The Essential Equipment You Need to Launch a Podcast (Without Breaking the Bank)
Starting a podcast has never been more accessible. You can technically record audio on your phone, upload it to a syndication platform, and call yourself a podcaster. But if you want listeners to actually stay and keep coming back, the quality of your sound matters — a lot. In this guide, I'll walk you through the equipment that has served me well across multiple podcast productions, explain why each piece matters, and help you decide how much to invest based on your goals.
Why Audio Quality Is Non-Negotiable
Unlike video content, a podcast gives your audience only one thing to hold on to: the sound. That's it. There are no visuals to distract from a scratchy microphone or a persistent hum in the background. If your audio isn't at a respectable level, listeners can be unforgiving — they'll simply stop listening and move on. Smooth, clean audio makes it infinitely more likely that your audience will stick around, subscribe, and genuinely enjoy each episode.
Now, does that mean your content doesn't matter? Of course not. Occasionally, a podcast with incredible content can survive mediocre audio. But why force your audience to "put up with" anything when a modest investment in equipment can make their experience so much better?
What About Your Guests' Audio Quality?
If you're planning an interview-style show, you might worry about the audio quality of your guests. Here's a widely accepted principle in podcasting: your audience will be forgiving of a guest's audio as long as the host sounds great. Think about talk radio — callers phone in on spotty cell connections all the time, and nobody tunes out because the host's microphone is smooth and professional. Listeners almost expect that a guest won't have the same setup as the host. So focus on getting your own equipment right, and don't stress too much about your guests'.
The Microphone: Go XLR
The centrepiece of any podcast setup is the microphone. While USB microphones like the popular Blue Yeti produce decent sound quality, they can introduce problems — particularly a low humming noise when plugged directly into a computer. I ran into this issue myself early on.
My recommendation is to use an XLR microphone, specifically the Audio-Technica AT2035. An XLR mic connects to an audio interface (more on that below), which then connects to your computer via USB. This extra step in the signal chain eliminates many of the interference issues that plague direct USB microphones, and the result is a noticeably smoother, more professional sound.
If you're planning to conduct in-person interviews, consider purchasing two XLR microphones — one for you and one for your guest — each mounted on its own microphone stand.
The Pop Filter: Small Investment, Big Difference
Words with hard "P" and "B" sounds — think pizza, pop, bob, burger — can sound harsh and explosive through a microphone. Without a pop filter, you'll spend significant time in post-production trying to tame those plosive sounds.
A pop filter is an inexpensive screen that clamps onto your microphone stand and sits between your mouth and the mic. It diffuses those blasts of air before they hit the microphone, resulting in much smoother audio with minimal editing required. It's one of the simplest upgrades you can make, and it pays for itself in time saved.
The Audio Interface: Your Focusrite
An audio interface is the bridge between your XLR microphone and your computer. I use a Focusrite Scarlett interface, and here's an important detail to watch for: many of the common Focusrite models available on Amazon only have one XLR input. That's perfectly fine if you're podcasting solo or interviewing guests remotely over the internet.
However, if you're planning in-person interviews, make sure you purchase a model with two XLR mic inputs so both you and your guest can be recorded simultaneously through the same interface. And don't forget — you'll also need XLR cables to connect each microphone to the interface.
Recording Software
Once your audio equipment is connected to your computer, you need software to capture and edit the recording. Here are some popular options:
- Adobe Audition — This is what I use. It's part of the Adobe Creative Cloud subscription, so there is an ongoing cost, but I find its editing tools invaluable for podcast production.
- Audacity — A free, open-source option that's surprisingly powerful for recording and editing audio.
- QuickTime — A simple, free option for Mac users who need basic recording capability.
- VLC — Another free tool that can handle audio recording tasks.
The right choice depends on your budget and how much editing control you want. For beginners, Audacity is an excellent starting point. As your show grows, you may find yourself wanting the advanced features of something like Adobe Audition.
Over-the-Ear Headphones: Don't Skip These
A good pair of over-the-ear headphones is essential, not optional. When you're recording — especially during an interview — headphones let you hear exactly what your audience will hear. You'll catch problems in real time: background noise, audio dropouts, or feedback.
Headphones are especially critical during remote interviews. Without them, your guest's voice will play through your computer speakers and bleed back into your microphone, creating echo and feedback. If you have a co-host (as I do on Show Me the Crypto), you'll also need a headphone splitter so both of you can monitor the guest's audio without it leaking into either microphone.
Bonus: Lighting for Video Podcasters
If you're thinking about launching a YouTube series alongside your podcast — using the video as your primary content and extracting the audio for podcast distribution — lighting is worth considering. I use Falcon Eyes flexible, bendable LED lights for my front lighting, along with an RGB light behind me that can change colour for a more dynamic, professional-looking background. These extras aren't necessary for a pure audio podcast, but they can elevate your content significantly if video is part of your strategy.
The Total Investment
All of the equipment I've described — the XLR microphone, microphone stand, pop filter, Focusrite audio interface, XLR cables, headphones, and lighting — comes to roughly $1,000 CAD. That's at a fairly high level of audio quality. Here's a quick summary:
- Audio-Technica AT2035 XLR Microphone (one or two, depending on your format)
- Microphone stand(s)
- Pop filter
- Focusrite audio interface (with two XLR inputs if doing in-person interviews)
- XLR cables
- Over-the-ear headphones (plus a splitter if you have a co-host)
- Recording software (free or subscription-based)
- Lighting (optional, for video podcasters)
Can you spend less? Absolutely. As I mentioned at the start, you can launch a podcast for free using just your phone. But this setup represents a smart investment in quality that your audience will notice and appreciate.
Final Thoughts
Don't let equipment intimidate you or become an excuse not to start. If a thousand-dollar setup isn't in your budget right now, begin with what you have and upgrade over time. The most important thing is to launch. That said, understanding what good equipment does for your sound — and why listeners expect a certain level of quality — will help you make informed decisions as your podcast grows. Invest in your audio first, treat your audience's ears with respect, and you'll build a show that people genuinely look forward to hearing.