Gear You Need to Start Your Own Podcast

Imagine you are a Vlogger or Content Creator and looking to start your own podcast. We will be looking for podcast equipment that provide high quality audio recordings and video podcast recordings. Podcast recording has continued to grow as we see it’s evolution on social media for example in a libsyn feed on podcast hosting platforms like Spotify or Buzzsprout. The goal is within your podcast studio that you set up, you have everything you need to create the best podcast. More and more we are also seeing podcast set ups that are featured for in person co hosts. So for all you new podcasters, let’s look at some podcast gear ideas and tutorials to determine what you need in your podcast studio for the most successful podcast.

Setting up your recording studio to record audio and process audio files and video files for a professional sounding podcast is crucial. You will want to look into soundproofing to keep unwanted background noise out of your podcast, especially if there are other things going on in the building or home where you are creating your content. This will also help with audio editing in post production when using editing software like Adobe Audition, by again eliminating background noise from your podcast studio. In addition, having a good USB microphone will help with the audio interface and overall sound quality, thus allowing you to concentrate on your podcast hosting. Having a dedicated podcast microphone like the aforementioned USB mic will not only boost your audio quality during recording but should allow even more freedom in post processing. Throw in a sturdy and flexible mic stand for added ease of use, the proper microphone stand can really reduce strain on your neck and back during podcasts. So a dynamic microphone (like high end ones made by Shure) with good functionality is imperative. Have a boom arm at hand for an additional microphone or two, especially when having co hosts as will having the microphones marked as preamps for each user. Using audacity software will also help with your audio quality, just attach your USB Mic with blue yeti (not requiring a digital interface) to your PC or MAC and open the software for use. As you progress to more digital audio workstation (or DAW) with individual audio plugins, from analog in your podcast studio, having that built in microphone, condenser microphone (or Condenser Mics) with XLR microphones (or XLR Mics) and cables for power will increase the probability of a successful podcast.

If you are doing a podcast on the go you may want to look at a digital recorder. They are lightweight and easy to carry and take the built in microphones and using recording software then converts the sound into digitally formatted audio files. These audio files can then be read on your Windows PC or an Apple MAC. Also having a good pop filter work to prevent plosives with an additional filter layer which slows the speed of air from your audio quality and prevents the pop sound. You can also attach a windscreen which will help with audio quality by wrapping the windscreen around your microphone it removes unwanted air from the audio recording. Installing a shock mount will also help your microphone from picking up those unwanted vibrations thus improving your audio quality.

There are additional more expensive options for your own podcast recording like a Focusrite-Scarlett audio interface which will give you studio quality grade audio. A Rode podcaster or squadcast platform might be ones to look at as well as it’s a great all in one solution for podcast recordings. Getting some additional tutorials from podcast learning Audio Technica online as well, will surely boost your podcast recording abilities.

As we discussed having the right pro tools and pieces of equipment that will take your podcast recording to the next level.

Podcast Gear

Let’s take a deep dive into some great podcast equipment we mentioned. These will include Cameras, Windows PC bluetooth and wired headphones and other gear.

We will begin with the camera that is great for starting your own podcast. Sony ZV-1 Compact Digital 4K HDR Video Camera DCZV1/W + Vlogger Accessory Kit Bundle. Features we love about this camera include:

• Real time live vlogging using the Creators’ App for camera control, file transfer and cloud service.
• Number of Pixels (Effective): Still images: Approx. 20.1 megapixels, Movies: Approx. 16.8 megapixels max. With the large amount of pixels being able to be captured with the accompanying lens, you will get fantastic image quality.
• Number of Pixels (Total): Approx. 21.0 Megapixels with up to an aspect ratio of 5472 x 3648
• The versatile 24-70mm1 F1.8-2.8 ZEISS Vario-Sonnar T* lens precisely combines two AA (Advanced Aspherical) lens elements and can zoom in on you or your podcast cohost with no problem.
• ISO Sensitivity: Still images: ISO 125 – 12800 (expandable to ISO 80 – 12800), AUTO (ISO125-12800, selectable lower limit and upper limit), Movies: ISO 125 – 12800 equivalent, AUTO (ISO125-12800, selectable lower limit and upper limit). Most photographers will use a lower ISO setting when shooting scenes with action in them. For example walking down a busy street and shooting all the moving scenery from subjects to objects.
• Activate the built-in ND Filter: An ND filter allows a user to control the exposure in an image. The ND Filter acts like a shade in a way minimizing the light hitting the camera sensor and will allow the shooter to use a slower shutter speed. This will assist greatly in showing movement in your video recordings. The included Cine will also be a boon for videos with movement.
• The in camera Cinematic Vlog Setting includes “Look” options such as S-Cinetone that can enhance skin tones, “Mood” options that really define specific colors, and AutoFocus transition speed which controls how quickly autofocus will switch between subjects. This will help when switching the focus of your podcast from you to your cohost as well.
• Fast Hybrid AutoFocus (phase-detection AF / contrast detection AF)
• The ZV-1 II stays in focus with Touch Tracking. It recognizes human faces and eyes, so it tracks the subject without the focus veering of. Just tap the subject on the Vari-Angle LCD screen to activate the feature. Eye AutoFocus can even be set to track animal faces and eyes (in case you happen to be doing a video podcast on animals).
• S&Q (Slow & Quick) video settings for stunning slow motion and hyper-lapse videos, cool effects that will show up on podcast hosting platforms.
• Use the Imaging Edge mobile app which can be found on your smartphones appstore like in the Apple iPhone for additional mobile editing and post processing.
• There are multiple inputs from a micro HDMI connector to a micro USB charging and connectivity port.
• A directional 3-capsule mic with wind screen picks up your voice clearly with minimal wind noise.
• There is a storage slot for MicroSD memory cards.
• Included in the Vlogger bundle Kit which will also serve for podcast recordings are a camera remote with a 64 GB SD card for memory storage on this camera priced to purchase.

Having a great computer to run all the equipment and to work on your post processing and editing software is the LG gram 14Z90Q 14″ Lightweight Laptop, Intel i5-1240P, 16GB RAM/512GB SSD, Black.

• With Windows Home 11 built in and a superfast 512GB NVMe Dual SSD to boot and store files.
• Powerful Intel I5 processor with Intel Iris XE graphics for great image reproduction on the screen.
• Extremely ultralightweight, making this laptop easier to carry around and move around for podcasts on the go or working with your laptop outside of the podcast studio after recording your new podcast.
• A 72 Watt battery provides excellent battery life rated at approximately 23.5 hours of usage time.
• A FHD or Full HD webcam is also present on this laptop for great web conferencing video calls.
• A large 14” anti-glare bright display will accurately show your images and videos with tremendous audio quality and video quality.
• With 16GB of RAM or processing memory, this laptop can handle some of the most intensive applications and tasks with ease and extreme functionality.

A perfect microphone for creating your own podcast is the BeyerDynamic M 70 PRO X Front-Addressed Dynamic Microphone. This dynamic microphone offers some tremendous features at a currently discounted price.

• With Assertive, speech-optimized sound this mic is perfect for your podcast studio.
• An included shock mount and filter help with audio quality and reduce unwanted background noise.
• With it’s direct recording source, this microphone is also great for environments which might not be up to podcast studio snuff. It will help remove unwanted noises like keyboard clicks during your podcast and other associated undesirable noises such as echoing of voices.
• Housed in high quality aluminum keeps this microphone in good shape and steel mesh surrounding the microphone is break proof. This also allows for versatile mounting of this mic on different microphone stands.
• Extremely lightweight at only 11.3 ounces, so easy to maneuver around your podcast studio and find the position that suits you for comfort during those long podcast sessions.

Another Microphone we recommend is the Mackie EleMent Series Chromium USB Condenser Microphone. This microphone gives you professional quality for your podcasts, you can even use this microphone for games like garageband. Have your vocals come through clear and precise.

• The Onyx mic preamp circuitry provides crystal clear sound and ultra-low noise and easy assignment.
• There are 4 selectable solar patterns one of which may suit an individual podcast. These include Stereo, Cardioid, Bi-directional and Omni Directional. So you easily chose the desired setting based off your podcast needs.
• With onboard headphone monitoring you get headphone output with independent volume control offering a convenient and easy to use monitoring system for the audio quality on your podcast.
• Gain and mute control are also included with this condenser mic. You can set the mic to be optimized for your windows PC or DAW.
• Pro Tools, including First and Waveform OEM professional software and plugin packages that are superbly beneficial for your new podcast, ensuring high quality audio and voice reproduction.

Finally creating your own new podcast would be made even simpler with a great set of headphones designed for podcast recordings. Take a look at the 512 Audio Over-Ear Studio Monitor Headphones for Recording, Podcasting or Broadcasting.

• Professional studio quality headphones for recording or listening back to your podcast.
• Delivers natural sounding audio with great low frequency clarity.
• The fully adjustable headband on this set of headphones are easily adjustable for those long podcast recording sessions. So comfort should not be a source of concern.
• The closed back earcup design gives you that seal to get all of the acoustics from your new podcast to shine through.
• Delivers the full audible spectrum which will accurately monitor the speech and vocals from your podcast, you can then make any adjustments in post editing if you desire.
• A 3.5 mm Aux cable is included for attachments to peripherals.

  

Conclusion

Now that you have an arsenal of tutorials and podcast gear to chose from, you should be ready to start your own successful podcast. For all you new podcasters, utilizing these tips, podcast equipment will help propel your podcasting skills to new heights. So grab some of the recommended gear and get ready to have an awesome podcast!