Before You Press Record (cont.)

Before You Press Record:

Choosing Your Recording Tech and Gear

Photo by Soundtrap on Unsplash

Now that you have your recording space (see last blog post), let’s talk tech and gear. I am going to discuss what I consider some entry-level tech and gear option for podcasters. The following are the essential tech and gear needed recording:

• a recording device (e.i. computer, phone, tablet, etc.)

• microphone

• headphones

First, you need something to record your audio. A computer gives you a lot of options, but something like a smartphone will also work. I will discuss recording software and apps in another blog, but in this blog post, I want to give an overview of the tech needed to record.

Next, let’s discuss microphones. Some people reading this may be surprised that I do not recommend the Blue Yeti, Blue Snowball, or some other popular and “cool” looking microphone. Many podcasters and editors have had trouble with these microphones when it comes to recording podcasts. I recommend someone that has a home recording studio setup use a dynamic microphone. Without getting into all the technical jargon, a dynamic microphone will pick up less background noise and still give you great sounding audio. (Note: a dynamic mic will pick up LESS background noise, but will pick up background noise if it is loud enough, so record in a quiet space: see last blog post ) Two microphones I recommend are the ATR2100 and the Samson Q2U. These dynamic microphones can usually be found for under $100. These microphones are USB and XLR, making them good for someone using a USB cable to plug into their computer to record or someone using an XLR cable to plug into a mixer.

Last but not least is headphones. I feel like headphones, and their importance to audio quality frequently get overlooked. Headphones allow you to hear yourself and your guest (if you have one). They also eliminate “bleed.” An example of “bleed” is your microphone picking up your guest’s voice through your computer speakers. By you and your guest using headphones, you will avoid “bleeding” into each other’s microphones, giving you clean and clear sounding audio. There are many great headphones, but the headphones that come with your cell phone will work for most people. Bonus, most of your guests will have headphones they use with their cell phones that they can also use for recording the interview.

If you have any questions or would like to work with me, please reach out via my contact page.