Equipment
Microphone
Podcast audio can be recorded using a mobile phone, tablet, or computer; however, using a microphone greatly increases the recording quality.
There are two primary types of microphones:
Condenser mic – highly sensitive; this type of microphone will pick up on a lot of background noise. They are great if you have a quiet, isolated environment to record in.
Dynamic mic – less sensitive and optimal for recording more than one person simultaneously in the same room.
A third option is using an external microphone that connects to your mobile phone.
Buzzsprout has a great guide to microphone techniques. If you’re new to using microphones, check out the guide via the button below.
For podcasting, there are two primary microphone connection types:
USB mic – often the easiest and most affordable option, a USB mic plugs directly into a computer. It’s a great option if you are recording alone at home or in another fixed location.
XLR mic – generally used in a more professional setup where multiple microphones are required. XLR mics deliver better audio quality; however, they require an audio interface recording device or mixer.
Headphones
Headphones provide greater control of the sound by magnifying any changes in volume or disruptions caused by audio interference. As a result, headphones allow you or your guests to adjust how they interact with the microphone, minimizing post-production editing. In addition, headphones will help isolate voices and minimize overlapping sounds when recording with more than one person.
Since most computers and recording devices only have one headphone jack, you’ll also need an audio splitter to plug in each extra person’s headphones.
Computer
A computer is perfect for recording podcasts. Be sure the computer has enough space to store all the raw interviews and tracks and is powerful enough to handle the audio editing software.
Many video and audio editors will use an external hard drive in the editing process, so that the large video and audio files do not slow down their computer, perpetually causing it to crash.