When someone talks about podcast equipment, its real easy to get confused and feel massively overwhelmed.
Because there’s so many types out there and at various price points, it can be difficult to say which exactly you need.
Even when you ask for advice, you’re not sure if it’s coming from someone who’s getting paid to make you buy a particular brand or type of podcast equipment.
Especially when they make it seem like, you absolutely have to have expensive podcast equipment.
Cos the more expensive podcast equipment is, the better it has to be, right?
Yet, you wail, “But I’m a small podcaster.
“I just don’t have the funds or the space for podcast equipment fit for a studio used by a Grammy-winning singer from a record label with money to throw around, or an Emmy-winning talk show funded by a major player!”
And even when you do have some funds stashed away or deliberately dedicated to podcast equipment, a part of you might wonder if you really need all the different types you’ve been told to get.
Cos you’re not sure what podcast equipment does what, so you don’t know what you can get away with not having.
And confusion about podcast equipment can actually discourage you from working on your idea to launch a podcast altogether.
This can be a real pain especially if you’re trying to use podcasting as a way to launch or grow your business or personal brand.
That’s why I’ve written this blog post. By the time you get to the end, you’ll have a much better idea of the podcast equipment you actually need, and an understanding of why.
1) Microphone
This piece of podcast equipment is actually more important than many seem to realise.
Any USB microphone of decent quality will do; just plug it into your computer and try to make sure you don’t move around. Unless you absolutely have to.
Else you won’t be able to isolate (read as focus) your voice, the microphone will pick up external noise – which your listeners will hear. And that defeats the aim of getting an external microphone as podcast equipment.
Or you can get a microphone that needs a stand, so that you can be sure you’ll sit still.
Some computers have inbuilt microphones but it’s still advisable to get an external mic for your podcast.
You don’t have to buy the most expensive microphone you find, but thinking of this as a solid investment when it comes to podcast equipment will be worth your while.
Why?
Cos the sound quality will be better than if you don’t use an external microphone. And with a medium where your voice is the most important tool you have to communicate with your audience, you want to be heard.
Yes, you can have a podcast without a microphone but the volume might not be as great as it can be with a microphone.
It may also be uneven, so your voice may be louder in some places and lower in others if you don’t use an external microphone.
Then, if you’ve got a guest or a co-host – whether they’re with you in person or they’re in a different location as you record – there might be a noticeable difference in sound quality that’ll be difficult (if not impossible) to deal with during editing or hide from your listeners.
Meaning your podcast might sound like an amateur production. Which is exactly what you don’t want, as it’ll turn your listeners off.
2) Headphones
As podcast equipment, headphones are more crucial than you might think.
Some people use earphones and that might be OK to a degree but if you have a guest in person, they might not want to use podcast equipment they know has been in another person’s ears.
And headphones are better than earphones when used as podcast equipment.
Why?
They ensure that you hear yourself the way others (your listeners or your guests) hear you.
You ever thought or swore your speaking or singing voice sounded one way, only to be shocked to hear a recording cos you think, “That is not what I sound like“?
But the way you sound on a recording is actually what people who are not you, hear when you speak or sing.
Without getting too technical about it, using headphones will ensure you hear your voice and anything else going on while recording, exactly how your listeners will.
3) Recording Equipment or Software
You can use your hardware like your phone or computer to record.
You can also use software like Skype or Zoom (especially if you’ve got a guest in a different location) to record.
Why?
Well, how else are your listeners going to hear what you’ve prepared for them?
4) Editing Software
This is one piece of podcast equipment that some people don’t know about, are confused about, think is too expensive, or believe isn’t absolutely necessary.
But it is crucial and doesn’t cost a lot. The Audacity editing software is actually free (as of the time of writing this blog post).
So, get you a reliable editing software and think of it as podcast equipment you should not do without.
Why?
Editing your podcast might be the difference between why listeners don’t even finish one episode and why they come back for the next.
You might need to cut out unnecessary comments, including umms and ahhs some of us (including your guests might) tend to use in conversation.
You can also use editing software to add intros, outros and music to your podcast.
5) Podcast Host
This podcast equipment is as crucial as the four listed above. Yet, it’s one that some tend to not think of as podcast equipment.
Podcast hosts are middlemen of sorts without whom your adoring (or new) listeners may never hear your podcast.
Why?
When you’ve got your audio file all recorded and edited nicely, you need to make it accessible to listeners at places like Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and Google Podcasts.
But for many reasons, you might not be able to upload your audio directly to these places where people go to listen to podcasts, so you need a middleman who’ll do so for you.
Now that you know a bit more about podcast equipment and what to expect, you can also click HERE to register for our free training and learn how to start a podcast the easy way.
Alternatively, you can click HERE to find out more about our podcast production services