In last week’s post, I described the basics of podcasting since understanding the fundamentals of the process is key to a successful launch. This week, we’re going to dive a little deeper into some essential equipment needs for podcast creation.
The time has come. I’ve had an idea for a podcast a bouncing around in the back of my head for a while now. I am obsessed with sports at all levels and am always looking to connect with people who share similar points of view. The end goal is to create a podcast that will keep audiences engaged by conveying excitement, enthusiasm and passion in the content.
I have found that learning how to create a podcast is a bit daunting. The thought of wading through a dozen “how to” websites and videos as well as reviewing a 20,000-word “Podcast Ultimate Guide” is challenging. No more excuses. Let the games begin.
Through my research, one resounding theme I have observed is that anyone can start a podcast. You don’t need a special degree or a whole room full of equipment to get your voice heard. While many people think that podcasting is an expensive and complicated venture, the truth is that it doesn’t have to be. You can easily start a podcast with your phone or PC and the microphone built into a pair of headphones. Of course, you can get a bit fancier and chances are that splurging on a few bigger ticket items later on will help make the program sound less amateur but that’s really all you need to get your show on the road.
Below is a list of essential podcast equipment.
- Microphone
Audio is one area that is worth the investment. The audience will be able to overlook a number of glitches with podcast production but poor audio quality is not one of them. As such, it is important to avoid using the microphone that comes built into the computer or the microphone included in ear based headphones since optimal audio quality will be limited. For optimal audio quality, I opted to purchase Audio Technica ATR-2100-USB microphone.
- Headphones
Headphones don’t have to be professional grade but you’ll need to easily hear what you’re saying and what guests are saying if conducting an interview. With that being said, it is best to steer clear of headphone and mic combos so I chose a pair of reasonably priced on-ear headphones made by Audio Technica.
- Pop filter
When talking directly into the microphone, the letters “b” and “p” may sound amplified. To avoid this, I chose to use a pop filter. They are fairly cheap and will help eliminate the popping sounds caused by the mechanical impact of fast-moving air on the microphone. The pop filter also improves the overall listening experience. If you don’t want to buy one, you can make it from a coat hanger. Instructions to do it yourself can be found below.
More detailed information about microphones and headphones can be found in this article.
These are just a couple of the essentials needed to start a podcast. Check back next week where we will continue our exploration of technology requirements like recording software and podcast hosting platforms.
