If you are in between people as you read this look to your left. Now look to your right. Statistically speaking, those on either side of you probably have their own podcasts. Chances are you have a lot of people in your life who fit too. The good news is that the popularity of podcasts means better and better tools are being produced to help hosts up their games, and several of these suggestions are part of various Black Friday 2023 promotions.
A few months ago, I wrote a How I Podcast article showcasing some of the tips and tricks I’ve developed for my own show, RiYL. It’s currently a one-man production, but I’ve been able to up my game significantly thanks to the new technology.
You’ll find many of the ones I personally use on this list. Some items are more expensive than others, but the good news is that in 2023, you don’t have to pay a ton to put on a great-sounding show. And if you’re looking for great sounding new shows, check out our podcasts covering startups, founders, and the crypto space: Equity, They were found and Chain reaction.
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RODECaster Pro II
Several years after its initial release, the RODECaster Pro remains the gold standard for on-the-go studio construction. The system is great for in-person productions, especially those that don’t have a fixed location. When I’m super portable, nothing beats a Tascam and a couple of mics, but if you want to recreate the feel of a studio with four mics, without the cost of a real pro speaker, here you go.
It’s super easy to use out of the box and offers a ton of controls and customization, along with features like cue pads for producing a real-time podcast. It’s a perfect gift for a seasoned hobbyist podcaster who wants to take things to the next level.
Tula Mic
Price: $199 on Amazon
Image Credits: Brian Heater
I could have just as easily stuck it in the travel gift guide. As someone whose job requires me to hit the road once a month, I was looking for a way to up my hotel recording game. The Tula Mic has it all: good looks, great sound quality, and a compact foldable design that can fit comfortably in your carry-on.
The microphone connects to your computer via a USB-C port and offers a number of different settings. You can also take it on the go for field recordings, thanks to a 12-hour battery and 8GB of internal storage. It’s an extremely well thought out piece of material all around.
Shure MV7
Image Credits: Shure
I’ve gone through so many USB mics — especially during the pandemic. The Shure MV7 is the first one I’ve ever truly fallen in love with. Once I figured it out, I’ve recorded every episode of my podcast, tuned into dozens of panels, and held countless meetings with it. In fact, it stays permanently connected to my desktop at all times.
Now it’s not the professional level of Shure’s SM7B — generally regarded as the gold standard of podcasting microphones. But the MV7 is cheaper and, more importantly, it has a USB input so you can get great sound without having to use separate audio interface hardware.
Insta360 link
Image Credits: Brian Heater
This webcam is another accessory for my home desktop. It’s a weird thing to say, but I get complimented on my video quality all the time during work meetings. Video goes up to 4K, but for most things, you rely on 1080p. The extra resolution really comes in handy, however, when using the 5x digital zoom with minimal image degradation. If you tend to be on the move a lot, don’t worry, the built-in electronic antifreeze has you covered.
Insta360’s desktop software is also foolproof, making sure things are properly framed beforehand so you don’t look like an amateur tweaking things after you’re already connected.
Razer Ring Light
Image Credits: Razer
During the pandemic, many of us have had to deal with how bad our home lighting is. While a good webcam can go a long way in improving your image, it’s nothing without a good light source. There are many ring lights on the market, but I finally landed on this one from gaming giant Razer.
The price is definitely right and the system can be mounted on a tripod or on the back of a monitor. My advice, however, is that straight isn’t always best – especially if you wear glasses. You’ll want to experiment a bit with the setup, but luckily, the mounting system gives you all kinds of options here.
Bose QuietComfort Ultra
Image Credits: Brian Heater
My advice to all podcasters is: wear headphones. And try to get your guests where they are when possible. It will make your job as an editor much easier. For most hobbyist podcasters, I generally recommend a pair of in-ear headphones that you also plan to use in your everyday life. If you’re recording remotely, you probably don’t need a pair of high-tech monitors.
I’ll go with the QuietComfort Ultra based on history (currently available for pre-order). Bose makes great all-day headphones so you can use them for podcasts, meetings and take them on long flights thanks to their super comfortable design.
I also highly recommend looking at a pair with an assisted entry. This is a really useful feature for editing, not to mention those unstable airplane seat video systems.
Subscriptions
Image Credits: Riverside.fm
As a rule, memberships make great gifts. This is certainly true of podcasting. I feel like every month I hear about another service that I want to sign up for to take my show to the next level. Here are some of my current favorites:
Riverside.fm ($15/month): I have recommended Zencastr in the past years, but in the end I was very disappointed with the platform. For $15 a month, Riverside gives you up to five hours of high-quality remote video and audio recording.
Auphonic ($10.50/month): The latest addition to my workflow saves me several hours a month. Upload a track and Auphonic will smooth it out and remove background noise in minutes.
Otter ($10/month): Otter is a godsend for both transcription and editing. For the latter, the AI-based service can help you find keywords in no time.
Podcast Page ($12/month): A super easy to use service that creates a professional looking website for your show. I was dealing with an injury last weekend and spent a few hours tweaking my show page. The flexibility is impressive for an optical processor.
This article was originally published on November 10th and has been updated to reflect the new prices due to holiday promotions.
