What’s the best budget-friendly podcasting equipment?

This is probably the most common question I get from podcasters, and I’m assuming that if you’re reading this, you’re either new to podcasting, or ready for an equipment upgrade. Luckily for you, really good audio gear has become quite “affordable” and it’s now easier than ever for podcasters to record pro audio from absolutely anywhere.

I put affordable in quotations, because it can and does start to add up, but my philosophy has always been to buy things once! If you cheap out on key pieces of gear, chances are, you’re just going to have to replace it within a few months and you’ll end up spending more in the long run. Do it right the first time!

If you decide podcasting isn’t your thing in a year from now, some other new podcaster will gladly buy up everything you have on Facebook Marketplace, so all is not lost. With that said, let’s get into the good stuff, and keep in mind these are my recommendations for a budget friendly, but pro sounding set up. There are more expensive options and less expensive options out there, but I’ll save those for another post.

Microphones

This is the area you don’t want to cheap out on, given that the microphone is the first piece of gear between your mouth and your audiences ears. A good microphone will make all the difference and there are a number of options to choose from. Without going down the sound rabbit hole, my suggestion for new podcasters is to go with a dynamic microphone such as these:

Rode Procaster - $309 (CAD) $229 (USD)

This is an excellent dynamic microphone that’s built specifically for podcasting and includes a built in pop filter, so she’s plug in ready! Keep in mind though, there is no USB option with this microphone, so an audio interface is required (see below)

Curious what the Rode Procaster sounds like? Jersey boy, Joe Cermele from Cut & Retie, who we’ve worked with over the past year, has four Procaster mics in his studio, and they sound fantastic! Have a listen:

Shure MV7 USB /XLR - $339 (CAD) $249 (USD)

Modelled after the famous Shure SM7B microphone (my personal favourite), but built with podcasters in mind. It is slightly more expensive than the Rode Procaster, but it’s equipped with the option to use a USB connection, so you can eliminate the need for an audio interface. You simply plug this guy directly into your laptop and you’re podcasting.

When using the USB option, there are a lot of extras included with this mic, (which I won’t get into now) but maybe the most convenient/useful is the option to plug your headphones directly into the mic. I don’t love the sound of this mic to be completely honest, but they do sound good, and will give you pro level audio regardless of my opinion. We used the MV7 (XLR output) for a local corporate podcast, so have a listen and decide for yourself:

Audio Interfaces

Using a microphone equipped with USB (such as the Shure MV7) will eliminate the need for an audio interface, and save you some cash, but if you’re planing on using XLR mics and doing interviews in person (rather than over Zoom etc) you’re going to need an audio interface to plug you and your guest into via XLR. And in my opinion, using XLR over USB just sounds better! Why? Because I sad so…

Before you buy new though, I can almost guarantee that Facebook Marketplace has MANY audio interfaces for sale, so you can likely save some cash by looking there first.

Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 $289 (CAD) $199 (USD)

I LOVE these little guys, and for the price, you can’t ask for anything better. However, these were first created for musicians, so there are some limitations, including having only one headphone jack. But these deliver crisp clean audio, and I’ve been using one since they first came out. Sadly after a solid decade of dedicated service, my 1st generation 2i2 recorded it’s final track RIP.

As mentioned above, there’s a lot of used ones floating around, so wait for one to pop up, but they are cheap enough to buy new. As for only having one headphone jack, you can always buy a headphone amp, or even a cheap headphone splitter cable, so it’s not a big deal.

When doing Zoom interviews, the Scarlett can be used for this application too. You’ll hear your guest in your headphones and they’ll hear your sexy new microphone on their end as well.

PLEASE NOTE: there is a Scarlett SOLO version with only one microphone input. Don’t buy that one because having just one channel will limit your recording options down the road.

I’ve captured hundreds of podcasts with the 2i2, brought it all over the globe with me, and even recorded a full-length album, proving you don’t have to spend HUGE $$ to get pro level results. Here’s the album if you care to listen:

Focusrite Vocaster Two $349 (CAD) $249 (USD)

As I said, my 1st Generation 2i2 recently said farewell so I needed a replacement and was delighted to discover the Vocaster Two, also from Focusrite. Admittedly I haven’t spent much time with it yet, but have a podcast scheduled this evening and am excited to take her for her first official test drive. But at first glance, I like all of the included features and appreciate the fact that it is designed specially for podcasters.

Two options that I love are the dual headphone jacks, with individual volume control for you and your guest, and Bluetooth connectivity so that you can play audio clips or include a third guest remotely over Zoom, FaceTime, phone etc. Another nice touch is the mute button so you can take a sip a beer, cough, fart or whatever you need to keep quiet, and no one will ever know! We’ve all been there…

It also includes some “enhance” features but I never end up using any of that fancy stuff, because I can do it all better and more accurately in post. To be honest, I think these features have fucked up more recordings than they’ve enhanced (I’m talking to you RodeCaster) however DIY podcasters with little post experience may benefit from this feature. I’ll report back….

Again, it is slightly more expensive than the 2i2, but it has a lot of great podcast specific features, so I’d recommend stretching the budget a little further if you can. There is a Vocaster ONE channel version as well, but as mentioned with the Scarlett SOLO, you will limit yourself with only one channel and will likely want to upgrade eventually.

Headphones

Audio Technica ATH-M40x $149 (CAD) $99 (USD)

Alright, now you can be a little more choosy with the final options in your podcasting set up. I’m guessing you already own a set of headphones, right? Great! Use those and skip this section until you have some extra cash to blow. Headphones are an important part of your kit so that you can monitor you and your guests closely, listen for background noises and so on, but you can make do without anything special to start. Even an old pair of earbuds will work just fine for now, but if you don’t have anything, or want to upgrade, I’d suggest a pair of Audio Technica ATH-M40x. In the world of headphones, they’re pretty inexpensive, sound great, provide some isolation, and are relatively comfortable. I use a pair of ATH-M50x’s daily for editing and monitoring for long hours without any discomfort.

Mic Stands

This is another one of those items I think you should buy once. A cheap mic stand can make your life miserable, especially when using a heavier mic like a Shure SM7B. Cheaper stands just can’t handle the weight, and they will go limp on you…. ain’t nobody time for that! So I have a few options in mind, starting with the most expensive:

Rode PSA1+ $179 (CAD) $129 (USD)

Not only do they look badass (in my opinion) they are virtually silent, and will host any microphone you want to mount on it. All of my podcasters use these, and I haven’t heard one single complaint. Well worth the investment, and certainly worth the upgrade if you’re using something that’s not working for you.

K&M Telescoping Boom Stand $107 (CAD) $102 (USD)

This stand gives you more versatility than the Rode PSA1+ because you can use it in a variety of scenarios. Whereas the PSA1+ is desk mount only, the K&M telescoping boom stand can be used when seated in a more casual setting like on a sofa or lounge chair in a living room, or on a video podcast set. It can also be used for live events, at a desk or table, so you’re able to check a lot of boxes with this one stand. The telescoping boom arm is the key though, because it allows you to shorten the boom arm and lessen the likelihood of a sagging mic. If you extend the boom too far, the weight of the mic will eventually cause the stand to go limp on you. Plus, the shorter boom arm just looks cleaner on stage and in video podcasts, so there’s that too. The look is often just as important. Below is a pic of a video podcast set where I used these exact stands with 4 Shure SM7B’s. Sexy right? They blend into the set, which is exactly what you want.

K&M Desk Stand $108 (CAD) $101 (USD)

Last but not least is the K&M desk mount stand. These are nice because they’re small and you can take them on the road with you. The sturdy base also has enough weight to keep those heavier mics upright, and the telescoping arm gives you little extra reach. The only drawback is these stands will pick up noise from the desk or table. So if you’re drinking a beer and setting down without a coaster, interviewing and anxious table tapper, or typing on your laptop, all of those subtle vibrations are going to travel right up the base of this stand and directly into your microphone. So, just keep that in mind, and this stand will work just fine.

Obviously you’ll need some XLR’s (mic cables) but otherwise this is all the gear you’ll need to record pro level audio from anywhere. But wait Mike, now that I have all the gear how the hell do I record the audio?? Good question, and I’ll cover DAWs (digital audio workstations) in a future post.

Have a question, feedback, budget friendly gear you love and want to tell the world about? Leave it in the comments below. But remember, play nice kids! Audio nerds tend to get a little out of control in the comment sections…