what equipment do i need to make a podcast
CNN —
Looking to start your own podcast? Whether yous want to catch people up on the day'due south news, give them a express mirth or take them down a deep true criminal offence rabbit hole, creating a quality audio program is easier than ever these days. If y'all have a computer and a decent microphone, y'all're already a good chunk of the way at that place.
Still, with so many equipment options out there — not to mention the challenge of figuring out how to really edit and publish your prove — the prospect of starting a podcast can seem a piddling bit daunting. That's why nosotros're here to help. Nosotros've assembled recommendations for some great gear that will help you start your podcast journey, too equally advice from the experts on producing a truly great testify that will proceed people listening.
The best mic for the money: Blue Yeti microphone ($99.99; bluemic.com )
The Bluish Yeti is our choice for the best microphone you can buy, and i that you've probably already seen in your favorite YouTuber or podcaster's setup. This massively popular USB mic works instantly with just about any PC or Mac, and offers the clearest vocal quality of any microphone nosotros've tested at this cost while likewise edging out more expensive options. Its iv recording modes also make it ideal for diverse types of podcast setups, with options for precisely picking up a single phonation upwardly-close too as capturing an unabridged room full of people.
For echo-free audio: Logitech G333 gaming earphones ($49.99; logitechg.com )
This may sound obvious, but you lot should be wearing headphones when you record a podcast. This will preclude unwanted echo from your speakers haemorrhage into your microphone and will let you to monitor your ain vox while yous chat with a invitee over Zoom or Discord.
You don't need annihilation fancy, either. A inexpensive pair of earbuds similar the $l Logitech G333 — which come recommended past YouTuber and podcaster Steve Saylor — will more get the task done. If y'all prefer traditional headphones, a pair such equally the Razer Kraken Ten (our favorite budget gaming headset) or the Beats Solo 3 (our superlative pick for on-ear headphones) will also exercise the play a trick on. Just record with a wired pair of headphones if you tin can, equally this will help you avert latency, interference and a dead bombardment in the heart of an important interview.
For video podcasting: Logitech C920s ($59.99, originally $69.99; logitech.com )
Lots of podcasts have a video component these days, and if you desire to be seen every bit clearly as you're heard, the Logitech C920s is as good as information technology gets for the money. Our pick for the best webcam you tin can buy, the C920s delivers fantabulous, true-to-life 1080p video quality even in not-and then-dandy lighting weather, and works out of the box with pretty much any type of computer. Those willing to invest in more vibrant, smoother-looking video should consider the Logitech StreamCam, but the C920s will get the chore done for near folks.
For recording in the field: Tascam DR-100MKIII ($279.99, amazon.com )
While your phone will work in a pinch, you'll want to consider a premium portable recorder similar the Tascam DR-100MKIII if you do lots of interviews on the road. This recorder features two built-in stereo microphones designed to capture professional-class sound with minimal groundwork noise, and has XLR and TRS inputs for connecting your own microphone.
For Danny Peña, host of the popular Gamertag Radio podcast and Podcast Hall of Fame inductee, the Tascam DR-100MKIII is his get-to for capturing quality interviews at events and also serves equally a backup for recording himself when his figurer goes downwards.
"Music artists, actors, execs, developers… I did everything with this recorder," says Peña.
For soundproofing: Elgato Wave Panels ($99; corsair.com )
You'll obviously desire to record your podcast in as repose a space as possible, but that's not always easy if you live in a noisy area or are surrounded past bare surfaces (similar walls and windows) that tin can cause sound to bounce around.
You can gainsay this with some soundproofing — fifty-fifty something as unproblematic as putting a rug down will aid, though buying foam panels for your walls can besides become a long way. Peña recommends the Elgato Wave Panels, which are a set of six sleek hexagonal panels that also include all the adhesives and tools you need to hang them on your wall. At that place is as well an assortment of cheap cream panel options available on Amazon.
For editing: MacBook Air (starting at $999; amazon.com ) or Dell XPS 13 (starting at $1,069.99; dell.com )
Unless yous've got access to a fancy standalone mixer, at that place'south a good hazard yous'll be recording and editing your podcast on a calculator. And whether y'all're due for an upgrade or just need a laptop for podcasting on the go, the latest MacBook Air (our favorite MacBook) and Dell XPS 13 (the best Windows laptop we tested) both fit the bill extremely well.
Both of these computers have plenty of ability for handling a bones recording and editing workload, with the newest MacBook Air packing Apple'southward insanely fast M1 processor and the Dell XPS thirteen powered past Intel'southward zippy 11th Gen Intel Cadre chips. The MacBook Air's included GarageBand software is perfect for recording and editing correct out of the box, while the XPS thirteen has admission to the many not bad free tools out at that place for Windows (including the highly popular Audacity app). Both of these laptops will get y'all long battery life and take slim and lite designs that are especially travel-friendly for recording on the road.
Piece of work with the gear y'all can afford
While the gear nosotros've outlined above is a great baseline for getting quality audio and video, you don't need to spend much coin (or any at all) to get your podcast started. According to several pro podcasters we spoke to, getting your content out there with whatever equipment you have handy is one of the most important parts of figuring out how to make a great show — non spending a ton of cash on fancy equipment.
"Create content with whatever equipment that yous have at the moment," says Peña. The veteran podcaster's origins are every bit DIY as information technology gets — he recorded his start shows using everything from cassette tapes to the original Xbox's built-in vocalisation chat and his laptop's integrated microphone before eventually upgrading to better gear for both on-location and at-home recordings. Those early recordings served as the starting point for Gamertag Radio, which currently has millions of lifetime listeners and has attracted guests from all over the gaming and entertainment industry.
"If you have the content, [even] if it's recorded through your phone [or] built-in mic and people are liking it, that'south all that matters at the cease of the 24-hour interval," says Peña.
"Don't overthink it. Get something that works," says Matt Saincome, co-founder of popular satire website The Difficult Times and co-host of The Hard Times Podcast. "You need to go a baseline standard of quality where it can't audio worse than a Zoom call. Practise a quick Google search for a podcast mic, buy one, ask a friend who has a podcast that sounds practiced."
Acquire how to record, edit and publish
Having a skilful microphone helps, only your podcast won't reach anyone's ears until you've learned how to tape, edit and get it out to the world. Fortunately, there are lots of free and affordable tools out there for doing just that.
Peña does the majority of his editing on GarageBand, the free sound production app included with every Mac. He besides recommends Audacity for editing, which is free on both Windows and Mac. If you'd rather not dabble with volume sliders to find the right mix between multiple voices, there are tools such as Levelator and Auphonic (both of which are costless to endeavor) that volition rest things out for you lot.
If you're recording remotely, properly helping your guests become ready is key.
"It'due south really important to let the invitee know like, hey, you need to have headphones on, you demand to exist using Google Chrome, we employ a thing called Riverside, and you demand to know that y'all're likewise going to exist on video," says Saincome. "Also, [give] pretty clear instructions on the amount of time that they demand and the sort of surroundings that they should be in." For case, information technology'south probably for the best if your guest calls in from a tranquility room rather than their backyard.
In one case yous're ready to publish your podcast, Peña recommends services such every bit Libsyn, Blubrry and Audioboom. These hosting services more often than not range from $5 to $twoscore a month based on how much yous plan on publishing (sometimes with a free trial available), and permit you to upload your prove in one case and have it sent to all of the major platforms including Apple Podcasts, Spotify and Overcast.
Don't overthink it and acquire as you become
Y'all're not going to learn how to create a great prove without lots of trial and fault along the way, which is why the podcasters we spoke to recommend just getting out there and doing information technology.
"My advice for people starting any class of content is to not overthink it and to get out there. I recollect of everything equally an experiment and so [y'all] double down on what works," says Saincome.
"Make your podcast and then make it once more, make it again, brand a couple of weeks worth of [it]. Become the process going, the rhythm. Information technology's really important, I think, whenever you're doing any content to just get out there, put information technology out, let the world see information technology, so run across if information technology catches on."
Peña shared like advice, stressing the importance of getting on a consequent schedule, reviewing your own work and learning how to properly edit — a skill that can also land you gigs working on other podcasts.
"Starting time pocket-sized, merely exist consistent, release your show. Let'southward say if information technology'southward every week, stick with that schedule," says Peña. "Also mind to your show when yous release [it], then yous tin hear your mistakes. If there'south anything that you lot don't like now, you lot know what to do the next time. And as well attempt to learn how to edit on your own instead of trying to hire someone to exercise it. Because now yous could also become opportunities to work on other shows too — and get paid."
Be nimble and find your niche
While it's important to get out there and start creating, Saincome also recommends non being afraid to pull the plug and start over if something isn't working.
"I remember that nigh things that are very popular, get popular pretty quick, and I don't call back that you should really grind information technology out if your goal is but to get popular and well known," says Saincome.
"If you and your friend started a fantasy football podcast and it'due south a lot of work and you lot're six months in and no one listens… You take non filled a niche. Unless you're doing it every bit a passion project merely for yourself, which is cracking, pull the plug and come up upwards with a new idea. 'This time nosotros're going to be fantasy football, merely we're going to exist drunkard every episode. This time nosotros're going to do fantasy football, but nosotros're besides going to talk about politics.' Any it is, y'all demand to come up up with a new niche in gild to actually find your place in the niggling media mural."
Enjoy the process
Whether information technology's a personal passion project or something you plan on turning into a career, podcasting is something you should ultimately do because you bask information technology, says Peña.
"At the end of the day, accept fun with information technology man," says Peña. "I've been a content creator for 20 years and still to this twenty-four hours, I'm having fun."
Source: https://www.cnn.com/2021/09/30/cnn-underscored/best-podcast-equipment/index.html