The Gear You Need For a Solid Podcast Starter Kit
Have you been thinking about starting a podcast? Well, now is the perfect time! More than ever, quality audio gear and editing software are readily available – without the need to spend a ton of cash. Whether your goal is to explore a new medium of storytelling for fun, or it’s to scale your audience for sponsorship deals, here’s what you’ll need for a solid podcast starter kit to produce great-sounding audio.
BEFORE YOU START BUILDING A KIT
The following recommendations are for building a lean starter kit that will help you hit record and put your first episode out into the world as soon as possible. We know it can be overwhelming to shop around for gear when there are so many tools out there with all the bells and whistles, so we did the heavy lifting for you!
Your choice in building your first podcast kit should be around your personal budget, with the goal of telling the stories or creating conversations you really care about. Great content that resonates with your audience matters more than the gear you use, no matter how highly recommended (and expensive) the devices can be.
AUDIO GEAR
Audio quality is important to your listening audience, whose skilled ears are now accustomed to nothing less than good speaking voices and high definition sound. Here are our audio gear recommendations to get you started in producing high-quality audio for the best price.
Microphones for a single host
The Blue Yeti ($129.99 on Amazon) plugs right into your laptop and allows you to record studio-quality audio that’s easy to use. Plus, it features a stand, so you won’t have to worry about consciously leaning into your mic as you speak.
The Blue Yeti Nano ($99.99 on Amazon) is a smaller version of the former, but with a smaller stand.
Both options also allow you to plug your headphones in, which is important for monitoring your audio input in real time with no latency.
An audio interface for multiple hosts and guests or interviewing on-the-go
We recommend the Zoom H6 audio interface ($326 on Amazon), which comes with five simultaneous recording tracks. The multiple inputs and outputs on the device make it a no-brainer if you’re looking for an all-in-one setup for co-hosts and guests. Because it is battery powered, the Zoom H6 also makes it easy to take with you for on-the-go interviews or investigative storytelling.
Headphones
Though it may not be obvious at first, wearing over-ear headphones will make you a better podcast host. Here’s why: You’ll be able to monitor how you speak, so you’ll be more comfortable with hearing your own speaking voice (which can feel strange in the beginning for some).
This is called monitoring. Being able to monitor your voice will help in the editing process, because it’ll save you from the painstaking process of adjusting your sound levels every other second. With headphones, you’ll be more in tune with how you sound in real time, which will allow you to adjust your volume, tone, and enunciation accordingly based on the immediate feedback. Additionally, wearing headphones will hold you accountable to being in close proximity to the microphone at all times.
We recommend the Audio-Technica ATH-AVC400 SonicPro Over-Ear Headphones ($49 on Amazon) or the AKG Pro Audio K72 Over-Ear Studio Headphones ($47 on Amazon) for your podcast starter kit.
RECORDING AND EDITING SOFTWARE
The editing process includes turning down background noise, adjusting sound levels, cutting and moving audio clips, and layering tracks on top of another (like your intro music). This means that the laptop you’re using should have a good processing system with a lot of free space in your hard drive.
We recommend using Audacity, which is a recording and editing software that is – wait for it – free to use.
Whether your laptop’s operating system is Windows, macOS, or GNU/Linux, Audacity allows you to record live audio, adjust sound levels, edit and mix effects, and export to a variety of audio file formats. It is also an open source software, which means you can share, contribute, and improve upon it with others.
LOOK INTO THESE TUTORIALS
Getting the most sensible gear isn’t the only thing you’ll need to create studio-quality work. Having a great speaking voice and knowing how to tell a great story in an audio format takes practice. Here are three video resources to get you started.
How To Sound Great | Student Podcast Challenge Guide To Sound | NPR
Jessica Hansen — NPR's Vocal Coach on Finding Your Voice, Owning It, and The Art of Communication
Three tricks to get great audio from your podcast guests | Buzzsprout
So there you have it. The hardest part about starting a podcast is, well… getting started. Hopefully the above recommendations are helpful in navigating your way around the tools you need. If you need more support or a sounding board for your podcast ideas, The Clubhouse is a great place to collaborate with members like yourself. We also have a podcast mic (a Blue Yeti Nano, to be exact) available in our creative studio, if you want to give it a whirl! Additionally, Tech Square ATL (TSQATL) Social Club offers LVL UP classes nearly every week, which are intimate gatherings to learn about – or enhance your current knowledge on – a variety of different topics, such as podcasting, photography, live streaming, video editing, and more. Be sure to check out our social channels and events page for more details! The next LVL UP class is an introductory workshop on photography using a digital SLR (single-lens reflex) camera.
Have you started a podcast? What topic do you want to explore if you haven’t started already? Let us know in the comments below.
DID YOU KNOW?
According to Statista (2019), nearly three out of every four people surveyed in the U.S. listen to podcasts “to learn new things, with 74 percent citing this as the reason for enjoying podcasts and listening to them on a monthly basis.”