Must-Haves for Podcast Producers
Like anything, sometimes it feels like it’s just a trend and you are too late to the party. Well, with anything I don’t think that’s the case because as they (I’m not sure who they are) say and I am paraphrasing here, no matter how many versions of something there are, none of them have your unique voice or perspective, and opinion on it and that applies to anything including when it comes to podcasting.
And the proof is in the pudding, according to Demand Sage, “There are 464.7 million podcast listeners globally as of 2023. This number is predicted to reach 504.9 million by 2024.” So, even though it seems like you can’t hop on board, there are so many people still planning on doing it in the years to come. So, if you are planning on launching a podcast or joining Hav and me as podcast producers, there is plenty of room for growth and for more of us at the table.
So, if you are ready to start producing a podcast, here are the tools and resources we think you should have in your toolkit.
Hardware Must-Haves
One of the first things you think about when it comes to a podcast is all the fun hardware out there. But remember, you don’t need all the most expensive equipment to get the job done, you just need quality (and there is plenty that is budget-friendly!). Here is a list of hardware we recommend:
Microphones.
If you are just producing and not planning on recording yourself, you can skip this, otherwise, here are some suggestions:
Audio-Technica ATR2100x-USB. This is a portable microphone so you can have it on the go and still provides good-quality sound! Here is a great video by the Podcast Haven on it. I am also including his blog all about it with his affiliate link if you would like to purchase it, here.
Samson XLR & USB Dynamic. A simple-to-use and great audio quality microphone at a mid-range price.
Shure MV7 USB. It’s on the more expensive side but the sound quality is outstanding and worth the price.
Headphones.
If you are recording, headphones are great for being able to tell how the sound quality is, reduce reverb, and not pick up your guest speaking through your speakers or other room sounds as easily. Then, they are a must if you are editing to be able to edit the audio without missing anything and keep out background noises. Any headphones that you already have will do, even AirPods at the bare minimum. But if you are looking for a little more here are some options -
Computer.
Again, any computer you already have works great as long as you can download your DAW/Digital editing software which we discuss below. If you are looking for a new option Macbooks are a great choice or for a couple more budget-friendly options:
Acer Aspire 5
Samsung Notebook Pro
And that’s all you need to get started hardware-wise to produce a podcast but there are a few programs that we are going to need.
Software Must-Haves
Now that you have your computer, headphones, and possibly microphone we are ready to look at the items you are going to be using. Starting off first, with just brushing on a couple of other programs you may need if you are recording your own show, otherwise, they aren’t necessary to have as a producer:
A hosting platform like Captivate, Buzzsprout, and Spotify for Podcasters (previously Anchor)
If you are just producing these are the programs you are going to need
Your Digital Audio Workstation (DAW for short) aka the place where you can edit and produce (and record) all the podcasts you are working on. The ones that we suggest are Audacity, Adobe Audition (Premiere for video), Descript, and Garageband.
Auphonic for final sound engineering
File sharing program. Especially if you have clients with whom you are regularly sharing episode files or you are collaborating with other podcasts, it’s good to have a place to store and be able to do this. We recommend Dropbox or Google Drive.
Promotion programs. If you are regularly promoting or helping create graphics and video content for the shows you are producing, here are some tools to help:
Canva you can create cover art, social posts, and other promotional materials
Headliner is a great place to create audiograms
Capcut for video editing
YARN for finding clips and snippets that fit perfectly with the word/phrase you are looking for. Shoutout to Dylan, The Digital Podcaster, for sharing this!
Project Management Tool. This is great to keep all your shows and episodes sorted, organized, and it helps you never miss a due date!
Other Must-Haves
Everything else we are about to mention is really good to have but they are not necessary, especially if you are just getting started as a podcast producer.
Having extra storage and backup. You would be surprised how quickly your computer can fill up from all the editing and creating you are doing. As well as how awful it can be to lose files. Having extra storage and a way to back up can be really handy and help save you a lot of future stress.
Extra storage options: Samsung T5, Samsung T7 and U32 Shadow
Can also use the storage above and Dropbox/Google Drive to back up your files.
Having a resource for yourself to be able to point your clients in the right direction. What I mean by that is to make a list of your recommendations for…
The basics: Mics/Headphones/Hosting/Recording platforms
Where to find music + sound effects (also good for you to be able to quickly reference when you need these things!)
Other producers and providers like graphic designers or website builders that you can refer out to in the areas you cannot serve.
Any other helpful tips + tricks you should keep handy to reference back to.
Produce and Repeat
As you can see, it doesn’t take a lot to produce a podcast you just need the right hardware and software to get started. We do encourage you to get the best quality equipment you can within your budget, otherwise, you can always invest in more later.
Remember, sometimes it may seem like a saturated field with all of those podcasts and podcast producers out there (and continue to emerge), but this space is only going to grow and needs more support.
If you have any additional questions about becoming a podcast producer like GGC, let us know. Otherwise, check out our blog for additional resources for producing podcasts.
Aleea
