Podcast Studio Equipment

As my podcasting was an experimental project at the time, I took the simplest, cheapest point of entry. If you're interested in dipping your toe in the podcast current, you might do the same. here's what I recommend:

Hardware:

Blue Yeti: A simple, USB microphone with a switch-controlled pickup pattern and a headphone jack so you can listen to the recording you're making in real time... because you don't want to spend 40 minutes interviewing someone only to discover that they were too far away from the mic and you were too close. Use Cardioid Mode for solo monologues and voice-over work. Use Bidirectional Mode to record an interview between you and a guest.
Smartphone. Did you know you have a portable digital audio recorder in your pocket? Just fire up the sound recorder app and you can record voiceovers or interviews on the go, all for the incredibly low price of whatever your wireless provider has already locked you for in via their 2-year contract. Once you've captured some compelling content, you can import the audio from your phone to your audio editing software, along with other recordings you made with the Blue Yeti, mix in some music, and enjoy. Alternately, you could just try doing all your content with your phone! Just be careful if you wave it back and forth from your mouth to your guest's. The phone mic can pick up hand motion, clothing ruffles, or wind noise easily.
Headphones: To monitor the sound in your audio editing software, you'll need some headphones. I really like my Sony MDR-V300 series -- warm sound and an extra long cable so I can walk around without taking them off. But... they're not available through Amazon, and besides, they're $70. If you want something good, basic, and reasonably priced, check out these Sony MDR-ZX100 Series Stereo Headphones.

Audio Editing Software:

Audacity (FREE!) is available for Windows, Mac, Linux; and other operating systems.

Questions? Comments? Leave me a note!

Want something more robust? See also: