How to Start a Podcast – Video 1: Equipment and Software

Want to learn how to start a podcast? Take my free podcast mini-course where you can complete this material in a course-like fashion in just 3 days:

Starting a podcast is one of the best things I’ve ever done for my brand—and for myself personally! As a result, I want to help you get off to a great start with your own podcast.

In this video, I’ll show you exactly what you need in terms of software and gear to create the perfect podcasting setup.

The biggest key to a high-quality podcast? Sound quality. I go over the best microphones for every budget, along with the software and recording accessories that will help you get started and sound awesome.

This is the first in a series of 6 podcasting tutorial videos to help you get your podcast up and running.

Resources Mentioned in This Video:

Heil PR-40 (affiliate link):

Audio-Technica ATR2100USB (affiliate link):
(thanks to Father Roderick at )

Samson C01U (affiliate link):

Blue Snowflake (affiliate link):

Logitech ClearChat USB Headset (affiliate link):

Audacity Free Audio Recording/Editing Software:

Call Recorder for Skype (Mac Users):

Pamela Call Recorder for Skype (PC/Windows Users):

Podcast Answer Man Equipment Packages:

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26 Responses to How to Start a Podcast – Video 1: Equipment and Software

  1. Mark Simmons October 1, 2013 at 1:12 pm #

    Great content! Looking at the atr right now.

  2. Sofi Hasan October 8, 2013 at 5:16 am #

    Thanks Pat! This is extremely helpful! 🙂 I can’t wait to start my podcasting gig! 🙂

  3. zwwhaley October 24, 2013 at 3:28 pm #

    Wow. An amazingly made video. Great job man! Great help to someone who was a bit overwhelmed by getting started!

  4. Olabisi O. Owen October 30, 2013 at 11:18 pm #

    I have been going through your site and channel. I am very new at this and searching for information. what cameras do you use for shooting your videos. They are very clear.

  5. Gary Salmon November 1, 2013 at 4:38 pm #

    I’ve been following you for a couple months now and found Cliff through you. I’ve narrowed down my ideas to the few I’d like to focus on for my website and podcasting now so I’m really excited. I’ve got two questions for you though. 1. What camera do you use? You have great quality videos. 2. What windscreen do you use for your Heil? Thanks!

  6. Pat Flynn November 2, 2013 at 6:17 am #

    Camera: Canon Rebel T4i
    Windscreen: I use a “fine mesh screen pop filter”, that’s what you can look up on Amazon, they have several types – doesn’t matter what kind of mic you have. Hope this helps!

  7. Gary Salmon November 6, 2013 at 5:18 pm #

    Thanks Pat!

  8. Amy Evonne Thompson December 4, 2013 at 4:05 pm #

    Hi Pat, I recently bought the audio technica microphone, but I am not sure how you are plugging the mixer into your iMac.

    • Musty Pipes December 9, 2013 at 8:36 am #

      I have the xenyx q502 (the smaller version of what he has) i use a windows computer vs the mac but plugging it in is the same. You need to get a mixer like mine or his that is a USB,you get a firewire cable with a usb head that plugs into your computer. A quick driver install should follow then viola. All you need to do is setup your levels on your mixer and make sure you have it enabled or set as the default on your computer.

  9. Pat Hiban January 3, 2014 at 2:53 pm #

    Hey Pat. Thanks for actually recording your voice with each one. I just subscribed to you on iTunes!
    Pat

  10. Nate Robbins January 22, 2014 at 7:53 am #

    I love using my blue yeti USB mic. Runs about $99.00 on amazon. Comes with a extra long cable. Weighed stand for easy use. Head jack and volume control. Also has four record settings. Quality is outstanding for the price.

  11. kingbat September 1, 2014 at 2:28 am #

    Can you use like window 8 for a podcast ?I been seeing all Mac user

  12. MJH January 12, 2015 at 7:09 pm #

    Samson one was horrible in my opinion

    • Chesus Jrist May 25, 2017 at 4:50 am #

      I agree, sounds like garbo.

  13. Fred Wang January 17, 2015 at 10:36 am #

    thanks for sharing, I’m considering starting my own podcast 🙂

  14. SignoreMassimo February 21, 2015 at 1:33 am #

    That samson sounds awful! There’s no headroom and it’s boomy as hell

    • Brian Saljavihk June 9, 2015 at 5:29 pm #

      Yeah it’s giving me a fucking headache!

    • erik schaepers June 9, 2015 at 10:45 pm #

      @SignoreMassimo Samson is not professional hardware. As you can hear..

    • SignoreMassimo June 10, 2015 at 11:48 am #

      @erik schaepers I am well aware that it isn’t professional equipment. But considering that you could get an SE Magneto or an At 2020 for $20 more. It shouldn’t sound like this at all. We have some cheap Samson microphones (meteors) and snowballs at my university (for quick and dirty voice over work) but they don’t sound THAT bad (we use Rode mics for videos and beyerdynamic et al for radio production).

    • SignoreMassimo January 13, 2016 at 1:13 pm #

      +darkmew64 It’s a USB mic so it should be phantom powered by the USB port. Or do you mean he was speaking into it at an odd angle?

  15. Reyna Lay May 8, 2015 at 3:47 am #

    do you have a video on how to actually record the podcast and insert, edit, add music, and outro on garage band?

  16. Pilgrimage Yoga November 10, 2015 at 11:24 pm #

    Thank you for this video tutorial! It really helped us a lot!

  17. Jessica del cid April 15, 2017 at 1:16 pm #

    The price of the Audio-Technica ATR2100-USB is way off! it´s about 70$ on amazon!

  18. Ohiorichkid Ohiorichkid Beats December 30, 2017 at 3:43 pm #

    that audio tech one thru usb sounded DAMN GOOD for that 40 to $60 price point

  19. Pat Flynn May 8, 2018 at 8:48 pm #

    For those of you who are here in 2018, make sure you move to the updated series for how to start a podcast in 2018. Less time to watch, more updated equipment, and you’ll be up and running in no time! Here you go: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PIJpOcFf5h4

  20. Nilanjana Haldar July 18, 2019 at 2:38 am #

    I LOVE Your videos. they help me so much. liked and subscribed to your channel. Could I use the Audio-Technica ATR2100 with Mac?

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