When I first started podcasting in 2015 I didn't know what equipment to use. Frankly, podcasting in general was a fairly new industry, so my resources were limited.
I have learned (mostly by mistake), what works sort of well, and what works great when it comes to podcast equipment.
And thankfully, you don't have to break the bank to start your podcast.
Note: The links on this page are affiliate links, which means that when you click on the link and make a purchase I get a small percentage, but it doesn't affect you at all. In fact, in some cases, you will get a better deal by using my affiliate links.
Why do I use affiliate links? I would really appreciate you using my affiliate links to make a purchase for your podcast. This will help offset my costs.
Think of it like I'm providing a service of doing the research and trying out the equipment for you, which will save you a ton of time, and then you show your appreciation by using my affiliate links at no cost to you.
Get Your Podcast Started
My goal is to help you get your podcast started as quickly and effectively as possible, and as cost-efficient as possible. You can spend a fortune on equipment and services if you're not careful.
Here's the good thing though, you can have a real quality podcast without having to spend a lot if you need a budget-friendly studio.
Of course, you may want to go the expensive route and get the best equipment on the market, and that's okay too.
I'll provide a budget-friendly set-up budget, as well as a premium budget set-up, and then you can decide which way you want to go.
Budget-Friendly Podcast Set-Up
There are three main things to remember about a podcast - audio is supreme, your hosting provider matters, and editing is super important.
Audio is Supreme
Using a good-sounding microphone is very important, especially since more and more people are listening to really good sound-quality podcasts. The audience of today is much pickier with their listening than when I first started in 2015.
This is a simple fix. There are a lot of microphones to choose from, but not all of them sound good. The absolute best-sounding microphone that I have found, and use, is the Audio-Techica AT2005USB found on Amazon.
This little microphone has the sound quality of a very expensive microphone, but for the fraction of the cost.
You can listen to one of my early episodes to hear how good it sounds.
The Audio-Technica AT2005USB microphone has everything you will need. A USB plug to plug into your computer, a headphone jack to plug your headset into, and an XLR pug if you are using a mixer.
Microphone:
This little microphone has served me well over the years. It sounds great and it fits well on a tight budget.
Your Hosting Provider Matters
A podcast host provider is where your podcast audio (or video) files will live. A good hosting provider will give you the ability to submit your podcast RSS feed to all of the directories like Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, and more.
Please don't use a free hosting provider:
You know the phrase, if it seems too good to be true, it probably is. On the outside, looking for a free hosting plan may make sense, well it's free, right?
Not exactly, many free hosting plans offer their services free to use, but it's not really free. Here's what I mean, it's free in exchange for something that you will give them.
For instance, a free hosting provider may place ads on your podcast and keep any revenue it generates, and you won't have a say in the type of ads they are.
And, it can be a difficult process to leave a free hosting plan if you change your mind and want to transfer all of your episodes to a paid hosting provider.
Are you starting to see why you shouldn't use a free hosting provider?
If you decide the pros of using a free hosting provider outweigh the cons, please be sure to read all of the fine print before you pull the trigger.
The Only Hosting Provider I Use
The hosting provider I use (and I love them), is Buzzsprout. Everything is super easy to use and very intuitive.
For years I was using a different hosting provider (at the time they were the only game in town), but it was difficult to navigate and not very intuitive - it was a huge learning curve and it took a lot of time to set up my episodes every week.
Here is my Buzzsprout affiliate link
Buzzsprout offers several straightforward paid options based on how much storage you need. Plus, you will get a $20 Amazon Gift Card (sent after 2nd paid invoice) - sweet!
Editing Is Super Important
If you have a Macbook Pro you can easily use Garage Band or even iMovie. For PCs, you may want to check what editing capabilities you have as well. Of course, editing takes a long time, but if you have the time it can save you a lot of money.
Premium Podcast Set-Up
Microphone and Stand:
If you want to go to the next level with your podcasting studio and you have a bigger budget, this Shure SM7B Vocal Dynamic microphone is the go-to podcasting microphone.
You'll also want to pick up the Gator 3000 boom mic stand to give you extra room on your table.
Mixer:
Adding this Rodecaster Pro Podcaster Studio will make a great addition to your studio. With this mixer, you'll be able to add sound effects with sound pads, you can plug in up to four microphones, and a powerful onboard audio processing to make your sound even better.
You'll sound like a pro, and feel like a pro podcaster with this baby!
Have you started your podcast yet?
Whether you have just started your podcast, or if you are still in the research and planning phase you should grab my free Getting Your Podcast Started guide.
This guide is a super simple guide to get you set up very quickly. I did all of the hard work for you. I learned a lot since I started my podcast in 2015, and this guide will help you cut through the noise, and give you a leg up on getting started.
