You want to start a podcast. You scribbled down the idea on a napkins, but you’re lost on what gear you’ll need to record it. Maybe you already have a show, but want to upgrade your kit. With so many options and price points on the market, it can be hard to choose the right equipment. Don’t stress! It’s easier than you think and you don’t need to be an expert audio engineer to get started. You’ll need a mixer, microphone(s), and some comfortable headphones. The gear we use for the Adorama podcast is perfect for the at-home producer who wants to have full creative control, functionality, and mobility.
Rode Microphones RODECaster Pro Integrated Podcast Production Console ()
The RODEcaster Pro is the Swiss army knife of podcast mixing consoles. We upgraded to this console a few months into our show because we wanted something that was multi-functional and future-proof. It gives us the ability to record directly to an SD card on-location or in the studio. If we want to record directly to a DAW, we can do that too.
Multiple inputs give us flexibility to record a guest on Skype or a direct phone call. When guests are in the studio, the 4 XLR ports enable us to hook up a microphone for a more broadcast radio feel.
Rode Microphones Broadcaster Microphone ()
We use a variety of microphones for the Adorama podcast, depending on our recording needs. While dynamic mics are a great choice for podcasters, we opted for the Rode Broadcaster when in the Adorama podcast studio for that traditional radio feeling. The LED “on-air” indicator lights up when the mic is in use.
The Broadcaster is a popular radio mic due to the proximity effect. The closer you speak to the mic, the more boomy and present your voice sounds. Since it is a condenser mic, it’s best used in a more quiet environment since they tend to pick up more of the room than a dynamic microphone would.
Shure SM58-LC Cardioid Dynamic Handheld Wired Microphone ()
The SM58 is well known for being an indestructible vocal mic for singers and podcasters. That’s exactly why it has a special place in our travel setup. It provides quality, durability, and consistency. This microphone can take a serious recording session and it never dies. It’s a beast.
You can hold it in your hand for a more natural feeling or hook it up to a mic stand or boom arm if you want a more radio-type feel. And since it’s a dynamic mic, it’s perfect for loud environment recordings when we’re at trade shows.
Rode Microphones PSA1 Studio Boom Arm ()
Take note podcasters. There are plenty of mic arms out there. But it’s important to realize that there’s weight behind microphones — they need to be mounted on a strong arm, or they’ll give in to the weight.
The Rode PSA1 is a solidly built microphone arm that we use and stand by at the Adorama podcast. It holds the Broadcaster with ease and never falters. We mounted it directly to our desk for strength. It forms to whatever position we need it to and still holds up after two-plus years of recording. Plus, the nifty little velcro straps help with cable management.
Roland Black Series 5′ Microphone Cable ()
The microphones we use require an XLR connection to hook them up to the RODEcaster Pro. You need a solid cable to support your connection, and a bad cable not only ruins your day, it can also ruin your ears if they short out. While we always have a spare cable on hand — and you should too — we’ve never run into this situation. The Roland Black Series cables are durable and provide excellent sound quality.
Sony MDR-7506 Professional Folding Headphones ()
The importance of comfortable headphones cannot be stressed enough. When you’re recording a podcast for an extended period of time, the last thing you need is a headache. The Sony MDR-7506 Headphones are found in many studios and there’s a reason for it. Sony has given the studio quality sound we want when monitoring our show and they don’t put any unnecessary pressure on our temples over the length of a recording.
The closed back design helps prevent any sound from leaking into the mics and screwing up our recordings. The last thing you want is mic bleed. When we’re done recording, we fold them up and pack them away.
Sennheiser HD 280 Pro Circumaural Closed-Back Monitor Headphones ()
The HD 280’s is a fantastic pair of headphones. You may have seen these headphones worn by some of the top podcasters, and with good reason.
They have a flat frequency response for monitoring your mixes when editing, are great for monitoring your recording. They’re also lightweight, and they add extra padding on the top of the headband for extreme comfort during long recording sessions. Sennheiser makes top quality products and many podcast friends of ours still have these very same headphones years later!
Ready to get started? Follow our four steps to a successful podcast launch.
Feature photo by Adorama
