You may not need to spend thousands on multiple pieces of audio equipment to get a good-sounding podcast. Here are modern solutions.
Audio equipment has significantly matured since I first talked about bare minimum equipment in my early few episodes. Back then, I still recommended a microphone and mixer. Today, the options are a lot simpler and more versatile!
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Basic: solo and VoIP
In the simplest form, all you need to make an audio podcast is a microphone and recorder. You could use the mic built into your smartphone (which is better than the mic on a phone headset). With some good technique and a low-noise, low-reverb environment, you can get decent results.
But if you want to be serious about your show, I really recommend you get a dedicated microphone. For starting out, I recommend the Audio-Technica ATR2100-USB.
While this certainly is the best USB microphone, I think it's the best for most starting podcasters (and a better choice than the Blue Yeti or Snowball).
* It's USB for connecting directly to your computer
* It has a built-in 3.5 mm headphone jack for monitoring your own voice. And if you set your PC's output to the ATR2100-USB (https://theaudacitytopodcast.com/atr2100), you'll hear audio from your USB through the same headphones.
* It sounds good.
* It's a cardioid mic, so it picks up less side audio.
* It also has XLR so that if you ever upgrade to professional audio equipment, you don't have to throw away your mic.
* And the ATR2100-USB (https://theaudacitytopodcast.com/atr2100) has a lifetime warranty!
Because of that lifetime warranty, I still think the ATR2100-USB (https://theaudacitytopodcast.com/atr2100) is a better choice than alternatives. But sometimes, the nearly identical Audio-Technica AT2005USB or Samson Q2u are more affordable or available in other countries.
With nothing but this microphone and your computer or mobile device (with a USB adapter), you can easily record solo shows. Many apps and services, such as Ringr (https://theaudacitytopodcast.com/ringr), Zencastr (https://theaudacitytopodcast.com/zencastr), Ecamm Call Recorder for Skype (https://theaudacitytopodcast.com/ecammskype), Pamela, and such will let you record both your own voice and a remote participantâeven into separate tracks!
It's possible to combine multiple USB microphones, especially with Spreaker (https://theaudacitytopodcast.com/spreaker) Studio for Windows and macOS, but this gets more complicated and it's when you would want to consider further upgrades.
Intermediate: multiple people and same location
When you need to start mixing multiple participants, especially in the same location, that's exactly what a mixer is for.
But mixers often come with complications, such as routing and recording. Plus, low-cost mixers mix all channels together into a single stereo channel, so you can't take advantage of multitrack recording (https://theaudacitytopodcast.com/why-and-why-not-to-record-podcasts-in-multitrack-tap286/).
That's why a mixer might not be the best next step. Instead, consider a professional digital audio recorder. I recommend the Zoom H4n Pro or especially the Zoom H5 or Zoom H6.
These devices are actually simple enough that you could record directly into them with their own built-in microphone or included mic capsule. You can even use them as a USB microphone connected to your computer or mobile device (Elsie Escobar, cohost of She Podcasts and The Feed â The Official Libsyn (https://theaudacitytopodcast.com/libsyn) Podcast, does this for her podcasting)!
