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What’s your budget and are you looking to be able to record more than one mic at a time? More on reddit.com

I recently started a podcast. During my research, I found that it’s not as prohibitively expensive as one might think. I got a nice Zoom H4N recorder for a couple hundred bucks, a dynamic XLR mic by Behringer for about $60, a table stand and pop filter for about $20… My YouTube camera setup was way more expensive, but was luckily paid for by YouTube back in the day. These days though, you can shoot 4K on a phone, so the entry is not that expensive for that either. As for editing, I started with GarageBand, though there are online editors like Podcastle that I believe have those features for editing silence, ahs, ums, etc. Currently though, I use GarageBand since it came with my iPad. I’m also looking at an app called Ferrite which has a one time cost of $40. When I mentioned mics, I said Dynamic over condenser. There is a difference. Condenser mics are very sensitive, and will pick up every nuance in the room like the furnace, your dog, the fridge running, etc. They are great IF you have a acoustically controlled space. If you don’t, dynamic is the way to go. They are much better at just picking up what’s important, your voice. Get a foam wind screen and a pop filter so you can soften all your plosives while you talk. Since dynamic mics are good at not picking up every ambient noise, they’re also great if you decide to take your show on the road since you can’t control all the acoustics in any given location. As for cheap places to record, the best are places that are small and contained with the least resonance. If you’re doing a solo show, a closet is perfect and many people record there. You can also buy foam acoustic panels and hang them like pictures on your walls to dampen sounds, OR use moving blankets. Hope this helps you. Good luck and have fun! More on reddit.com

Dynamic mic: Just don’t get a cheap one. I recommend setting a minimum budget of around $100 for a quality mic. I’m guessing this is your first podcast—right? If so, here’s something I always suggest to anyone starting out: Start with audio-only. Get comfortable with that before diving into video. I’m not trying to talk you out of doing video, but I really believe this approach can help you a lot. Here’s why: Audio equipment is much more affordable. (Video gear can be 5–10x more expensive.) You don’t need a dedicated space to record. (Audio can be recorded in a closet. No need to worry about lighting, background, or what to wear for each episode.) It teaches you mic technique. (Use headphones to monitor your voice, volume, and speaking habits.) You’ll build fluency faster. (Focusing only on audio helps you develop your speech patterns—and any issues are easier to fix in editing.) There are many more benefits, but I’ll leave it at that. Just think about it. If you’re set on starting with video, go for it! Just remember, you'll still need to learn the audio side of things—so why not ease into it and enjoy the process? P.S. Since 2021, I’ve had my own podcast (audio-only). I do it for fun, and it saves me a lot of time and money. If I ever decide to switch to video, I know I’ll be well-prepared on the audio front. More on reddit.com