Buying The Best Podcast Setup For Mac

1. An Amazon best-seller, the Blue Snowball iCE offers easy setup and an adjustable stand. The gadget's frequency response ranges between 40 Hz and 18 kHz, so it's better suited to voice-capture and video calling rather than audio recording.
2. Best Monitors for 2018. Our editors hand-picked these products based on our tests and reviews. If you use our links to buy, we may get a commission.
3. Mac podcasting setup In it’s simplest form, a podcast episode is just audio, and nearly every Apple device has an internal microphone and an application for basic recording.

1. Buying The Best Podcast Setup For Mac
2. Buying The Best Podcast Setup For Macbook
3. Best Podcast Equipment Setup
4. Video Podcast Setup

Podcasting is undergoing a renaissance with listeners consuming on-demand shows at unprecedented levels, and creators enjoying surprising levels of success with their work. One thing that sets apart the amateurs from the professionals is good content, but the other is production values.

I have been running my own small podcast for about a year, trying different ideas and formats to see what works. While I’m an amateur podcaster, I create tutorial videos for a living and I used to be a professional musician, so I know a thing or two about sound, music, and music production. I have also been using a Mac since 1997, and have recorded audio with just about every port that Apple has released. For me, the podcast is a great outlet to cover topics I don’t get to cover in my paid writing work. And of course, like many other podcasters, I like the sound of my own voice.

Get The PDF Guide: Best Podcast Software For Recording & Editing –> Click Here To Download the Podcast Software Guide Both free and paid options to get your recording and editing done right.

Here are some of the things I’ve learned, along with recommendations on the hardware, software and techniques to get you started podcasting using your Mac.

Mac podcasting setup

In it’s simplest form, a podcast episode is just audio, and nearly every Apple device has an internal microphone and an application for basic recording. On macOS this is QuickTime, which is a venerable application in the Mac world that has been through many transitions of role, but now serves as an Audio/Visual recorder and player, albeit with limited export options.

If you’re highly skilled and can make a recording in one take with no mistakes, then QuickTime may be all you ever need. But chances are you will need to undertake some editing and processing, or need better export options. Fortunately, there are numerous options for recording and editing audio.

Here are some of my favorites:

• Audacity: If you are looking for free options, this is the most popular and widely used.
• Adobe Audition: Perfect if you already have a Creative Cloud subscription, and need something that allows for more complexity.
• GarageBand: Now free, GarageBand offers good features for recording a podcast (with a familiar interface).
• Logic Pro X: Aimed more at professional studios, Logic is too much for simple podcasts, but if you happen to have a copy available and know how to use it then it will serve you well.
• WavePad: WavePad is free for non-commercial use, so is a good option if you’re looking for something more professional whilst you build up profile and experience.

Personally, I used Adobe Audition, but if you are just getting started I recommend Audacity as it’s something anyone can download and use. I won’t go into details on audio editing as that is a big subject that you can find plenty online about, but I will cover some general principles to get you started.

Mac podcasting hardware

Using your internal microphone sounds fine until you plug in something better and realize how terrible you sounded before. Picking microphones is a vast topic that you can find a lot of existing advice on, and trust me, I have spent hours looking. Again I will cover basic principles and make recommendations but leave you to delve further.

Microphones

In general, you have to choose between a digital or analog microphone. As sound coming from your mouth is in analog form, at a certain point in the recording process you will need to convert it to a digital signal to get it into your Mac. There are USB microphones that handle that conversion for you or analog microphones where you will need to convert the signal yourself with an analog to digital converter (ADAC). As the Mac mini is currently the only Mac with a line in, this will mean an external device. You typically won’t need to install any extra drivers to use either option on your Mac, just plug it in and select it as an input.

The general principle is that the more you pay, the better the quality and features you get, but balance this what you need, and you can always upgrade later. If you are one person using one microphone then you want a microphone that uses a ‘cardioid’ pattern (read more about mic patterns), which is common on all digital (USB) or analog microphones. For most of my work, I use the Blue Yeti as it’s a good price, and flexible, allowing you to change the pattern for different recording situations. For when I’m on the road or have a co-host, I also have a simpler Blue Snowball, which comes with a small tripod, but less control over the sound. Finally, I have an Audio-Technica Lavalier microphone, which are the small mics you see clipped to people’s clothing, for a less intrusive setup. Lavalier microphones are mostly analog, so to record this type of microphone, you will need an ADAC.

Recent updates to macOS have reduced the options for analog audio interfaces that work well with Macs, but hopefully, manufacturers (or Apple) will solve these issues soon. Unless you want to record multiple inputs simultaneously, then the interface doesn’t need to be anything complex. I use an Alesis core, which Alesis has discontinued, but it’s a simple interface and serves my needs. For available alternatives in a similar price range try the Scarlett solo, or the Behringer UM2. When I first started recording analog audio, latency was the biggest issue, but modern hardware has reduced this to a point of near irrelevance, and you only need to look for devices with reasonable input volume and low noise.

Buying The Best Podcast Setup For Mac

Combining multiple inputs on macOS

One of the recent changes to macOS audio drivers has been the way it handles multiple inputs. It’s been so long since I’ve used multiple inputs on a Mac I can’t quite remember how it used to work, but I’m sure something changed!

Open the Audio MIDI Setup application which lives in Applications -> Utilities and you will see any connected input and output devices listed on the left-hand side.

Click on a device and, if supported, you will see settings for the format (quality) and volume of the device. To record multiple devices, you need to create an ‘aggregate device’ by clicking the + icon in the bottom left of the window and selecting Create Aggregate Device. Check the devices you want as part of the group, and again, set the sample rate for the input(s). Depending on the devices you add you also set the input and output channels used for each device and a ‘clock’ (used to synchronize sources) source.

Now in your audio application of choice, you can select the aggregate device as the input. For example, here’s what I selected in Adobe Audition.

And on individual channels, you can select the specific input to use from the group.

Creating your podcast

Recording your podcast involves defining and finding content, interviewing guests, learning microphone and editing techniques, and much more. All of these topics could be articles in themselves, and others have written better advice, so here are a few recommended links. But in short, be bold and stick to what interests you; let your passion shine.

Recording VoIP and application inputs on macOS

Unless your lucky enough to have guests visit your ‘studio’ for interviews, it’s highly likely you will need to record calls from Skype, Hangouts or other apps. Or maybe you want to add music from iTunes, Spotify, or another source. Enter the amazing Audio Hijack Pro, a versatile recording application. It’s a paid app, but if you want to do any of the tasks above, it’s the best option and I personally think it’s worth every cent. If you want to try an alternative, here’s some others:

Audio Hijack Pro comes with a number of session templates to get you started with common tasks and a drag-and-drop interface to customize these to suit your use case.

If you are happy to edit recordings elsewhere, then Audio Hijack Pro is possibly all you will need for recording your podcasts as it also has tools for volume control, effects, input/output control (yes, this could replace the need for aggregate devices) and scheduled sessions.

Export your podcast

There is no defined format for a podcast episode, it can be any audio format you like. Of course, it’s best you pick something that is a common format and compressed to allow for better distribution on the web. MP3 is fine, but an old (and officially ‘dead’) format and I suggest something else like FLAC or AAC. All the audio editors I mentioned above will allow you to export to a variety of formats. If you use a Podcasting service (as opposed to hosting yourself) then they will handle the conversion process for you, so the upload format is not so important. I personally upload uncompressed AIFFs to Soundcloud as I can download the originals at any time for other use.

Create a podcast feed

A podcast is, in essence, a series of audio files, described by an XML-based RSS file that contains metadata on the feed itself, and metadata on each episode that references the audio file you created above.

Where you host your audio and feed files is up to you, and as with many technical options, you can host it all yourself, or use a paid service such as Soundcloud, libsyn and PodBean. If you decide to host yourself then remember that streaming audio files can use a lot of bandwidth. If your podcast becomes popular, this can increase your fees or result in service outages. I currently use Soundcloud to handle this for me as it is the easiest to get started with. But it has some limitations with scheduling episodes and analytics, so I am investigating other options.

Distribute, promote, profit

You’ve bought equipment, set up your studio, found content and recorded your first episode. Now I assume you want someone to listen to the podcast. This is more about marketing and promotion, is not very Mac specific, and better words have been written by many others, so here are some links I recommend.

I am still experimenting with the best ways to promote my podcast and am about to try new marketing ideas in the coming months. However, I found that the Buffer blog has some of the best advice I’ve found so far.

Get vocal

Making a podcast is a fun activity, and with a little investment, setup and configuration, it’s easy to sound more professional and join the throngs of those expressing their opinions on the great wide web.

I’d love to hear any of your tips and experiences hooking up hardware to your mac, or software you used to record. Let me know in the comments below. Leave them in audio if you want!

Podcasting has been experiencing a renaissance lately, and for good reason. Podcasts can be about a wide variety of topics, from Apple to sports, comedy, storytelling and so much more. It’s a great time to get into podcasting because the barrier to entry is so low and you don’t have to break the bank to buy a totally workable setup.

Some of the greatest podcasts in the iTunes Top Charts are regularly recorded using sub-$100 to $300 mics. Whether you want to gain influence in a community or nerd out about the latest iPhone, a podcast is a great place to do it.

That’s why I want to show you how to set up a podcasting rig for under $300, and include some great insights along the way.

Microphones: condenser versus dynamic

Your audio is only going to be as good as your weakest link, so it’s important to start with good mic technique and a good microphone. You may have heard about all sorts of different mics, but for our purposes we’re going to focus on condenser and dynamic microphones.

Condenser mics

A condenser microphone is very sensitive due to the way it’s built. This type of microphone usually has an incredibly even frequency response and picks up detail nicely. It can handle loud noises very well.

Just remember that extra sensitivity comes at a price. Condenser mics usually pick up a ton of background noise, including people outside or in other rooms, low-end rumble from air conditioning, and a lot more. If you’re in a perfect situation (such as a studio or really quiet room), a condenser is worth buying because of its crisp sound. Otherwise, you might want to consider a dynamic mic.

Dynamic mics

A dynamic microphone is typically a live mic. You’ll usually see these at live shows because of their durability and their ability to accept loud sounds. A dynamic mic is great for a podcaster because you have to be close to it for it to pick up your voice. The great part about that is that it doesn’t pick up background noise nearly as much as a condenser would. You have to be careful with dynamic mics, because they certainly don’t always sound as even as a condenser. But in a lot of instances, they are good enough for recording voices. They also work in many other situations, such as recording guitar, drums and even recording the president. For these reasons, dynamic mics have become staples in the studio.

For our budget, I’m going to recommend one good condenser mic and one good dynamic mic. Also, these will be USB mics, so you won’t have to worry about buying an audio interface, XLR cables or a mixer.

For a condenser, I recommend the Blue Yeti. I’ve had such good experiences with Blue Microphones in the past, this was a no-brainer. The company makes beautiful microphones. Not only are they constructed well and great-sounding, but they look good too. You can find the Yeti for around $120, and sometimes even sub-$100. The great thing about the Yeti is that it has selectable polar patterns, which means the mic can record in front of you, in the front and the back of the mic (if you have a person on either side of it), or in 360-degree omnidirectional mode, which records all around the mic (in case you have a large group of people you need to record). It also has a mute button, and more importantly a headphone jack. The headphone jack lets you hear yourself coming through the microphone, which really helps determine if you’ve got a good recording early on.

For a dynamic microphone, I’d recommend the Audio-Technica ATR2100-USB. I’d love to recommend the Røde Podcaster because I really love Røde Microphones as a brand, but the Podcaster line has taken a dip in quality recently. The Audio-Technica can be used as a live mic or a USB podcasting mic. As I stated before, because it’s a dynamic microphone, it’s great for rejecting outside noise. It has a pretty even frequency response, a headphone jack for monitoring yourself, and doesn’t break the bank at just $40!

Remember to focus on your situation when it comes to selecting a mic, and choose the one that’s best-suited to your recording location!

Headphones and accessories

If you’re using a condenser mic, there are two accessories that are crucial for use: a pop filter and a shockmount.

A pop filter screens out the plosives in your voice. A plosive is a P or a B sound that makes a short burst of air and can really ruin a great recording. The pop filter I recommend is the Samson PS01. It’s only $25, and it does the job perfectly. You can attach this to any microphone stand, place the pop filter in front of the mic, and you’re ready to go.

For a microphone stand, I’d recommend the On-Stage MS7701B. This boom stand is perfect because it can get out of the way, and has a little bit more flexibility than a desktop stand. You could invest in a fancy desk-mounted boom arm, but it’d be a little too pricey for our budget.

If you’re using a condenser, you’re also going to want to buy a shockmount. Shockmounts range from $20 to $50 on the low end, and are important for keeping noise and rumble out of your recordings. They absorb any shocks to the stand, and help the mic produce a great recording. I won’t recommend a specific one here because they’re typically pretty unique for each mic, so make sure to find the right one for your mic before buying!

Having good headphones is important to your overall podcast rig, because it’s helpful to be able to hear everything you’ve recorded accurately. Sennheiser has been making great headphones and other products for a long time, and I’m going to recommend the HD202 II model. At just $23, these headphones are a steal. They have a decent frequency response, and are comfortable if you’re going to be wearing them for extended periods of time. I’ve loved the HD 280 Pro headphones for some time, but these 202’s at under $25 make perfect sense for this budget.

GarageBand and Pro Tools First

We have our microphone, accessories and headphones — so now what? The last thing we need is a place to record it all. For this I’m going to recommend two programs that are perfect when it comes to recording, editing and mixing podcasts.

The first is GarageBand, which is made by Apple. GarageBand is great for dealing with a few tracks of audio, and it will also help anyone looking to get a head start on learning Apple’s pro product, Logic. GarageBand is easy to record into, and has some great features when it comes to mixing voices. It comes with a number of built-in audio plugins for EQ, compression and more. It also supports the Audio Units plugin format, so you can get some heavy-hitting processing if you’re looking to spend a little more money.

The other program I recommend is Pro Tools First. Avid’s Pro Tools recording software has long been the industry standard. Pro Tools First is a stripped-down version of the company’s flagship program that allows you to record (16 tracks), edit and mix all your audio. They even include more than 20 plugins to process your tracks (including EQ, compression and more). I find editing and mixing audio is easier in Pro Tools, but I think the most important thing to do is learn one program very well (keyboard shortcuts, what each knob is, etc.) and be proficient in that program.

I’d recommend trying out both, and seeing which program fits your needs best.

The ins and outs

Rogue Amoeba also makes some fantastic software. For a long time, I’ve used their Piezo app, which is perfect for recording Skype calls with two people. Since we have a good amount of money left in our budget, I’m actually going to recommend Rogue Amoeba’s higher-end and more fully featured software, Audio Hijack. You’re sure to get a ton of use out of this program.

What Audio Hijack does is allow you to route audio from pretty much anywhere into a host of other locations, including recording right within the program. You can take audio from Skype, iTunes, the web and a number of other places and route it wherever you need it to go. Think of it as a virtual patch bay for your audio.

After you’ve plugged your mic in via USB, recorded your audio and dropped it into your editing and mixing program of choice, you’re all set to ship your podcast to the world!

Breakdown of pricing

So where did we end up with all the components I’ve recommended? Let’s take a look at both the condenser and dynamic mic packages:

Condenser mic podcast setup

• Blue Yeti condenser microphone – $120
• Stand (built in to the Yeti) – Free
• Pop filter – $25
• Shockmount (Not needed with the Yeti, because of the built-in stand) – Typically $30 and up
• Sennheiser HD 202 II headphones – $23
  GarageBand or Pro Tools – Free ($4.99 for GarageBand on 2012 and older Macs)
• Audio Hijack – $49

Total = $247

Buying The Best Podcast Setup For Macbook

Dynamic mic podcast setup

Best Podcast Equipment Setup

• Audio-Technica ATR2100-USB – $40
• Microphone stand – $25
• Sennheiser HD 202 II headphones – $23
• GarageBand or Pro Tools – Free ($4.99 for GarageBand on 2012 and older Macs)
• Audio Hijack – $49

Total = $137

As you can see, the barrier to entry for podcasting has gotten incredibly low. This is great news for anyone wanting to start a podcast or participate in an existing one.

Video Podcast Setup

This post was syndicated via The App Factor.