So you have a great idea for podcast but don’t know how to get started. This guide will walk you through all the steps to go from idea to having your first episode listed on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. There are 4 major steps.
- You will need to find a microphone
- You will need some audio recording software for recording and editing your podcast
- You will need a podcast hosting site to host your podcast
- You will need to get your podcast on all the major podcast platforms
Podcasting Microphone
Depending on your budget there are different microphones to suit your needs. Here is a list of microphones from cheapest to most expensive:
(Free) Your laptop computer microphone - If you are just getting started and don’t want to spend any money you can use your laptop’s built in microphone if you have one. There are no requirements to buy a new microphone so you can start with that if you please. Now it won’t sound the greatest but you can do your first few episodes on your laptop microphone and then upgrade later.
($60) Samson Q2U - This a great value starter microphone. Since it is dynamic it won’t pick up as much background noise. It has a USB input so just plug it in and get recording.
($65) Audio Technica ATR2100 - This is a great starter microphone. It is dynamic which means it won’t pick up as much background noise as a condenser microphone like the Blue Yeti would. USB so it plugs directly into your computer to get recording right away.
($100) The Blue Yeti - This microphone is by far one of the most recommended beginner microphones. It will pick up a lot of background sound, so if you are recording in a noisy or echoey environment be aware of that. It comes with USB so you can plug it directly into your computer for recording. If also comes with XLR input so if you are looking to use a preamp this will work with it too. This microphone is not dynamic so you will need to do some room preparation to cut down background noise. A condenser microphone, which the Blue Yeti is, picks up a lot more background noise than a dynamic microphone will.
($219) Shure MV7 - This is a solid mid level microphone. This is a slightly toned down version of the extremely popular high end Shure SM7B. It is a solid dynamic microphone if you are looking for a mid level podcasting microphone. It also sports a USB and XLR input, so you don't have to buy an audio interface to use it.
($359) Shure SM7B - This microphone is pretty much the gold standard microphone in podcasting. Almost all of the big professional podcasters use this dynamic microphone. It is a dynamic microphone with only an XLR input. You will need an audio interface if you buy this microphone.
Podcasting Audio Interface
If you bought a mic with an only an XLR plug in, or you are looking to record multiple people with separate mics on one computer you will need a USB audio interface. If you are recording solo and bought a mic with a USB input you don’t need a separate USB Audio Interface necessarily. Using an XLR input and a usb audio interface can help improve sound quality though.
- 1-2 microphones in the same room to one computer
- 3-4 microphones into one computer
- 5-8 microphones into one computer
Podcast Recording/Editing Software
There are three software products I recommend for recording and editing podcast audio. Two of which are free, and one has a free trial but is not too expensive.
(Free) Garage Band - If you have an Apple computer then you already have Garage Band. It is a useful tool with lots of tutorials, it is great for recording and editing your podcast
(Free) Audacity - If you don’t have an Apple computer you can check out Audacity. It is an extremely popular free audio recording and editing tool. Like GarageBand there are lots of tutorials on how to use it due to its popularity.
($60) Reaper - The final software tool I recommend is Reaper. When you are ready to get really serious about audio and audio editing this tool is phenomenal. It is used by musicians and podcasters alike to record and edit great audio. You can download it and try it for free for 60 days. So might as well check it out and see if you prefer it to the other ones and if you do the license is not that expensive.
Podcast Recording Software For Long Distances
A lot of people would like to record a podcast with someone who may be far away. You will need a high quality software tool in order to create a great podcast doing that. These software tools allow you to record your calls easily.
(Free) Skype - Skype is a common group calling tool that can be used for both to talk with someone over long distances. I would recommend all the people recording start the Skype call and then each record their voice locally to their own computer. Afterwards everyone send their audio file to one person who will line them all up in editing software to get the best sounding audio. If one person just records the whole call their audio will always sound better than everyone else
(Free) Discord - Discord is a common audio chatting tool used by gamers mostly, but is great for recording podcasts too. I recommend creating a channel in Discord with your cohosts/guests. Then you can either record both ends of the conversation in Discord. Or you could request your guest record their end of the conversation and you record your end. Then have the guest send you their audio file after the call. You can then use editing software to combine the audio into a cohesive podcast.
(Freeish) Zoom.us - With Zoom.us your cohosts and guests don’t need any software and you can start a call and hit the record button, then when you are done stop the recording and download the file. With the basic free tier though you only get 40 minutes of chat before it ends. So if you have a shorter podcast this could be a solution or you can pay for unlimited length calls.
(Paid Subscription) riverside.fm / squadcast.fm - These tools are focused purely on recording podcasts remotely. The are great for making sure you get excellent sound quality for your podcasts. They also both give you tracks for each speaker at the end if you want it. That means after recording you can easily boost that quiet person up without affecting the other audio.
Where To Host Your Podcast
Alright so you bought your mic, recorded, and edited your first episode and are ready to get it out to the world. You will need a podcast host to store your episodes and get them out to the world. There is only one podcast host that I recommend and that is:
($19/mo) - PodServe.fm - PodServe.fm is a full service podcast host with great customer support that will help you guide you through the world of podcasting. PodServe.fm will also get you on all the popular podcasting platforms for you if you please. PodServe.fm also promotes your podcast to 1000s of avid podcast fans which no other host does.
For more information on what a podcast host is and why you need one check out this article: What is a Podcast Host and Why Do I Need One?
How To Get On All Podcast Platforms
Alright so you have your podcast hosted and you are looking to get it listed everywhere podcasts can be found. Here are some guides to get on some of the more popular podcast hosting platforms:
Learn More About Starting A Podcast
This post was the quick way to get the necessary tools to get your podcast out in the world and live. If you looking for more details on things like "How To Come Up With A Podcast Idea", "How To Come Up With A Podcast Title", etc check out the 6 part How To Start a Podcast Series. It will give you more of the nitty gritty information of everything that goes into starting a successful podcast.
You Are Done!
Alright you have bought your microphone, recorded your podcast, edited your podcast, got it hosted, and got it listed on all the platforms. You officially have a podcast! Start sharing it with your friends and family and start building that audience. If you have any questions feel free to chat with me using the chatbox at the bottom right of the screen.
Try PodServe.fm Podcast Hosting for free