Podcasting Investment: What Do I Really Need?

So you’ve been thinking about starting a podcast? It’s a great idea – podcasts are a fantastic way to reach out to your target audience and share your thoughts and ideas with the world. 

Starting a podcast can be a lot of fun, and  it can also be a lot of work. Before you can start recording, there are a few things you need to know.

What do I need? What would I need in order for it to be successful?

First of all, what equipment do you need to start a podcast? 

Well, you’ll need a microphone, some recording software, and somewhere to host your files. The initial investment in equipment can be a little bit expensive, but it’s worth it in the long run.

Another thing to consider is the logistics of running a podcast. Recording, editing, publishing, and promoting your podcast can be a lot of work but with the right strategies, it can be well worth it.

So if you’re thinking about starting a podcast, make sure to check out this article for success. 

What you need and
the investment involved

You don’t have to spend a lot to start a podcast, and you can gain an audience, gain fans, and potentially even turn this into a business. But if you want to have the proper equipment, which can be expensive, don’t let the investment stop you from starting your own podcast.

I will discuss how to sound great with the basic equipment. Afterwards, we cover what you’ll need to record your voice and craft your podcast episodes. Then share with you my tips and how to integrate your episodes across different platforms.

Equipment 

Microphone

For the most part, the podcast is audio and you record your voice. So the first equipment you need to start a podcast is a microphone.There are thousands of microphone choices. 

There are a few USB plugs with little friction then there is a cardioid microphone that captures the sound evenly captures all areas of the microphone and then there are dynamic and a condenser mic for podcasting.

Pop filter

A pop filter, also known as a windscreen, is a piece of equipment that helps to reduce the amount of popping and sibilance in your podcast episode’s audio. When you speak into a microphone, air from your mouth can create a popping sound. A pop filter helps to reduce this noise by trapping the air before it hits the microphone.

A pop filter helps to reduce this noise by absorbing the air before it hits the microphone. This helps to minimize or prevent the plosives from occurring.

So what are plosives? They are basically sounds that are produced when air from your mouth hits the microphone. This can cause a lot of popping and excessive noise in your podcast episode’s audio. 

When shopping for a pop filter, be sure to select one that is large enough to cover the entire front of your microphone. This will help ensure that the majority of the popping and sibilance is reduced. 

There are a variety of different pop filters available on the market. Some are made from fabric, while others are made from metal or plastic. Choose the one that best fits your needs and budget.

Headphones

Headphones help you to focus on your audio recording. By listening to your own voice through headphones, you can ensure that the recording is clear and polished. Secondly, headphones can help you to identify any background noise that may be present in your recording environment. 

By eliminating any background noise, you can ensure that your podcast episode sounds clean and professional. Finally, headphones can help you to monitor the levels of your podcast episode. By adjusting the levels of your podcast episode, you can ensure that the audio is clear and consistent throughout the episode.

Camera

It’s common to have your podcast in video form and in order to create a quality video podcast, one needs a quality video camera for recording. 

Using the right camera for podcasting makes a huge difference in the quality of your visual output. When choosing a camera for podcasting, it’s important to select one that has good video quality and that can be easily connected to your computer. 

Even If you’re just starting out you may want to invest in a more professional video camera. This will allow you to create higher quality videos that will better represent your brand.

Lighting

When filming anything, it’s important to have an even amount of light on the subject’s face. This will help to ensure that the video is clear and easy to see. There are a few different ways to achieve this.

One way to achieve even lighting is to use a light box. A light box is a large, square box made of translucent material. Inside the box, there are several small light bulbs that provide even lighting. This is a great option for podcasting, as it creates a consistent and professional look for your videos.

Another option for achieving even lighting is to use studio lights. Studio lights are a set of bright, white lights that provide a lot of illumination. They can be used to film both indoors and outdoors, and they create a very polished look for your videos.

Whichever lighting option you choose, make sure that the subject’s face is well-lit and evenly illuminated. This will help to create a high-quality podcast episode that looks great online

Recording software

When choosing a recording software for podcasting, it’s important to select one that meets your needs and fits within your budget. There are a few different options available, and each one has its own set of features.

Some programs are available in both Apple and PC versions. Meanwhile, others are specifically geared toward one OS or the other.

Select a podcasting recording software that includes post-production capabilities. This will allow you to edit your podcast episode before publishing it online. This is a great way to ensure that your podcast episode sounds polished and professional.

Research different podcasting recording software to find the best one for your needs and budget. Make a list of the features that are most important to you, and compare different programs to see which one has the most features that match your requirements.

Storage Devices – Cloud, external drive 

When starting out podcasting, you can begin with a smaller external portable hard drive. This will allow you to save your podcast episodes and to transport them easily from one location to another. As you become more experienced with podcasting, you may want to upgrade to a larger external hard drive. This will give you more storage space for your podcast episodes. 

You can also store your podcast episodes in the cloud. This is a great option if you need access to your files from multiple devices. By storing your podcast files in the cloud, you can ensure that you have access to them no matter where you are.

When podcasting, it’s important to work quickly and efficiently. This will help to ensure that your podcast episodes are polished and professional. 

Import -> Audio Editing -> Export

Editing Equipment – Software
Both Audio and Video

After you have determined the external equipment that you will be using for podcasting, you will need to select the recording software that you will be using on your computer. There are a few different options available, and each one has its own set of features.

Some programs are available in both Apple and PC versions. Meanwhile, others are specifically geared toward one OS or the other.

Select a podcasting recording software that includes post-production capabilities. This will allow you to edit your podcast episode before publishing it online. This is a great way to ensure that your podcast episode sounds polished and professional.

Audacity and Pro Tools are some podcast editing software that have a free to use version, and come with a variety of features that can help you produce a high-quality podcast episode. They provide the basics, which makes it a great choice for beginners.

Riverside and Adobe Audition are some paid software that range from $15 to $25 dollar a month. They provide more features then the previously mentioned software, and may be a better option for those who are experienced podcast editors. 

Riverside Magic Editor lets you create a polished podcast in minutes with automatic editing and customization tools. It’s a great choice for those who are looking for an easy-to-use podcasting recording software.

While Adobe Audition has excellent noise reduction features and advanced audio track restoration and compression. 

Select podcasting recording software that includes post-production capabilities. This will allow you to edit your podcast episode before publishing it online. This is a great way to ensure that your podcast episode sounds polished and professional.

Audacity and Pro Tools are some podcast editing software that has a free to use version, and comes with a variety of features that can help you produce a high-quality podcast episode. They provide the basics, which makes it a great choice for beginners.

Riverside and Adobe Audition are some paid software that range from $15 to $25 dollar a month. They provide more features then the previously mentioned software, and may be a better option for those who are experienced podcast editors. 

Riverside Magic Editor lets you create a polished podcast in minutes with automatic editing and customization tools. It’s a great choice for those who are looking for an easy-to-use

Some podcast editors may find that Adobe Audition’s noise reduction features are enough to clean up any audio issues that may arise during the podcasting process. Additionally, Adobe Audition’s advanced audio track restoration and compression features can help to improve the overall sound quality of your podcast episode.

If you are looking for a podcast editing software that includes batch-processing capabilities, Adobe Audition may be the best option for you. This feature allows you to apply the same effects to multiple files at once, which can save you a lot of time and hassle.

Host Platform

When it comes to finding the best podcast hosting platforms, there are a few things you’ll want to keep in mind.

The first is cost. Some podcast hosting platforms charge a monthly fee, while others are free to use. It’s important to select a platform that fits within your budget.

The second is the feature set. Make sure the podcast hosting platform you choose includes all the features you need to produce and publish your podcast episodes. This may include tools like episode scheduling, RSS feeds, and podcast stats tracking.

The third is ease of use. The podcast hosting platform you choose should be easy to navigate and use. This will help ensure that you can spend more time focusing on producing great content, and less time worrying about the technical aspects of podcasting.

Some of the best podcast hosting platforms include Apple Podcasts, Podbean, and SoundCloud. They all offer a variety of features, are easy to use, and are affordable.

Estimate

In Podcasting prepare a budget that is a minimum of $200. If you are looking to do everything yourself, the costs will be around $50 – $100 per month. This includes podcast recording software, podcast hosting, and any other necessary tools. 

However, if you are looking for a more polished and professional podcast episode, you may need to invest in more expensive software and/or services.

If you want to outsource your podcast, you should have $800 – $1500 per month for 4 episodes once a week and 2 social media graphics per episode. This will cover the cost of a producer, podcast hosting, and any other necessary tools.

Once you have the proper equipment, it’s time to start recording your podcast. It’s a good idea to record a test episode and get familiar with the process.This will help you figure out what works best for you and make the recording process easier in the future.

How To Move Forward

Research

The first thing that you should do is study and listen to podcasts for every type of podcast before getting started. You should familiarize yourself as you do some research to determine what type of podcast you want to create, and what  you will need. 

The best way to get started is by reading up on the basics of podcasting. This includes learning about the different types of podcasting formats, how to record and edit your podcast episodes, and how to publish them online.

There are a variety of resources available that can help you learn about podcasting. 

Some good places to start are; Podcasting for Dummies: A beginner’s guide to creating, producing, and promoting your own podcast.

Listen to a variety of Podcast

After doing some research and listening to a variety of podcasts, I have identified what I like and didn’t like about podcasting.

Write down what you really enjoyed in a podcast, liked how a podcast is interesting and engaging, and provided valuable information and how you didn’t enjoy a podcast that had low-quality audio.

Brainstorming 

Get in touch with someone knowledgeable or experienced in podcasting and discuss the topics you’d like to cover.  Such as what are the obstacles to podcasting, what podcasting topics could be interesting?

Start investing in the equipment

Start investing in the equipment necessary to produce your podcast episodes. It’s essential that you have the proper tools if you want to create your podcast show.

Practice

Now that you have some idea of what you want your podcast to be about, it’s time to start practicing.

Try recording a few podcast episodes on your own to get a feel for the process. This will help you determine what type of podcasting format works best for you, and what editing and production techniques work best.

You may also want to try interviewing some friends or family members about the topic you’re podcasting about. This can help you get comfortable with the podcasting process and help you determine what type of questions to ask your guests.

Lining up -people/guest in your podcast

Once you’ve decided on the topic of your podcast, it’s time to start lining up guests.

This can be a daunting task, but there are a few ways to make it easier. First, try reaching out to people who are already interested in the topic of your podcast. Second, use social media or other online platforms to connect with potential guests. And finally, offer incentives like free copies of your podcast episode or exclusive interviews with guests to entice them to appear on your show.

Editing and Promotion

Although it takes some time, editing your first podcast episode is beneficial because it allows you to hear your own voice and practice your speaking skills. 

Practicing this will help you improve your speaking abilities. In addition, you should be able to identify areas for improvement right away, such as fillers or the way you explain and express yourself. Furthermore, you will gain a deeper understanding of the way your equipment works and how to best utilize it.

Either start doing it yourself or you can always outsource.

Just make sure you hire a management company that is going to give you real time and honest feedback on what’s going on, what they are hearing and how long it’s taking them to edit the podcast. Both will cost you time and money.

Conclusion

Podcasts are a great way to share your  thoughts, ideas, beliefs to spread a movement with the world. Podcasting is also an effective way to generate revenue and market your business.

However, podcasting takes a lot of time and commitment. It’s not something you will be able to generate. Be sure to take the time you need to prepare and to understand the investment involved. 

You will have to be intentional in what you are doing with a long term strategy, putting in the time and work to really see the results. Give yourself at least a year or two seasons worth of episodes before you even begin to determine whether or not it’s not worth the time to move on or to proceed forward.

Podcasting is building relationships along the way. If you’re not getting people coming to you and wanting to be on your podcast, and you’re doing something wrong. The more momentum you should be generating in credibility.

If you follow and use the information and tips in this article, you’ll be on your way having a great start in creating a quality podcast that your listeners will enjoy.