 30 fps or higher to ensure picture quality.

Additional features worth keeping in mind include image stabilization, battery life, connectivity options, recording limit, low-light performance, and whether the camera features a flip-out or fully articulating display. The importance of each of these features varies depending on the podcast, so be sure to evaluate them based on the particular needs of your podcast.