Gear Purchase Guide

This mic is great for rejecting outside noise because it's a dynamic mic, so if you're not in an ideal studio environment it works well.

The Yeti is the original podcast mic, and it sounds great.  It has lots of options like gain adjustment, polar pattern selection, and headphone jack all on the mic.  It is a condenser mic which means it's more sensitive than the Q2U.  So if you are recording in a place with lots of noise you might want to stick with the Q2U.

This is a nicer high end dynamic mic designed for podcasting.  It's modeled after the SM7B but without the price tag or headache of a Cloudlifter.  It has some cool features like XLR and USB connections, and a light up VU meter right on the mic!

An industry standard broadcast microphone very common in podcasting.

The other industry standard microphone for broadcasting and podcasting.  

Make sure you pick up an in-line gain booster with either of these mics because they draw a lot of gain, or you will struggle with your recordings being too quiet.

This USB mic is pretty good microphone at the midrange price point.  The benefit of using this mic is you get a free audio recording program that is super simple to use.  RodeConnect. 

RodeConnect is a recording program that is free!  It is by far the easiest program to record a podcast with for someone with no audio experience.  Only catch is you have to purchase the Rode NT-USB Mini in order to have access to it.  

A pop filter is used to protect your mic from the air that rushes out of your mouth on words that begin with P's and T's.  Using one means you will have a more professional sounding recording.  They are cheap so get one unless you purchase the MV7 or SM7B, because they have a built in one.

You will need a mic stand to properly position your mic, and this desk stand is your cheap option.

The more expensive, but more pro looking boom arm mic stand allows you to swing your mic to you and tuck it away when your not using it.  Plus it makes you look like a pro podcaster!

If you are a Mac user, GarageBand is already on your computer, and it's a great program to record your podcast on.  It's free and easy to use!

Another free option for both Mac and Windows users is Audacity.  It's a little less user friendly, but lot's of podcasters use this program to record.

This is the program that I use, and love is Reaper.  It has lots of capabilities for customizations, and there are a lot of resources online to help you learn.  You can try it out for free and the full license is a $60, one time cost. 

We all know how to use Zoom by now, and lot's of podcasters use it.  If you can meet the free version criteria limits with your podcast, it's a great free option.

If you have to pay for Zoom, Riverside.fm is a better alternative.  It was designed specifically for podcasters, and records high quality audio and video.