Choosing the Right Podcast Equipment
I really feel like I need some kind of automated decision tree for choosing the right podcast equipment. There are more and more options for podcasters at just about every budget level. Still, most podcasters don't happen to have a background in digital audio production. You don't need that background to operate much of this new equipment. They are trying to market it to entry-level users. Still, it can get pretty confusing. I will share all the questions I would ask you if I was trying to help you pick out equipment.
Do you have a budget in mind?
Podcasters on a budget often go with this great budget-friendly option, the Blue Yeti
People don't like to answer this because it sounds like a salesman's trick. I really have no interest in upselling anyone on equipment. I do make a tiny commission off of some of my affiliate links. Still, the percentages are so small I don't really care about a price difference. Besides, most people don't even purchase through my site. I send people to B&H Photo all the time if I can get them a better deal or tell them to check out pawn shops for some pretty steep discounts.
Still, even if someone doesn't have an exact number in mind, they have a range in mind. If someone's range is $200 to $500, the package I would recommend is much different than someone who needs to get everything for under $100 or someone who wouldn't mind paying $2000 or more. If someone is really ready to invest in or upgrade a podcast, the conversation could easily start around $10,000. So, before you start thinking about equipment, try to figure out what sort of investment you are thinking out. You might find something you like that costs a little more, and you decide to go with and be perfectly happy that costs less.
How many hosts and/or guests do you plan to have on the show?
This is a critical question. Suppose you are going to do this podcast solo with no guests and no plans to add a host or anything else. In that case, you can start out with something much simpler and less expensive than someone who is starting a show with four guests and mics for two in-studio guests.
Choosing the right podcast equipment starts with deciding where you will record.
Where will you be recording?
Here we come back to what I was writing about in the previous post. There are a couple of parts to this question. Some podcasters are planning to record every episode from a remote location. Sometimes it will be the same, sometimes it might be a different location every episode. If you are recording remotely, you may want to start out with a portable field recorder.
Depending on the types of locations you will be recording in will impact your microphone purchases. You will probably want something sturdy and that can be handheld or mounted in a table-top mic stand.
Where will you be recording (part 2)?
For those who are recording at home or office, the second part of this question is about your recording space. This includes any unique audio challenges. If it has issues of external noise or a lot of echo, we might want to look at some dynamic microphones which are less sensitive than condenser mics. Other answers to this question might include the required length of cables and the availability of power.
Mac or PC?
There is not a massive difference in options and performance between Mac and PC when it comes to podcasting. If a computer will be a part of the equation, it is essential to know what operating system it runs. It is also critical to understand what types of ports are available for plugging things in. You can read more about that mess in this post on another one of my blogs. Most of the USB mics and digital audio converters work on either platform, but just double-check to be sure. Your computer of choice will also determine what software you can run. Some options work on both and plenty specifically for each operating system.
Choosing the right podcast equipment requires understanding your own comfort level with technology.
How comfortable are you with technology?
I have been asking this question for a while. I didn't know how it would work. Would people actually self-report their technical proficiency? Yes. Almost perfectly. For some reason, people tend to be pretty self-aware and transparent about their level of tech competence. There are more options than ever. Some are really super user-friendly, even for people a little nervous around tech. At the same time, for people with a higher comfort level, there may some even more powerful options.
I realize that, instead of answering the question of how to choose equipment, I just asked a lot more questions. Since I don't yet have a decision tree or app for helping people select equipment, I am going to share in the next post some possible equipment packages at different budget levels and for different setups. Hopefully, between these questions and those packages, you will get a better feel about how to pick out your own stuff.