Podcast Equipment
Welcome to the Podcast Equipment page! There are SO many ways to configure your podcasting setup, from microphone selection to the kind of equipment you use to record your podcast. You could simply start recording your podcast with a cheap computer type microphone or headset for under $50. But part of the goal of a successful podcast should be to engage your audience and produce the type of recording that will have them coming back for more. There are thousands and thousands of podcasts out there, so I believe it is important to make your podcast stand out, right from your very first episode.
This is the reason I have personally assembled the 7 packages below to give you AMAZING choices for the BEST equipment for your money and the BEST way to begin or enhance your podcasting journey. For example, in Packages #3 thru #7, I have given you the choice of two high quality mixers by Allen & Heath (USB capable) and Mackie (non USB). By no means is this the only way to do it, but it is the way that will allow you to sound like a pro and have you sounding better than the MAJORITY of the podcasts out there, right from your very first podcast.
Not sure which package is right for you? I recommend scheduling a 1/2 hour Coaching Session with me to discuss your equipment needs. If you purchase any of the Podcast Your Passion Equipment Packages, I will credit the FULL purchase of your 1/2 hour session to the purchase of your equipment package!
Personal Onsite Equipment Setup – I also provide a personal onsite equipment setup service for any of the packages below, in the Los Angeles Area. Be sure to check out the Services page for details.
I proudly sell mixers from Behringer -Xenyx Series, Allen & Heath – ZED Series, and Mackie – VLZ3 Series. The Behringer mixers are a good entry level mixer, while the Allen & Heath and Mackie mixers are a nice high quality choice for the discerning podcasting enthusiast. I encourage you to visit the manufacturers’ websites to learn more.
I look forward to helping you with your podcast journey.
Podcast Your Passion Equipment Packages
Podcast Your Passion Package #1 is a great way to begin your podcasting journey! This is a great package and the exact one I own as a home/portable setup. I have used this configuration to record several episodes. Your audio will sound great and MUCH better than the majority of podcasts out there. This setup will allow you to use 4 channels for podcasting. The first two channels will allow you to connect 2 XLR microphones, 1 for yourself and 1 for your studio guest. The 3rd channel will allow you to add a person via skype and route them into the mixer so you will be able to conduct interviews with your guests over skype! (*Please note that in order to record interviews via skype, you will need a digital audio recorder or another computer/laptop to perform the recording because the skype connection will take up both your microphone input and speaker output on your computer.) The 4th channel will allow you to connect your computer to the mixer which will allow you to bring in any music or other sounds for your show. This is a great starter package!
Podcast Your Passion Package #2 is a package designed for the type of podcaster that knows they will be doing a lot of podcasting. The only difference between this package and package #1 is the mixer. This package includes the upgraded Behringer Xenyx 1204 USB Mixer, which is the mixer I have been using for the last two years (I have the 1204, no USB). This mixer has 6 usable channels for podcasting. I currently have ALL of my channels full. I use channels 1 for my microphone and channels 2 & 3 for the microphone for simultaneous in studio guests. Channel 4 is used for my my JK audio broadcast host that allows me to record telephone interviews. Channel 5 is used for conducting skype interviews (*Please note that in order to record interviews via skype, you will need a digital audio recorder or another computer/laptop to perform the recording because the skype connection will take up both your microphone input and speaker output on your computer.) and Channel 6 is used to bring in audio from my computer. This is a great package if you may be interviewing several people simultaneously. With this setup, I can have two guests in the studio, one guest connected via skype, and one guest on the telephone line. This allows everyone to hear each other’s conversation. This is a powerful package!
Podcast Package #3 w/ Allan & Heath ZED-10 USB Mixer
Podcast Package #3 w/ Mackie 1202-VLZ3 Mixer
Podcast Your Passion Package #3 is a package designed for the new podcaster who wants the high quality mixer now with the possibility of upgrading the microphone later. In this package, you can choose between the Allen & Heath ZED-10 USB mixer and the Mackie 1202 (no usb). Both are high quality mixers. The Allen & Heath allows you to plug a USB cable between the mixer and your computer so you can record directly in to your computer while maintaining the best possible sound for recording. With the Mackie mixer, you can also record in to your computer through the audio cable and your microphone input on your computer. This allows you to have a great setup from the beginning with the option to upgrade to the Heil PR-40 shown in package #4. You would still be able to use the Shure SM-58 for your guests. I have two Shure SM-58 and love them.
Podcast Package #4 w/ Allan & Heath ZED-10 USB Mixer
Podcast Package #4 w/ Mackie 1202-VLZ3 Mixer
Podcast Your Passion Package #4 is a package designed for the new podcaster who wants to enter the professional arena right from the beginning or the intermediate podcaster interested in taking their podcasting to the next level. The main difference between this Package and Packade #3 is the Heil PR-40 microphone which I consider to be the crown jewel of jewels for the serious podcaster. It is the same microphone that celebrity podcaster Leo Leporte uses for all of his podcasts. It is AMAZING. This is the microphone I use and I purchased it when I first started podcasting and it has been a great investment.
Podcast Package #5 w/ Allan & Heath ZED-10 USB Mixer
Podcast Package #5 w/ Mackie 1202-VLZ3 Mixer
Podcast Your Passion Package #5 is a package designed for the new, intermediate, or pro podcaster who wants to create a studio feel with their podcasting setup. The main difference between this package and package #4 is the way the microphone is held. In this package, I have removed the table top microphone stand and replaced it with a professional, studio quality, Heil Microphone Boom, Heil Shock Mount, and Pop Filter (to reduce the popping sound from Ps). This will give you a REAL studio feel. It’s very cool to be able to swing the mic boom out of the way and this also helps minimize any vibrations in the room. This is the package that will allow you to start referring to your spare bedroom as a “studio.”
Podcast Package #6 w/ Allan & Heath ZED-10 USB Mixer
Podcast Package #6 w/ Mackie 1202-VLZ3 Mixer
Podcast Your Passion Package #6 is a package designed to allow you to sound like a pro with your VERY first podcast. The difference between this package and Package #5 is the addition of the Roland R-05 Digital Audio Recorder. This is the heart of the pro studio setup. Everything from your microphone, to your guest’s microphone, your skype connection, your telephone guest, and computer audio ALL gets recorded into the digital audio recorder, EVERYTHING. I only record my podcasts in to the digital audio recorder, although I know others who will only record in to their computer. Ultimately the decision rests with you and I don’t believe there is one correct way to record your podcast. This is the essentially the setup I purchased two years ago (I have the Behringer 1204 mixer and older version of the digital audio recorder) and it helped me sound like a pro from day one. Listen to my VERY FIRST podcast, David’s Very First Podcast.
Podcast Package #7 w/ Allan & Heath ZED-14 USB Mixer
Podcast Package #7 w/ Mackie 1402-VLZ3 Mixer
Podcast Your Passion Package #7 is the ULTIMATE podcasting setup! This package includes the larger Allen & Heath ZED-14 USB Mixer and Mackie 1402 mixer (no USB). This is a package that will keep you happily podcasting for MANY years to come!
Not sure which package is right for you? I recommend scheduling a 1/2 hour Coaching Session with me to discuss your equipment needs. If you purchase any of the Podcast Your Passion Equipment Packages, I will credit the FULL purchase of your 1/2 hour session to the purchase of your equipment package!
