Want To Start a Podcast? Here's How to Handle the Technical Part

Podcasting has been around for nearly two decades, but it's only recently become a mainstream phenomenon. According to Edison Research, in 2017 more than 36 million Americans listened to at least one podcast episode per month. With the growing popularity of podcasts comes an increase in demand for podcast equipment and production services.For many people who've never even considered hosting their own show before, the technical side of creating a podcast can be daunting. That's why we decided to put together this list of essential podcast equipment and services that every podcaster should know about.

Going Online

The first step is to pick a hosting platform. Your podcast needs a dedicated website in order to gain traction online. Popular options include Libsyn, Castos, Blog Talk Radio, and Podbean. Another great option you could try (and probably our personal favorite) is Buzzsprout, go on and check it out, they sure have a great offer you just might love. Creating an RSS feed has to be the second step. This is the most important part of your podcasting setup because it determines how your podcast appears in iTunes and other podcast directories.Next, you need to set up your media hosting service. You’ll need somewhere to store your audio files; most companies offer five to ten hours of storage for free, but premium services like AudioBoom offer unlimited storage.You’ll also need to upload your audio files to your media hosting service. Most services have a built-in uploading tool, but you can also use a free program like FTP or FileZilla to upload files manually.

Finding the Right Equipment

If you want to host a podcast, there are a few different pieces of equipment that you will need. The first piece is a microphone, and there are many options available. You can go for a small microphone that sits on your desk and is built into the computer. Or you could go for an XLR microphone set up with a mixer, which gives you more control over the sound quality. If you are looking to create a high-quality podcast, then it is highly recommended that you use XLR microphones. They are larger, but they give you more options in terms of sound quality. If you are just starting out, then you may want to go for a smaller setup.The main benefit of using XLR microphones is that they give you more control over the sound quality. They are larger and heavier than USB microphones, but they are much more durable.This is why they are preferred by professional singers and musicians. The second piece is a computer, and this is an obvious one. You can use any computer that you have at home, but you will need to make sure that it is powerful enough to run the software.You also need:

• Headphones (earbuds such as Apple EarPods recommended)
• A pop filter (optional, but recommended)
• A podcasting software program (such as Audacity or GarageBand recommended)
• A way to host your podcast online (website or blog recommended)

The last two items are the most important. The first three items are all you need to record audio, but without a way to host your podcast online, no one will be able to listen to it.

Setting it up Properly

Starting a podcast is simple. It’s also easy to get frustrated when you start out because you won’t have any listeners at first. But once people start listening to your content, you’ll feel so much better about your investment in creating it. Podcasting is a great way to make money, but it’s also a great way to get your name out there. The best part about podcasting is that you can create content for yourself and for others. One important thing to keep in mind when starting a podcast is the quality of the audio. Podcast listeners are more critical of audio quality than most other people are. If you are using inexpensive microphones or poor audio equipment, your audience will be able to tell. The good news is that there are some great podcasting microphones available for under $100.This article has shown you how to handle the technical part of podcasting. The technical part is not as hard as it may seem, and with the right preparation, you can start your podcast quickly and easily.The next step is to get the word out about your podcast. We hope that this article has helped you better understand the basics of podcasting. Thank you for reading, and good luck with becoming the next big podcast out there.