Basic Podcasting Equipment

Episode #4 of the course How to make your own podcast by Adam Ashton

Welcome to the fourth lesson, where I’ll show you what equipment you need to make your own podcast.

● Recording software. I use Audacity—it’s free, pretty simple, and does everything I need. Other options include Garage Band and Pro Tools, among many, many more.

● A microphone. You’ve most likely got one built into your laptop/computer. If not, search for “USB microphone,” meaning it can plug into your computer. The one I use is called a Blue Yeti. This is the microphone I use, but there are plenty of options.

If you want to go really simple, you can record it on your phone! You can use the voice memos app or download a free Dictaphone app. It won’t be the greatest quality, but at this stage, it’s more important to get it done and get in the habit of recording yourself speaking.

That’s pretty much it! If you’ve got something to record into and something to record with, you’re good to go! Don’t use your equipment as an excuse for not doing a podcast!!

That’s the basics, anyway. Below are a few things to consider if you’re going to step it up a notch in terms of interviews and sound quality. I would recommend starting with the basics first, because the most important thing is actually committing to doing it, but once you’ve got into a bit of a habit and routine, these below items might add that extra 10% to your show:

● eCamm call recorder. If you’re going to be doing interviews, get a call recorder. eCamm is the one I use. It means you can Skype anyone from anywhere in the world (given they have Skype/internet) and it records the conversation in great quality. It records two separate videos and two separate audio tracks (one for you and one for your guest). You just click a button in Audacity to put them together, or you can easily edit them individually.

● Better quality microphone. Your laptop or phone will do the job early on, but a better mic will mean your podcasts sounds better. There’s only so much post-production you can do with a poor-quality recording, so it’s important to have a good input.

● Pop filters. Cheap little $5 bits of foam can reduce the breathiness/wind/popping sound of your Ps, Bs, Ts, and other hard letters. Not a major concern, but a cheap and easy fix that makes your show easier to listen to

● Portable recorder. If you’re doing in-person interviews or live events with multiple speakers, a versatile portable recorder like the Zoom H6 should be considered. It’s a powerful machine that can do a lot! Definitely not required when you’re first starting out—it’s not cheap, and honestly it can probably do a lot more than you actually need it to, but it’s something to think about down the line when you’re really ramping up the quality of your show.

Talk soon,
Adam Ashton

Recommended book

Introduction to Podcast Technology by David Power

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