Getting Started in Podcasting
There are many reasons to get into podcasting, it could stem from a topic you’re passionate about, you wish to tell your story or just for entertainment purposes. Podcasting has never been easier to get into than now. There is such a wide variety of hardware and software available for all different budget and personal preferences. However, this becomes the first issue; what does all this stuff do and do I really need all that? Short answer: do you need it all? Yes and no.
Luckily for you, this blog will go into all the essentials you need to get started in terms of both hardware and software. We will be answering those common questions of what does this do? Do I really need this? By the end you’ll know exactly what kit you will need that best suits your requirements to start your own podcast or even upgrade your current kit. Each piece of our podcasting equipment kits are specifically made with beginners in mind keeping it simple and easy to use.
Podcast gear for beginners can look daunting, but don’t worry; it isn’t anywhere near as difficult as it first looks. Each item serves its own purpose to make life easier for you and to give you more control over your setup. Together we will be looking into podcasting headphones, audio interfaces, cables and even some podcast software.
Microphone: The Core of Podcasting
The centre piece and arguably the most important part of any podcast setup will always be the microphone. Poor quality microphone simply just means poor audio quality. This means it is one of the most crucial pieces to get right. Our kits at ElectroMarket all come equipped with condenser mics due to their specific design for vocal clarity.
Condenser microphones are suited perfectly for podcasting within a home studio. They excel at picking up the nuances of your voice, ensuring your recordings sound professional and polished. This sensitivity also means they are less suited for noisy spaces, but with basic soundproofing or a quiet recording area, they truly shine.
Designed with beginners in mind, these condenser microphones are easy to use, often featuring plug-and-play functionality or pairing seamlessly with the mixers included in the kits. Their cardioid pickup pattern (a fancy way of saying how they pick up sound) focuses on the sound directly in front of the microphone, reducing background noise and keeping the focus on your voice. This minimises clashes with other people or noise in the room and keeps audio nice and clear. With these microphones, you’ll have the tools to produce high-quality recordings right from the start.
Audio Interface / Mixer: Connecting the Pieces
The audio interface or mixer is the bridge between your microphone and your computer, converting analogue sound into a digital format that can be recorded and edited. For beginners, understanding these components might seem daunting, but they are designed to be user-friendly and simplify the recording process.
How audio interfaces work:
So, how does an audio interface work? Simply put, an audio interface takes the analogue sound you speak into your microphone and translates it into code (known as digital) for a computer to understand. This process is commonly known as analogue-to-digital or A/D for short. This is then put into a recording file and can be played back and listened to by either yourself or a listener using the same process but in reverse to either speakers or headphones.
How mixers work:
A mixer on the other hand is where the magic really happens. A mixer gives you full control over your audio and how it sounds. Naturally some people speak louder than others, however in a podcast recording scenario this can cause playback issues as the audio levels can randomly spike affecting listening enjoyability. This however, isn't their only function, they also allow you to add in effects like reverb, delay and compression in real-time without post editing.
A mixer takes advantage of this by allowing you to adjust each person's mic volume to a matching level. In layman's terms if one person speaks louder than the other, just turn down that person's mic level so they sound the same. You can also do this the other way around, again the choice is up to you as the mixer gives you full control.
What’s the benefits:
An audio interface is designed specifically for sound transmission, while a mixer is designed to give you control over audio levels and added effects. An audio interface will give you better sound quality in comparison to a mixer but you won’t be able to make real-time audio adjustments like you can with a mixer. However, thanks to the development of technology, many mixers now actually can come with an audio interface built-in making this whole process a whole lot easier and higher quality. This not only saves you a whole load of space in your work space but makes podcasting simple.
What should you pick?:
In the end it always comes down to the same question of budget. Most beginners looking to get into podcasting or to see if it fits them personally are willing to part with thousands of pounds for top end gear. This is where beginner kits come into play, with their beginner friendly controls, simple setup and most importantly, cost. A microphone, mixer/audio interface and headphones are all your bare essentials required to start out. Once you have tried it out, seeing if this is what you wish to pursue, then you can look into upgrading your setup into the higher end gear.
Headphones: Monitoring Like a Pro
What they do:
Headphones act as supporting equipment in your podcasting setup, analysing the audio making sure everything is well balanced in real-time. You may have heard the terminology for this process which is commonly referred to as audio monitoring. Headphones can help you avoid issues such as audio being too loud or quiet, mic popping or background noise. Without headphones, you may get through a whole recording session just to listen to it back only to discover issue after issue with the sound. Imagine recording a 3 hour long podcast session just to listen to it back and the audio is erratic and unusable; not an ideal use of your time. Simplified, headphones allow you to make real-time adjustments to your audio accurate to the recording audio.
Benefits:
Headphones are a part of the essential list of podcast equipment for beginners as they not only let you hear your own voice but also other guests. Overlapping dialogue and interruptions are always common occurrences in podcasts. Headphones allow you and your guests to gauge when to speak to reduce jumbles of people talking over each other to the benefit of your listeners. It also enables you to catch and address audio issues with guest microphones, ensuring a smoother and more professional recording experience.
Closed-back headphones are recommended for podcasting, thanks to their noise isolation capabilities. They block out external noise, prevent sound leakage, and keep focus on the recording; they’re also comfortable due to the padding which is always a plus.
Acoustic Accessories: Enhancing Clarity and Protecting Gear
Pop filters are usually understated in their importance in recording. Pop filters are a great addition to podcast gear for beginners as it removes those plosive, harsh sounds from letters such as “p” and “b”. If you have ever used the in-built sound card on a laptop for a zoom call, then you’ll know these sounds all too well. To create the best podcast kit for beginners, many of our kits include these pop-filters making recording audio that tad bit easier.
Why does this happen?:
Okay, time to get a little bit technical; if you’re a knowledge hound then you’ll love this part.. Plosive sounds are made from bursts of air when you are speaking primarily from pronouncing letters like “b” and “p”. These bursts of air hit the microphone with greater emphasis than other sounds causing the diaphragm to vibrate in a low frequency boom. A fun fact, this is caused because of the build up of air by your tongue and lips when pronouncing these letters. This is then released in one big burst into the microphone causing that plosive bassy boom noise which doesn't make for overly enjoyable listening.
How a pop-filter prevents this:
The short form answer is, a pop filter disperses the air from these sounds before they hit the microphone. The dispersed air reduces the boom noises and keeps the speech into the microphone clear and at the same level without obstructing sound. You can see why this would be useful for a podcaster. Overall these small but mighty tools improve listenability a lot giving a more professional sound . For this reason, they are a part of our podcasting essentials for beginners.
Boom Arm or Microphone Stand: Keeping Things Steady
A boom arm or microphone stand might not seem like a critical part of your podcast setup, but it plays a huge role in creating a smooth recording experience. You will see that the wide majority of podcasters all use either a boom arm or a microphone stand setup. You’ll see that podcasters such as Steven Bartlett opt for a stand while Joe Rogan prefers a boom arm. In the end it comes down to personal preference and the space you have to work with.
One of the key benefits of a boom arm or stand stems from its ability to minimise audio interference. Once you have your mic set up in an optimal position for both comfort and sound it will keep it in place. Holding a mic for long periods of time can become uncomfortable and impact audio by moving it around causing blips of loud or quiet sound. These can also benefit a lot of beginner podcasters as it helps to declutter workspaces and gives a more professional aesthetic to the setup to look the part.
Recording Software: Capturing the Magic
So far we have touched on a lot of essential hardware required to record a podcast. However, this is by far the most important as without it all that hardware is borderline useless for podcasting unless you do it live through zoom or skype. The biggest priority in podcasting comes down to software. Luckily for you, there are quite a variety of software packages available to use both free and paid services.
For beginners on a budget, some notable software that offer free recording include Spotify for podcasters, GarageBand, and Audacity. However, for those who wish to record both sound and video on separate applications, compatible audio recording software from Zencastr, Squadcast, Podcastle, and Cleanfeed are great contenders. If you’re working on a budget then the free options will work just fine with Audacity allowing you to record and export the recording file for upload to a separate application. However, if you want to step up your game then Riverside offers a great comprehensive package for roughly £12 a month. This includes all you will need from recording, editing, promotion, and distribution.
Ultimately, the right recording software will depend on your goals and budget. Whether you start with a free programme or invest in paid software, having reliable recording tools is a vital part of podcast equipment for beginners. Both Spotify and Apple music, two of the biggest podcasting platforms allow you to upload your podcast for free which is an added bonus.
Cables and Accessories: Small but Mighty
One of the most overlooked pieces of any setup to create the best podcast kit for beginners is always the cables, many people heavily understate their importance. High-quality cables with the right plug in adapter for your system are essentials that can not be overlooked. Low-quality cables can cause blips in your signal, reducing quality or not even sustaining a connection at all due to mismatching connectors.
Podcast microphones vary in connection types from USB, to XLR. A USB plug in connection is more universal and can plug directly into hardware such as laptops or tablets. This gives USB mics more portability and simplicity. However, XLR is designed specifically for audio transfer and will provide a higher quality audio. The drawback however, (there always has to be) is an XLR needs to be connected from a mixer into the mic which is often powered by 48V phantom power. Don’t worry though the majority of mixers will all come with this as standard, but be sure to check just in case. Luckily for you all our pre-packaged kits that use XLR and condenser mics come with a mixer with this feature for this exact purpose.
If that last part got you scratching your head a little and confused you, I'll make it a bit easier for you. A USB mic means less equipment required, just a mic and a laptop so it’s super easy to move about. The downside is the audio quality is not as good. An XLR provides better audio quality, however needs to be connected to a mixer for power which means more equipment and less portability.
Choosing the Best Podcast Kit for Beginners
Hopefully by now, you have the basics down of exactly what you need to get your beginner podcast setup functioning properly. Now, the moment you have been waiting for; choosing your kit. Based on what we have learned, the bare essentials to just plug-in and record will be a microphone with a USB connection and a stand.
These three components form a capable bundle of podcast gear for beginners. However, if you want to get the full experience as a beginner we highly recommend a kit that includes a condenser mic with XLR connection, mixer, headphones and boom arm/stand. This kit will unlock the full audio quality potential for your setup while staying beginner friendly, especially on a budget. We recommend a microphone with USB connection and stand kit mainly if you are going to be moving this setup around a lot as it is very portable. However, if you plan to set up a workstation at home or in an office then the full mixer and mic kit is for you.
Conclusion: Taking the First Step into Podcasting
Starting a podcast may feel daunting at first, but with the right podcast equipment, it’s a journey anyone can embark on. As we’ve seen, beginner-friendly podcast kits are designed to simplify the process, providing all the tools needed to create high-quality recordings without the stress of technical hurdles. From microphones and headphones to mixers and pop filters, each component works together to give you a smooth and professional podcasting experience.
Podcasting is a unique way to share your voice, connect with an audience, and explore your creativity. Whether you’re recording solo episodes or hosting guests, the right gear allows you to focus on what matters most: telling your story. With so many beginner podcast kits available, it’s never been easier to dive into this exciting medium and start creating content that resonates.
Don’t let uncertainty hold you back. Take the first step, explore the options available, and invest in a podcast kit that fits your needs.
