I’m so happy you’re here. In today’s episode, we’re diving into the best tools for podcasting including microphones, headphones, podcast hosts, editing software, and more so buckle up and let’s jump into this episode.
I also want to mention that I will have links to everything mentioned in this episode in the shownotes so make sure to check those out if you want to grab my recommendations.
So first I think we’ve gotta start with microphones because that is the one tool you do need to start your podcast.
This mic is pretty budget-friendly coming in at $95 for the mic, headphones, pop filter, and more which is a total steal. Because the Samson mic is a dynamic mic it is ideal for people who aren’t professionals with a crazy studio setup as it only picks up your voice and not as much background noise as a condenser mic would.
If you want to just get the mic itself, it’s $70.
There aren’t many good mics cheaper than $70 that I have experience with, so I’d say save up your money for the Samson if you can.
I know a lot of people recommend the Blue Yeti and I used to as well but it’s not great if you don’t have a super padded recording space – i.e a room that has carpet and also a decent amount of stuff in it to help reduce the echo.
Next up, let’s talk about headphones. You honestly don’t need fancy headphones. I still use my Apple earbuds and they work great because your mic is what picks up your voice, not the mic on your Apple earbuds so this is a great option if it’s not in the budget to get other headphones.
If you end up buying the Samson Mic Bundle, I talked about above it comes with headphones so you can also use those too if you’re not feeling the Apple earbuds.
Since headphones aren’t super important, I just recommend using whatever you have on hand, as long as you have a mic and the headphones you have can plug into the mic.
Now let’s talk about hosting.
So there are two options I recommend when it comes to hosting – Libsyn or Buzzsprout.
Both are great and I use Libsyn for one podcast and Buzzsprout for another and have no complaints about either.
The cool thing about Buzzsprout is they do have a free plan where your episodes will be available for 90 days so if you’re on a budget that one’s a good one because you don’t have to upgrade until the 90 days are almost up.
Libsyn’s cheapest plan is $5 which isn’t bad, but I highly recommend being on a $20/month plan for the advanced stats they provide.
After 90 days, Buzzsprout’s lowest plan (which includes analytics) is $12/month so it’s a little cheaper than Libsyn if you’re looking for a slightly more budget-friendly option.
Now let’s talk about editing software. I will be the first to admit, I’m definitely not an editing pro so I use the tools that are easiest for me.
I recommend checking out either Descript or Audacity. I actually use a combo of both. So I edit the content in Descript because it’s much easier for me and then I tack on the intro/outro and any ads with Audacity.
That is obviously not the most streamlined way to do it but it works for me.
But those two editing tools are the easiest to use that I have found.
You’ll also need somewhere to record your episodes. If you’re recording solo episodes you can record directly into Audacity which makes editing a breeze. If you’re doing guest episodes, Zoom works just fine as long as both you and your guest have a solid internet connection and you can even change the settings to separate the tracks so it’s easier to edit.
I know most podcast managers would scoff at that advice, but hey, I am all about making the tech less scary so that everyone can start a podcast.
The last essential you need for your podcast is a website. It doesn’t need to be a website that is specific to your podcast but you definitely need a website.
Having shownotes is essential for your show so that you can show up on search engines like Google and also cater to your audience’s needs as not everyone wants to or can listen to podcasts so it’s important to be inclusive.
This isn’t essential to everyone, but it is to me so I wanted to mention it. I think every podcaster should have a project management tool.
This will help you keep track of all the moving parts of a podcast which is crucial to ensure that you’re keeping on top of things each week.
Two PM tools that I highly recommend are Asana and ClickUp. I currently use ClickUp and have been obsessed since 2018 but I really liked Asana when I used it for 2 years as well.
I’d love to know, what tool could you not live without for your podcast? It can totally be an obvious one like a mic or something a little more obscure. I’d love to hear from you on Instagram. You can find me at jenny.suneson.