This is a great question, and definitely not too small – in fact I am really glad you asked using this forum, becasuse it’s a question I get asked a lot, and it’s great to be able to answer and have the reply in a place that can help others.
Good audio makes a huge difference to whether people stick with a podcast, and the good news is that you do not need a complicated studio set-up to get started.
For most new podcasters, a USB dynamic microphone is a sensible first choice. Dynamic mics are usually more forgiving in ordinary rooms than very sensitive condenser mics, especially if you are recording at home, in an office, or somewhere with a bit of background noise.
Good starter options include:
- TONOR Cardioid Condenser Microphone – a good budget choice, with USB, so it can plug straight into a computer now and still work with a mixer or audio interface later.
- Elgato Wave: 3 – a mid-price option, gamers and streamers swear by this mic, its nice and compact workds from USB and looks great too.
- RØDE PodMic USB – a step up in price and build, with USB options, and a little stand and pop filter.
- Shure MV7+ – a more expensive option, but designed specifically for podcasting and home recording, with USB-C and XLR connections. This also comes with a stand (and its the one I use)
- I know you didn’t ask for headphone advice, but make shure you get something comfortable that goes over the ears, these Shure SRH440A‘s are the ones I use, and I love them!
The microphone matters, but the room and technique matter just as much. A few simple habits will improve the sound quickly:
- Use headphones. This stops your guest’s voice coming back through your speakers and being picked up by your microphone.
- Record somewhere soft. A bedroom, carpeted room, or space with curtains and bookshelves will usually sound better than a bare office or kitchen.
- Stay close to the mic. Aim for roughly a hand’s width away, slightly off to the side rather than directly in front, to reduce popping sounds.
- Avoid typing, tapping, or moving papers while recording. The microphone will hear more than you think.
- Do a short test recording first. Listen back before the proper interview starts.
- Ask guests to use wired headphones and the best microphone they have. Even basic phone earbuds can be better than laptop speakers.
- Try to record each person separately where possible. This gives you much more flexibility when editing and makes it easier to fix uneven sound levels.
It is also worth thinking early on about whether the podcast will be audio-only or video as well. If you may want clips for YouTube, social media, or your website, it is much easier to record video from the start than to wish you had it later. Video does add a bit more complexity, but it can give you more options for promotion.
You will also need to choose a recording platform. We use Riverside, which has free options and works well for remote interviews. One of the useful features is that it can record people locally and separately, rather than relying only on the internet connection during the call. It also has editing tools that allow you to edit from the transcript, which can make the process much easier, especially if you are new to podcast editing.
That said, you can also record perfectly usable conversations on Zoom or Microsoft Teams, particularly when you are getting started. The key is to test the settings, ask guests to wear headphones, and make sure everyone is somewhere reasonably quiet. You can also change the settings in zoom to make it record people individually.
And if the audio does go wrong, all is not lost. There are AI tools, including tools in the Adobe suite such as Adobe’s speech enhancement options, that can help clean up background noise and reduce echo. These tools are not magic, so it is still better to record clean audio in the first place, but they can rescue a recording that would otherwise be difficult to use.
The simplest starter set-up would be: a USB dynamic microphone, wired headphones, a quiet-ish room, a short test before each recording, and a platform that gives you the kind of output you need, whether that is audio-only, video, or short clips for promotion.
The main thing is not to let the kit become a barrier — start simple, learn as you go, and upgrade only when you know what you need.
