HOW TO SET-UP A PODCAST STUDIO

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Podcasts are a laid-back way to share your views and discuss issues that matter to you.  Wherefore, you need to create material that people want to listen to and probably download. That being said, dedicated information is hard to find. Audiences are constantly searching for content that caters to their specific tastes and likes.Podcasts are one of the few remaining ways for people to get dedicated information about the things that interest them.

Must Need Podcast Equipment

What is a Podcast?

The word Podcast combines two words; iPod and Broadcasting.It can be defined as an audio recording of either one or two people talking around a theme. Listeners download or listen to the podcast at their own convenience. It is not a requirement to use an iPod to record or listen to a podcast. However, the title captures the on-demand essence that is the main difference between a podcast and a broadcast radio.

How to Set-Up a Podcast Studio

Setting up a podcast studio requires certain gear. These include microphones, headphones, editing software, microphone supporting gear, and sound windscreens. Let’s explore each of the equipment and their uses.

Step-1: Select the Right Place

The first step is to find out an appropriate location for recording. If you are trying to set up a podcast studio at home or in the office, choose the quietest place possible. It doesn’t necessarily need to be a spacious one. Rather a small space will be much effective to control the internal and external sounds. 

You must select a room full of furniture and materials like curtains, carpets, couch, etc. These will absorb the sound. Also, they will prevent the echo and reverb. Avoid bigger spaces with hard materials like glass or tiles. 

You can choose your bedroom or living room, closet, or even laundry room for setting up a tiny home podcast studio. 

If you choose your podcast recording place wisely, you can get a high-quality recording as output.  

Step-2: Soundproof the Room

Once you are satisfied with the chosen location, jump into the next step. Now you need to soundproof the room. Most of the podcasters use soundproof foam panels for this purpose. By fixing them to your walls and/or ceiling, you can make them osmose the echoes and reverbs. 

If you want a cheap podcast setup, there are some other DIY methods to follow. In the case of a home studio, you should cover the room as much as possible, including doors, windows, walls, floors, etc. You can use blankets and pillows to absorb circumambient noises. 

Decor your wall with some paintings. Cover the floor with carpets as much as possible. The household things such as duvets, pillows, cushions, sheets can come to your rescue to dampen sound. A few cushions propped around the microphone will work great in this respect. 

Step-3: Purchase the Basic Equipment

Let’s start with some of the essential equipment you need to set up a podcast studio.

Microphones

When recording a podcast, you want your voice to be as clear as possible. To achieve this, you need a microphone that delivers both clarity and efficiency. There are several things to consider when purchasing a microphone including cost, quality, and the make. Under types, there are two; dynamic and condenser microphones.

Dynamic microphones are the cheaper of the two. They give excellent sound and usually charge by USB.Condenser microphones are a bit more fragile than dynamic mics. They are also more expensive but the level of sound is impeccable. Condenser microphones usually need an external power source.

If you are conducting a podcast interview for example, on Skype, advice your guest touse a dedicated microphone as well.Computer and phone microphones do not produce the same voice clarity that dedicated microphones do.

Audio Interface

An audio interface is used to transmit your voice from your microphone to your PC. It is basically a cable that connects your microphone to your computer. If you are using an analog mic, the audio interface digitalizes your analog sound to deliver the same caliber of audio to your editing software. Without a good audio interface, your audio will be of low merit even if your microphone is top-notch.

Mixer

Mixer performs a similar kind of jobs as the audio interface. Additionally, it lets you convert the audio for every singular input. Suppose you have a loud guest in your podcasting session. This is when you need a mixer for levelling the sound so that the audio seems consistent to the audiences. 

If you are using an XLR mic, a mixer is a place where you will plug into the mic. It also allows you to play music while talking, rather than editing it later. You can even say yes to online calls instead of using software for call recording.  

Headphones

Headphones are crucial to podcasting. They are used to cancel background noises and to keep track of the audio quality. Headphones assist you to stay focused on the podcast without being waylaid by noise distractions. Without a pair of superior headphones, it would be impossible to notice deteriorating audio. Consequently, you may end up with audio that is far too damaged to edit.

Editing Software

Editing your podcast is one of the most important steps in producing superior audio. There are usually plenty of things to edit including awkward silences, coughs, and stammers. You may also need to add music, ambiance, and other effects. As a beginner, it is recommended that you start with simple software programs like Garageband. As you become a pro, you can upgrade your software to more advanced versions like Adobe Audition. There are plenty of editing software options to choose from. Find the one that best suits your needs.

Among the wide varieties of free DAWs, you can get a lot of the elementary effects needed for fine-tuning your audio. You can also edit some annoying things like stammers, awkward silence, coughing sounds, other immanent sounds, etc. 

As a beginner, you can go to user-friendly programs like Audacity or Garageband. Once you become a pro, you can switch on to the more advanced software such as Adobe Audition. 

Microphone Support Gear

For lack of a better word, microphone support gear is the arm a microphone sits on. You need this arm to avoid holding your microphone in your hand more so when you have a guest. The microphone arm also helps in keeping the audio stable and clear as long as the speaker stays within the audio range.

Sound Windscreen

A sound windscreen, also known as a pop filter, is a fabric placed in front of the microphone to eliminate popping sounds. Popping sounds are caused by gushes of air rushing into the mic. This normally happens when the speaker breathes heavily or when they pronounce popping letters like “P”. A pop filter ideally awards the speaker a clear voice devoid of popping and screeching noises.

Cables and Cords

They are an indispensable part of the entire podcasting procedure. Regardless of the setting, you must need balanced cables. They can do a great job by extruding undesirable noise. Moreover, you can use them up to 50 feet distance. 

Additional Equipment

As your podcasting journey continues to grow, you can add some extra equipment to your studio. These include pop filters, microphone supporting gears, portable digital recorders, headphone amps, etc. However, all these are not inevitable if you are looking for podcasting equipment on a shoestring budget.  

Step-4: Start Recording

Hopefully, you have cleared your confusion on how to set up a podcast studio. Get all the basic equipment mentioned earlier, and now you are all set to record your first podcast. Don’t hesitate if you lack all the professional tools or an outstanding professional studio. You can set up a podcast studio in your home environment with a pretty minimal budget. Before you get started, make sure you create a website for your podcast. For each episode, assign a title that is in tandem with the main theme of the podcast. Organize the episodes to form a series under an umbrella topic. This way, your audience cango to the podcast website and listen to or download any topic or episode they want.

Additionally, avail subscription to your audience through RSS or the Subscription Icon. RSS (Real Simple Syndication) is a process that adds your new podcast episode to your audiences’ podcatching preference to ensure they never miss an episode.

Podcasting is more of a passion than anything else. Even though there are podcasts for marketing purposes, the bulk of podcasters talk about what makes them happy. It is basically an artsy way to reinforce the freedom of expression and provide a way for like-minded people to share their views and interests. Ultimately, if it makes people happy, then by all means, let’s have more!