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For those who’re simply beginning out with podcasting, it is tremendous necessary to have the correct gear. That is why we have put collectively an inventory of 5 unbelievable tools kits for freshmen. These kits include all the things you want, like microphones, headphones, and recording software program, to ensure your podcast sounds superior.
We consulted our thriving group of entrepreneurs—lots of whom have profitable podcasts!—over at SPI Professional for this text.
Whereas lots of podcast gear guides will counsel mics and different tools by worth, this information features a bit in another way. Every of those kits represents an excellent podcast tools record primarily based on a sure persona. Is audio high quality completely paramount to you, or do it is advisable sound good on a price range? Are you on the go lots, or recording out of your workplace? Do you document in individual, with multiple visitor, or do you solely document your podcast over the web?
No matter your “persona,” this text offers you, if not a procuring record, no less than a superb place to begin.
Click on a hyperlink beneath to leap to the equipment that finest describes you.
The Jetsetter
The Audiophile
The Frugal Podcaster
The In-Individual Host
The YouTuber
Be aware — the value for every equipment was calculated earlier than tax and delivery. Costs are an estimate solely and should have fluctuated since this text was written.
On Blue Yetis (A Resounding “No!”)
I’ve to get one thing out of the best way earlier than we proceed. Once I polled our SPI Professional group on their favourite podcasting mics, there was one throughline: positively not a Blue Yeti.
For those who’re unfamiliar with Blue Yeti microphones, their reputation is comprehensible at first look. At beneath $100, they appear to supply an all-in-one resolution, coming with a built-in stand and a beautiful design (even in flamingo pink).
However the response from our Execs couldn’t be clearer.
The Yeti slamming ranged from phrases like “mine broke in beneath one yr” to “I hate them” and “nice promoting price range, low cost worth level.” “It’s designed to convey the viewers right into a enjoyable surroundings,” stated one Professional, “which most individuals aren’t in… except you’re in your yard along with your goats and chickens and speaking about farm life.”
The Jetsetter: A Mic Equipment for Podcasters in Movement
$450
For podcasters on the go, it is necessary to have light-weight, moveable tools that may simply be taken from place to put. Right here’s the best equipment:
Mic: The Rode VideoMic NTG is a shotgun mic made for cameras, however at 3.32 ounces, it’s the proper microphone for on-the-go podcasting as nicely. You may join it on to your laptop computer or smartphone.
Stand: At 4 oz, the Rode Tripod Mini Stand is the proper stand for an on-the-go podcast equipment.
Headphones: The Audio-Technica ATH-M50x Skilled Studio Monitor Headphones provide nice sound high quality and are additionally foldable, making them straightforward to pack and tackle the go. As with all of those kits, having a stable pair of studio monitor headphones is essential so you may get a good suggestion of how your recording will sound in real-time.
Distant Recording Resolution: An answer like Squadcast is important for distant podcast recording, and each provide high-quality audio and video recording capabilities. There are some variations between each platforms which can or will not be negatable relying in your state of affairs (if you’d like the sharpest-possible video, solely Riverside can document concurrently in 4k, for instance). Because the variations can be finest lined in a second article, we’ll go away it to you to determine—each are glorious choices at related worth factors.
With this podcast equipment, you’ll produce high-quality podcasts irrespective of the place you might be.
The Audiophile: A Podcasting Setup for Discerning Ears
$900
For podcasters who’re critical about audio high quality and have an infinite price range, listed here are some high-end tools choices we advocate.
Mic: A toss-up between the Shure SM7B and the Heil PR40!
The Shure SM7B is fashionable for a cause: it has glorious sound high quality and noise discount design. It’s a cardioid dynamic microphone that captures a heat, pure sound and has a pop filter and shock mount to scale back plosives and isolate the microphone from vibrations. Its efficiency is additional enhanced with a bass roll-off and mid-range increase.
The Heil PR40 can also be an amazing selection for audiophile podcasters, that includes a large frequency vary and low self-noise. It additionally has a novel design that helps cut back pops and plosives, making it an amazing selection for podcasters who’re critical about audio high quality. For those who’ve tuned into any of Pat’s reside streams or The Good Passive Earnings Podcast, that is the mic you’re listening to!
(Be aware that both of those mics would require an XLR cable.)
Mount: The Gator Frameworks Deluxe Desk-Mounted Increase Stand permits you good, secure adjustment in your mic. Set your mic up on this stand, plug it in, and by no means look again.
Preamp: The Audient iD4 MKII is a superb option to pair with the Shure SM7B as a result of it gives high-quality preamps and affords phantom energy, which is important to energy the SM7B. Moreover, the iD4 MKII has a low-latency headphone output, which is essential for real-time monitoring throughout recording periods.
Headphones: The Beyerdynamic DT 770 Professional Studio headphones are extensively thought of to be a number of the finest within the business, providing superior sound high quality and luxury. They’re a traditional possibility which have been utilized in recording studios for years and are an amazing selection for podcasters who wish to guarantee they will hear each element.
Distant Recording Resolution: Squadcast.
With this setup, your podcast will sound pretty much as good as something you hear on the radio!
The Frugal Podcaster: A Mic Equipment for Funds-Acutely aware Podcasters
Below $100
For those who’re trying to begin a podcast on a price range, there are a variety of nice tools choices accessible. Coming in at beneath $100, this equipment will make your podcast sound nice with minimal gear.
Mic/Stand: The Audio-Technica ATR2100x-USB — at $79 (as of March, 2023), not a lot beats this mic at this worth level. It affords glorious sound high quality and is flexible sufficient to work with each XLR and USB connections, plus it comes with a easy folding stand*. Meaning you’ll be able to plug it immediately into your pc and get right down to enterprise.
Pop Filter: The Aokeo Skilled Microphone Pop Filter — for about $11, it’s a no brainer. A pop filter is used to stop plosive sounds (comparable to “p” and “b”) from being picked up by the microphone. And not using a pop filter, these sounds might be picked up as loud, disagreeable bursts of air, which might be distracting and make the recording harder to hearken to. Don’t skip this piece.
Headphones: No matter you have already got! 😄 You probably have a pair of AirPods or different headphones and, since it is a price range equipment, we’re not together with a devoted pair of studio headphones.
Distant Recording Resolution: For those who’re on a price range and have to document company remotely, it’s possible you’ll be tempted to make use of Zoom for distant recordings. We strongly advise towards this although; the subscription value of Squadcast is nicely definitely worth the funding. Belief us, your editor (which might be you) will thanks!
With this setup, you’ll produce high-quality podcasts with out breaking the financial institution.
The In-person Host: A Podcast Equipment for Eye-to-Eye Magic
$500 – $1600+ (relying on mic choice and variety of company)
For podcasters who document in individual with company, it is necessary to have tools that may seize high-quality audio from a number of sources. In fact, you’ll wish to tailor this package deal to your particular state of affairs, relying on what number of company you normally document with.
Listed here are some tools choices to think about:
Interfaces
Zoom H6 Six-Observe Moveable Recorder: This recorder is ideal for recording in individual, with its skill to document as much as six tracks concurrently. It additionally has 4 XLR/TRS inputs, making it straightforward to attach a number of microphones.
In order for you one thing that’s a minimize above the remainder on this division, we positively advocate the Rodecaster Professional II, which incorporates sound pads, telephone connectivity, and a spread of sound results. It additionally has a big, easy-to-use touchscreen that permits you to management all of its options.
In case your reside podcast is completely a one-on-one state of affairs, the Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 is a unbelievable possibility. It’s an inexpensive, two-channel audio interface that gives glorious sound high quality and is straightforward to make use of.
Mics
Any of the mics talked about to this point are nice choices for in-person recording, however right here’s a bit roundup:
Excessive-end: Indubitably, the Shure SM7B is your decide of selection. A pair (or extra) of those puppies and your in-person recordings will sound about pretty much as good as they probably may!
Medium: Shure’s MV7X is one other stable possibility. With voice-isolating expertise and an all-metal development, the MV7x is designed with podcasters and vocalists in thoughts. And at lower than half the value of the SM7B, they’re a bit extra budget-friendly too. (Be aware—the MV7 is a barely completely different design, as you’ll be able to join it through USB. Nonetheless, at this worth level, we advocate some MV7Xs mixed with a stable preamp or audio interface.)
Funds: Once more our decide is the Audio-Technica ATR2100x-USB. With a worth level round $80, that is laborious to beat for price range choices.
Misc. Tools
Monitor Headphones: Beyerdynamic DT 770 Professional Studio Headphones.
Cables: Pig Hog PHM10 8mm Tour Grade Mic Cable, XLR 10ft – 2-pack. (It’s your decision longer cables relying on the area you’re recording in.)
Clamp-On, Increase Stands: Gator Frameworks Deluxe Desk-Mounted Increase Stand
Desktop Stands: InnoGear Desktop Microphone Stand (2-pack)
The YouTuber: An Add-On Equipment for Video Podcasters
Add $850 to any of the above kits.
YouTube not too long ago introduced that they’re bringing podcasts to their YouTube Music streaming service. With the choice to modify between video and audio-only consumption, a lot of podcasters really feel it’s essential to document video with each episode too. That is our advice for a video podcasting add-on equipment, the proper praise to your mic setup.
Digicam: The Canon EOS M50 Mark II with 15-45mm lens affords nice autofocus and high-quality video in a single easy package deal.
Stand: The SmallRig Digicam Desk Mount has an adjustable top of 13-35 inches, permitting the stand to clamp onto nearly any desk.
Lighting: The Elgato Key Mild Air is a superb lighting possibility for YouTube podcasters. It’s a compact and light-weight lighting resolution that may be adjusted utilizing the Elgato Management Middle app. It has a built-in diffuser for creating mushy, even lighting, and comes with a desk mount for simple positioning. Plus, it’s moveable.
Distant Recording Resolution: Squadcast.
With this setup, your podcast won’t solely sound nice, however it’ll additionally look nice in your YouTube channel.
Pod-on!
It doesn’t matter what your podcasting wants are, there may be an tools equipment on the market that’s good for you. By investing in the correct gear, you’ll be able to be sure that your podcast sounds nice and is pleasing in your listeners. With the assistance of this information, you’ll be capable of discover the proper tools equipment to take your podcast to the subsequent degree. So what are you ready for? Get on the market and begin podcasting!
And for those who’re new to podcasting and wish to severely up your sport, the All-Entry Cross is perhaps your finest transfer. By way of community-powered studying, you’ll be able to work alongside different podcasters, get entry to our full course library (together with the wildly fashionable Energy-Up Podcasting), attend workshops, and rather more.
