Resource: All the Equipment You Need to Start Podcasting, From a Podcast Equipment Professional

Get started in podcasting for less than $300, or upgrade your home studio to a professional-grade space!

Whether you’re hunting for Black Friday deals, ready to get into audio as your New Years’ Resolution, or inspired by your favorite show to make one yourself, there’s never a bad time to get into podcasting. But how do you get started without breaking the bank? After working as the “equipment guy” for podcasters for more than a decade, and the Head of Production at working-podcasting-production-company Multitude, I’m here to help!

Here’s your shopping list for everything you’ll need:

  • Microphone

  • Pop Filter or Windscreen

  • USB cable or XLR cable, depending on the mic you have

  • An Audio Interface (if using an XLR-based microphone)

  • Microphone stand

  • Headphones

  • Some kind of room treatment or soundproofing

  • A decent computer

    • OR a portable recording device

  • Recording software, AKA a Digital Audio Workstation (DAW), and other software

Keep reading for my recommendations for each item, or scroll to the bottom for my less-than-$300 budget list and my professional list!

MICROPHONES

You’re choosing from two categories based on the wires that connect them to recording equipment: XLR microphones and USB microphones. USB microphones use a USB wire, you’ve seen those before when plugging in your phone or keyboard. These are aimed at beginning consumers so you don’t have to buy more equipment, since it plugs right into your computer. They can be more portable and easier to set up, and often have just as good audio quality. However, they are cheaper, so they tend to break down faster or have more connectivity issues. XLR is a different type of cable connector, and we have a photo of them below! XLR mics are aimed at professionals, since they require an audio interface to work. The type of mic that will work best for you depends on your comfortability with audio technology, your portability needs, and cost. But remember, there’s no wrong answer! You can still be a pro-podcaster with a USB mic!

 
A close-up photo of an XLR cable, which has a metal connector and three pins
 

BEST USB MICROPHONES

  • Top Pick: Shure MV7 Dynamic Microphone

    • This is the USB version of a broadcast microphone standard, and it does nearly the same thing. It has a solid build, sounds great, and, in my experience, seems to have less connectivity issues than other USB mics.

  • Alt Pick: The Rode Dynamic Series

    • This is the USB version of another broadcast standard microphone. They tend to sound less clear and are a bit bulkier, but are otherwise excellent choices. The Procaster has the most features and best sound quality, followed by the Podcaster, then the PodMic. Pick the one that fits your budget!

  • Honorable Mention: Rode NT-USB Condenser Microphone

    • Why didn’t we include the extremely common Blue Yeti microphone? They’re just not that great! As compared to the other choices, they break down faster and have connectivity issues very often. For a similarly priced mic, go for the Rode NT-USB. It’s bullet-proof, sounds incredible, and comes with its own pop filter.


SOUND TIP: What’s the difference between a dynamic and condenser microphone? They’re built differently, but what’s important is that condenser mics are significantly more sensitive. That means that they tend to pick up more background noise from your environment. For this reason we tend to rec dynamic mics, but if you have a good sounding room that’s free from noise, condenser mics are a great choice!

BEST XLR MICROPHONES

  • Top Pick: Shure SM7b

    • A classic microphone that sounds great, and you could drop it from your roof and it would be fine.

      • You may need a mic booster or in-line mic preamplifier to get enough volume from the SM7b. I recommend the Klark Teknik CM-1. Make sure you get two XLR cables to connect this and pick up an interface that has phantom power (48V) to power the booster.

  • Alt Pick: Electrovoice RE20

    • The quintessential radio microphone. It has the big, boomy, radio voice thing that you know, but isn’t as clear as the Shure.

  • Honorable Mention: Any Other Good Condenser Microphone

    • The category of XLR condenser microphones is vast, and there are a ton of great options. But they tend to be extremely expensive and you have to be very delicate with them. In no particular order, here are some popular XLR condenser mics:

      • Audio-Technica AT2020

      • Rode NT1-A/NT1

      • Neumann TLM 103

      • Neumann U 87

      • Warm Audio WA87

      • Sennheiser MKH 416

AUDIO INTERFACE

If you decide on an XLR microphone, you’ll need an audio interface. The interface is the thing that connects your microphone to your computer, transforming the electrical signals in your mic into digital signals for your computer to understand.

  • Top Pick: Focusrite Scarlett 2i2

    • There’s only one pick for podcasting beginners, and it’s the 2i2. It sounds great, it’s built like a tank, and has microphone inputs for two mics so you can record you and a guest at the same time. The interface connects to your computer via a USB wire, so it will work with most computers just fine.

  • Alt Pick: MOTU M2 2x2

    • A fantastic sounding interface that has dead simple controls. It comes in second since it is slightly more expensive and USB-C based, which as of this writing isn’t standard on every computer.

  • Honorable Mention: Everyone Else Is Pretty Ok!

    • The audio interface category is wide, with lots and lots of good picks depending on your needs. Some questions to consider: 

      • How many speakers/microphones will you need to record simultaneously?

      • What type of connection ports does your computer have (USB, USB-C, Firewire, etc)?

      • Are you doing anything else with the interface, like making music? Do you need to connect speakers, or a MIDI keyboard?

      • Do you want to plug it into the wall, or do you want it to be powered via USB (and thus be more portable)?

      • Do you need phantom power?

    • Here are some good interface brands, in no particular order: Audient, Apogee, Universal Audio, Solid State Logic, RME, and Neve. There’s also Behringer, but I have some reservations about their sound quality, comparatively. 


SOUND TIP: You’ll need an XLR cable or two to connect your microphone! Any ol’ cable will do, like the Amazon Basics XLR, Cable Matters, or Monoprice. Don’t worry about getting an expensive one; they’re just not worth it.


POP FILTER

A pop filter is that cloth or metal screen that sits between the microphone and your mouth. It might seem like a radio luxury, but it keeps any word with letters like B and P from being incredibly unpleasant from your listeners. Don’t skip them.

  • Top Pick: Stedman Proscreen 101

    • It’s metal, it holds itself up well, lasts a long time, and is easy to clean. There’s no better choice, but it’s expensive for a pop filter.

  • Alt Pick: A Windscreen

    • I prefer a windscreen on my mic so I can get as close as possible to it when recording, and they don’t obstruct my view. They can be washed gently, but they do collect dust and spit so they’re best thought of as disposable. Every microphone will have a foam windscreen that’s made to fit it, so just search your microphone model + windscreen and buy the cheapest one. For example, for the Shure SM7b the correct windscreen model is the A7WS.

  • The Rest

    • Any pop filter you find on Amazon or Sweetwater is fine; just get the cheapest fabric one you can find.


MICROPHONE STAND

There are few types of mic stands that can work: stands that sit on a table, a tripod setup, and a boom arm that latches onto the side of a table. I prefer the boom arm, since it leaves the most room in front of you and doesn’t tangle up your legs.

  • Top Pick: Rode PSA1+

    • It’s built solidly, makes no noise when you adjust it, and can hold any mic at any angle. You can also install it directly into your desk if you’re handy with a drill.

  • Alt Pick: InnoGear Microphone Arm

    • It’s cheap and works! It may wear out faster than other, better quality options. But it gets the job done.

  • The Rest

    • There are a ton of quality choices here, so check out the reviews from Rode, Elgato, Blue, On-Stage, and Gator Frameworks. 


HEADPHONES

You might think one of those huge over-ear headphones are mandatory, but not the case! Use whatever you like! The important thing is that you’re wearing headphones in the first place, so your mic doesn’t pick up audio that’s coming through speakers. If everyone’s in the same room recording, you can get away with not wearing them, but I always recommend at least one person should be listening to hear if something has gone wrong with the recording. Wired headphones are generally preferable to wireless, but only to avoid Bluetooth connectivity troubles.

  • My Picks

    • Any Apple headphones! Seriously, they’re fine!

    • Sony MDR-7506

    • Sennheiser HD650

    • Beyerdynamic DT-770/990


SOUND TREATING A ROOM

This is the most important part of the good-sounding-recording puzzle, but also the trickiest. You’re almost definitely not recording in a studio, so we’re going to make the rooms we have sound as good as possible (AKA acoustic treatment). Start by finding a quiet room in your place, like a closet or an office, and set up there. Then, let’s work on the acoustic treatment.

  • Top Pick: Acoustic Panels

    • Acoustic panels are wooden frames filled with fiberglass insulation wrapped in fabric. They’re very similar to what you might find in your attic and walls, and they work the same way! Just as heat gets trapped in your insulation and helps keep your house warm in the winter, sound also gets “trapped” in the insulation and stops it from bouncing around the room. This makes your voice sound cleaner and clearer on the microphone.

    • The best companies that make acoustic panels are GIK Acoustics and Acoustimac. You can buy premade panels, or pick up their cheaper DIY versions. You’ll probably need 3-6 panels, but ask the experts who work there what would be best for your room.

    • Mount the panels on any wall that you’ll be facing when you speak, as well as directly behind and to the sides of you, and you’re good to go.

  • Alt Pick: Clothes and Furniture

    • The best free option is to surround yourself with clothing in a closet or arrange your furniture at odd angles in your room. Without getting too technical, more soft things = more things that can absorb sound. You also want to avoid parallel surfaces and hard surfaces, like two walls facing each other, which will just bounce sounds back and forth. And don’t record under a blanket; it will sound like you’re under a blanket and you’ll get heat stroke.

  • The Rest

    • You might be familiar with Auralex foam, or that weird, black, pointy stuff you see a lot of video podcasters have. Something is better than nothing, but honestly, it’s only a little better than nothing. Foam helps a little if you place it in the same places you would panels, but I’d suggest you save your money and buy panels when you can.


COMPUTER

Most computers will work just fine for podcast recording! The one you already have will almost certainly work, so don’t stress about this one. Even most modern laptops have the power you’ll need.

  • Alt Pick: A Portable Digital Recorder

    • You can plug an XLR mic directly into digital recorders, as well as your headphones. The Zoom H4n is a classic recorder that’s a wonderful tool, especially if you’re recording on the go. Check out the entire Zoom line and see which version works best for you. Just make sure to double check that the recorder has enough inputs for the number of mics you’re using.


RECORDING SOFTWARE (DAW)

A digital audio workstation (DAW) is the software that records audio on the computer. Each one has its own quirks, costs, advantages and disadvantages. There is no Ultimate Best pick here; always use the one that makes the most sense for you!

  • Top Pick: Pro Tools

    • This is the industry standard DAW for music and post-production, but that still doesn’t mean it’s perfect. It’s expensive and has a steep learning curve, but is also very flexible. Worthwhile to learn, but difficult for beginners.

  • Alt Pick: Reaper

    • Very cheap ($60 for a discounted license) and fully featured, this DAW is incredible. It also has a learning curve, but the flexibility and list of features make learning this DAW worth the time. 

  • Honorable Mention: GarageBand

    • The best free DAW, hands-down. It’s incredibly easy to learn and does the job. Only two limitations: 1) it can’t record in SUPER high resolution, but it shouldn’t be a problem for podcasters, and 2) It’s Mac only.

  • The Rest: I didn’t include a lot of DAWs that people swear by in this list. The ones above are the DAWs I have experience with. Some other programs include:

    • Audacity: a good free choice for Windows users, but it might crash on you. Also, it is a destructive editor, meaning that anything you do to the file is actually changing the file itself forever. It’s also ugly to look at, which is important 10 hours into an editing session.

    • Audition: a great DAW, but also expensive like Pro Tools, and less stable.

    • Hindenburg: probably great, but I’ve never used it so I can’t recommend it. Try it!

    • Ableton: a great DAW, but you’re forcing it to work for podcasting since it’s best for music

    • Logic: the big brother of GarageBand. A great DAW if you already know GarageBand super well, as the tools are the same. Lacks some editing features that irk me, since it’s geared towards musicians as well.

    • Cakewalk, LUNA, Cubase, FL Studio… Man, there are so many.


OTHER SOFTWARE

If you’re working with remote guests that don’t have the ability to record themselves, you’ll need something to record your video call (and it never hurts to have a backup even if they do know how to record themselves!). 

  • Top Pick: Rogue Amoeba Piezo

    • I don’t want to mince words – forget every other recording service, app, and software. There is nothing cheaper or easier than Piezo. It’s one click remote recording at decent enough quality, so set it and forget it! It’s stable, looks great, and costs like twenty-five bucks. Unfortunately, it’s Mac only.

  • Alt Pick: Rogue Amoeba Audio Hijack

    • Piezo’s big brother. Costs more, but you get higher quality recording and many, many more options. It’s also nearly as easy to figure out as Piezo! A great option if you have the budget. Also Mac Only.

  • Windows Users: (I’m not one, uh…)

    • I haven’t tested anything for Windows, but Sound Recorder could work!

  • The Rest

    • Zencaster, Riverside, Squadcast, etc: these are all-in-one tech panaceas. They’re trying to do too much, so they don’t do anything well. As you navigate the podcasting landscape and gain experience, you won’t need these programs. Video conference software, Piezo, and DAWs are you’ll need.

TOTAL COST - Budget Version: $213 + tax & shipping

TOTAL COST - Pro Version: $1,409 + tax & shipping


Now that you’ve got your equipment, you’re ready to dive into the wild world of podcasting. If you need any help along the way, check out all of our free resources at multitude.productions/resources!

-Brandon Grugle (Head of Production) and Eric Silver (Head of Creative)