Starting a podcast is straightforward. Making one that really sounds good is one other story completely. We can not help a lot with the larger issues dealing with would-be podcasters — discovering a superb subject and getting individuals to hear — however we will level you to the most effective gear to get began. With a couple of sensible purchases, you can also sound like a podcast professional.

Get an honest microphone

You want a superb microphone. There’s no arguing with this. It would not matter in case you’re beginning your personal present or planning to visitor on another person’s podcast. An important microphone will elevate your voice that can assist you get the form of depth and richness you hear on the radio and widespread exhibits like Radiolab. While you may document along with your cellphone or your PC’s webcam mic in a pinch, no one needs to listen to that each week.

We strongly counsel beginning with a strong USB microphone. They can join simply to any laptop (and even telephones and tablets with a dongle), they usually’ll supply an enormous leap in sound high quality. Previously, we’ve really useful the Blue Yeti as the perfect newbie mic. It’s simple to make use of and sounds nice for the value. But it’s additionally a condenser microphone, which suggests it’s not nice for the noisy environments most newfound podcasters are recording in. So this yr, we’re suggesting you leap straight to an affordable dynamic microphone just like the Audio Technica ATR-2100X.

Buy Blue Yeti at Amazon – $130
Buy Audio Technica ATR-2100X at Amazon – $99

Dynamic microphones do a greater job of isolating your voice and chopping out background noise — the one draw back is that that you must communicate near it like a radio host. The ATR 2100X additionally has USB-C and XLR connections, which suggests you may simply deliver it over to a extra skilled audio interface down the road, or drag it alongside to a pal’s studio.

There are cheaper USB microphones on the market like Blue’s Snowball ($80) and AmazonFundamentals’ Mini Condenser ($45), however you’ll pay for going low-cost with noisier recordings. If you are critical about podcasting, it is price spending a bit extra up entrance: There’s a superb probability you may find yourself chucking a less expensive mic when you hear the distinction.

Buy Blue Snowball at Amazon – $80
Buy AmazonBasics Mini Condenser at Amazon – $45

Pro tip: RTFM

You ought to truly learn the directions and be sure to know what each dial and button does. Most importantly, be sure to’re talking in the best route! With most microphones, together with the Blue Yeti, you need to goal on the aspect with the model label. Some fashions, just like the ATR2100X and different dynamic mics, should be addressed from the highest. Yes, I do know this all sounds primary, however I’ve encountered dozens of people that find yourself aiming for the improper a part of their mics once they’re getting began.

It’s additionally price selecting up a couple of equipment to make your recordings sound nice. Get a pop filter or foam cowl to keep away from plosives (that annoying titutal pop if you make “p” sounds). If you are going to be recording commonly, it is price investing in a tabletop arm to carry your mic in an optimum place (and in addition keep away from the additional noise you get from desktop stands).

You might, after all, begin exploring more-expensive microphone choices, however I’d counsel holding off on these till you are extra dedicated to the podcasting life. The subsequent large degree up from USB choices is the world of XLR microphones, the identical interface used for skilled audio gear. You’ll additionally want a USB audio interface, just like the Tascam US-2×2 or FocusRite Scarlett 2i2 ($170), to attach these mics to your laptop. At that time, you can begin higher-end choices just like the Rode Procaster ($224). It sounds noticeably richer than the Yeti, and since it is a dynamic microphone, it is also higher at chopping out undesirable noise.

Here’s some recommendation: You can save fairly a bit by shopping for all this tools used or refurbished. I saved $100 on the wonderful Shure PG42 USB microphone years in the past by going by way of eBay.

Buy FocusRite Scarlett 2i2 at Amazon – $170
Buy Rode Procaster at Amazon – $224

Choose your audio-editing weapons

Now that you’ve got the {hardware}, you want some software program to place your present collectively. There’s no avoiding this half: You have to study the fundamentals of audio modifying. Luckily, there’s Audacity, a free, open-source audio editor that works throughout each computing platform. Its UI is ugly and a bit archaic, nevertheless it’s additionally fairly highly effective when you get a deal with on it. I’ve edited all of my exhibits with Audacity, and apart from a couple of annoying crashes and quirks, it fits my wants nicely.

If you are in search of one thing extra strong otherwise you develop uninterested in Audacity, the free model of AVID’s Pro Tools is price a glance, and there is Reaper by Winamp creator Justin Frankel. They’re each full-fledged digital audio workstations (DAW), and Reaper additionally has the bonus of working with loads of instruments and plug-ins. At the excessive finish of the spectrum, there’s Adobe Audition, however at $21 per thirty days, or $240 for the yr, it is not price contemplating till podcasting has turn into your life.

Get good headphones

Headphones are one of the simplest ways to watch your recordings — that’s, to listen to your self as you are recording — in addition to to verify they sound nice as soon as accomplished. You’ll positively need one thing higher than the earbuds that got here along with your telephones. We suggest beginning with one thing like Sony’s MDR-7506 ($98), a pair of over-the-ear headphones which have been studio mainstays for many years. They supply a impartial sound and a light-weight match, precisely what you may want for hours of modifying. If you have already picked up a pair of nice headphones, these will work positive. (Be positive to show off any noise-canceling options, although, as they’ll colour what you are listening to whereas monitoring recordings.)

We’re not going to go down the rabbit gap of recommending massive audio system such as you’d discover in an actual studio. They’re not price it for podcast modifying, and most of the people shall be listening to your present with headphones anyway. Of course, in case you make one thing that sounds nice on headphones, it will in all probability be positive on audio system.

Buy Sony MDR-7506 at Amazon – $98

Prep your recording altar

You cannot simply arrange your fancy new microphone anyplace! You’ll need to discover a room that is as quiet as potential, or perhaps a small closet. If each of these choices are out, carve out some area within the nook or alongside a wall of a bigger room. Wherever you arrange, you may have to deal with your area a bit with some foam wedges or different sound-absorbing objects. You can at all times go the straightforward route: Drape a curtain or blanket over your desk to create an remoted sound-dampened spot.

Learn the right way to document with associates

So now you are all set to document a podcast by yourself. But how do you usher in a co-host or visitor? That’s the place issues get a bit difficult. You might chat with a pal over Skype and document their audio utilizing one thing like Total Recorder on Windows or Soundflower on Mac. You’ll need to be certain the opposite particular person can be aiming for the most effective audio high quality with a high-quality mic. In a pinch, you may have a visitor document a voice memo on their cellphone (however you’ll want to observe NPR’s phone-recording guidelines).

To simplify distant group recordings, you may take into account web-based providers like Zencastr and Cast, which mechanically seize high-quality native audio. They’ll get you higher high quality than a Skype recording, because you’re not coping with compressed audio out of your company. These providers allow you to rapidly edit and course of recordings on-line as nicely. While they might sound like podcasting heaven, there are points to be careful for. Network interruptions might simply render a session ineffective, they usually’re demanding on methods with minimal RAM. If you go this route, you’ll want to have backup recordings.

For probably the most management, your co-host can document their aspect of the dialog on their finish and ship it to you afterward. This clearly introduces further layers of complexity, like ensuring your audio stays synchronized all through the entire recording. It’s additionally more durable to edit, because you’re juggling a number of recordsdata on a timeline as an alternative of 1. But truthfully, the standard bump is price it. If you are trying to hone your audio-editing expertise, there are on-line tutorials like this Udemy course or YouTube instructional videos.

Recording with one other particular person bodily close to you is a bit more durable. Some mics just like the Blue Yeti have modes for shared recording. Otherwise, you may have to get a USB audio interface to plug a number of XLR mics into your laptop. If you are going that route, you may must be further cautious about avoiding crossover recordings on these mics. If you are trying to document interviews on the go, nab a digital audio recorder just like the Zoom H1n ($120) and some mics like Rode’s Lavalier Go ($79). Since it will not sound almost nearly as good as a house setup, I would not suggest this as your primary recording technique (until you put money into a strong recorder with help for pro-grade XLR mics).

Buy Zoom H1n at Amazon – $120
Buy Rode Lavalier Go at Amazon – $79

Choose a podcasting service

Once you have locked in an episode or two, it is time to begin exploring podcast hosts. These will host your recordsdata, offer you a feed you may subscribe to in any podcast app and often assist you to listing your present on iTunes, Spotify and different providers. Most vital, you will get some detailed analytics from hosts, and in case you get widespread sufficient, they’ll additionally assist you to nab some sponsorships. You can get began free of charge with Acast, $5 per thirty days with Libsyn, or $10 per thirty days with Audioboom.

Photos: avdyachenko (Mic setup); Olly Curtis/Future Publishing by way of Getty Images (AKG headphones); Getty Images (podcast interview)