Podcast Tech: Setting Up Equipment
Podcasts are so fun! It can be exhilarating to brainstorm topics and create show plans. Design graphics, compose intro songs, draft intro and outros, and much more to get the creative juices flowing. But It can be difficult to know where to start when it comes to podcast tech.
It is important to have the right equipment but you don’t have to understand tech (and many don’t) in order to start a podcast. That doesn’t mean that it’s not a daunting task to understand and purchase the right equipment and software. We thrive on transparency and are here to help you so we want to help you get started.
Podcast Tech: Computer
Technically, you don’t HAVE to own a computer to produce a podcast. You could go to the library and use the public computers or even use your phone! That being said, the processing power in either of those scenarios is likely not ideal. With a laptop or desktop (PC) you will be able to use editing software that requires higher processing power. When purchasing podcast tech, it’s important to remember that many programs may need to be running at the same time, you’ll need a good memory to store your show, and if you’re doing video you’ll want a quality picture.
So when buying a computer you ideally want to purchase something with high RAM (Random Access Memory: how much data your PC can store at a time) and a high CPU (Central Processing Unit, which affects how quickly your PC can work).
Laptop vs Desktop –
In regards to editing, either will do. The main difference is the ability to travel, that is unless you are building your own desktop (tends to have room to include more than one RAM, etc.). With a laptop, you can travel with your PC, edit on the go, and go to guests versus requiring they come to you. While a desktop is great for an ‘in office’ feel. Again, either works great so choose what’s best for you!
There is more that goes into PCs and if you want a more thorough understanding you can check out this article by Riverside. Here are a few suggestions if you are purchasing (if you have a PC already, it’s more than likely you can use what you have – consider buying an external hard drive to store data):
Budget:
Acer Aspire 5: $570
Lenovo IdeaPad: $800
Mid-Range:
Samsung Notebook Pro: $1,300
Macbook Air: $1,900
Top-Level:
Macbook Pro: $2,800
HP Spectre: $2,000
Podcast Tech: Microphone
Let’s talk microphones! 🎙 There are a lot of options on the market – what’s the best option for podcast tech? XLR or USB? The main difference here is really the plug-in. For many the USB will be the easiest option, you can plug it straight into your computer. While those with the XLR plug-in must route their mic through an audio interface – the main benefit here is that they can be more durable and it is easier to replace parts, rather than the whole mic. That being said, there are a lot of XLR microphones on the market that come with a USB adaptor.
Condenser vs Dynamic –
Condenser mics are very sensitive and are the most versatile. They are great for recording vocals and acoustics – and pick up just about any instrument. Dynamic mics are able to handle very high volumes are less sensitive and are used more for ‘live’ events. When purchasing a microphone to add to your arsenal of podcast tech consider your environment. For everyday podcast tech, in a controlled environment, a condenser mic may suit you best. If you are guest-heavy and aren’t able to control your environment, then you may want to look into a Dynamic mic. This article from Sweetwater does a great job explaining the differences.
Budget
Mid-Range
Samson XLR & USB Dynamic- $100
Top Level
Podcast Tech: Headphones
Why buy headphones when your computer has speakers? Microphones are important when purchasing podcast tech for many reasons. A couple of these are echo and audio bleed. Headphones make it so that your recording does not pick up audio (echo) from your speakers while you’re recording. The right microphone will also stop audio bleeding, which is similar to an echo from your speaker but is a leaking of sound from your headphones. Because of this, choosing the right headphones is important. Along with avoiding echo and audio bleed, headphones are important in making sure you can hear your own voice and allow you and your partner or guests to hear if voices are muffled or if there is feedback coming from your recording. Additionally, they allow you to hear if external audio (background noise, music, etc) is affecting your recording.
Here are some of our suggestions for headphones:
Conclusion
We covered a lot here about podcast tech and what physical products to buy. As discussed, these are suggestions and you can create a podcast with what you have at hand. Don’t forget about your environment, if you can’t control your tech, try your best to control your surroundings. If you can’t afford new, you can always look into used podcast tech, or start with what you have and grow as you go.
There’s more to discuss when it comes to podcast tech, the non-physical products – software. We will cover software to consider adding to your podcast tech arsenal next week so don’t forget to tune in!
If any part of your podcast journey is overwhelming you and taking the joy out of your passion, connect with us and let us know how we can help!
Hav
This blog post was updated on November 28th, 2023
