Process published — nice work
What you do next determines whether this becomes real training. Pick one:
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0 of 6 steps completedStep-by-Step Instructions
1 Step 1: Pick a microphone (the biggest quality factor)
Step 1: Pick a microphone (the biggest quality factor)
Cheap mic + good setup beats expensive mic + bad setup. USB mics plug straight into computer. XLR mics need an interface but sound better.
Shure MV7 (USB + XLR)
Pro-grade dynamic mic. Sounds like the SM7B used in major studios. ~$250-280.
Blue Yeti (USB, entry-level)
USB plug-and-play. Picks up too much room noise. Acceptable starter. ~$130.
Samson Q2U (USB + XLR, budget)
Cheap dual-output mic. Surprisingly good. ~$60-80.
2 Step 2: Get an audio interface (if XLR)
Step 2: Get an audio interface (if XLR)
XLR mics need an interface to connect to computer. Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 is the standard for solo/two-person podcasts.
Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 (4th Gen)
Industry standard. Two XLR inputs. ~$180-220.
Rodecaster Pro II (premium, multi-person)
Studio-in-a-box with effects and live mixing. ~$700.
3 Step 3: Treat your recording room
Step 3: Treat your recording room
Echo and room noise ruin podcasts more than mic choice. A closet full of clothes is the best free 'studio.' Acoustic panels treat dedicated spaces.
Record in a closet with clothes (free)
Clothes absorb reflections. Counterintuitively, the best free recording space.
Foam acoustic panels (6-pack)
Stick to walls behind and around microphone. ~$25 for 6.
Rockwool 703 (pro-grade)
Real absorbing material. Mount in DIY frames. ~$60 for a sheet.
4 Step 4: Pick recording/editing software
Step 4: Pick recording/editing software
Audacity is free and powerful enough for 99% of podcasts. Reaper is paid but worth it if you do music or complex edits. Garageband is free on Mac.
Audacity (free, all platforms)
The default free DAW. Records, edits, exports. Plenty for podcasting.
Riverside.fm (remote interviews)
Browser-based, records each guest locally for clean separate tracks. $15-30/month.
5 Step 5: Host the podcast
Step 5: Host the podcast
Hosting is required to distribute to Spotify/Apple/Google. Buzzsprout is the most-recommended for beginners. Anchor is free but lower-quality service.
Buzzsprout ($12-24/month)
Best beginner host. Auto-distributes to all platforms. ~$144-288/yr.
Anchor (free, by Spotify)
Free hosting. Limited features and slower load on non-Spotify platforms. Free.
6 Step 6: Publish 5 episodes before launching
Step 6: Publish 5 episodes before launching
Empty podcast feeds rarely get listeners. Record and publish 5 episodes before publicly launching. Gives Apple Podcasts and Spotify algorithms something to recommend.
Record 5 episodes upfront
Builds a buffer + gives algorithms initial data.
Submit to Apple Podcasts + Spotify (free)
Buzzsprout walks through both. Approval takes 1-3 days.
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