Designing a podcast studio is crucial to creating high-quality audio content. A well-designed studio ensures that sound quality is consistent, and unwanted noise is minimized. In this article, we will discuss the importance of acoustic treatment and how to use acoustic panels to improve the sound quality in a podcast studio. We will explore the different types of studio acoustic panels available in the market, their placement and positioning, and how to calculate the ideal amount of panels required for a given space. 

Additionally, we will discuss other essential elements of podcast studio design, including room size, equipment, and furniture. Whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned podcaster, this article will provide you with practical tips and guidelines to help you design a podcast studio that meets your needs and budget.

Acoustic Panels: The Top Priority for Achieving Sound Quality

The beauty of podcasting in 2023 is that the barriers to entry are very low.

All you need is a computer, internet connection, and a voice to send your content into cyberspace.

While this is exciting, it is important to remember that the democratization of content consumption is just as real. Listeners have unprecedented choice in what they download. Therefore, if your podcast sounds elementary, it will not be taken seriously by your target audience and relegated to the dark recesses of the internet.

Aside from creating engaging episodes, guaranteeing professional-caliber sound quality is arguably the most important aspect of achieving podcasting success. Listeners simply won’t give grainy, distorted, or hard-to-hear podcasts the time of day.

The good news is that you don’t need to completely remodel a room of your home to achieve optimal sound quality. Modern acoustic panels adhere to walls in a profile similar to a hanging picture frame and can absorb close to 100% of sound when properly deployed. They are usually wrapped in a decorative fabric that not only improves sound quality in the studio, but also enhances the recording ambience.

What is the best insulation for acoustic panels?

Well, there are several options, all of which have their own unique benefits. Some of the most prevalent include:

• Fiberglass – this is arguably the most popular type of insulation for acoustic panels. Fiberglass panels have a very high soundproofing density, meaning that they do not require a super-thick batt to absorb sound. When properly deployed, they can provide a noise reduction coefficient (NRC) of .99, just short of the industry standard (1) for complete soundproofing.
• Mineral wool – this is another material that can provide an NRC close to 1. While it is a bit thicker than fiberglass to achieve the same results, it does have the benefit of also providing some weather insulation as well, making a good consideration for exterior recording spaces. The downside is that it is more expensive and harder to come by.
• Rigid polyester – this is a good option for studios that want very low-profile, dust, and allergen free panels. Rigid polyester is readily accessible and affordable. The downside is that its NRC is much lower–around .7–and that it offers little utility against lower frequency sounds.
• Foam – foam is the most basic type of sound insulation panel and usually has a price tag to reflect this. The benefit of choosing foam is that textured surfaces create more sound-absorbing surface area than footprint on the wall. The downside to foam is that the aesthetics are extremely limited and that it has a tendency to deflect sound, rather than absorb it.

When talking about acoustic panels, you may have flashbacks to those light-hearted Hollywood romps where aspiring garage bands tape egg cartons to every square inch of the walls to soundproof the space. (*Editor’s Note*: Guilty)

That is not the case with modern acoustic panels. 

While rigid polyester and foam products may require a bit more wall coverage, fiberglass and mineral wool panels can usually achieve their optimal NRC in much less space, usually around 15-25% of wall area. 

While that may sound a bit technical for the budding podcaster (you’re just trying to make your show, right?), it means that you have quite a few options and price points that you can explore.

Some of the more advanced acoustic panels for walls blend right into the interior space to the point where you can’t visually tell they are serving an acoustic function. That’s great if you’re converting some living space in your home into a dedicated podcasting studio.

Ask any real estate agent about the resale value of building material that blends into the background versus something that sticks out like a sore thumb from the 90s. And since everyone should have a podcast, I think we’re going to see more of these retrofitted, dedicated spaces as content creation becomes one of the last bastions of the workforce.

Create a Functional Recording Layout 

Although acoustic panels are the top priority for creating a high-quality podcast studio, they are far from the only consideration. It is also critical to create a set-up and workstation that promotes optimal productivity. Some ideas include:

• Include an adjustable height sit/stand computer desk to promote ergonomics and carefully organize all scripts and facilitate note-taking during recording
• Consider a futon to comfortably accommodate any studio visitors 
• Replace a hinged door with a sliding pocket door to maximize square footage in the space

It is also very important to have all recording equipment on hand and well-organized for immediate access when recording episodes. This includes microphones, pop filters, and any cables/cords for connecting external recording hardware.

Go the Extra Mile When Designing Your Podcasting Haven

In an increasingly crowded podcasting scene, professional sound quality can be the difference between a monetized podcast and one that only mom listens to. This begins and ends with studio design. While choosing the right acoustic panels is the first place to start, don’t neglect the importance of creating a comfortable and productive work atmosphere as well.

For more ideas on how to optimize your dream podcast studio, head over to Discover Pods today for ideas and inspiration!

The post Build An Excellent Podcasting Haven With The Best Acoustic Panels appeared first on Discover the Best Podcasts | Discover Pods.

If you have been constantly asking yourself “what topics should I discuss today?”, then this article is for you. You can’t kid a kidder, topic ideas are tough to come up with. But don’t worry, just about every podcaster has trouble at some point with podcast topic ideas.

It’s like writers block, but you have to talk about it.

We’re going to dive into 23 proven methods of generating new podcasting ideas that will keep your content fresh and engaging.

So let’s get going.

Know Your Podcast Audience

Podcasting is a great way to connect with your people and build deeper relationships. This becomes more important than ever as podcasting moves away from strictly advertising monetization to alternative ways of being paid, like micropayments.

There are even apps trying that out now with bitcoin like Fountain.fm that are experimenting with this model. So, in the future, you have to make a commitment to making the connection with each potential listener.

Podcasting Ideas Come from the Strangest Places

Like Jason Lee’s character in Almost Famous, you have to find that one person who isn’t getting off, and you get them off. That’s how you get those micro payments.

But it can be hard to get started. And even harder to come up with episode ideas.

The best way to start a podcast is by knowing your target audience like the back of your hand.

To do this, you need to think about what they want so that you can deliver it in the most appealing way possible.

Think about, or even ask, what your target audience’s frustrations and pain points are. A good podcast informs, and entertains. So if you can do that you are well on your way.

So, for podcast topics, ask yourself, where does my audience hurt and where can I add value in solving that hurt?

Read… Always be reading. Voraciously

Reading keeps the mind active and nimble.

Reading makes you smarter. It helps you think more deeply, gives you a broader vocabulary, and expands your worldview. Reading also helps you come up with new ideas, which is why it’s so important for podcasting!

In fact, I recently read a book that helped me break my writers block. I had been stuck on an idea for weeks and couldn’t seem to get past the first few steps of getting started. Then I picked up a book by Sam Harris and fell into a spiral of creativity that lasted for days. He talked about how books can help us get our creative juices flowing and how they can get us out of ruts like writers block.

That gave me just enough inspiration to finally start writing again.

Now, while reading helped me break out of my writers block, it can help with creating new podcasting ideas as well. It’s the same style of ideation.

If you need a podcast idea, open a book. As an aside, book reviews are a great part of the process. The difference between what you took away versus what someone else took away can be the genesis of a great podcast topic.

Write 10 Random Ideas a Day

This one comes from prolific podcaster James Altucher.

He famously writes ten ideas a day. Most of which are terrible, but occasionally, there’s a gem in there that’s worth fleshing out or developing further. He did a whole podcast episode on the practice and has since started a social media site dedicated to the practice.

So the ten idea thing was an idea worth fleshing out. Now, he does it on a waiter’s pad, but you can do it anywhere using whatever you have at your disposal.

These don’t even have to be related to your podcast niche. It’s just an exercise to get the mind limber.

Scan Social Media for Podcasting Ideas

Productivity gurus will tell you social media is garbage.

Well, that’s usually true. You get sucked into pop culture nonsense or celebrity news, or celebrity interviews, and suddenly, your day is gone. So, scan, don’t immerse.

But its not all bad. You can pick up podcast episode ideas based on what’s trending and compare that to what your audience might enjoy.

Podcast ideas can come from anywhere, even somewhere you wouldn’t normally think of. For instance, reading reddit posts. Some of the best podcast topic ideas 2022 had to offer came from funny podcast topics reddit had to give.

Dive Into Global News and Local News

One place you should dive into is the news. It’s full of controversy and “if it bleeds, it leads” type of content.

A hot take on what’s going on in the world, and current events, can be an excellent source of podcast ideas.

Now, if you don’t know anything about the stock market or if personal finance isn’t what your audience is going after, a direct hot take may not be the right answer. But, trust me, this type of bombardment will get the creative juices flowing.

Everyone has an opinion. See if you can line yours up with your audience and niche to come up with a great podcast idea.

Use Guided Meditations to Clear the Mind

Studies have shown a consistent mediation practice to effectively reduce stress and anxiety.

If you reduce stress and anxiety you allow your mind to focus on other priorities. like coming up with podcast topics.

Meditation can sound a bit “eastern philosophy,” or “Buddhist,” but science shows this practice works for just about anyone willing to give it a go. And if you need a boost starting your practice, we have a whole list of meditation podcasts that can help you start.

Plus, there’s the added benefit of boosting your mental health.

Listen to Other Podcasts

Listening to other podcasts is the best way to get fresh ideas for your own.

When you want to keep a podcast going, it’s easy to get stuck in a rut. You keep thinking of the same things—the same topics, the same ideas and approaches. But if you listen to some other podcasts outside your genre, you’ll start getting new ideas for how to tell stories and engage listeners.

For example, I’ve been listening to a true crime podcast (serial) lately and I never thought about how much their storytelling style could help me with my own creative process.

It’s not that they’re doing something that’s particularly new or innovative (which is what we often think of when we think of creativity), but rather than talking about things from an objective perspective, they’re telling stories from inside the characters’ heads—making us feel like we know them personally. And that makes all the difference.

Think about the storytelling in This American Life and How I Built This. Listening to those podcasts will help you connect with your audience, no matter what your genre is.

So yeah, just stroll around Apple Podcasts and see what you can find. But stroll, as if you have nothing better to do. You never know what you’ll find that will spark interest.

Revisit Old Content

Revising old content is one of the best ways to come up with a good podcast topic. Why? Because it already was a good idea. Easily one of the best podcasting tips I’ve come across.

We talked a while back about revising your old content when you start see a fall off. Find what people liked and talk about it again. That’s a no brainer marketing strategy.

Have a Conversation

After so much isolation, we haven’t had enough conversations to keep that part of our brain active. Talk to people and see what is bugging them. Ask questions.

Coming up with new ideas is all about getting out of your head. Maybe you’ll get some good book recommendations to apply that strategy. Maybe you’ll see something from every day life from a new perspective.

If you can’t have a real conversation for whatever reason, have one with the new AI tools that are popping up everywhere.

I used Copy.Ai as a writing assistant during the pandemic lockdown and couldn’t be happier with the experience. Who needs real friends? Who needs live events with people, and airborne droplets, and…

Alright, I’m off topic.

Still, if you want podcast topics to talk about with friends, the pandemic lockdown is certainly among the best. Everyone has an opinion, and just about every opinion is different.

Steal Like An Artist

This book blew my mind. It’s akin to the “there’s nothing new under the sun,” and, when you think about it, it’s hard to argue.

What a lot of people don’t realize is that all art is a product of its creator’s influences.

The creator didn’t have to create something completely new, because that’s impossible. They simply had to take what they were inspired by and apply it in their own way—to create something new.

And that’s what this book is all about: helping you find your inspiration, then use it as a springboard for your own creativity.

Work on Your Imposter Syndrome

Imposter syndrome is a term used to describe the feeling of being an impostor, or like you don’t belong in the position that you’re in. For example: if you’re a writer and you know that your work isn’t very good, or if your work is good but you don’t think it’s as good as other people say it is, then that can be a sign of imposter syndrome.

Imposter syndrome also tends to hold creators back from sharing their ideas because they’re afraid that other people will think their ideas aren’t worthy. That’s why it’s so important for us to talk about this issue and create more open spaces where creators can share their ideas without fear of being judged or criticized.

I’ve personally overcome imposter syndrome by taking small steps: writing down my ideas on paper instead of just keeping them in my head; sharing those ideas with friends who I trust will give me honest feedback; and finding ways to make small improvements each time I write something new until eventually I feel confident enough to share it with others.

Podcasters can do just the same with their own ideas. Show me an original travel podcast, and I’ll show you angels dancing on a pinhead.

Take a Walk

Put one foot in front of the other.

Taking a walk can be just the thing your brain needs to get creative juices flowing.

That’s right—it’s not just a myth! In fact, scientists have been studying this phenomenon for years.

In one study, researchers found that people who took a break from their work and walked around the block reported feeling more creative afterwards. They also had increased blood flow to their brains, which is known to boost creativity. The same study saw an increase in creativity in up to 81% of study participants.

The researchers also noted that participants were more likely to come up with new ideas if they walked outside than if they stayed inside during their break.

So if we’re looking at product reviews of walking, I’m all in.

Alter, or Change Formats

I mentioned the Prof G podcast in earlier articles. But recently, he’s changed formats.

What were once segments of individual episodes have been broken apart into standalone editions of the overall podcast. And overall, I’d say it works.

Rather than having to spread research thin over several different subjects, by breaking them up into stand alone set pieces, that research can be much more focused. It takes the spirit of the segments and makes them more robust, more fleshed out.

The market shows go into more depth and nuance with fewer headlines and more expertise. The Office Hours shows on Wednesday can dispense more advice and the No Mercy No Malice segments can offload some of the work to outside contributors.

If you’re seeing a drop in listenership, tweaking your format, or giving it a facelift can be just what you need to reinvigorate your creative juices.

Brainstorm Elsewhere

If you do all of your work in the office, it’s easy to stagnate.

If we learn anything from the pandemic (and we likely won’t), it’s that many people are more creative when they have a new view on their rote work. A literally different view.

A change of venue can be just enough to jumpstart a stalled creativity engine. So if you’re working all day in your home office, try the local coffee shop, do some people watching, and let the freewriting flow.

Now, this isn’t a panacea. Nor is anything on this list, but changing venues, or just changing your gaze and getting away from the screen can be a game changer.

Do you always do your brainstorming in a Word or Google Doc? Try changing up the medium you record your ideas on. A good old fashioned legal pad served my brain storming for years before I eventually upgraded to a Remarkable.

Just that simple change saw a huge uptick in productivity. An uptick implies the eventual fall off, but changing up routines is a great place to start when you’re feeling stuck.

Start a New Podcast

Nobody said you have to keep all of your podcasting ideas under one umbrella podcast. You can always start a new podcast if there’s something you want to talk about that doesn’t fit your other show’s niche.

In essence, you aren’t married to one idea. But you should let your audience know what’s going on. That you’ve got some podcast content that they may want to hear, but doesn’t fit the brand.

Scott Galloway recently discussed on the Prof G Show how he was fighting his producer on his other podcast, Pivot. That his salty nature was getting cut from Pivot.

Which is the perfect reason to have his stand alone show. He can do whatever he wants in his own voice without any trepidation.

For your new idea, you can get podcast hosting for free, or a podcast host for less than you think. If you want to stick with a free podcast, go for it. Let your new idea flourish and grow.

Generating New Podcasting Ideas

Coming up with new podcasting ideas isn’t easy. And, unfortunately, it just gets harder the longer you’re at it. Listeners turn elsewhere when the well runs dry and the algorithm starts to think less of you.

If you think AI is the solution, well, it can help with brainstorming. No doubt about that, but as a creator, you’re still ultimately in charge of coming up with your own podcasting ideas and promoting them to success.

Writing this article got me thinking about implementing the “How I Pod” series again. I’m fascinated with people’s workflows, how they stay fresh, and relevant. It’s too easy to get entrenched and the world moves too fast to dig out a too much of the time.

In the tradition of tweaking and trying out new ideas, be on the lookout for the first installment of How I Pod shortly. I’m excited about the idea, and I think new creators will be as well.

The post 15 Alternative Effective Methods of Coming Up With Podcasting Ideas appeared first on Discover the Best Podcasts | Discover Pods.

Not quite as easy. But…

Can Podcast Interviewing Techniques Be Learned?

Yes, podcast interviewing techniques can be learned by studying the fundamentals, a little bit of psychology, and practicing, a lot. It may seem awkward at first, but it is in fact a fun skill that can translate into many facets of your life.

Learning how to interview people and create a great podcast takes time and practice. That’s why today, we’re going over the fundamentals of interviewing so you can make your podcasts even better than they already are.

One of the best interview podcasts 2022 had to offer was Hot Ones with Sean Evans. He’s an amazing interviewer and has some of the best podcast interviews with celebrities on the internet. We’re going to look at his example several times throughout this article.

A Great Podcast Interview Is Well Researched

The more you know about your subject, the easier it will be for them to open up about themselves and their work. You’ll also be able to ask them questions that make them feel like they’re talking about something they love—which means they’ll feel more comfortable and be able to relax. Honestly, they’re going to feel engaged and that they’re being heard.

This will make for a better interview overall!

Have a Podcast Interview Checklist

Even short interview podcasts need a checklist. Especially if the subject matter isn’t in your wheelhouse. You don’t need to be a subject matter expert, and in fact, it’s better to know a little less than you’d like.

Be Curious

Know the material you want to cover ahead of time, and make sure you can weave that information into your podcast interview questions. Without forcing it.

You can do this by reading through their past interviews, looking at their social media posts, or even just Googling them. Once you have a good sense of who they are and what they stand for, it’ll be much easier for you to craft your questions in a way that makes sense to both parties.

Craft Meaningful Questions for You and Your Audience

You also need to make sure that your questions feel like they matter. That you care about them. That you know your audience and that your audience is going to care about the answer to your question. That you understand podcast interviewing.

Even if you don’t yet have podcast interviewing completely figured out, you just keep

If they don’t seem like they matter at all—either because they’re too boring or because they’re too hard—you might find yourself looking at a blank face instead of an engaging subject.

Make sure that whatever question you’re asking is interesting enough so that it doesn’t feel like an afterthought on either side of the table. That means you need to go deeper than whatever it is they’re there to talk about. You have to go deeper.

A Killer Interviewer Remembers Why They’re There

And that’s to ask great questions.

Be aware of the power dynamic in your conversation; don’t let yourself get too comfortable during an interview, and let down your guard because you think it will make for a more relaxed conversation! Remember: You’re still in charge here.

You’re driving the bus, and if you get star-struck and lose control, the whole thing can seem like a bit of a farce, boring, or otherwise just confusing.

This interview by Peter McCormack on What Bitcoin Did was one where he lost control, and it went a bit off the rails.

You don’t have to love or hate bitcoin (if you are interested in learning more about bitcoin the CryptoTab Browser is Chrome based and will earn you a bit in the background) to realize that.

This is a show I love, and he was the first to admit that it didn’t come out as he wanted. It happens to professionals, so remember, always be learning.

Ask open-ended questions

When you ask someone to name their favorite color, it’s not an interesting question because there is only one answer (and they probably already know what it is). But if you ask them how they feel about their favorite color, why they chose it, or what color means to them personally—that’s when things get interesting. Podcast interviewing is all about when things get interesting.

This kind of question doesn’t have an easy answer, so your guest will be forced to think more deeply and share more personal information with you and your listeners.

In the same vein…

Don’t ask leading questions!

Leading questions seem like they’re trying to guide your guest into saying what you want them to say. For example, instead of asking, “Do you think [something controversial]?” try asking, “How do you feel about [something controversial]?”

The latter gives your guest more freedom to let loose and divulge something nobody else may know.

Podcast Interviewing is About Letting Them Talk.

Don’t interrupt them while they’re trying to answer a question—let them finish their thought before jumping in with another question or comment of yours; this will make for a smoother podcast episode overall since it will be uninterrupted by any dead air time between responses from either party involved (you as host/interviewer vs guest/interviewee).

Use “why” as part of your questioning technique when asking questions. For example, you could start a question with “Why do you think that?” or “What makes you say that?” This will help your guest feel like they have more control over their responses and gives them a chance to elaborate on their answer before moving on to another question.

Use Active Listening

What this means is a creative podcast experience is going to make heavy use of active listening. You’re going to notice that in almost all great podcast interviews.

Ask about their experiences, not just their opinions. This is especially important if you’re interviewing someone who works in a specific field, like healthcare or law.

It’s easy for them to give you their opinion on a topic, but asking about their experiences, what helped form those opinions, will help paint a more accurate picture of what it’s actually like being in that line of work.

Master Active Listening with Udemy

Watch the Podcast Interviewing Master Work

Take a look at Sean interviewing Matt Damon about why there aren’t so many indie movies getting made with big names.

Matt’s conjecture is that the fact nobody buys DVDs anymore means that filmmakers can’t count on that second major source of revenue. And as someone who worked at Blockbuster for several years before they went under, I tend to agree. That DVD (or even VHS) cash source meant a huge box office smash wasn’t necessarily the only determining factor.

It’s pretty obvious Damon didn’t expect that question and had to give it some thought. It also appeared as if he genuinely enjoyed the experience.

You can also ask them how they came up with those opinions since most people have had some sort of experience that led them down the path they’re currently on. Or maybe they’ve never really thought about it. Either way, getting the guest to think is important.

Keep Your Questions As Simple As You Can

Don’t ask questions that require a lot of background knowledge on the subject matter—keep it simple. If the guest gets a little too in the weeds, a little too wonky, get them to break down, in a creative, relatable way, what they’re trying to say.

Fire off analogies at will. And make sure to respond to your guest in your own words, clarifying what they just said. First, it helps your audience understand what’s being said, and nobody feels taken out of context the next day. It’s what Socrates would do.

Be aware of the power dynamic in your conversation; don’t let yourself get too comfortable during an interview, and let down your guard because you think it will make for a more relaxed conversation! Casual but professional is what you are looking for to get solid answers. How?

Keep on reading.

Remember: You’re still in charge here, so keep your hands on the conversational reins.

Make Eye Contact

This is how to interview someone for a podcast remotely. And it’s something even some of the bests got wrong during the pandemic.

It helps people feel heard and understood, so they’ll be more likely to open up about what really matters to them! It instantly builds charisma. Keeping eye contact is a huge part of active listening.

Pro tip – to keep eye contact remotely, you will look directly into your camera lens. Even if your show is audio only, having a video recording makes for better podcast interviewing.

Practice makes perfect here because it will feel awkward if you’ve never tried it before. The natural instinct is to look the subject in the eyes on the screen, but of course, that’s not where the lens is.

If you’ve never tried it, give it a go by filming yourself or on a call with a friend.

Keep it Casual.

Our friends at hot ones are casual but always professional. Sean’s interview with Dave Grohl of Foo Fighters is stellar.

I have to think they were a few sheets to the wind at the end of the interview, but it was never sloppy.

Casual conversations that don’t require anyone in the conversation to be a subject matter expert encourage the listener to hang in there with you. Even if they don’t fully understand what’s going on.

Skip the Obvious Questions.

If someone is doing a book tour or promoting some product, try to leave as much of that at the door as possible when crafting your questions.

Remember, they’ve probably heard it all before, and it makes for a dull experience. For everyone involved.

If you’ve ever seen a movie press junket go off the rails with the interviewer getting played for a fool, that’s usually why. They’re asking a question that’s been answered a thousand times that day alone.

It makes you, as the interviewer, look like a moron because your subject knows their material back to front. You have to bring something new to the table.

Watch this professional interviewer savaged by Robert Downey Junior for his, let’s call them, lackluster podcast interviewing skills. Well, interviewing skills generally.

Again, our boy Sean Evans will get podcast guests to openly remark about how deep a dive he did or what a good question that is. He only has so many hot wings, so he never burns a sauce (pun intended) on some obvious question nobody will care about.

Conclusion

We hope that these tips have helped you to learn about the best way to interview someone for your podcast. We throw a lot of attention Joe Rogan’s way on this site, and he’s a great interviewer as well, but for my money, it’s Sean Evans who comes out on top.

Watch and listen to how he improves the conversations season after season. He is learning to implement these skills to create compelling content with just about every guest he has on.

If you follow them, we’re sure that your listeners will be impressed by how much more engaging and informative your episodes are! If you want to learn more about active listening and how to get it done quickly, check out this excellent course on Udemy by clicking the link below.

Learn Active Listening Skills Today

Improve Your Active Listening Skills Today

The post 9 Podcast Interviewing Fundamentals To Make Your Podcast Awesome appeared first on Discover the Best Podcasts | Discover Pods.

When you’re in the studio and recording, the last thing you want to have happen is for your signal to get weak or distorted. That’s why it’s important to pay attention to the quality of your cables — especially if you’re using them for professional purposes such as live performances or studio work. That’s not for rock stars, that goes for us podcasters as well.

What is an XLR Cable Used For?

An XLR cable is used because it is able to carry a balanced signal. Whereas your standard 1/4″ or 1/8″ cable that you would see in something like a headphone jack carries an unbalanced signal. An unbalanced signal can pick up unwanted background electrical signals from the environment that creates an audible humming noise. Since an XLR cable can carry a balanced signal, it eliminates the possibility of that hum.

Usually. The success of eliminating that hum comes down to the quality of the audio equipment and the quality of the cables used.

Many people don’t realize that there are different grades of XLR cables out there from cheap ones made with bare copper wires (which can cause interference) all the way up to high-end options that use silver-coated copper wiring instead.

And while those kinds of expensive cables sound great when they’re working perfectly, they can also be prone to failure if they aren’t properly maintained! So what do you need to know about these types of cables? Let’s dive right in!

How do you know if an XLR cable is good quality?

The first thing you should look at is the cable’s shield. If you’re looking at a 3-pin male XLR, then it will have a braided shield over both pins 1 and 2. However, if you’re looking at 4-pin male XLR, then pin 1 will have a braided shield and pins 2 and 3 will be bare wire.

Another thing to look for is the number of strands in the cable’s conductors. The more strands there are in each conductor, the higher quality your cable will be. A good rule of thumb is that two or three stranded conductors tends to be adequate for many applications but going up to five or six strands can provide extra protection against interference from other sources like power lines or lighting cables (especially important if working with high-power devices).

Finally, make sure that any connectors are made out of silver-plated copper rather than plain copper which is much less durable than its precious counterpart — especially when handling large amounts of current over long periods of time!

There are also other factors such as capacitance between wires that we won’t go into here but suffice it say: use good quality XLR cables whenever possible!

XLR cables are made up of four primary parts the conductor, inner insulation, braided shield and outer insulation.

XLR cables are made up of four primary parts: the conductor, inner insulation, braided shield and outer insulation.

The conductor is the center of your cable that carries the signal. Typically made from copper or copper-clad steel, it can also be silver or gold plated for better sound quality in some circumstances. The more strands in a wire, the better it’s going to be at delivering that signal over long distances and through multiple devices before experiencing any deterioration.

The inner insulation is what prevents shorting out your equipment when you’re plugging something into an XLR jack with bare wires on each end (which we do not recommend). It’s typically made from rubber or similar materials to protect against moisture exposure as well as abrasion damage caused by moving parts within other components like switches or buttons on machines where these connections are used frequently throughout their lifespan – such as musical instruments!

Ask any guitar player who gigs, and tries to go cheap. It doesn’t work out well. Ask any musician with a home recording set up, it’s worth the investment.

The braided shield protects against electromagnetic interference coming from outside sources like computers running nearby during recording sessions; even if they’re not on at this time but may have been recently turned off (or worse yet broken down completely), they could still cause problems due to residual energy still lingering inside their circuits even after powering down completely.”

The conductor is the center of your cable that carries the signal.

The conductor is the center of your cable that carries the signal. It’s made from either copper or silver and it’s this wire that creates an electrical current that ultimately powers your microphone.

The conductor has a huge impact on how good your cable sounds and how much energy it can carry across long distances without losing any quality. The problem with cheap XLR cables is that they use smaller conductors, making them less effective at carrying signals to and from equipment like microphones, mixers and other audio devices.

Copper is cheaper than silver because of its abundance but it also has more resistance when carrying a current than silver does; this means if you have a high-quality recording setup where everything needs to work perfectly together then copper will cause more problems than good ones! Silver is better suited for high-end applications because its unique properties allow it to transfer signals faster through thicker cables without causing any noise or distortion in sound quality

The more strands in a wire, the better it’s going to be at delivering that signal.

The more strands in a wire, the better it’s going to be at delivering that signal. In fact, if you want to deliver a really strong signal over long distances (like from a stage to the soundboard), then more is definitely better. So it makes sense that when you’re buying cable for your home recording studio or live sound setup, you’d want something with the most number of strands possible.

But how many strands are too few? What’s an acceptable minimum? And what’s too much? Let’s take a look at why these questions matter and how they’ll affect your music production workflow.

Cheap cables often use bare copper wires with not many strands.

The number of strands used in an XLR cable can range anywhere from 4 to 100, with the latter being the most expensive.

If you’re looking for something affordable and functional, then you’ll probably be satisfied with an 8-strand (8S) cable. These cables are made up of 2 copper conductors that run parallel to each other. The central conductor is usually thicker than its partner so as not to interfere with any signal coming through it.

The more strands in a cable, the better your sound quality will be because there’s less chance that interference will occur between them. This is particularly important when recording vocals or instruments such as guitar amps where signals need to remain pristine if they’re going into your DAW software later on for editing purposes

Expensive cables use silver coated or oxygen-free copper wires in multiple strands this helps to reduce interference and results in a better sound.

So why does a company like Belden, or Warm Audio, which is well known for making cables for the military and NASA, produce audio products that are so expensive? The answer lies in the materials used. Expensive cables use silver coated or oxygen-free copper wires in multiple strands this helps to reduce interference and results in a better sound. Every single wire is individually shielded against noise, ensuring that your signal is clear at all times. The outer jacket consists of steel braided armor which protects the cable from damage caused by crushing or abrasion.

This is not to say that cheap XLR cables do not have their place; we’ve used them ourselves during live shows when we’re not able to take our delicate equipment into the venue with us! Just make sure you pay attention to what type of material goes into making your cable before you buy one—you might be surprised by how much difference this makes!

You also have to look at the insulation around the conductor.

It’s important for the insulation to be of quality. Solid, foam and air are all common types of insulation. The main difference between them is their density; solid is the most dense and therefore offers the most protection against external elements. However, it may not be as flexible or lightweight as foam or air, which may make it more difficult to route through tight spaces.

The insulation should also be evenly wrapped around each conductor (what carries an electric signal). If one conductor has more insulation than another, they won’t balance out when you plug in your XLR cable into an input device (like a microphone). The result? A broken connection that could cause damage to either device or even start an electrical fire!

The next part of the cable is the braided shield, which is wrapped around the inner insulating layer to block out electromagnetic interference.

You know all that hum you hear in your headphones or speakers, and thus your podcast? That’s electrical magnetic interference messing with your cheap XLR cables.

Next, the braided shield is wrapped around the inner insulation. This layer of shielding provides a very effective barrier against electromagnetic interference and protects your audio from unwanted noise. Since it’s made with thinner wire than foil, it doesn’t add much weight or bulk to your cables either.

In addition to providing excellent protection against outside interference, woven copper braids are better at keeping moisture out compared to foil shields. However, they do cost more money because they take longer to produce and require more labor by hand. If you need XLR cables that won’t let you down when you are in situations where there might be humidity (such as during outdoor performances), then this extra step could save you money in the long run by preventing damage caused by water damage over time

Higher quality cables will have a braided shield because it does a better job than foil shielding at keeping out interference but it’s also more expensive to produce.

You can get inexpensive XLR cables with foil shielding, but if you’re going to be using them in a pro environment or an environment where RF interference is an issue, it’s best to go with braided shields.

Braided shielding resists electromagnetic interference (EMI) better than foil shields. This is because the strands of copper that make up the braided shield are much more tightly woven than the wire used in most foil shields that simply have a thin layer of metal applied over a single strand of wire. This makes it more durable and less susceptible to being damaged if you accidentally step on it or run into something with it hanging from your mic stand (which happens more often than one might think).

On the outside of your XLR cable is another layer of insulation.

On the outside of your XLR cable is another layer of insulation. This serves a dual purpose: it protects the cable from damage and keeps out moisture and other harmful elements.

If you’re getting cheap cables, chances are they have a thick layer of outer insulation, which can be difficult to bend; this means it will take more time to run your cables through tight spaces, creating an extra hassle for yourself or someone else who has to install them for you. You don’t want that!

On top of that, look for a smooth outer layer as well—bumps or uneven cables point to poor insulation and won’t stand up over time

Make sure you spend money on high quality XLR cables!

If you’re in the market for XLR cables, it’s important to understand what makes them different from each other. It’s important to remember that even if your content is brilliant, a hum or crackle will turn people off. Use a good mic, and a good cable to create your, amazing content.

There are two main types of cable: shielded and unshielded. Shielded cables have a metal mesh wrapped around them that prevents interference from electrical signals, while unshielded ones do not have this protection and are therefore more susceptible to noise.

In addition to shielding, both types of cable come with different plug connectors (XLR-3 or BLX) and terminations (male or female). The most common type of connector is the XLR-3 because it allows for balanced audio connections using three wires—the shield wire carries ground; the center wire carries signal current; and the ring terminal acts as a ground reference point between equipment units.

Conclusion

So, what does all this mean for you? If you’re looking to buy an XLR cable, we suggest buying a high quality one. There are plenty of options out there but they won’t cost you much more than the cheap ones so why not spend the extra money and get something that will last longer?

The post Buying Cheap XLR Cables? Here are 10 Ways to Make Sure You Aren’t Wasting Money appeared first on Discover the Best Podcasts | Discover Pods.

However, “how to start a podcast” seems to be the question most new entrants have. We hope to walk you through how to start a podcast with this comprehensive guide. We’ve talked about why everyone should start a podcast before. We’ve told you that you can set up a podcast recording studio for less than $100.

In several ways, podcasting is a relatively easy medium to dive into with ubiquitous pitches of low barriers of entry, affordable equipment, and the possibility to be up and running within just a few weeks. However, anyone who has ventured into podcasting knows that releasing your first episode is really just the start, and it is truly an uphill climb from there. 

Throughout this guide, we hope to provide you with a basic step-by-step on how to launch a show that can be syndicated and discovered on iTunes, Spotify, Stitcher, and more, as well as provide you with tips that will help make continuing your podcast an easier process. 

What is a podcast, actually?

What a podcast is, actually, an audio or visual serial much like a radio program, except you can listen on demand through your favorite podcast player.

Before you even begin podcasting, understanding what a podcast is, how it’s formatted, the history and background and how new listeners discover podcasts can be helpful. 

You are probably well aware that a podcast is a portmanteau of the words “pod,” taken from the word iPod, and “broadcast”, however, today podcasts are hardly limited to iPods. Both audio and video podcasts exist, however, we will largely be focusing on audio since it is the more popular format, and the growth of platforms like YouTube and Twitch have made video podcasts less common.

When a podcast episode is ready to be shared, the file is typically uploaded to a podcast host that stores the audio files and then creates an RSS (Really Simple Syndication) feed that can be distributed and synced with various online directories such as Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, and more. 

While you can certainly download a podcast episode directly and listen as an MP3, it is the ability to share a feed with consumers through various online directories that makes podcasts so appealing. Rather than having to share files directly with listeners, the ability to subscribe and automatically be fed new episodes when they are released makes the process easier for both creators and audiences.

Unlike radio, you do not have to “tune in” at a certain time to find a podcast and because of the use of RSS feeds, distributors can share their episodes on as many platforms as they like and reach increasingly large new audiences. It’s scalable, on-demand audio.

Start Podcasting by Planning and Thinking Like a Podcast Listener

The biggest misconception of podcasting is that the average person can simply set up a microphone, share their thoughts on the news of the day or pop culture, and instantly find an audience. Really, starting a successful podcast starts right here. In the planning stage.

With the growth of podcasting, it has become increasingly hard to “break out” and much like YouTube, Instagram, or Twitter, lots of content is created and only ever seen or heard by a few followers. If you want to make a podcast for the fun of it, this may not be a concern, but for creators looking to build or grow a brand, share insight on a field of expertise or grow a large following, this step is by far the most important. 

If you decide to start a podcast, you’re going to be overwhelmed. Feeling overwhelmed at the start is perfectly natural.

To start a podcast takes hard work, and more work, and more work, and mo—

Why did you decide to start a podcast?

At the core, a podcast needs to have information that cannot be found elsewhere, in the form of research, opinions, stories, entertainment, or something else, presented by someone that the audience thinks is the best person to be presenting that information. You need to come across as a smart cookie.

If you want to start an interview show, you’ll need compelling guests, a unique angle in your questioning, and proven expertise on both sides. If you want to discuss pop culture or the news, the same applies.

For comedy, investigative, or any other form of podcasts you will want to determine if you are putting out content that has not already been done before, or at least not as well as you can do it. Essentially, ask yourself the question “Why me?” Why should a listener choose your show over the numerous other podcasts available? 

A podcast presented from scratch in a saturated market means you really need to drill down into your niche.

Thinking of these differentiators before you even begin is a foundational step to creating a successful podcast.

Why this topic to start a podcast?

This topic is perfect to start a podcast because it allows me to explore my opinion on the matter and share what I have learned. You may be thinking.

The perfect podcast exists somewhere between broad and niche, with enough content to return week after week with new information and enough specificity that it does not get lost in the mix of dozens of other similar shows. 

Often, it can be helpful to lean a bit more on the niche side for the sake of building a small but loyal audience dedicated to the exact topic you are planning to discuss. The old adage applies here: if you try to build something for everyone it won’t work for anyone.

Shows focused on specific pop culture or exact moments in history are proof that this can work. There are countless massively successful podcasts based on a seeming niche subject, here are a couple of my favorite examples:

• 99% Invisible is essentially a podcast about how design impacts our life
• The Adventure Zone started as a Dungeons & Dragons podcast
• Revisionist History explores and analyzes individual events in history

If you spend any time on the iTunes/Apple Podcast charts or read any other list of popular podcasts, it can be overwhelming how many popular shows either are hosted by celebrities or other personas with established audiences, as well as how many are created or distributed by big-name studios, networks or platforms.

It is no surprise that these shows can get an initial head start because they have a pre-established audience, but don’t be scared off or intimidated. Plenty of newbie podcasters make it too, and lots of big shows that are now tied to major networks began in bedrooms or basements. 

Ultimately, you’re going to be technically inclined to create the show you want. Sometimes it’s an art and that goes beyond podcast listing information.

Pros and cons of different podcast formats and what they look like

Some people may disagree with me here, however, here are the different formats of podcasts. Admittedly, it’s difficult to bucket some of these because there are always exceptions. 

Talking head and interview-style podcasts:

• Solo — one-person monologues 
• Solo with a guest — interviewing a special guest or personality such as Joe Rogan interviewing Dr. Jordan Peterson.
• Co-host(s) — you and at least one other co-host discuss topics

Narrative and serialized podcasts:

• Episodic documentary podcasts — each episode dives into a new theme, case, or idea
• Serialized documentary podcasts — a full season dedicated to one concept
• Fiction (both episodic and serialized) — fiction podcasts or audio dramas use creative writing and often sound effects for an immersive podcast

While there are pros and cons with every format, typically co-hosted and interview podcasts are easier to produce, but take effort to book guests, deciding on a topic, and are hugely dependent on the host(s) personality, rapport, and interview technique.

Narrative and serialized podcasts usually require more production effort including research, writing, editing, and sometimes travel. 

Create a plan to start a podcast

A common mistake is recording a single episode, setting up podcast hosting and RSS, publishing the episode, and then not having a plan for the episodes that will follow. We strongly encourage new podcasters to develop a plan for at least two months of episodes, which could be as few as two or three episodes or as many as ten or fifteen depending on the length and release frequency. 

There are a few reasons to do this. First and foremost, you will test if your concept holds weight. If you cannot record or even plan out this much content, chances are your concept is not developed enough to warrant a podcast.

Second, because regular publishing is so important, this lead time will hopefully prevent you from ever having to rush to create a new episode just to keep listeners on a regular schedule. Finally, you’ll get a chance to see if you enjoy the work behind podcasting and if it is worth investing more time and money in. 

Ideally, in building this two-month plan you will have a plan for several episodes on deck that can be released in consistent succession. Alternatively, you can calendar out when you will plan, pre-produce, and record different episodes if your topic is based on current events and cannot be recorded in advance. 

Oh, and what’s your budget? Do you find yourself asking…

How to start a podcast for free?

To start a podcast for free, you’ll need to find a host. Once set up with the hosting service and your microphone or phone/computer, it’s time to start recording. You should get a good microphone asap that you’re comfortable using since the quality of your voice is important for podcasting.

Naming your podcast – eg Choosing a Podcast Title

Arguably, the most important part of your planning. You might think you have a great name picked out already, but there are several factors you should consider in ultimately deciding your name. 

• Make sure there’s not an existing podcast with the same (or very similar) name
• Don’t restrain yourself. If you name your podcast after Star Wars, but then ultimately want to pivot to movies in general, you’ll face a difficult decision down the road
• Consider SEO. Though maybe not as sexy, you want your podcast name to be clear and intuitive to what it’s about. Think about how people will discover your podcast by searching. If you have a podcast about football, you’ll likely want the words “football” or “NFL” to be included in your title.
• Own your domains. As a podcasting best practice, you should have a website, Twitter, and Facebook pages at a bare minimum. Consider the availability of these handles and domains when choosing a name. 
• Make it easy to spell and say aloud. This will help in the future with sharing. 
• That clever pun you like right now? It’ll get old after multiple years and hundreds of episodes.

Podcast Artwork

Podcasting is an audio format, why do we care so much about the artwork associated with your pod? Well, you know people still judge books by their cover and that’s a visual format or a movie by its poster. So, ask yourself

How to start a podcast and make money?

There are two ways to start a podcast and make money. First is creating a that needs to be discussed. That makes it more likely that you are going to have a large following. Second,if your product has such high demand it makes sense to start podcasting in order to gain exposure. It’s all marketing.

Importance of Podcast Cover Art

In conjunction with your podcast name, think about how your thumbnail icon will draw new listeners in and be iconic and easily recognizable. Leverage your designer friends to help you create an idea, and if you have the budget, consult a professional graphic designer or logo maker. This thumbnail image can also serve multiple purposes as a logo on your website and Twitter and Facebook avatars. In short, it’s a worthwhile investment. 

The important thing to think about here is to stay simple and always keep reminding yourself how small this will appear to most consumers. For most potential listeners, this thumbnail will about an inch long and wide. Don’t go overboard with the design, keep the font to a large size, and stay simple on the design and color scheme. 

For Apple Podcasts, cover art needs to be at least 1400 x 1400 pixels and can go up to 3000 x 3000 pixels. 

Here are a few examples of podcast cover art done right.

How to record your podcast

Ok, whew. You’ve planned your podcast, settled on a format, named it, and bought the necessary domains so you have a digital presence. Now the fun stuff! Recording your podcast will require a learning curve and you’ll get much, much better with every subsequent episode.

Don’t be surprised if the first one takes way longer than expected and you end up trashing it anyways, these things take patience.

Podcasting Equipment

This (hopefully) shouldn’t come as a surprise to you, but you do need some podcast equipment to record a successful show. You don’t want to simply lay your iPhone down and record a 30-minute voice memo and call it a podcast. 

At the basic level, here are the three things you need:

• A podcast microphone
• A podcast mixer
• Podcast software — editing and recording

Podcast microphones

A consequence of the massive amounts of podcasts available at everyone’s fingertips is increased competition, listener expectations, and lowered patience.

Listeners only have a finite amount of time to listen to podcasts, they don’t want to bother with some crummy sounding show where they have to always have a hand on the volume button because the levels are all over the place. As a result choosing microphone equipment becomes paramount for a professional sounding production.

That said, every podcaster has a unique budget when it comes to podcast equipment. Here are our picks for podcast microphones at different budget levels:

• Blue Yeti
• Audio-Technica Cardioid Condenser Microphone
• Rode Procaster

Related reading: detailed breakdown and reviews of podcast microphones, and podcast headphones.

USB mixers

Mixers are sometimes neglected by first-time podcasters …. and it shows in their work. A mixer is essential for podcasters to create a nice leveled show where the audience can hear a crisp voice that’s not muddied by other noises.

Similar to podcast mics, USB mixers typically run the price spectrum. Here are our picks:

• Behringer Q1202USB 12-Channel Mixer
• Yamaha Mg10Xu 10-Input Stereo Mixer
• Mackie ProFXv2, 8 A-B Box

Related reading: a comprehensive guide to the best USB mixers

Podcast Audio Editing Software And Podcast Recording Software for New Podcasters

Podcast recording software allows you to easily record your podcast, export the audio files, and cut and edit your episodes. As with most things in life, the higher-end tools give you more features. Let’s take a quick look.

For recording and editing: 

• Squadcast

Squadcast is a revolutionary follow-up to Skype, designed as podcasting software from the ground up. It offers a great interface for both listeners and podcast hosts. Squadcast supports high-definition audio and turns any desktop or laptop computer into a podcast studio. 

The editing suite included with Squadcast is simple but strong enough that you can create the whole show in the software without much issue. Each voice has its own audio track, so you can balance out your guests into one smooth experience.

Major companies like ESPN have jumped all over Squadcast as their preferred mobile software platform, so it is worth taking a look.

You can get started with Squadcast for $10 a month for 2 hours of audio, though you’ll probably want to step that up pretty early on.

• Alitu – The Podcast Maker

Alitu is a great tool to level up your podcast creation stack. As a complete podcast software, Alitu streamlines your creation process, and rather than bog you down with any stress-inducing tech, it gives users the tools to get the job done, quickly and smoothly. 

The ease of Alitu is obvious from Day 1 of your 7 Day Trial

The core features of Alitu are simply explained and similarly simple to use:

• Record your podcast episodes – the built-in call recording tool allows you to record solo into the platform or invite a contact via direct link.
• Intuitive podcast editing – easily select, cut, and rearrange clips while also incorporating set and forget intros and outros for consistency across your episodes.  
• Automated post-production – no need to worry about mastering your own podcast, Alitu will automatically standardize your volume and leveling and remove background noise. 
• Direct publishing to favorite hosts – you can connect Alitu directly to most main hosting platforms in order to get your podcast live as quickly and smoothly as possible. 
• In House Hosting – We’ve been tipped off that Alitu is on the verge of launching its own hosting tool, this means that it will be the first all-inclusive A-Z podcast software on the market. Ps, you heard it here first!  

Existing Alitu users have shared their experiences of having taken their production time from anywhere between 2-5 hours down to 10 minutes per episode. Other users are just happy to have a platform where they can produce professional content without the technical know-how.

*Editors Note* New users can get a 7 Day Free Trial with this link.

• Audacity
• Pro Tools First
• Adobe Audition
• Hindenberg Journalist
• Zencastr
• TapeACall Pro 

For planning and workflows:

• Asana 
• Airtable
• Trello 
• Basecamp 

Book a Podcast Studio Instead

If buying equipment and the steep learning curve isn’t for you, then we highly recommend finding a podcast studio in your area. Podcast recording studios have been popping up across the U.S., Canada, Europe, and Australia for years, and can offer you easy access to professional recording equipment for minimal expense. 

Most studios can offer expertise from professional sound engineers, podcast producers, and audio editors, so all you have to do is show up and record. Plus, if you seek video recording on top of your audio recording needs, many podcast studios are beautifully designed to ensure your podcast brand is represented well on video platforms.

To find a podcast studio near you, start by searching on podcastrental.com, the web’s only podcast studio booking site. With hundreds of studios available at a wide range of hourly price points, you’ll find the right recording experience for your production needs.

Podcast recording tips

As with most things in life, getting the right tools can only take you so far. The real power is using these tools the right way to get the most out of your investment. Here are some easy tips to record your podcast.

1. Microphone Choice

In the modern recording industry, there are endless amounts of microphones on the market to choose from. Some specialize in vocal recording, while others specialize in specific instruments and applications. Similar to most industries, a higher-priced microphone typically means higher quality audio produced.

For a podcast, a microphone specifically tailored to vocal recordings will be preferred, such as the Shure SM7B. It’s a durable, and reliable mic that produces fantastic audio quality for the price, and can even be seen on the ever-popular Joe Rogan podcast. If that wasn’t enough to convince you, it was even used to record Michael Jackson’s Thriller album. How’s that for quality?

2. Microphone Placement

A simple adjustment can make all the difference. Having your microphone too far from the mouths of those speaking on the podcast will capture a much lower signal volume while having it too close will most likely produce a distorted signal.

The optimal distance between the person speaking, and the microphone is about three inches from their mouth. This will allow you to capture their audio at a healthy volume, without it distorting.

3. Use a Pop Filter

A pop filter is used to shield the microphone from fast-moving air generated by plosives during speech. Words such as “pop”, or “planet” that have a strong “p” sound at their beginnings, can cause spikes in the audio due to the strength of the plosives that those words create.

Another benefit of using a pop filter is to shield the microphone from any saliva that may be dispersed from the speaker’s mouth. This prevents the saliva from corroding the microphone, as well as keeping it cleaner for sanitary reasons. 

4. Proper Speaking

Having the correct microphone and placement won’t mean much if the person participating isn’t speaking properly. To ensure the first two points aren’t wasted, make sure that each participant is speaking slowly and clearly. Each person should be speaking at a comfortable room level, without any huge jumps or dips in their speaking volume.

Any kind of jumps or dips will only make things more difficult for you later on when processing your audio. Any random yelling or screaming of an overly active individual will likely incur distortion, while any sort of whispering or low-level talking will require additional volume adjustments. 

5. Setting Levels

After you have properly set up your microphone, it is time to test and set your audio levels. While proper mic placement will help with avoiding distortion, it is not enough. You need to set proper gain levels to ensure that the microphone’s signal is strong enough to be sent to your audio interface or mixer.

To keep things simple, gain is the amount of input signal. Too much gain will result in a distorted signal, while not enough will result in too quiet of a signal. Your gain level will be set within your audio interface or live mixer that you are recording into.

To set the optimal level, have those who are talking on the podcast speak into the microphones, and set the levels so that they are within the green, and just under yellow on the signal meters. Avoid any audio being in the red, as this means you are clipping and thus distorting.

While setting levels, people tend to test or speak at quieter volumes than when they perform. To account for this, set your levels slightly lower than what’s recommended, and see how much louder they are once the recording starts.

This is also when you want to use your mixer to configure the headphone playback, which using a quality noise canceling headphone will help this. They’re a bit pricey, but they let you hear everything the mics are picking up.

6. EQ Signal Processing

The next step in ensuring the cleanest audio possible is processing the signal as it comes in from the microphone to the audio interface. If you have any outboard signal processors such as an EQ, or a compressor, you’ll want to run your signal from the microphone to these processors first, and then into your audio interface.

EQ or Equalization is the process of boosting or reducing certain frequencies in an audio signal to make it more pleasing to the ear. For example, if someone has a very low voice, you can reduce some of the low-end frequencies to account for their heavier or boomier sounding voice.

7. Compression Signal Processing

After EQing your audio, you can compress it for added control and overall balance. Simply put, compression sets a threshold that when an audio signal passes through it, the strength of that audio signal is reduced by a set amount, in order to bring down any sharp peaks in the audio.

Similar to the pop filter, it’s another way to eliminate any sharp peaks in the audio, making things much more pleasing for the listener. Both eq and compression can be done after the recording process, however, it does help to clean up the original audio signal as it is being recorded.

8. Cable Management

Often overlooked, cable management ensures that your workspace is clean, and organized and prevents any unnecessary accidents. Keep your cables wound around your microphone stands, and neatly organized towards your audio interface. The last thing you want is to accidentally trip on a cable, and have it rip out of your microphone, thus damaging your microphone or worse. 

9. Mixing

When recording multiple audio sources at once, it helps to have a mixer. Using a mixer will allow you to better control the audio levels of each microphone being used to ensure a more balanced mix between each individual speaking.

Each microphone will be plugged into a separate channel, from which you can control their respective volumes. From there you can run your signal from the output of the mixer to your audio interface for proper recording.

10. Room Acoustic Treatment

Lastly, you want to treat your room acoustically. Every room has a sound to it, which is determined by the room’s size, the materials used to make it, and any other objects within it. Whenever a sound is generated, its sound waves bounce off every surface within the room, creating what we call reverb.

Reverb (or echo as some people mistakenly call it) is the sound you hear after you clap in an open room, or those flutter sounds you hear in a hallway. Too much reverb can become an issue, and muddy up your audio quality. To ensure your audio is as clean as possible, you need to treat your room by dampening it with acoustic panels in order to minimize the amount of reverb hitting your microphone.

Setting up large acoustic panels on your walls, and ceiling if possible will absorb much of the sound’s energy, and reduce sound reflections on these surfaces, thus creating a cleaner sounding room for your podcast.

The thicker the panel, the better the sound absorption, and the more frequencies will be affected. Panels that are two to four inches thick will be your best bet here and provide you with the best quality sound absorption.

Producing your podcast

How to edit your podcast and podcast editing tips

Editing, like producing and recording, will take new podcasters some time to get the hang of. Unfortunately, it’s often one of the most time-consuming aspects of podcasting as well. Mastering your editing is crucial to a polished podcast that’s free of bloopers, long silences, and forcing your listeners to constantly adjust their volume knob. 

Here are our best podcast editing tips for beginners:

1. Adobe is your friend

Look, if you’re looking at little-to-no-budget for your podcast and you don’t want to get into other multimedia creative fields, ignore this tip and use Audacity. That being said, if you’re already doing a podcast, I’d be surprised if learning Adobe Audition wouldn’t benefit you.

The awesome thing about Adobe is that it’s not any harder to learn the basics than any of the free products, and your capabilities are endless. Once you learn how to use Audition for your podcast, it will be way easier to learn how to use programs like Premiere Pro, InDesign, and Photoshop for other projects that could grow your brand.

2. Learn keyboard shortcuts

While the time you take to learn shortcuts will slow you down a little at the very beginning, you’ll find that once you’ve used them for an episode or two they become natural and save a ton of time.

In Audition, while the quick select tool is turned on, you can right-click and hold to use the move tool, hold command+k to use the razor tool, and of course command+z to undo (if you’re anything like me, you’ll use this more than anything).

3. Eliminate “ums” and “uhs”

This is the simplest, easiest thing you can do to make your podcast, hosts, and guests all sound more professional. You can work with your host to be recorded and have the speech repeated if they stumble during editing so you don’t miss anything.

4. Record separately

If you want your show to be mistake-free, using video chat and headphones to talk while you record on different mics in different places can help. This gives you a different channel for each person, and you can just cut a cough or a sentence trailing off when someone else is talking. Having multiple tracks also gives you clear visual cues for transitions while you edit.

5. Make a template

In Audition, you can create a template of your own, and in Audacity, you can save a file that operates functionally as your template for future projects. Getting everything you use consistently (intro and outro music, transition sound effects, start and end markers) preset and in one place will save you 5-10 minutes on every single episode and won’t take any longer than that to set up.

A pod is something like a business and one insight we can draw from product development is starting planning your shows with a checklist early on. It’s a good habit to get into. That said…

6. Be creative!

Something as simple as intro music, transition sound effects, or how you end the show can connect your listeners to the specific show they’re listening to and subconsciously keep them coming to your show, and not just shows like it.

7. Use room noise often

One goal in editing is to make your show sound “unedited.” Jarring transitions or significant change in response time take distract listeners and take them out of the show for just a moment. To avoid these, record a 15-second track of “room noise” when you record the show and use that to fill in gaps when needed. 

8. Zoom in on your waveform

You’ll always want to make sure your audio sounds right first and foremost, but being able to see where people start and stop talking and the space between words is invaluable when it comes to saving you time. In Audition or Audacity, use “-” to zoom out and “=” to zoom in.

9. Keep consistent pacing

The first edit of the pilot of the 22-minute sitcom Arrested Development came out to around 45 minutes, but director Mitchell Hurwitz simply told them to eliminate all of the “white space” and it would come out the 22 minutes it was supposed to be.

This resulted in maybe the fastest-paced sitcom ever, and it made everyone from the writers to the actors seem extraordinarily clever—even brilliant—with jokes, you can’t even keep up with on your first watch. My advice in the way of pacing is mostly to stay consistent so the audience knows what they are getting into. Just know that a fast-paced edit can make hosts seem brilliant, but it can also sacrifice some of the thoughtfulness that comes with the podcasts we generally respect the most.

And don’t be afraid to rehearse. Walkthrough your podcast setting ahead of time so you’re prepared. It’s rare anyone gets it in one take or with their first draft.

10. Playback at a high speed

While you’re listening through your podcast for edits, the best way to save time is simply through quick playback speed. You’ll find that often five or ten minutes will go by with little to no issues, and sitting through that burns up the valuable time you have to edit.

By simply double- or triple-tapping “L” in Adobe’s signature “JKL” shortcut when you restart the playback is invaluable. Just make sure it’s at a slow enough speed where you can understand it and catch errors that need attention.

Can you use music in your podcast?

There are a lot of myths about using copyrighted songs within podcasts. Let’s dispel some of them here. You CAN NOT use copyrighted music if:

• It’s under 30 seconds
• You give credit
• You’re a non-profit

Another misconception is about fair use. Yes, you can use copyrighted music if it’s part of your discussion (i.e. you’re criticizing or commenting on it), but you can’t use music for no purposeful reason (i.e. as your podcast intro).

There are ways you can use music in your podcast, however. Here are a few free and paid resources we’ve compiled to keep your music for podcasts free of any royalty problems.

Publishing your podcast

So how exactly does the audio you record go from your computer all the way to Apple, Stitcher, Spotify, and the rest of the podcast directories? 

To put it as simply as I can, you need to create an RSS feed that points to respective audio files for the podcast and then submit this feed to the main directories.

Though it may sound complicated, it’s a pretty turnkey process if you find the right solution to partner up with.

Podcast hosting primer

Most podcast hosts do much of the heavy lifting for you, they store (or host) your audio files, generate the RSS feed, structure the metadata, and submit on your behalf to the directories of your choice. Still, you want to make sure the distribution hosting service they’re providing is up to modern standards for 2022. Every host we recommend has the widest distribution available and will distribute podcasts everywhere.

The key here in your decision making is finding a podcast host that’s right for you based on the features you need, your budget, the structure of your podcast, and the estimated popularity of the show. Podcast hosts typically price their services based on two things: storage and bandwidth. These terms may seem familiar to you, but here’s what they mean in the podcast world:

Storage — how many episodes are you recording and how long will they be?

Bandwidth — how many people will be downloading your podcast? Remember, when you’re just starting out you can sacrifice unlimited bandwidth and space for a partner that will help push your podcast out to the masses.

Ultimately, we’ve found Buzzsprout seems to be the podcast host that meets the needs of most new podcasters. Their starter plan comes with unlimited storage and a monthly bandwidth of 250GB — more than enough for new podcasters. Their analytics are also easy to use and provide comprehensive coverage. 

Best Podcast Hosting Services

Here’s a breakdown of other podcast hosts we’ve tried and tested, and if you’re looking for a more comprehensive breakdown of podcast hosts and their features, read this article about the best podcast hosting services.

Submitting your podcast to directories

You want people to listen to your podcast, right? Well, where do you listen to podcasts? List every possible place you listen — Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Pandora, Google Podcasts, Stitcher, Overcast, Pocket Casts, Radiopublic, etc. — and that’s where you want to be. 

Fortunately, if you have a sound podcast host, most do this for you with a click or two with an API connection. Since we recommend Buzzsprout, here’s an example showing how easy it is from their dashboard. And really, Buzzsprout is just about the perfect place to start a podcast. A Buzzsprout presented podcast, even one presented by Buzzsprout from scratch is a lot different than going it alone.

For the directories without a one-click solution from your podcast host, you can typically go to the directory, create an account, and paste your RSS feed to submit. 

How to submit your podcast to Apple Podcasts (formerly iTunes)

For the third time, if you have a good marketing podcast host they should do this for you. If you’re going a more bespoke route, here’s what you need to do: 

1. Test your RSS feed

Apple recommends new podcasters use Podbase to validate their RSS feeds. Simply paste your RSS feed URL and it’ll automatically verify if your feed is compliant with Apple’s standards.

2. Validate your podcast feed has the right metadata fields

Apple requires you to have the following fields:

• Podcast Title
• Description
• Podcast Artwork

You should have already finalized these three fields before reaching this point, but if you haven’t you need to now. 

3. Submit your podcast to Apple Podcasts

Go to iTunes Connect when you’re ready to submit. If you have an existing Apple ID use it here, if not create a new one. You’ll be asked to validate your RSS feed once again — use the same URL you used in the first step. 

Finalize which podcasting categories you’d like to show up in (up to three), the language of your podcast (use the two-letter language code) and if there’s any explicit material. When you pick a main category, there are a dozen subcategories to choose from, so be consistent when you find something that clicks.

4. When you’re done, click Submit. 

Apple claims the review process can take up to two weeks, but we’ve seen most are approved within a couple of days. You can check the status of your podcast review from within iTunes Connect. Previewing a podcast on iTunes is pretty straightforward and it should automatically be sent to your device when ready.

How to submit your podcast to Spotify

In a similar submission process to Apple Podcasts, Spotify requires the following to submit a podcast to their directory:

• Podcast Title
• Podcast Description
• Podcast Cover Art
• Podcast Category
• Language Selection
• At least one live episode

The episode requirement is the sole difference from the Apple process. If you don’t have an episode recorded yet, we recommend creating a 30- to a 60-second trailer to generate buzz and get your podcast on Spotify prior to the show officially launching.

When you’re ready to submit, go to the Spotify For Podcasters portal and click Get Started. You’ll again validate your RSS feed, enter the requirements listed above, review the generated feed preview, and click through the final prompts. 

Spotify typically approves podcasts faster than Apple, so you should see your podcast in their app in less than a day.

Content Measurement Audience Insight Engagement

At a certain point, if you want a successful podcast, you need to ensure that people are actually downloading, listening, and engaging with your show. If you’re putting all this work into recording then you need to be living, loving, and lusting after your metrics. The better, and more granular the metrics about your show are, the better off you’ll be.

It’s one of the most important factors in choosing a podcast host. Even if they submit your podcast everywhere automatically, if you can’t see the end result of those episodes, then you can’t tailor your show and grow your audience.

Really good hosting with detailed analytics can tell you a lot about your audience beyond downloads. They can tell you information like what device had access and what content platform or app the podcasts were downloaded to.

Growing Your Podcast by Promoting

There is no get-rich-quick scheme for podcasts, nor is there a silver bullet to getting tons of listeners. Like any small business, growing your audience takes savvy marketing fundamentals but most importantly a good product. All marketing does is provide a magnifying glass to your podcast. If listeners don’t like what they hear, they won’t stick around. Focus on making great content first. 

After that, your marketing preferences are going to bear a similar relation to your exercise preference. Just don’t skip leg day.

Here are some basic digital marketing fundamentals you should be doing at a bare minimum:

Build a Website With Your Host or With WordPress

Build a website for your podcast if your podcast host doesn’t already provide one. You should have a streamable player for your podcast embedded within the site, an “about us” section, and ways to get in touch with you through email and/or social media. You can use your site to confirm the email subscription of listeners and build your distribution list. You can send out a newsletter telling interested podcast subscribers what you’re up to.

Basic search engine optimization will help new audiences find your show. What does an established podcaster want? Just that, passive traffic from SEO. Publishing a podcast on WordPress can help older audiences find your show.

The best podcast websites I’ve seen also provide complimentary material to the podcast acting as companion material. Here’s 99% Invisible’s social media website with blog posts providing more info on each episode. 

Have listeners submitting a subscription for paywall content? Yes, please. Even if there’s an error in the subscription confirmation, that’s just another opportunity for a touch point. Remember, a podcast that makes money is a business. You’re a brand unto yourself.

“When I’m out in public, I can tell which media channel is the catalyst for someone approaching me. The bro-approach (i.e., “Yo Dawg”) is made by fans of our videos. Someone who wants to engage in a sober, analytical discussion about the dynamics of streaming or the harms of social media reads the newsletter or my books. But someone who approaches me as if we’re good friends listens to the podcast. It’s similar to running into an old acquaintance you really liked, and who really liked you … but you never had the chance to become good friends. The goodwill is evident. This now happens several times a week.”

– Professor Scott Galloway, NYU | Host of the Prof G Show

Popular podcast hosts know that the interest in a show is intensely personalised. The audience is telling you they are intimately interested in your podcast when you build that rapport.

Stay active on social media and Comment Soon

Social media remains a key discoverability route for new listeners. It remains the most effective audience building strategy beyond having great content.

Post new episodes, engage with fans, solicit feedback, give behind-the-scenes info, give away swag, and more. Many a newbie podcaster established themselves by being guests on slightly more established podcasts because it helps build rapport and camaraderie. Almost like having a mentor.

That’s the power networking has in podcasting.

Foster a community You Love

There are several ways to build the foundation of a community — Reddit, Facebook Page, Slack, and Discord. A strong community will encourage word of mouth engagement and grow your audience in organic ways. 

Ask for feedback from Everyone

Your listeners are your customers, ask for feedback whenever you can. You want to continually improve your show and the best way to do that is to constructively listen to what your fans say about your podcast. 

More than that, ask, repeatedly and consistently for reviews. In a conversation with Mark Timberlake on the Udemy podcast, he explained how important reviews are to the algorithm of every podcast directory boosting your show organically. So make it happen.

Rinse, repeat, and keep at it by Creating Engaging Content

Remember at the top of this guide when I said: “Starting a podcast is hard and takes work, and more work, and more work, and mo—”? Don’t get frustrated by a slow start, tireless nights, or a lack of feedback, and definitely don’t get hung up on download numbers. 

Advertise

Thousands of people come to Discover Pods every day looking for podcasts just like yours. Take advantage of the existing community and grow your podcast today. Learn more here

The post How To Start A Podcast The Right Way (The Definitive Complete Guide for 2022) appeared first on Discover the Best Podcasts | Discover Pods.

Plus, nothing hurts quite as much as when you’ve created something wonderful and then you find out you don’t have the right to use the music you included. Just ask the Verve.

Podcasting is an exciting technology that enables people to share knowledge, wisdom, and entertainment.  Podcasts are often made with a variety of different equipment such as recording devices and microphones. One very important aspect of podcasting is sound quality.

Music helps to bring out the mood that you are trying to create.  The best part is that you can use free resources to get music rather than spending large sums on purchasing music online. Let’s dive into it.

Podcast Music

If you’re a podcast producer or host, there’s no shortage of places to get music for your show. But if there’s one website you need to know about, it’s Podcast Music.

This site is a great way to find music that fits your podcast and your budget. It has free music, paid music, and all kinds of other options in between—and the prices are pretty reasonable! You can choose a subscription or buying songs one off.

If you’re looking for something specific (like a certain style of song) that can’t be found on the site, they’ll try their best to find it for you at no extra cost.

The only downside to this website is that it can take some time to set up an account and get started with their services. But if you’ve got patience and a little extra time on your hands, this is definitely worth checking out.

YouTube Audio Library

You’ve probably heard of Youtube Audio Library, but you might not know exactly what it is.

Youtube Audio Library is a website where you can download music for your podcast for free. It’s great because there’s a huge selection and the music you find on Youtube Audio Library is usually in the public domain, which means that you don’t have to pay any royalties for using it.

Is the Youtube Audio Library the Best Place to Get Music For Podcasts Free?

If you’re used to living in the Google ecosystem, then Youtube Audio Library might just be the best place to get music for podcasts free. Whereas Google may not have the best podcast app, here they are doing a pretty good job providing quality, free resources.

But it’s not all sunshine and rainbows with this resource. The quality of the music on Youtube Audio Library isn’t always great, and sometimes there aren’t many options available, so if you’re looking for something specific or unique, it’ll be hard to find.

If you’re interested in going ahead with Youtube Audio Library as your primary source of podcast music, here are some tips:

1) Be sure that what you’re downloading will work well with your podcast format (i.e., length and style).

2) Always have an alternative plan in case your first choice isn’t available or doesn’t work out as well as expected.

In short, prepare to spend some time hunting.

Audio Jungle

Audio Jungle is a site that sells royalty-free music and sound effects, and it’s a great resource for podcasters who want to add some professional flair to their podcasts.

Here’s what you need to know about getting music from Audio Jungle:

Advantages:

• You can search by mood or genre, which means you can find exactly what you need.
• There are thousands of tracks available in every style imaginable, so if you’re looking for something specific there’s a good chance it will be available on Audio Jungle.

Disadvantages:

• If your podcast is sponsored by a particular brand or product (like Apple), then using music from Audio Jungle may not be allowed under your terms of sponsorship. Check before purchasing.

Caveat Empor.

Bensound

Bensound is an amazing website for podcasters who are looking to get music for podcasts free of royalty disputes. The site offers a large library of tracks, with different genres and moods to choose from. And pricing on the Bensound for unlimited downloads is pretty reasonable.

However, there are definitely some drawbacks to using Bensound. First, the quality of the tracks isn’t always great. Sometimes you have to go through several pages before finding something that’s high-quality enough for your podcast.

Also, most of the music on Bensound is royalty-free—which means that you don’t have to pay any extra fees if you use those tracks in your podcast.

And finally, if you want exclusive rights over a track so nobody else can use it in their podcasts without asking permission first? That costs money too.

Free Music Archive

The website has a huge collection of songs in different genres, so it’s easy to find something that matches your podcast’s theme. You can also search by mood or genre if you’re feeling desperate.

You can play the music right on their site or download it onto your computer and add it to your podcast later. And if you want to use one of the songs in a commercial project, you don’t have to worry about getting permission—it’s all free. Just make sure you are browsing the creative commons licensed side of the site and not the commercial side.

Like all royalty-free music sites, you’re going to be sifting through some dreck and kissing a lot of frogs to find what you’re really looking for.

Music for Makers

Music for Makers is a great place to find music for podcasts. The site offers a range of options, from free downloads to paid downloads, and it’s easy to use.

But there are some drawbacks: you have to pay $5 for the most popular tracks, and you can only download the songs you want if they’re available as individual files. If you’re looking for a specific type of music or just one song, this won’t work for you.

Still, it’s a great resource that gives you access to thousands of tracks from all genres at no cost.

Melody Loops

Melody Loops is a website that offers free browsing and paid music for podcasting. The site has a wide variety of tracks, including ambient and electronic music, as well as classical music. Many of the tracks are royalty-free, which means you can use them in your podcast without paying any additional fees.

The site has a large selection of genres and styles to choose from, making it easy to find just the right piece for your podcast. The site also features some very creative pieces that can add a unique touch to your podcasts.

Melody Loops has some disadvantages as well. It doesn’t offer detailed descriptions or previews of its tracks; instead, users need to listen to each track before buying it. There’s also no way to preview songs before downloading them from Melody Loops’ website without signing up for an account.

909 Music

This website is a great resource for music producers looking to get some original music for their podcasts. It’s also good for podcasters who want to create their own theme songs.

The site has a very clear, simple interface that allows you to search by genre, mood, and instrumentation (or lack thereof). There are also options for royalty-free music and sound effects. And, that’s because they are selling their music for podcasts free of royalties through SoundCloud.

You can buy music for podcasts free of royalty problems in large packages so you can put the whole concern behind you.

The site offers both free and paid versions of the tracks you download, so it can be a good place to start if you have a limited budget.

One disadvantage of 909 Music is that it doesn’t offer as many tracks as other sources like Pond5 or Audio Network. Another disadvantage is that some of the tracks on the site aren’t available in high-quality formats like WAV or AIFF—which can make them less desirable for professional use.

Overall, 909 Music is a good option if you’re looking for something more affordable than other resources like Audio Network but still want access to high-quality files in multiple formats.

Incompetech

Incompetech is a website that offers original royalty-free music for podcasts. It has a decent-sized library that you can use for your podcast, but it does have some disadvantages.

The first disadvantage is that you have to audibly credit the composer if you want to use the tracks. You can buy a license to avoid this, but if you’re ok with the attribution there’s no charge.

The site owner also runs another completely public domain music site, FreePD.com

MUSOPEN

If you’re looking for free music to use in your podcast, MusOpen has your back.

MusOpen is a nonprofit website that offers a library of copyright-free songs and sound effects, so you can use them in your podcasts without having to worry about getting sued. It’s also one of the best resources for finding music on YouTube.

They offer a Lite membership where you can download 5 audio pieces a day and a paid membership that allows for unlimited downloads, lossless audio, and much more.

Their paid tier is $55.

If you’re looking for something specific—say, an upbeat song with a lively beat—you can search through the site’s collection by genre or mood (like “funky”).

The website also has an option that allows you to download entire albums at once, which is particularly helpful if you’re looking for something specific like an original score from an animated film or TV show.

Finding Your Tunes

There’s no shortage of free music licenses out there for podcasters to find and use. This article should serve as a good lodestar for anyone looking to get started with podcast music, or anyone who wants to discover more about finding and using royalty-free music in podcasts.

The post Where to Get Music for Podcasts Free of Royalty Issues appeared first on Discover the Best Podcasts | Discover Pods.

But finding podcast apps on Android that actually works for you can be difficult. There are so many podcast apps in the Play Store, how do they know which one they should choose? After all, not every show is available on every app. It’s not a cookie-cutter experience. There’s one here you should leave be… see if you can tell.

It’s not like apple podcasts which is a closed ecosystem and you don’t need to worry about where your ios podcast experience is coming from.

In this article, we’ll review some quality podcast apps on Android that have been downloaded by thousands of users. These apps have received positive reviews from users, who say they’re easy to use and allow them to listen to podcasts whenever and wherever they want.

So if you’re looking for an app that makes it easy to listen to your favorite shows on your phone or tablet, keep reading!

Google Podcasts… best app for podcasting?

Google Podcasts, as you’d imagine, is one of the podcast apps on Android app that gives you access to all of your favorite podcasts—except for the ones you actually like. Apple and iOS would never let this happen. Could you imagine Amazon music letting themselves be beaten as the number one podcast player in the *coughs* Kindle Fire store?

First, let’s talk about how great Google is at making and then abandoning products. The company has created some of the most innovative software in the world, but it’s also responsible for some of the worst ideas ever conceived. Think about it: YouTube Red is a thing that exists—and now we’re stuck with YouTube Music. And don’t even get us started on Google Plus.

Google Should be Better at Podcast Apps on Android, Shouldn’t they?

But I digress: Back to Google Podcasts! This app is amazing because it makes podcast locating SO much easier than actually listening to podcasts (which we highly recommend). It’s like having a personal assistant who listens to every show you love, then tells you which episodes they liked best.

Only they don’t really listen because they’re just streaming your RSS feeds through a service called “GooglePlayMusic.” It’s like Google is in my head… Congress? Maybe look into that?

So if you’re looking for something close to every show on here, well… sorry! But if you want an app that lets you skip all those pesky ads and listen straight to the stuff that matters most? Then by all means: Download this app right now!

Pocket Casts

Pocket Casts is a free podcast app that’s been around for a while now, and it’s been constantly updated to keep up with all the latest trends in podcasting. It’s easy to use, intuitive and comes with some really cool features that make it stand out from the crowd.

• Speed Control
• Silence Trimmer
• Sleep Timer

It has automatic download capabilities that will save you time, but it also has manual download capabilities so you can get exactly what you want. If you’re like me, when you’re stuck on a subway or bus with no internet connection, you can still listen to your favorite podcasts!

The library is huge, but it doesn’t have everything—and that’s okay. You can find anything on Pocket Casts because it lets you search by title, description keywords, and even episode number.

It’s my go-to favorite, but it’s not perfect. So it sits aside a few others.

Spotify

Look… It’s just math ok?

 Spotify is the #1 Podcast Player. Over Taking Apple Podcasts, Who Invented the Medium

If there’s a reason your favorite show, say the Joe Rogan Experience, isn’t on your listening apps of choice, it’s likely because this is the 800lb gorilla in the Google Play store.

 Spotify Dominates Android Podcast Listening

The 20 Million Dollar Industry Tsunami

When Spotify signed the popular podcast to an exclusive $20 million dollar deal it changed the game. Completely. It also happened to make Rogan the highest-paid podcast host on the planet.

As an app, Spotify is fine. It isn’t podcast-specific since music is where they originated… why mess with a good thing? At this point, it should really just be on all Android devices. For $10 bucks a month you get unlimited everything with no ads? Yes, please.

Podcast Addict

Podcast Addict finds a home in my “Podcasts App” folder on my home screen. Wait… I just realized I typed that on my home screen. Embarrassing.

Regardless, I love me some Sam Harris, and during the Pandemic, it was only of all these wonderful podcast listening apps that I could figure out how to use to get his feed to play. Maybe I’m finally at the stage where I need to put my password on post-it notes. Embarrassing.

The actual interface is pretty straightforward. Although when I opened it, it told me it wasn’t going to play by the rules. The battery life rules. Then it updated services for a while and crashed.

You know what, it’s fine. Sam Harris everybody.

And the Rest of The Podcast Apps on Android Worth Looking At

Spotify is a great service, but it’s not the only game in town. If you’re looking for something that’s a little more personalized, there are plenty of podcast players out there that are just as good—and maybe even better. For some. Sometimes. Often I find myself messing with these ones because they have features or experiences

Podcast Republic

It’s a generally well-reviewed experience and it looks like the UX (User Interface) is pretty straightforward, but it is one of those contenders that just doesn’t have a differentiating factor. I suppose if I had found it before I found my Sam Harris access, I may have used it more.

 DiscoverPods takes no position on Gina’s position. Nice to Customer Service though.

That criticism she’s lodging is a problem for these smaller apps if I’m allowed to editorialize for a moment. They’re working without a net. People want to give them a chance, but when it gets in the way of the experience… Why can’t it be as simple as radio?

But again, in trying it, I wasn’t wowed. It was a perfectly good workhorse app. But I already have mine.

Worse, the latest review on Google Play seems to be trending downward. You don’t have to make changes to something that works because you’re on the clock. I hope they right the ship.

We’ll come back. Just going out for a pack of smokes.

Tunein Radio

This one is a little different. In addition to podcasting ability, they cover a lot of live sports, live radio, events, etc. It’s as close to an actual radio station repository as you’re going to get while staying on the right side of the law.

So if we were ranking apps (and that’s not the point of today’s exercise, class) it wouldn’t really be fair to put them in the same category. Are Howard Stern and Joe Rogan in the same category? Ehhhhhh…

Since it’s not apples to apples we’re going to say that this is an app worth checking out and leave it at that for now.

Player FM

Here’s the case of missing the boat on what seems to be a very fine application. I say application because it is meant to be cross-platform, which is great a really great idea. I think that is what Spotify has been trying to do, but these guys do a much better job.

Syncing across platforms is excellent, smooth, and a breeze. Sync what you say? Oh, just the library of 20 million podcasts and videos. And with podcasters with any real cache incorporating video, it’s a really smart place to be. But if we look at the graph of users above, they’re nowhere to be found.

Their FAQ was also nowhere to be found. But they’ve made some changes since their acquisition in 2020 for an undisclosed amount. Honestly, it looks like a good experience.

Stitcher

Sticher has always been more of a search engine for the medium that played what you found. And it seems they’ve been tinkering with the app, seeing as they say it’s been redone. That’s above the fold. That’s a big deal.

I’m not clear on how many changes they’ve made, but we know the old app was good. You’ll find their link littered throughout some of the older posts because it was the only place you could find some smaller, obscure shows.

Again, we’re not doing any ranking here, but I’m going to go out on a limb and say that Stitcher is still worth checking out. I know I’ll be checking out the new version and why don’t we do it together? It’ll be like a field trip. Remember field trips?

Simpler times everybody. Simpler times.

What is the Podcast app for Android?

It’s a jungle out there, but these podcast apps on Android will help you find your way.

You can’t always trust reviews when it comes to Android apps, and it’s incredibly easy to get lost in the Play Store. But we’ve done the work for you, and these are the ones we recommend trying first.

We’re not saying that every one of these apps is right for everyone—they’re all different, and all have their strengths and weaknesses. But these are tough times and at least they’re all free to try. And in all seriousness which one is the one you wouldn’t try?

Did we miss your favorite? Let us know on Twitter (we know) @Discover_Pods.

The post 7 Quality Podcast Apps on Android You Need to Try (And One You Shouldn’t) appeared first on Discover the Best Podcasts | Discover Pods.

Ideally, these places provide an easy way to upload audio files, generate an RSS feed for these files, distribute that RSS feed, and provide a place where an audience can listen. Other features a hosting service might provide are analytics, ad integration, and a website for your podcast. There are a lot of options for podcast hosts, both free and paid. If you don’t want to spend money to host your podcast, here are some free podcast hosting options.

Essentially, where can I upload podcasts?

You can upload podcasts at a hosting service of your choice. Some are paid, but many offer free options so you can launch a test balloon of your show before committing money.

A free podcast hosting service acts as the home for your show. Just like a website needs a hosting provider, podcasts also need some way to help store and distribute the podcast audio files. Though most have cost tiers associated with them, and you can read about our favorite podcast hosting services here, several have more affordable options and some even provide free podcast hosting. Below is a list of the pros and cons and reviews of the best free podcast hosting services.

In general, podcast hosting services:

• Create an easy method to upload audio files
• Generate an RSS feed to describe the files as well as establishes file locations for download
• Distributes your podcast RSS feed to iTunes (Apple Podcasts), Google Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, and more
• Provides a server where listeners can go and find the audio files

Another way to look at hosting is it serves as a vehicle that transports the show from its upload to its storage to its distribution and finally to its analytics as well as potential money-making opportunities. The host helps simplify everything in the creation and management process.

Don’t want to read the entire analysis? Here’s our quick winner:

Buzzsprout —  a simple, intuitive, and feature-rich podcast host perfect for most podcasters.

What to Look for with Podcast Hosting Free of Charge

Best Practices and How to Start a Podcast

In addition to its means as a platform that stores your important mp3 files and data, free services are also geared toward startup shows and traditionally has a lot of extra features and resources. These services may provide valuable tutorials and other reading material to learn more about what makes a good podcast and how to improve the overall quality of the audio recording. If you’re just starting out, make sure to check out our guide on how to start a podcast.

Podcast Analytics

Though the analytics for a podcast are basic at the free podcast hosting level, they can still help deliver important information and where and how your generating an audience as well as build upon that audience. The goal is to eventually have enough listeners that you can turn a profit on the podcast, though many still do it simply for the hobby of podcasting.

Pitfalls of Free Podcast Hosting

There are many other advanced features that are sometimes included with a free version and other times only granted to podcasters with paid accounts. These include a blog or website for listeners to stop in and visit, methods for listener feedback, automatic uploads to popular directories (Apple Podcast, Google Podcast, etc.) and customer service for any questions or problems you run into regarding the hosting or RSS feed.

The same rule applies with podcast hosting with any product: you get what you pay for and once again the old adage is true, “if you’re not paying for the product, you’re the product.”

If after some time your podcast outgrows the free host tier,  there is always the opportunity to upgrade to a paid podcast hosting solution.

Many are reasonably priced between in $10 to $20 per month. Until then you can expect the upload time and bandwidth to be limited, which not only impacts the number of hours you can upload each month but also the playback speeds. Advanced metrics and potential money-making opportunities are usually restricted to paid subscribers as well.

In the end, free versions are basic means to an RSS feed and file hosting, but as your audience grows you’ll want to consider an upgrade. When you get to that point, make sure to read our best podcast hosting services review. For now a free account is sufficient for many new podcasts.

Compare Free Podcast Hosting

Best Free Podcast Hosting Services

Buzzsprout

Buzzsprout is a hosting service that features a basic, free podcast hosting plan along with affordable monthly options that require no contract or credit card to sign-up. Buzzsprout currently works with notable podcast directories like Apple/iTunes, Spotify, Google Podcast and Stitcher.

The website has worked to provide hosting for over 50,000 people since the website was launched in 2009. It boosts several 5 star reviews from satisfied customers.

Strengths

• Subscription includes your own custom website and ways to sync with popular directories
• 250 GB of bandwidth each month for paid plans, even less for the free version
• Supports multiple audio file types then optimizes the quality of the file
• Easily migrate a podcast from another source onto Buzzsprout with minimal effort

Weaknesses

• Unlimited storage for free plan, but can only upload 2 hours each month
• Only 90 days of hosting for a free podcast before Buzzsprout wants you to upgrade to a paid version

Buzzsprout is promoted as one of the easiest ways to host, promote and track a podcast. Like a lot of providers it includes detailed analytics to learn more about the audience tuning in.

The website is designed to make it easier to upload and publish once an episode is recorded. Publishing can take place within minutes of an upload, or even get scheduled days or weeks in advance.

It supports a number of different audio files. Not only that but the website optimizes the file based on if it’s more spoken word, or a show that also incorporates a lot of music. A purchasable add-on will event boost audio to 128k stereo.

One great feature on the dashboard is that it provides a notification of how much upload time is left in the current cycle, so you do not have to guess approximately how many more minutes you have left to upload each month.

Podcasters may learn everything about where and how listeners are connecting, what device or directory they are using to play the episode, and more advanced stats.

Buzzsprout helps get you listed on popular podcast directories and is also mobile-friendly. An embedded version is provided for your own domain. The hosting provider also includes your own website upon sign-up.

The free subscription delivers 2 hours of upload time each month and the episode is hosted for 90 days before its removed. The next step up costs $12 per month, and only one more hour of upload time each month yet is hosted indefinitely.

Deal: Get a $20 Amazon gift card when you sign up. Click here.

Spreaker

Spreaker is a well known provider for podcasters as it’s an all-in-one system for new as well as established shows. It provides a versatile program that helps you create, distribute, as well as potentially make money on your podcast.

Spreaker says they are “the one-stop-shop for recording, publishing, monetizing, and distributing your podcasts.” The free plan gives you basic stats, and the ability to store up to 5 hours of audio, and 10 episodes for the whole account.

The episode size limit is 300MB for all plans on Spreaker. You can host multiple podcasts on the same account, and they assist with distribution to iHeart Radio, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts. Spreaker does not offer monetization for their free podcast hosting plan, though it is available on their paid ones.

You don’t need a credit card to sign up for the free plan. Spreaker has an app you can use to produce your show, and even go live (no other free podcast plan allows for live broadcasting). The free plan has a 15 minute limit per live broadcast session.

Spreaker was launched in 2010, and now hosts thousands of publishers along with millions of active listeners. It includes apps for Android and iOS as well.

Strengths

• The best recording studio of any free hosting service for podcasts
• External tools like broadcasting software and mixers supported for advanced audio production
• Unlimited bandwidth on all subscriptions including the free version
• Live streaming, including up to 15 minutes per episode for users not paying a dime
• Podcast monetization program with dynamics ads, giving 60% of the revenue to the podcaster
• IAB certified podcast statistics
• Allows a single account to manage multiple podcasts

Weaknesses

• Monetization is only available on the paid plans

Spreaker is unique in that it also features an onboard recording and editing system on its platform. Users may record a podcast and post at a later date, or even broadcast live. Content may also get migrated from an existing service through its RSS importer. The studio app is extremely resourceful and easy to use.

After you record or upload an audio file, it’s time to distribute. Spreaker supports various forms of social media for uploads as well as mainstream directories like Apple Podcasts and YouTube. Like most podcast hosting services, you may also embed a widget onto your own website for immediate playback.

Analytics are crucial to the success of any new podcast and Spreaker provides basic statistics for its free and $5.99 per month plans, as well as more detailed stats for the higher priced monthly subscriptions. The analytics for the free plan is good but not great, about what you would expect as well as comparable to other free hosting providers.

The free plan also includes 5 hours of audio storage and 15 minutes of max live streaming (in a single session). However, the podcast monetization tool is not available with the free sign-up. Bandwidth is unlimited on every type of subscription.

Deal: First month free with code “discoverpod”. Click here.

Simplecast

Simplecast is taking a big and bold approach, with a modern design aesthetic that looks more like a high end gym or streetwear brand than a podcast hosting service. But, don’t be distracted by the bold fonts — with a $15 per month unlimited plan and two-week trial with no credit card required, they clearly mean business.

Simplecast also offers tools aimed at growing podcasts in their $35 per month Essential plan and $85 per month Growth plan, including more advanced analytics, collaboration tools and an increase in the number of included monthly downloads. 

Simplecast also offers Professional and Enterprise plans for larger volume shows, which is rare for some of the newer podcast hosting platforms out there. You have to contact Simplecast’s sales team for pricing, but working with a growing host could be a great option for a growing podcast network looking to get competitive pricing and lots of access to customer support. 

Podbean

Podbean is self-described as an “easy and powerful” way to podcast. The podcast hosting service provides four different plans for users, including one completely free version. As your podcast grows it also offers two paid versions.

Podbean currently hosts over 240,000 podcasters with more than 7.4 million episodes combined. The site also boasts around 6 billion downloads.

Strengths

• Provides excellent resources for sharing and building audience
• Features an app for Android and iPhone users
• RSS Feed and iTunes Support included even with free plan
• One of the largest podcast hosting platforms available
• Will scale as you grow

Weaknesses

• Free version is limited to 5 hours of storage
• Cannot use your own domain name for a podcast through free subscription

Podbean advertises as a service that presents everything you need to create, manage, and promote a podcast. The website features everything from custom domains to upload and publishing tools, methods to promote a podcast, as well as embedded players for the episodes.

The provider is like a lot of the podcast hosting companies featured in the article in that little programming knowledge is necessary to record, produce, upload and share your new podcasts. It is also mobile-ready which is a must for any podcast hosting service these days.

Though the three paid options do deliver unlimited bandwidth, the free version is capped at 100GB monthly, and five hours of storage space. The hosting is described as reliable with a robust network that is flexible based on where and how your viewers listen.

Podcasters may connect their own website to the hosting provider or embed a player on their own domain for easy playback. Sharing tools enable listeners to connect with you on social media, while other types of audience engagement like enabling feedback are nice additions.

Podbean presents a breakdown of how the podcast is performing, and also provides advertising sponsorship opportunities for its members. The website can help introduce premium subscription services to your podcast as well as crowdfund.

Related reading:

• Libsyn vs. Podbean Podcast Host Review
• Blubrry vs. Podbean Podcast Host Review

Deal: Get your first month free if/when you upgrade for a paid account. Click here.

Acast

Acast says they are “the world’s leading independent podcast company.” The free podcast hosting plan gives you basic analytics, unlimited episodes, and a basic podcast website. You can’t integrate with Patreon, customize your website, monetize with advertising, or distribute to Amazon Music, Spotify and Youtube using Acast on the free plan (as these features require a Pro account).

You’ll have to submit your RSS feed to listening platforms manually. There is not a limit to episode size for the free plan specifically, though the max episode size is 150MB for all plans on Acast to match the file download limit on Apple Podcasts. You don’t need to input any billing info to sign up on the free plan. Acast allows for multiple shows, but you are billed one plan per podcast – not an issue for using the free plan, but could potentially make upgrading costly if you have multiple podcasts on Acast.

Anchor

Anchor is self-proclaimed as “the easiest way to make a podcast.” When it started, Anchor had some controversy about who owns the content uploaded to it, but they have since clarified in their terms of service that “You retain ownership of your User Content. Using Anchor does not cause you to lose ownership of your content.”

Since being acquired by Spotify, Anchor has had numerous issues with the podcast community including producing podcasts in a non-compliant manner, making their podcasts unplayable in some podcast players, several large-scale bugs, deleting podcasts without cause, allowing pirated podcasts on their platform (and here) — and to be monetized, and many others. I would recommend staying away from Anchor.

They only offer a free plan, which allows for unlimited episodes, basic analytics, a simple website, and some monetization options, though the latter is available only to users in the US. There is no episode size limit, though you can only upload 250MB at a time (but multiple files can be combined into a single episode).

The biggest downside of Anchor is that you can only create one podcast per free podcast hosting account. If you want to use Anchor for multiple feeds, you’ll need multiple emails – but only a different email, as you don’t need a credit card to sign up. Anchor also assists with distribution to a number of listening platforms, and has an app that podcasters can use to make their show.

Castbox

Castbox is a podcast app (self-proclaimed as “the best free podcast app with over 95 million volumes of content”) that also allows podcasters to host their feeds for free. Their plan allows unlimited hosting, but they only offer statistics from people who listen using their app.

If you want additional analytics on your show, you’d have to use a third party service, and this can be a dealbreaker to many (especially because many third party services aren’t free themselves). You can host multiple feeds in the same account on Castbox, and you don’t need to input any billing info to sign up. The episode size limit is 400M, the second largest of all the free hosting services. There are no monetization options available through Castbox, and you’ll need to submit your RSS feed to other platforms manually – though it will automatically show up on the Castbox app.

Pinecast

Pinecast’s tagline is “podcast hosting made easy.” The free plan gives you basic analytics, up to two podcast feeds, and access to the tip jar (which lets you collect donations from your listeners). Pinecast also assists with distribution to a number of listening platforms.

On the free plan, you can upload an unlimited number of episodes, but only the ten most recent episodes per podcast are available to listeners – previous episodes are not deleted, and if you join a paid plan your full backlog will be available to all. If you’re making a serialized show with more than 10 episodes, this might be a dealbreaker, but if you’re doing topical episodes this might not be an issue.

The free plan has a 48MB episode size limit, which becomes 80MB on a paid plan (along with unlimited feeds instead of two). You don’t need a credit card to sign up for the free plan, and there are no monetization options available through Pinecast beyond the tip jar. 

Podomatic

The free podcast hosting plan gives you 15 GB of bandwidth per month and 500MB of storage a month, by far the most technical limits of any free podcasting plan. There is not a limit on the number or length of episodes beyond the available bandwidth and storage on your Podomatic account. The episode size limit for Podomatic is 350MB for all plans.

On the free plan, you cannot get any analytics for your show, integrate with Patreon, or get sponsorships with Podcorn using Podomatic, but they will help assist with distribution to a number of listening platforms. Like with Castbox, the lack of analytics is Podomatic’s biggest drawback.

You can manage multiple feeds using one email, but must have separate accounts with different usernames. Podomatic also offers a way to record your podcast directly on the podomatic website (though it does not support guest callers), and you don’t need to input any billing information to sign up.

SoundCloud

SoundCloud is not a podcast host. Do not use SoundCloud for podcasts.

The post The 9 Best Free Podcast Hosting Services in 2023 appeared first on Discover the Best Podcasts | Discover Pods.

A “podcasting kit” necessary to produce a show can be as simple as a microphone that records to a laptop, or a several thousand dollar package. Every producer will have different intentions, and there is not a one size fits all answer to what equipment to purchase first.

Furthermore, just because something is more expensive or more advanced does not mean it is the right option for you. Consider building a set of equipment up by adding new pieces to make your process easier with time, rather than buying everything immediately and cutting corners in quality.

Best Podcast Equipment Guide 

This guide will break down the best podcast equipment 2022 & 2023 has to offer at varying price points, but ultimately you should make a decision based on what your podcasting objectives are. For many, podcasting will just be a hobby but if you want to produce a show that eventually brings on advertisers and lures in big guests, a solid gear set-up is essential.

In most cases, the best option will not be the cheapest and listeners of new shows will be deterred by audio that is not crisp. Whether you are starting a show from scratch and need a full set of gear, or you are looking to fill in holes with the podcast equipment you have, these are our picks for the essential equipment at any price point. 

Equipment for a podcast: Podcast Microphones

If there is one piece of equipment that is absolutely essential for podcasting, it is a good quality podcast microphone. Choosing the right studio microphone can make or break your podcast. The past few years have seen the emergence of several new microphones to the market that are sold as “pro-sumer” podcasting mics.

These mics are simple to set up and use, often not requiring a mixer or even an XLR cable, and tend to produce quality audio that will be more than sufficient for most spoken word shows. Musicians or performers looking to create podcasts where perfect audio is essential will still want to opt for traditional, professional mics. 

Microphone Differences

One of the key differences in podcasting microphones is the input, specifically XLR and USB. While most readers will be familiar with USB inputs, XLR microphones may be a bit less familiar and with that, tend to come with more professional mics. With all microphones, but especially USB microphones, purchasers should be aware of quality and read reviews or try to find online audio tests. 

A second difference you will encounter when researching microphones is the direction from which the microphone records audio, either dynamic or omnidirectional.

A dynamic microphone, or condenser, microphones have a more narrow path and omnidirectional, or cardioid, microphones take in audio from a wider field. While the latter can result in more background noise, it also leads to a fuller, richer sound.

Consider what environments you will be recording audio in and choose accordingly. You don’t want to accidentally ending up sounding like the Hindenburg journalist.

Rode Podmic ($)

The Rode Podmic, priced currently at $99.00, is a steal for the quality and performance. A cardioid mic built for the studio, this option includes an internal pop filter (more on that later) and an internal shock mount that reduces vibration. Although a stand is not included, the mic easily will mount on to whatever set up you would like to use. The all-metal construction also feels expensive and is built to last. 

Rode is an incredibly reputable brand in the audio space, and they have a full suite of tools that this mic is designed to work alongside.

If you want a high quality microphone but are intimidated by the idea of purchasing an option that uses an XLR cable, consider something like the Podmic that is specifically designed with the newer podcaster in mind. The Rode NT-USB-Mini USB Mic is another option from Rode, also priced at $99.00, for those looking for a USB set up. 

Blue Yeti X USB Mic ($$)

Blue has improved upon their incredibly popular microphone with the Blue Yeti X, marketed specifically to gamers, streamers, and podcasters.

Easily the two most impressive features of the microphone are the ability to switch between four pickup patterns (such as omnidirectional for a group discussion or bidirectional for a two person interview) and the new LED metering system for live evaluation of audio levels.

While neither feature would be especially suitable for a professional audio engineer, they are nice features to have that will certainly help podcasters out. 

Every Yeti mic uses USB output and work with their suite of software tools and add-on podcast equipment. The mic comes with a tabletop stand, but can also work with a boom arm or boom stand if preferred. Always easy to use and more than competent in sound, Blue has truly done it again with the Yeti X. 

Shure MV7 USB Mic ($$$)

Shure is a household name in audio circles. The Shure SM-57 and 58 are staples in live settings.

Shure has created a microphone that many will see as the best of both worlds. An all-metal mic with a built in headphone jack for live monitoring, the MV7 is one of the best mics on the market that offers both USB and XLR output. With either option, the sound is rich and natural.

Shure has also introduced the ShurePlus MOTIV app for desktop, which allows for additional modifications for how audio is recorded including an Auto Level mode that makes this one of the easiest mics on the market to use. 

With it’s dual inputs, Shure’s MV7 is perhaps the best USB microphone on the market. It is a great option for podcasters on the go who may need to use different set ups at different times, and a great option if you are an early stage podcaster looking for a mic that will grow with them. 

Movo UM700 Desktop USB Microphone ($)

If you are tired of digging through pages and pages of new brands introducing affordable audio gear, look no further than Movo. Of all of the newer companies that have popped up, Movo is consistently one of the best reviewed and has several well-priced mics (as well as a full catalogue of video and vlogging tools).

Movo has replicated a lot of the features mics by brands such as Blue offer, but at a lower price point. Of course, there are some set-backs, such as the fact that you get a micro-USB input, rather than the USB-C that most higher-end USB mics offer. 

When purchasing a lower priced mic, you will miss out on some of the features integrated into other mics such as built-in shock absorption mounts or filters to stop plosions, and may need to fill in those gaps with additional accessories. Still, if you are looking for a solid option under the $100.00 price point, the MovoUM700 is a good bet. Plus, you can skip the extra mic stand.

Podcast Equipment: Microphone Accessories

While not essential, several add-ons will turn a good recording set-up into a great one. Pop filters and shock mounts are definitely worth considering, especially if you are recording audio with speakers who may be a bit more boisterous or are newer to recording audio. 

Also known as windscreens, serve to protect a microphone from unwanted peaking caused by certain sounds, typically “P” sounds. These mounts do exactly what the name suggests, and serve as a bit of extra security in case a microphone, or even the table a microphone stand is on, gets bumped. Consider adding these accessories to your set up for a bit of extra protection while recording. 

Nady MPF-6 6-Inch Clamp On Microphone Filter ($$)

Few things differentiate the best of the best, but Nady’s MPF-6 is a great option given its long, flexible gooseneck that can be easily attached to most microphones or stands.

The gooseneck and the filter itself are well constructed, and the clamp provides a snug fit. The last thing you want is a pop filter falling off a stand or sliding down mid-recording. At six inches in diameter, it is also provides great coverage compared to some smaller pop filters. 

Yeti X Mic Pop Filter ($)

Yeti’s contribution to the market is specifically designed to work with their mics, but will fit with many others as well. It’s constructed with three layers, two steel mesh with sponge in the middle, and has a gooseneck arm with 360 degree flexibility. 

Because it is designed to work with Yeti’s mics which often feature tabletop stands, this is a great option for any mic that has a similar design. The clamp is designed to work as an attachment to booms, as well. 

There are several great shock-mounts, boom arms and other accessories on the market that are designed specifically for different microphones. In addition, serval manufacturers offer packages with their microphones that include filters or shock-mounts, as well as things such as cables or headphones.

For all accessories, especially if you already own a microphone that you are comfortable using, consider looking into offerings from the same manufacturer to ensure compatibility. 

Podcast Equipment: Mixers and Interfaces

If you have a laptop, a podcast mixing board, or audio interface, may not be essential for recording. However, there are a few situations where a mixer is not only recommended, but essential. 

As the name indicates, an audio interface is used to combine several different audio elements together and mix them into a single track. The different inputs typically include several different microphone feeds, such as if you are recording a podcast with multiple speakers.

While some capabilities of a mixer can be done with software in post-production, they are a great addition to any kit. If you are using a XLR microphone, you will also need a mixer to record to a laptop, or a separate usb audio interface that accepts XLR cables. 

You may also want to add a mixer to your set up if you are recording live shows, or if you simply want more control over your audio. While there may be a bit of a learning curve, the flexibility the interface will provide you with will certainly make it worthwhile. 

As you consider this section, note that you will likely come across the term “interface” in your research as well. While there are some differences between the two, such as mixers adding the ability to integrate sound effects, the two essentially serve the same function for podcast recording.

Rode RODECaster Pro ($$$)

No list of mixers for podcasting would be complete without the RODECaster. One of the first mixers marketed specifically for podcasting, the RODECaster changed the game by creating a piece of podcast equipment that was easy to use for people not trained as audio engineers, but equipped with many of the features an engineer would need.

The RODECaster has four input channels for XLR mics, as well as a USB-C input. Additional features such as the ability to connect to a phone via Bluetooth to record interviews were added specifically with podcasters in mind. 

The RODECaster is a “prosumer” tool, meaning that while it suitable for professionals, it is designed to be accessible and easy to learn. Keep in mind that with Rode’s offering, you will not be able to control audio input as fully as you would with other similarly priced mixers. In most cases, the mixer is more than enough and the removed functionalities will actually add to ease of use, rather than being a setback. 

Yamaha MG10XU ($$)

If you are looking for a more traditional mixer at an affordable price, Yamaha has several great options including the 10-input (four microphone) MG10XU. The mixer includes a USB port to record directly to a computer, and will be similar in design and functionality for those experienced with traditional mixing boards. In addition to this four microphone set up, Yamaha has a full suite or mixers with capabilities for up to 20 inputs.

One benefit of using some of the newer podcasting mixers is that they have multiple headphone outputs for live monitoring, while most traditional mixers would require a splitter. If you are an audiophile though, this Yamaha option will be a great addition to your setup. 

Zoom PodTrak P4 Podcast Recorder ($$)

For years, podcasters in the field have been using Zoom devices to record audio. While all of Zoom’s recorders could work well as a podcast interface, the PodTrak P4 was designed specifically for podcasting with a simplified interface, the addition of programmable sound pads, and USB input for remote interviews. There are also four headphone jacks, while Zoom’s products typically just have one. 

The benefit of using a tool like the PodTrak P4 is that it is incredibly compact and can be used on the go. Audio is recorded directly to an SD card, so this is a great option for a travel podcasting kit or, as mentioned, field interviews. Zoom’s products are always very intuitive to use, and the addition of a bright screen that allows you to monitor your audio levels, memory card space and battery level is a nice plus. 

Focusrite Scarlett ($)

With the Scarlett, Focusrite has created nearly the perfect podcast starter kit interface for a solo podcaster. It turns any bedroom into a podcast studio. Assuming you’ve got the rest of the recording equipment.

For about $100 you get a USB interface with an XLR input, 48v phantom power, and a quarter inch line in. With individual gain and balanced monitoring, you can really dial in the acoustic treatment you’re looking for in your podcast episode.

Focusrite has also put together some equipment packages that may appeal to content creators who are just starting out. They include an audio recorder, headphones, a basic condenser mic and the cables you need. Then all you are shopping for are mic stands that fit your space. Not a bad route.

Essential Podcast Equipment: Headphones 

While it may be painful to admit, many of your listeners will likely listen to your episodes through cheap earbuds, car speakers, or other less than ideal output devices. However, when you are monitoring your recording or finetuning your production, quality headphones are essential to ensure that those who do take listening seriously get the quality they deserve. 

Anyone who has shopped for podcast headphones knows that prices vary a lot, and in most cases you get what you pay for. While a microphone is a more important investment to make for quality recording, headphones make podcasting fun. You should be able to listen to your audio recordings at the highest level of quality possible.

If you are a new podcaster, rather than setting out to buy headphones just for recording, considering getting a pair you will enjoy listening to audio with as well. 

OneOdio Wired Over Ear Headphones Studio Monitor & Mixing DJ Stereo Headsets ($)

OneOdio offers a very affordable pair of headphones that provide clear, dynamic sound comparable with pairs at much higher price points. While they are relatively bulky, they offer a comfortable fit and can be folded and fit into a provided carrying case.  

These headphones do not offer wireless functionality or noise cancellation, but remember that in most cases, you will not be able to monitor sound from a mixer or microphone using wireless headphones. Noise cancellation, or a headphone amplifier, while an excellent addition, may not be essential for editing because you will ideally be doing this type of work in a quiet space.

If you are simply looking for an extra pair of headphones to use for editing, or if you want to purchase multiple headphones for guests to use in a studio, OneOdio is a great option. 

Sennheiser Pro Audio HD280PRO Headphone ($$)

A household name in audio, Sennheiser makes several great headphones and continues to release new models with improved fit, functionality and design. Compared to previous models, the HD280PRO is largely only different because of changes to the fit and structure.

Sennheiser uses the same audio technology in this pair as previous models, but that sound has been perfected and you will immediately notice the rich, warm sound that Sennheiser headphones provide.

Sennheiser’s headphones are affordable in price, but they also allow you to replace the earpads, headband padding or audio cord, making it a great long-term investment as well. 

Audio-Technica ATH-M70X Pro Studio Monitor Headphones ($$$)

Audio-Technica’s headphones are praised by audio engineers and are commonplace in many professional studios. The audio quality provided by Audio-Technica is second to none, with the ability to accurately reproduce extreme low and high frequencies. 

This pair is well built, with a comfortable headband and swiveling earcups that allow for one-ear monitoring as well as easy storage. While they are not noise canceling, the ear cup design offers great sound isolation in louder environments.

The Audio Technica headphones also come with three detachable cables, ranging from about four feet to 12 feet, which make them suitable for several editing or monitoring set-ups. 

Podcast Equipment: Recording and Editing Software

Audacity (free)

Audacity is an excellent tool for recording and basic editing, incredibly popular with amateurs and professionals alike. Audacity is free to download and despite a very outdated interface, remains a good option for both recording and editing.

Because has been available for so long (the first version was released in 2000), there are plenty of tools and resources available online to help learn the fairly simple interface. 

Adobe Audition ($$)

If you are an Adobe suite subscriber, you already have access to capable program. Slightly more affordable than Pro Tools and far more advanced than Audacity, definitely consider Audition if you are looking for an easy-to-learn, robust tool. 

While Audition is the obvious reason to purchase the Adobe suite as a podcaster, additional software such as Premiere (for video podcast editing) and Illustrator (for design and illustration) could also be helpful. As a new podcaster with a tight budget, learning these tools will help save you money down the line compared to hiring a freelancer. 

Pro Tools ($$$)

If Photoshop is the household name in photo editing, then Pro Tools is the equivalent for audio editing. Pro Tools is used by the world’s leading musicians, engineers, and editors to fine tune audio, and it is more than sufficient for any podcaster. In fact, for many, it may be too much. It’s the digital audio equivalent of a Lambo.

While the basic functionality of Pro Tools can be picked up fairly quickly, but the additional benefits have a very steep learning curve. If you are recording audio clearly in a quiet, softened space, you will ideally not need to be doing a lot of post-production and will not have use for many of Pro Tools’ functions.

For professionals mastering music or scoring movies like the ability to have 256 audio tracks will likely also not be utilized by a podcaster. 

Pro Tools has an extensive library of training content, which is a plus, but in most cases it is not an essential piece of a podcasters toolkit. Instead, invest in a good mic, sound blankets or another method of dampening for your recording space, and you will likely be satisfied with a lower cost editing tool. 

Logic Pro ($$)

Logic is Apple’s foray into the world of audio editing. While it might be associated with music, it works with all audio interfaces and feels right at home in the podcast production world. Considering Apple invented the entire genre, it if you’re working in the Apple environment, then Logic is a sensible choice for a professional podcast setup.

Garage Band, Apple’s free recording software is, recording software wise, the best podcast equipment for beginners. The learning curve is shallow, its free with every Mac, and you can step up to Logic in your podcasting equipment progression. Apple has created a superb digital recorder ecosystem.

Podcast Hosting Platforms

After you have recorded an episode, you need somewhere to put it online. These platforms handle this aspect of the process, as well as the distribution of episodes to places like Apple Podcasts. Certain hosts also offer a long list of other benefits, so while it can be appealing to look for a free option, this is really not a place to pennypinch. 

Some of the most popular options are, Buzzsprout, Libsyn, Altiu, Red Circle, Castos, and Blubrry, but you will find numerous others available as well. We have a list of the best free podcast hosting services, which not only explains features and storage options, but also evaluates the ups and downs of each. For example, many of the top hosting sites will allow you to create a free website for your podcast, while others have proprietary recording or editing software that comes included with a storage subscription. 

What essential equipment for a podcast do I spend money on? 

In theory, the only equipment for a podcast you require is access to a smartphone or laptop computer. One of the most beautiful things about podcasting is that, compared to other mediums such as video, the barrier to entry is fairly low. That being said, we think that the benefits of spending a bit on certain podcast equipment will be instantly apparent. 

If you want to spend less than $150.00 

The most important thing in podcasting is your idea or concept, and the second most important thing is your microphone. There are several excellent microphones available for under $100.00, such as Blue or Movo’s offerings. Combining these microphones with Audacity, Garageband or a different free software to record and edit could be a great set-up. 

If you are purchasing a lower end microphone, ensure that your recording location is going to produce excellent sound. You can use blankets from around the house to dampen sound, or even record in a closet where the clothes can act as makeshift sound blankets. 

If you want to spend $150.00 to $350.00 

In this price range, you will have the budget to acquire a paid hosting plan, which will likely be around $100.00 to $150.00 / year depending on the exact service. From there, you can find many excellent microphones in the $100.00 range, and should have budget left over for a few accessories such as a filter for the microphone, or a nice pair of headphones. 

If you want to spend more than $350.00

There are several directions you can go if you have a larger podcast equipment budget. For a solo-podcaster, invest in a nice microphone like the Shure MV7, as well as the hosting service of your choice. With a nicer mic, some of the other equipment for a podcast becomes less essential. 

You could also easily build out a two or three microphone set up for a podcast with multiple hosts for less than $500.00. A Zoom PodTrak P4, hosting, and two Rode PodMic microphones would put you right at $500.00. Consider also looking for packages that include accessories such as headphones or cables, or consider refurbished podcast equipment if you are purchasing multiple pieces. 

Like with most technology, you truly do get what you pay for with audio equipment, and in most cases cheap equipment will need to be replaced, or will be come unusable after a certain amount of time. With equipment you will be using for every episode, such as your microphone or even the cables that go with it, you will end up paying for a slightly cheaper product in the long run. 

Above all else though, good equipment cannot save a bad podcast. While a microphone can cost $50.00, $200.00, or even $1,000.00, a good idea for a podcast is priceless.

The post The Best Equipment for a Podcast for 2023 (on any budget) appeared first on Discover the Best Podcasts | Discover Pods.

Podcasting is not new, but what is new (and surprising to most) is how powerful of a marketing tool a branded podcast can be. Unfortunately, most companies don’t really understand what a podcast can do for them or why they should have their own podcast.

A company’s bottom line is what keeps them in business. The difference between growing and dying can come down to how you get your message out.

According to Huify, acquiring a new customer is up to five times more expensive than retaining a customer. When you consider that, customer retention jumps out as a marketing must.

Not only are existing customers cheaper to maintain/acquire, they’re much more likely to buy again, and forgive brand mistakes. Most importantly, they’re more likely to try something new. In short… they’re loyal. They’ll grow alongside your brand, and will advocate for it when times are tough.

All of a sudden, the added cost and expense of starting a company branded podcast doesn’t seem so off putting.

But why? Let’s take a look.

Podcasts are Effective at Building Relationships

The customers I described above, the loyal ones, are in a relationship with your brand. With more than 50% of the population listening to podcasts, making relatable, long form content is more important than ever. If you want to connect, you need to provide informational value.

When a listener downloads and presses play, they’re inviting your message into their world.

Professor Scott Galloway, Professor of marketing at NYU Stern, explains the connection thusly. When someone comes up and says hello, it’s because they heard his podcast. It’s not his books, not his articles, or television punditry. It’s the podcast that strikes a stronger chord with the content creator or brand.

Storytelling Builds Rapport

The reason? Storytelling is more effective than statistics when it comes to building rapport. And rapport is at the heart of any good audience.

Nobody goes to a cocktail party and remembers the guest rattling off statistics, do they? Well, it so happens, podcasts are the perfect opportunity for long form storytelling.

Most marketing channels provide just enough time to fire off some of your greatest accomplishments. Those often come in statistical form. Podcasts allow a brand to expand upon those statistics and put them into context.

Think of a spokesman doing a segment on cable news with only 15 – 30 seconds of time to present their talking points. Almost all will end up trying to relate statistics to a story. Most of the time those segments go in one ear and out the other.

Content Expansion

Podcasts, on the other hand, are different. Pods are a medium that let’s content creators and brands discuss their product or mission at length. Even if someone doesn’t listen to a particular episode, it still adds value. A larger topic discussion, the episode can still serve as the hub where other content spokes will connect.

The marketing department can expand on each episode and link back for greater context. A hosting solution like Podbean’s unlimited bandwidth, download, and storage is a marketer’s dream. Every discussion adds to the repository of marketing material.

Marketers are great at expanding upon larger content pieces, but isn’t starting a podcast too involved to be truly effective?

It’s Never Been Easier (or Cheaper) to Start a Podcast

Starting a podcast has never been easier. It doesn’t matter if you are an amateur in your basement or a major, publicly traded, brand. In 2021, it’s a level playing field.

In fact, you can set up a podcast recording studio for under $100 which removes any barrier of entry for a company branded podcast.

Podcast hosting companies like Podbean spent a great deal of time and energy making a user experience that is unparalleled. Beyond that, it’s an experience that is cost-effective. From recording, to publishing and episode statistics, Podbean makes the process from beginning to end simple. There’s no code or technical knowledge needed to put your brand into the podcast zeitgeist.

Podcasts Aren’t Commercials

Commercials were the bread and butter of advertising. 30 second television campaigns with clever slogans. With bait designed to hook as many potential customers as possible.

The sales hook beats the potential consumer over the head. It’s off putting and that sales method has sailed.

Podcasts are subtle. They’re nuanced expressions that humanize a brand by letting listeners attach real human beings to a brand through audio. Human beings are conditioned to bristle at being sold to, a branded podcast turns that feeling on it’s head.

A branded podcast gives companies the opportunity to display expertise, over a long period of time, using real people. It’s a game changer in the world of content marketing. They keep your brand top of mind without being pushy.

The Biggest Question to Ponder About Branded Podcasts

The hardest question for a marketing department to answer about starting a branded podcast isn’t “why,” but “why not?” If everyone should start a podcast in 2021, why shouldn’t your brand?

The barriers of entry are low enough on the hardware to be nearly non-existent. Podcast hosting companies like Podbean make the user experience seamless and cost-effective at the same time. Your episodes are stored into perpetuity and can serve as the basis for the entirety of your content marketing plan.

The format is more effective at building rapport between potential customers or a brand. More so than any marketing channel available. When you get your brand’s up and running, let us know.

The post Why Every Company Needs a Branded Podcast appeared first on Discover the Best Podcasts | Discover Pods.