MobileTechTalk Podcasting is a great way to engage with something you have a lot of knowledge or opinions about and share them with others online. It’s a fun hobby to take up, and for some people, it can even become a full-time job that pays the bills. Podcasting is more popular than ever, with an estimated 19 million podcast listeners in the UK in 2021. This is up from just under nine million in 2017, showing just how quickly this space has grown.
(Photo by Austin Distel on Unsplash)
If you want to get started making your own podcast, you may need to think about the technology you need. Although it’s not necessary to buy lots of expensive equipment, you can generally create better-quality podcasts with the right equipment. If you don’t feel like purchasing it all for yourself, you could also find a podcast studio hire service, which will allow you to rent your own studio space.
Computer, Phone or Tablet
The most important tool you need for your podcast is one that you probably already have. You’ll need a computer to record, edit and upload your podcasts. However, it’s also possible to do it with just a phone or tablet. As most people have smartphones, they’ve become a popular option for podcast production.
A computer will generally have more processing power, but you don’t need to have something incredibly high-powered. Most people record and edit their podcasts using fairly simple software, which doesn’t require much power to run. In fact, there are now browser-based podcasting apps that let you easily create your own podcasts from your phone or tablet.
Microphone
While most devices come with a built-in microphone for calls, you need your podcast to be high quality. To get the best sound and ensure your podcast sounds good, you may want to consider getting a better microphone. You don’t need to break the bank to get a good microphone, and considering the difference, it will make to the quality of your recordings, it makes sense.
You can do well with a relatively cheap microphone, but if you opt for a more expensive one, it’s a good idea to invest in a mixer too. Mixers take audio from multiple sources and mix it correctly to help it sound good. In addition, a microphone mixer can be used to only activate the mic when it’s being used, helping to eliminate potential background noise.
Aside from the mixer, you can also look at microphone accessories such as boom arms and pop filters. A boom arm is a simple yet highly effective way of setting up your microphone for maximum comfort and to ensure you can easily speak into it. A pop filter will reduce the annoying intonations of some sounds, making your podcast easier to listen to.
Headphones
Perhaps just as important as the microphone is a good pair of headphones. You need to be able to hear clearly if you’re discussing things with other guests, and your headphones should help during post-production too. The better the quality, the more you’ll hear when editing, allowing you to produce the best quality podcast possible.
Once again, you don’t have to break the bank to find a good set of quality headphones, though you can spend more if you want. Make sure that the option you choose is comfortable and offers a good-quality sound. You should also consider whether you want it in ear or over the ear.
Recording and Editing Software
You’ll need to record and edit your podcast to be able to upload it online and gain listeners. There are a lot of different options out there, all of which provide a range of features. When looking at podcast recording software, you want to choose something that offers multitrack recording, support for remote recording and simple editing. You can also look for software that provides live streaming integration and that records in uncompressed, lossless files.
Get It Out There
Once you’ve recorded your masterpiece, get it up on any of hundreds of free sound/audio hosting sites and get people listening to it!
