Equipment That You Need To Record Your First Podcast!
Podcasts are very developed these days. According to the data that I chopped from smallbizgenius.com, there are several points that maybe can increase your desire to create a podcast.
- 197 million Americans have heard about podcasts.
- 32% of Americans listen to podcasts at least once a month.
- There were 750,000 active podcasts in 2019.
- On average, 45% of podcast listeners have an annual household income of more than $250,000.
- 2 million podcasts are registered by Google.
- 54% of podcast consumers say they think about buying advertised products.
- Businesses spent $497 million on podcast advertising in 2018.
- Brands that advertise their products and services on business podcasts enjoy an average 14% rise in purchase intent.
- There are 1,750,000 Podcast on several platforms
Maybe by this data, you want to create your first podcast but you are really confused about how to start, and what equipment you need to buy first. Here are several pieces of equipment that you may need to buy :
Microphone
A microphone is an essential device if you want to get involved in the broadcasting industry. Why the broadcasting Industry? It’s because podcasts and voice over are broadcast derivative products which of course have certain production standards.
There are a few types of microphones that maybe are good for you to record a podcast in great quality. Our recommendation, pick a dynamic microphone.
Dynamic Microphone was chosen because of its less sensitive characteristics, and with a cardioid polar pattern, it can make our editing, mixing, and mastering a little easier because it can reduce room noise.
With its less sensitive pick up characteristics, it doesn’t mean you don’t have to focus on the acoustic treatment of your room. The acoustic treatment actually must be thought of if your room has an excessive amount of reverberation because it will disturb the quality of your recording.
Audio Interface
Audio interface, or what the vast majority call a sound card is a device that functions to convert our sound source into digital data so that it can be further processed for recording, editing, mixing, and mastering. Apart from being often referred to as a sound card, this tool is also often referred to as AD / DA Converter.
The AD/DA converter is an ordinary audio interface task. AD / DA Converter represents Analog to Digital / Digital to Analog Converter. As of now clarified, this equipment converts analog data (sound source) into digital information that can be proceeded by our computer. It also converts the digital data to analog data again so we can hear it out through speakers.
However, as far as I might be concerned, the sound card that comes with the computer’s motherboard isn’t quite good enough. It has high latency, and it records too much noise.
Computer With This Minimum Specification
- Intel Core i3 Gen6
- 4GB Ram Minimum
- Nvidia GT550 1GB Video Graphic
- 450watt Minimum PSU
If you have a Macbook or laptop that has more great specification from the data above, sure you can do the podcast recording
Digital Audio Workstation
What is Digital Audio Workstation? Digital Audio Workstation is a software that created for us to record, edit, mix, and master the audio!
There are several free and useful Digital Audio Workstation out there. But my choice is going to Pro Tools First. It is a digital audio workstation created by the well-known company name Avid. Avid set the standard for the digital audio workstation in the broadcast industry with its product called Pro Tools.
Misc Tools
- XLR Cable (to connect your microphone into the audio interface)
- Type B USB Cable (to connect your audio interface to your laptop)
- Microphone Stand (to place your microphone)
- Pop Filter (a device that places in front of your microphone to reduce pop noise)
- reduce pop noise)
With this equipment, you are ready to record your first podcast! Don’t forget to distribute your podcast on podcast aggregator so it can automatically distribute your podcast on several platforms like Apple Podcast, Spotify, and others.
