Table of Contents
Getting all the Best Podcast Equipment you need to record a podcast can be hard, whether you’re just starting out or trying to improve your setup. Getting high-quality studio headphones and a top-of-the-line microphone can be very pricey. Even more confusing is the fact that there are so many options on the market. You don’t have to spend a lot of money to make a big difference in the quality of your recordings, but you can if you want to.
Here, we’ve put together a list of some of our favorite home recording studios for different budgets. No matter which microphone you choose, it will let you record vocals that sound clear and professional. Also, all of the recommended headphones can accurately play back sound without letting sound out. In addition to microphones and headphones, we have also included desktop microphone arms, cables, mixing stations, and audio interfaces to help you make the most professional podcast setup possible.
If you choose a minimalist approach and only use the most important tools, the process will be easy, but you will have less freedom and control. But most people who want to start podcasts don’t care about this because they don’t want to become audio engineers. They just want to share their message. If you are in that group, this equipment and setup guide for podcasts is made just for you. Here, we’ll talk about the equipment you might need to start your first podcast and why you might need it.
Best Podcast Equipment Comparison Table
| Equipment | Acer Aspire 5 | Rode NT1 5th Gen | Audio-Technica ATH-M30x | Rode Rodecaster Pro II | Blue Yeti X |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Price | Affordable | High-end | Mid-range | High-end | Mid-range |
| Purpose | Laptop/Computer | Microphone | Headphones | Podcast Mixer | Microphone |
| Key Features | – Decent specs | – Ultra-low noise | – Studio-quality sound | – Advanced podcasting | – Versatile USB |
| technolgy | reproduction | capabilities | microphone |
Acer Aspire 5
| Specification | Details |
|---|---|
| Processor | Intel Core i5 |
| RAM | 8GB DDR4 |
| Storage | 256GB SSD |
| Display | 15.6-inch Full HD |
| Graphics | NVIDIA GeForce MX350 |
| Operating System | Windows 10 |
The Acer Aspire 5 has a PCIe solid state drive and an Intel Core i5-1135G7 processor. If graphics performance is important to you, you should know that the Core i5-1135G7 has Intel’s Iris Xe graphics with 80 execution units and a maximum clock speed of 1.3GHz.
This isn’t Intel’s fastest option for integrated graphics, but it’s a big step up from the Intel UHD graphics found in most 10th-generation Intel Core hardware. The marketing for the Aspire 5 from Acer makes it sound like a mobile workstation for video editing. In reality, this 14-inch model is a cheap entry-level laptop with good performance and battery life for the price.
The Good
- SSD storage is fast and safe
- Clear and bright Full HD screen
- Dedicated NVIDIA graphics to improve the way things look.
The Bad
- Not enough room to store things
- No optical drive to play CDs or DVDs
Rode NT1 5th Generation
| Specification | Details |
|---|---|
| Type | Condenser Microphone |
| Frequency Range | 20Hz – 20kHz |
| Polar Pattern | Cardioid |
| Sensitivity | -29dB |
| Self-Noise Level | 4.5dBA |
| Output Impedance | 100Ω |
| Connectivity | XLR |
The NT1 5th Generation looks like the ones that came before it. It has a machined aluminum body with a matte black finish. It also comes in silver. Under a silver mesh grille is an HF6 capsule that is shock-mounted on the inside of the body. It is 7.44 inches (189mm) tall and 2.05 inches (52mm) in diameter.
The NT1 5th Generation is a dual-connect mic that works with both XLR (analog) and USB-C. The USB-C port is built into the XLR connector on the bottom of the mic. To fit next to the XLR prongs, you do need a thin USB-C cable. Luckily, Rode gives you one.
The Good
- Condenser microphone of high quality
- Wide frequency range to record clear sound
- Cardioid polar pattern for picking up sound in a focused area
The Bad
- Connecting it to a computer requires a separate audio interface or mixer.
Audio-Technica ATH-M30x
| Specification | Details |
|---|---|
| Type | Over-ear Headphones |
| Driver Size | 40mm |
| Frequency Range | 15Hz – 22kHz |
| Impedance | 47Ω |
| Sensitivity | 96dB |
| Cable Length | 3 meters |
| Connector | 3.5mm stereo mini-plug |
The Audio-Technica ATH-M30x is a great set of over-ear studio monitors for anyone who needs them. Even though the frequency response isn’t perfect, it works pretty well in almost every case. Some people will tell you that if you want headphones that are good enough for the studio, you have to spend hundreds of dollars on them.
The frequency response of the ATH-M30x is pretty accurate. Yes, it does very well on our objective tests, which is why it gets a high score. Since the M30x is often used as a pair of studio monitors, it sounds like a studio. But because the midrange response isn’t as strong, this is better for getting a vocalist to sing a little louder than they planned. If you are mixing, this pair of headphones is not the best tool for the job.
The Good
- The over-ear design helps block out sound better.
- Large 40mm drivers let accurate sound come through.
- A wide range of frequencies for a clear sound performance
The Bad
- Some users may find it a bit too big.
- Not being able to connect wirelessly
Rode Rodecaster Pro II
| Specification | Details |
|---|---|
| Channels | 4 microphone inputs |
| Built-in Effects | Yes |
| Connectivity | USB, Bluetooth, TRRS |
| Recording Format | WAV, MP3 |
| Display | Touchscreen |
| Power | AC adapter or battery |
| Weight | 2.61 lbs |
The new Revolution mic preamps from Rode do what they say they will do. The previous generation of preamps worked well and could handle probably 99 percent of podcasting jobs. However, I found that they worked better with less sensitive mics and the kinds of quieter or further away sources that musicians might use. You won’t need one of those if you have an RP II. Its preamps sound clean, have very little noise, and have a lot of gain (up to 76dB).
Both the line and instrument modes sound good, making this a good “front end” for making music. And the headphone amps, which are at the other end of the signal path, are also good. I won’t bore you with the technical details, but they’re clean and quiet enough for pretty much any project-studio application. When I tested them with my different studio headphones (Beyerdynamic DT 250, Sennheiser HD 650, and Audeze LCD-X), there was always plenty of gain available, with plenty left over.
The Good
- This audio interface is flexible and has four microphone inputs.
- Built-in effects make it easy to change the sound.
- Multiple ways to connect for flexible use
The Bad
- Weight is pretty high for a portable device.
Blue Yeti X
| Specification | Details |
|---|---|
| Type | USB Condenser Microphone |
| Polar Patterns | Cardioid, Omni, Bidirectional, Stereo |
| Frequency Range | 20Hz – 20kHz |
| Sensitivity | 4.5mV/Pa (1 kHz) |
| Bit Depth | 24-bit |
| Sample Rate | 48 kHz |
| Controls | Gain, mute, headphone volume, pattern selection |
| Weight | 2.8 lbs |
The mount socket, the 3.5mm port (for monitoring), and the microUSB port are all on the bottom of the Blue Yeti X. This is pretty typical for a USB mic for prosumers, but it’s still nice to have. The mount socket is important for my recording because I use a mic shield for most of my home recordings to get rid of echoes and other sounds I don’t want.
Plug the microUSB cable into the bottom of the microphone, and make sure your computer is set to use the Yeti X as its input. On the other side of the USB port on the bottom of the unit is a headphone jack, in case you need to listen to what you’re putting in. All done! You’re done setting up.
The Good
- Different recording situations call for different polar patterns.
- Audio with a wide frequency range is full and clear.
- High sensitivity lets the sound come through clearly.
The Bad
- May need some knowledge of audio settings to work at its best.