TAP003: The Bare Minimums for Podcasting




The Audacity to Podcast - A "how-to" podcast about podcasting and using Audacity show

Summary: Don't think that you have to spend thousands of dollars to launch your podcast! I give you some tips for podcasting decently with the cheapest equipment. Need a website or presentation designed? I freelance through my own company, D.Joseph Design. If you need a website or presentation designed or need help launching your podcast, please hire me to make your message look or sound great! Contact feedback@TheAudacitytoPodcast.com or (903) 231-2221 and I'll give you 10% off your first invoice. "New & Noteworthy" I already blogged about it, but here's a newer screenshot now showing The Audacity to Podcast™ as #5 in "New & Noteworthy" on iTunes' front page of podcasts. My expensive podcasting equipment Heil PR-40 Dynamic Studio Recording Microphone ($325) Behringer XENYX X1204 USB mixer ($130) On Stage MS7510 Microphone Stand Pro-Pak with AS400 Mic 34500 ($50) Zoom H4n Handy Portable Digital Recorder ($300) And more I started with the cheapest podcasting equipment A free Laptec mic that came with my computer and a passion to podcast was all I had to start. Sure, I also used Audacity and had a background in profession multimedia production. But it worked for starting out. I also used Levelator and simple bass-boost in Audacity to sound better. To make a pop filter, I got someone's old pantyhose (very embarrassing to do when you're a single guy) and wrapped it around a loop made out of a metal hanger. It worked decently. Tips for sounding good on a cheap microphone Don't talk too far away from the microphone. This catches more room noise and makes it harder to hear you. Don't talk too close to the microphone. This will result in plosives and clipping audio. Use a pop filter like  the homemade one described above. Never touch the microphone or anything else touching it while you're recording! Get an amazing voice for your podcast I had a great time working with Ewen from BagelTechNews to record some stuff for the Ramen Noodle™. Follow Ewen on Twitter and contact him to do some great voice work, and let him know that I recommended him. Tell me about your budget-podcasting setup I'd love to know what workflows you have found that work with cheap equipment. Share those and any other ideas or questions by sending them to feedback@TheAudacitytoPodcast.com or call (903) 231-2221. Again, please consider hiring me to design your website or presentation, or help you launch your podcast from start to finish.