2020 Guide to Great Gear for Podcasting
Someday soon we'll be able to sit down at restaurants, pet stranger's dogs in the streets, and record podcasts in the same room. Grab some new gear for the road ahead.
Someday soon we’ll be able to sit down at restaurants, pet stranger’s dogs in the streets, and record podcasts in the same room. But I swear if we come out of this still recording with just our phone’s mic, I’m gonna lose my top. So please, at a bare minimum, don’t live in ignorance.
There are tons of cost effective options that can help make your audio sound more professional. So whether you’re a new journalist, broadcaster, or hobby podder, I’ve complied some popular equipment out there and some gear that I personally own and use, marked with an asterisk (*).
Before we get there, here are some tips to think about before making a purchase:
- Buy from reputable brands: There are tons of sketchy, cheap brands on Amazon from unknown Chinese manufacturers. It there’s an issue or defect with the gear, you’re probably end up just buying another one. Good brands will have an available spec or tech sheet, offer a clear warranty, and have accessible support.
- Ask yourself what you actually want to accomplish: Often times you get caught up with the latest or the coolest, when what you need may be much simpler. Or not! Maybe it’s something more complex but all in one. Write it down or talk it through with your co-hosts.
- If you’re on a budget, buy used, demo, or b-stock: Sweetwater, B&H, or Amazon sometimes offer discounts directly from the manufacturer or dealer. Also check Facebook Marketplace, Reverb.com, Craiglist, or Ebay for used gear directly other people.
- But avoid used accessories: Accessories get beat up the most. If you can see the gear in person before you buy them, do so! And don’t be afraid to test it out with your existing gear.
- Don’t let your hunt for the PERFECT gear stop you from creating: You want something that’s perfect for you. But often times you’ll forget what you actually love doing while trying to find said gear. Trust others, don’t be afraid to fail, and remember you can always resell it. So keep creating!
So now to the gear list. There are a few options depending on your level of commitment and how mobile you are. There are microphones, interfaces, and field recorders with accessories at the bottom. To be glass, I’m an Amazon Associate which means any purchase you make through the links below supports me as an independent creator and podcast producer. You’re a platinum friend either way.
USB Microphones for Laptops
Beginner Microphones & Audio Interfaces
for Desktops/Laptops
Pro Microphones & Audio Interfaces
for Desktops/Laptops
Stand Alone Field Recorders
Accessories
Some microphones (like the Shure SM7B or Electrovoice RE20) require extra power to get the signal as juicy as you want it. The issue is, if you crank the gain knob all the way up on your mixer, this will often create some unwelcome noise. To solve this issue, people have created some portable pre-amplifiers so you can use your favorite mic with your portable rig. Listed below are three of the most popular.
Triton Audio Fethead | $45
sE Electronics DM1 Dynamite | $99
Cloud Microphones Cloudlifter CL-1| $148
Um… It’s a stand.
For your microphone.
What’d you expect? Here’s some options:
Samson Desktop Mic Stand | $24
*Gator Frameworks Heavy Base Boom | $39
RODE Table Mount Boom Arm | $120
Fun fact: the metal that is the best conductor of electricity is gold. So go steal some golden crowns from the elderly and make your own gold plated cables!
JK. DO NOT DO THAT. My mom can do it for you. She’s a dentist.
Your other option is to just buy pre-made cables. Whether you buy a ton of cheap cables to be replaced every month or more expensive reliable cables that will last longer, please, for the love of God, learn how to properly wrap a cable for storage. Here’s the shortest video I’ve found with an easy to follow explanation. This will extend the life of your cables by a mathematical number that is large.
RocketJump Film School | PRO TIP: How to Coil Cable (Over/Under)
Also, here’s three options for pre-made XLR cables.
AmazonBasics – 6ft XLR | $8
*Cable Matters – (2) 6 ft XLR | $16
*Monoprice – 10 ft XLR | $23
GLS – 6 multicolored 6 ft XLR | $34
I’m gonna let you in on a little secret. Get in close so you can hear.
Your earpods don’t sound that great.
I know. The almighty Apple delivers subpar audio. That’s just the physics of it. Earbuds of any kind are not physically large enough to recreate the full spectrum of sound. I’m sure there’s an audiophile out there in the world that carries around a pair of safety scissors exclusively for cutting the wired earbuds. Grab yourself a pair of comfortable, quality closed back headphones. I’ll thank you, your audience will thank you, and you’ll eventually thank you. Here are a couple options:
ATH-M20x Studio Headphones | $49
Sony MDR7606 Studio Headphones | $88
*Telefunken THP-29 Passive Noise Cancel | $135
Peter Piper picked a peck of pickle peppers, but how could Peter Piper pick a peck of pickled peppers when the peppers have to picked before they’re pickled? Presumptuously then, Peter Piper picked his peck of pickled peppers from the pantry.
Go read that directly into your microphone and listen back to it. Is it everything you ever dreamed off? Aside from microphone placement, you can use a pop shield or windscreen to help avoid these plosives.
Pop Filters
Shure PS-6 | $38
Aokeo Pro Pop Filter | $20
Windscreens
Mudder 5 Pack Foam Mic Cover | $10
Mudder Large Foam Mic Cover |$12
A button board comes from my radio experience and I missed it when coming to the podcast world. By utilizing a MIDI launcher paired with Ableton Live Lite, I am able to instantly launch sound effects thus cutting my post record editing time in half.
I made a walk through video for how to set it up which you can check out here on my YouTube channel.
Novation Launchpad Mini | $99 (includes Ableton Live Lite version)
Hardshell or softshell? Is it really worth the struggle? Crab meat isn’t even that good unless you’re on the east coast.
However, when it comes to storing and carrying your gear around, here are some options:
Neewer Camera Pack | $30
Padcaster Backpack | $99
Lowepro Flipside |$120
AmazonBasics Hard Case | $38
MonoPrice Hard Case | $40
Pelican 1600 | $136
Get a custom gear list for your podcast crew
Message me your budget, where you record, and how many people.
I’ll tell you exactly what to order as a gift just for reading this.
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