For a conventional podcast, you need at a minimum a microphone, headphones, a computer, recording and mixing software, and internet access.
Basic Microphones
To get your voice into your computer for recording, you need a microphone. You don’t have to spend a lot of money on one if you aren’t concerned with high quality. However, the better the quality, the more professional your audio sounds. No one will listen to your podcasts if the audio is inferior. Consider upgrading from the microphone and headset you’ve been using for Skype. USB microphones are designed to work easily with computers. Most of them are plug and play. It’s the easiest way to get started and is sufficient for most single-person podcasts.
High-End Microphones
After you are in podcasting for a while, you may want to up your game and move to a microphone with an XLR hookup. These require an audio interface or mixer, which gives you more control over your recording. Some microphones offer both USB and XLR connections. Start with the USB connection and then add a mixer or audio interface for use with the XLR capabilities later. There are two types of microphones: dynamic and condenser. Dynamic microphones are robust with less feedback, which is good if you aren’t in a soundproof studio. They are less expensive than condenser microphones, but that benefit comes with a poorer dynamic range. Condenser microphones are more expensive and more sensitive with a higher dynamic range. Microphones have sound pickup patterns that are either omnidirectional, bidirectional, or cardioid. These terms refer to the area of the microphone that picks up the sound. If you aren’t in a soundproof studio, you probably want a cardioid microphone, which only picks up the sound directly in front of it. If you need to share a microphone with a co-host, bidirectional is the way to go. All this may seem like a lot to think about, but there are microphones on the market that have both USB and XLR plugins, are either dynamic or condenser mics, and have a choice of pickup patterns. You just pick one for your needs.
Mixers
If you choose an XLR microphone, you need a mixer to go with it. They come in all price ranges and with different numbers of channels. You need a channel for each microphone you use with the mixer. Look into mixers from Behringer, Mackie, and the Focusrite Scarlett series.
Headphones
Headphones allow you to monitor the sound as it’s recorded. Stay away from soft-shell headphones—those that only have foam on the outside. These do not suppress sound, which may cause feedback. It’s best to use a pair of hard-shell headphones, one with a sturdy plastic or rubber outside that traps the sound. You don’t have to spend a lot on headphones, but cheap ones give you cheap sound. If you don’t mind, that’s fine, but if you plan to get into multitrack audio mixing eventually, you want a pair that are discriminate enough to allow you to tweak your audio.
Computer
Any computer purchased in the last few years is fast enough to handle the kind of recording you want to do for a typical podcast. There’s no reason to run out and buy anything right away. Work with the computer you have. If it works, great. After a while, if you feel it’s not adequate for your needs, purchase a new one with more memory and a faster processor.
Recording and Mixing Software
A podcast can feature only your voice. Many podcasters default to a simple presentation either because they chose an easy method or know the information they provide doesn’t need enhancement. However, some people use a prerecorded show intro with occasional inserted pieces of audio, possibly even commercials. Free software tools make recording and editing fairly easy. Recording audio is one thing; mixing audio is a bit more involved. You can choose to record all your audio and mix it statically, or you can record and mix in real time. Mixing in real time captures a certain spontaneity. Mixing your audio as a static project allows you more time to make your finished product polished and professional. You need software for recording and editing your podcast. Although there is a lot of software out there, you may want to start with one of the low-cost or free packages. GarageBand ships with Macs, Audacity is free and multi-platform, and Adobe Audition is available for a reasonable monthly subscription. Conduct interviews over Skype with a recording plugin. After you have experience or when your podcast takes off, you can upgrade the software.
Internet Access
It may seem obvious, but you need a way to upload your finished podcast when it’s ready for the world to hear. Podcasts are usually large files, so you need a good broadband connection. Those files, by the way, either host on your website and push to podcast aggregators through Really Simple Syndication (RSS), or you must upload to a specialized podcasting provider.
Optional Accessories
Pick up a pop-filter, particularly if your microphone is on the inexpensive side. It does wonders for the sound you record. If you plan to do a lot of podcasting, get a table stand and a boom for your microphone, so you’re comfortable. You may also want a portable recorder for on-the-go interviews.
