Before you ever hit record, these pieces of podcast gear will help you sound great. No one wants to listen to bad audio. Sound quality is key to your show’s success. We’ve seen podcast equipment lists out there that include 15-20 items. Starting a podcast doesn’t require that much gear. Remember, you can always add-on more podcast equipment as you grow. There are the items we highly recommend upfront: a good podcast microphone, a boom arm, a shock mount, and a windscreen.
What Podcast Equipment Do I Need?
If you’re thinking about launching a podcast you may feel like the options are endless. There are definitely a ton of options out there. We’re going to lay out the basic podcast gear list that will start you off. We’ll walk you through why each piece of podcast equipment is important. Each category has a more in-depth linked article listing the best podcast gear options based on your needs. Your basic podcast beginner gear checklist includes these items:
Podcast Microphone: More Expensive Doesn’t Mean Better
There are lots of variables for what will be the best microphone for your podcast depending on your recording room and use case.
However, the microphone that we always recommend first is the Samson Q2U Handheld Dynamic USB. This dynamic mic captures great quality audio, plugs right into USB and USB-C ports, and is under $100.
READ MORE: How To Choose The Right Podcast Microphone
Boom Arm: Don’t Skip This Piece of Podcast Gear
A boom arm holds your microphone for you. Most people move the microphone around if they’re holding it. Even small movements can be picked up as noise on the recording. We tell our podcast hosts to make sure they are comfortable. Then use the boom arm to bring the microphone to you. Another bonus point for boom arms is being able to have space on the table in front of you to take notes or keep prompts.
The boom that we recommend to new podcasters is the Neewer Microphone Arm Stand that Casey Cheshire uses while recording The Hard Corps Marketing Show.
Shock Mount: Why You Need One
Shock mounts provide a barrier between your boom arm and your microphone. This shields your microphone from picking up vibrations that transfer through the boom arm. Without a shock mount, your mic picks up sound every time you touch your desk, for example when you set a cup down.
Shock mounts are generally specific to the microphone. If you’re using our recommended podcast microphone, the Audio-Technica ATR-2100, we like the Knox Gear Microphone Shock Mount. We like this shock mount because it has a price point of under $20, it works with many popular microphones brands (Audio-Technica, Blue Yeti, Rode, Shure, Samson), and comes with a one year warranty.
Windscreen: Mudder Foam Microphone Cover
Windscreens provide an added layer of protection against plosives and other unwanted noise. While the Samson Q2U Handheld Dynamic USB microphone does come with a windscreen, we recommend buying extras just in case.
While there are lots of similar-looking windscreens available on places like Amazon, they’re are not all of the same quality. Oftentimes the cheapest options are so thin that you can easily see through them and these will not help your podcast’s audio. On the bright side, the Mudder Foam Microphone Cover is very thick and is great at preventing plosives from making it into your microphone. With a multi-pack for under $10, Mudder’s windscreen is a cost-effective way to enhance how your podcast sounds.
READ MORE: How to Improve Podcast Sound Quality
READ MORE: Setting up Your Microphone for Great Audio
Now that you’ve purchased these essential podcast gear items you’re on the right track to a great-sounding podcast. If you haven’t finished setting up your recording space yet be sure to read more about picking the right podcast recording area. Next up, make sure you pick the right size podcast artwork that fits your podcast branding.
