Starting a podcast can be really exciting and incredibly nerve racking all at the same time. After all, you have to figure out the gear you need, how to use it and what to do with your file once it’s recorded. But it might not be as complicated and costly as you might think. Continue reading to discover the three things you need to start a podcast right away.

1. RECORDING DEVICE

The first thing you going to need is a recording device. This one is obvious but it’s really important that we talk about it because there are all sorts of ways to do this. The simplest way would be to use what you already have… your phone.

Your phone has a pretty decent mic already built into it and could be used as a podcast mic if you are just starting out and looking to save a little money until you’re ready to level up. There are a few apps you can use to record on your phone but the simplest option would be just to use the voice memo app on your iPhone or whatever the equivalent might be on your android or google device.

If you are looking to invest a little more in a better mic, you have a variety of other options from lapel mics that plug directly into your phone or computer, USB mics like the Blue Yeti, XLR mics like the Rode Podmic or Shure SM7B, or even field recorders like the Zoom F1 which will allow you to capture richer and higher quality audio.

I've used a variety of different microphones and will post some reviews of thos mics on YouTube in the near future.

But again, all you need to start recording your podcast is your phone. You can always level up your audio as you go.

2. EDITING SOFTWARE

The next thing you’ll need is software to edit the audio you just recorded. Before I get into the apps I recommend I just want to take a moment to stress the importance of editing your podcast. Admittedly, this is probably the most time consuming step in the process and unfortunately, because of that, a lot of people straight up skip it.

While it sounds like a great idea to be able to record and upload directly with no editing or post production, there are some very simple things you can do when editing that will help you stand out from the pack of all those who cannot or will not edit their raw audio files. Learning how to remove “ums” and “uhs,” deleting dead air space and cleaning up those places where you might trip over your words or potentially even lose your train of thought, are skills that will help you keep your listeners more engaged throughout.

The two apps that I would recommend starting with, primarily because the price tag is so low (both are FREE) are Garageband if you have a Mac or Audacity if you use a PC. GarageBand is native on the Mac and comes pre-installed. So if you are using a Mac it is already there just waiting for you to explore it. Audacity is another free app that does in fact work with both Mac and PC.

I use a Mac and I’ve personally just found Garageband easier to learn and navigate than Audacity, but there have been some instances where having both has come in handy when editing a project. These apps also make it easy for you to be able to add intro and outro music that serves to help identify your brand (you can probably hum the intro tune of your favorite podcasts right now) and help you stand out from all the others.

Just because they’re free doesn’t mean they are cheap. Both GarageBand and Audacity are workhorses and have a lot of features to offer. There is a learning curve to both but it is well worth your time to learn the basics and start editing right away.

3. HOSTING SERVICE

The last thing you absolutely need in order to start a podcast is a hosting service. You’re certainly familiar with podcast directories like, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts and Spotify but those directories don’t actually store the audio for your podcast. That is where a podcast hosting service comes in.

A podcast host is where your audio file is actually housed. The host generates an RSS feed which is what is sent to those podcast directories where people actually listen to your podcast. Each time you upload a new episode, your host will refresh that RSS feed and update the directory with that new episode.

There are so many hosting services available to choose from and each offers a unique set of features that may or may not be useful for you, so do your research and find out what you need, what you could do without and what it’s going to cost you. Some hosting services only offer storage to house your files. Others will house the file and shoot out the updated feed to the directories of your choosing. Still others offer a website for your podcast, which is helpful to have as a central location to point people towards if you don’t already have a website. I use a variety of hosts depending on the budget I’m working with and the features I need based on the particular project I’m working on. I talked about a few hosting service I've used in a video you can find here.

So now you know the three things you absolutely need to start a podcast. Let me warn you, there will always be a shiny new mic, more advanced editing software, and a growing number of podcast host services out there to keep up with the rapidly growing number of podcasts that are being released daily. But when you’re just getting started, there is no need to fork out a lot of cash to get the best gear when you all you need is your phone to get started recording.

Now that you know HOW to do it, be sure to check out this post to discover the benefits of podcasting.

Interested in learning more about podcasting? Ready to get started? I'd love to chat with you! Hit the link in the menu to schedule a call or send me an email to brian@summitcitystudios.com to start the conversation.