Important things to consider when setting up your podcast are how many people will be hosting and your equipment setup. Good audio quality depends on good 1 2 3 4 person podcast setups.
In this article, we’ll tackle the best podcast equipment package depending on your level. The beginner, intermediate, and experienced podcast kits that we have packaged serve merely as recommendations. At the end of the day, it boils down to budget and preference.
Before we tackle the bundles, let’s first discuss the components of a podcasting kit.
Base Podcast Equipment
Microphone
Without a microphone, you won’t be able to record any audio. This is the main and obvious piece of equipment that you’ll need. If you have a tight budget, it is best to invest in this one first.
There are many options when looking into the best podcasting microphone for you. Ideally, a good microphone would be a condenser type of microphone. This is the type you will see if you ever get to watch a video inside a radio station. You can also see this if you watch studio recordings of singers. It typically has a large diaphragm that is built to pick up sound while able to isolate background noise.
If you’re always on the road and/or plan to record video a lot, consider a lavalier microphone.
Audio Interface
An audio interface also refers to a mixer where you can plug in your condenser microphone. For those who are still new to this, you can treat an audio interface as a gearbox with a lot of knobs. These knobs are there to help you process your sounds digitally while recording. If you have a USB microphone, you don’t need an audio interface or mixer to start out with. You can simply plug it into your computer. You would just need to understand which software to use and how to use them. If you have an XLR microphone, you’ll need an audio interface or audio mixer to be able to record to your computer because the XLR is a circular connector. The XLR connector is common and used by professionals in the audio industry.
Podcast Software
Software applications would become your control panel to be able to blend things properly. This becomes the digital audio workstations (DAW) that give you flexibility in editing your material. Like any other application, there is free and paid software that you can choose from depending on your level and preference. Ideally, as a beginner on a tight budget – it is not recommended to jump into enterprise or professional software editions as it can only complicate things more for you. We recommend that you would take the time to research what are some types that are free and how you can operate them to get started. Most software providers would even include free 30-day trials to allow customers to test their products. Just make sure that when you edit your content, you also understand the right file format that you want to be able to upload to the right site.
Headphones
Headphones are beneficial while recording and editing because it allows for clear sound. You can even plug them directly into the mixer if you want to experiment with a few things with tone, depth, and more. Ideally, you would want to have headphones that cup your ears so that sound does not easily leak out back to the microphone. Any pair of studio headphones will work as long as they have a closed-back style.
Video Camera
Owning a camera is optional when you are creating a podcast. This is probably where you would want to invest the least, but if you can – it is also a good device to add. It can help enhance audience engagement as you can shoot behind the scenes and give followers another side of you. If you’re just starting out, your phone’s camera should be decent enough as long as they have good pixel quality.
One-man Podcast
Beginner Starter Kit
Before we get to 1 2 3 4-person podcast setups, you might want to find a good starter kit for your solo act.
A beginner starter kit would include a decent microphone, one that you can easily plug straight into your computer. Find one that includes a mic stand that can either sit on your desk or clamp on your desk with a boom arm because you’re most likely sitting while podcasting. Without a mic stand, you’re wrists and arms will get tired from holding the mic. Plus, holding the mic could result in wind noises as it’s rare any human can hold a mic for a long time without moving.
As your podcast grows and you want higher quality and control of the audio input, then you can look to invest in an audio interface or mixer. Aside from this, you would want to invest in good budget headphones so that you can hear yourself when you are recording. Below are the product links:
- Microphone and Mic Stand: Audio-Technica ATR2100x-USB Cardioid Dynamic Microphone (ATR Series)
- This package includes a tripod desktop mic stand
- Headphones: Audio-Technica ATH-M30x Professional Studio Monitor Headphones
- Mic Windscreen: On-Stage Foam Ball-Type Microphone Windscreen
- Reduces any wind sounds and other plosive sounds from hard consonants
Intermediate Kits
As you move into 1 2 3 4-person podcast setups, you can start to consider intermediate kits. Podcasters at this level are frequent users that see value in what they are doing and care more about audio control and quality. To up things a bit, intermediate users would now consider integrating a shock mount. A shock mount is a device that helps improve sound quality by reducing noise and vibrations. Another is to employ a better microphone boom arm stand so that you can move more freely. With a boom arm, the microphone adjusts to your positioning and not the other way around. You’ll be more comfortable when podcasting.
A couple of potential setups you can look at here for a mic, shock mount, and boom arm:
- Setup One with a USB Mic – Blue Yeti
- Setup Two with an XLR Mic – Audio-Technica AT2035PK
- Audio-Technica AT2035PK Vocal Microphone Pack for Podcasting
- Includes XLR Mic, Adjustable Boom Arm, Shock Mount, & Monitor Headphones
- Audio-Technica AT2035PK Vocal Microphone Pack for Podcasting
Experienced Kits
When it comes to professional 1 2 3 4-person podcast setups, it boils down to personal preference. Here is where we consider our users to be more experienced and sensitive with their sound setup. This allows them to tweak and configure things around for their liking to achieve that quality podcast setup. For any experienced podcaster, it is highly important to have a broadcast-quality microphone, headphones, and equipment. Some may also prefer including an audio interface for conversions, and better pop filters to eliminate pops.
Here are a couple of professional kits that we recommend for a setup, along with an audio interface and other equipment to get:
- Setup One – Rode NT1-A-MP Mic
- Rode NT1-A-MP Stereo Studio Vocal Cardioid Condenser Microphones
- Includes shock mount, pop filter, XLR cable, and 10-year
- Rode NT1-A-MP Stereo Studio Vocal Cardioid Condenser Microphones
- Setup Two – Heil Sound PR 40 Mic
- Heil Sound PR 40 Dynamic Cardioid Studio Microphone Bundle
- Includes Dynamite Mic Preamp and XLR cable
- Mic Windscreen – Heil Sound Windscreen for PR30 & PR40 Microphones
- Heil Sound PR 40 Dynamic Cardioid Studio Microphone Bundle
- Audio Interface – Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 (3rd Gen) USB Audio Interface with Pro Tools | First, Red (AMS-SCARLETT-2I2-3G)
- Headphones – Audio-Technica ATH-M50x Professional Studio Monitor Headphones
Co-hosting a Podcast and Guests Setup
Moving to a shared podcast, this setup can apply when you want to invite a co-host or guest to your podcast. The more guests or participants, the more engaging your podcast could be because your audience will hear more genuine conversations and exchanges on a certain topic.
In most cases, there is also spontaneity which gives life to your podcast stream. Although “the more, the merrier” – multi-person podcasting would be recommended to be kept to 4 or fewer people if you want to have them simultaneously.
The reason for containing your host participants under 4 is that it allows your audience to still be able to hear each one of them. Perhaps, you have also experienced – when there are so many people talking and interrupting each other in conversations, it feels a bit annoying. Plus, the recording and editing would get to be a technical nightmare.
Beginner Starter Kits
Aside from skill level, here we also begin to consider the budget commitment that one can have to be able to facilitate a multi-person podcast. Even though it’s exciting to have co-hosts, it’ll be slightly more expensive because each person needs to have their own setup to be able to join in.
Each must have a microphone. So, if your participants are 3, then you’ll need 3 individual microphones. It’ll be a big editing challenge if one microphone is shared. The same goes for studio headphones. Each person should have a set of headphones.
Since one computer USB port cannot easily accommodate several participants, you’ll need an audio interface. Make sure that the outlets of the mixer are compatible with all your input microphones. One thing to keep in mind is costs, so unless you’re already generating good revenue with your podcast, you don’t need to buy high-end equipment. Check out the podcast monetization post for more monetization tips.
So, for starters, here is what we recommend:
- Setup for each additional person
- Mic: Behringer Ultravoice Xm8500 Dynamic Vocal Microphone XLR
- Mic Windscreen: On-Stage Foam Ball-Type Microphone Windscreen
- XLR Cable CBI MLC LowZ XLR Male to XLR Female Microphone Cable, 20 Feet
- Headphones: Audio-Technica ATH-M30x Professional Studio Monitor Headphones
- Headphone Amplifier: Behringer Microamp HA400 Ultra-Compact 4-Channel Stereo Headphone Amplifier
- Audio Cable: Hosa HSS-005 REAN 1/4″ TRS to REAN 1/4″ TRS Pro Balanced Interconnect, 5 Feet
- Mixers and USB Interfaces (depending on the number of people)
Intermediate Kits
At the intermediate level, there could be preferences to gain better quality for the price value. So, if you are not on a tight budget and you see that there’s not much price difference between some equipment in the starter kit and the intermediate kit – then we suggest going with an intermediate device. In any case, it will be advantageous for you to invest in the one with better quality.
So, for intermediate users, here is what we recommend:
- Setup for each additional person
- Mixers and USB Interfaces (depending on the number of people)
- Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 (3rd Gen) USB Audio Interface with Pro Tools | First, Red (AMS-SCARLETT-2I2-3G)
- Mackie ProFXv2, 8 A-B Box, 8-channel (PROFX8V2)
- Rode RODECaster Pro Integrated Podcast Production Studio
- PreSonus Audio Interface, 4 Mic Pres – 4 Line Outs (Studio 68)
- Mackie, B Box, 12-channel (PROFX12V2)
- Focusrite Scarlett 18i20 (3rd Gen) USB Audio Interface with Pro Tools
Experienced Kits
For professional or experienced users, this setup will be a bit more comprehensive and dynamic. There is a lot more variety introduced to be able to cater to different preferences. And of course, there is a higher price tag attached to them.
So, for professional users, here is what we recommend:
- Setup for each additional person
- Mixers and USB Interfaces (depending on the number of people)
- Universal Audio Apollo Twin USB High-Resolution USB Interface with Realtime UAD DUO Processing
- Rode RODECaster Pro Integrated Podcast Production Studio
- Focusrite Scarlett 18i20 (3rd Gen) USB Audio Interface with Pro Tools
- Allen & Heath ZED-12FX 12-Channel Mixer with USB Interface and Onboard EFX
- Focusrite Clarett 8Pre USB 18-in/20-out USB 2.0 Audio Interface
CONCLUSION
Whether you are aiming for a 1, 2, 3, or 4-Person Podcast Setup, there’s an equipment package just for you. Please bear in mind that what we have composed is based on how we see it fit. At the end of the day, you will still be the judge and decide what’s best for your podcast and environment.