How do you choose a microphone for a podcast or radio show?
Choosing a podcast or radio show microphone
When you start recording or streaming, you first have to determine your budget. That way, you can choose a useful beginner set to try if this is really for you, or directly choose a professional set.
- Do you want a beginner setup?
- Do you want a professional setup?
- How do you connect a professional microphone?
- Do you need headphones?
- Is sound quality important?
- Which accessories do you need?
Do you want a beginner setup?
If you're not sure yet whether recording a podcast or radio show is something for you, you can start with a beginner setup. This simple setup has a number of products, including a USB microphone, laptop or computer, audio software, headphones, and a microphone stand. You can connect a USB microphone directly to your laptop or computer. This allows you to get started with the microphone right away. The sound quality of a USB microphone is less detailed than that of a microphone with an XLR output.
Do you want a professional setup?
Are you sure recording a podcast or making a radio show is for you? Look into a professional setup. You can put together a professional podcast set with a microphone that's specially suitable for speech recordings. You can connect these microphones to a mixing panel or audio interface. That way, the sound quality remains intact. You can complete the set with headphones and a microphone stand.
How do you connect a professional microphone?
You can connect a high-end microphone via the XLR output. To connect these types of microphones, you have to use a mixing panel or audio interface with XLR input. When choosing a microphone, make sure you know if you're choosing a dynamic or condenser microphone. A condenser microphone is more sensitive, so it records more details. To connect a condenser microphone, your mixing panel or audio interface needs to have 48V phantom power.
Do you need headphones?
With headphones, you can directly hear if you and the other person are clearly audible. Thanks to this, you won't find out after the show or recording. An extra advantage is that you can hear yourself speak. This helps you to easily improve your presentation skills and speech.
Is sound quality important?
Do you value sound quality? Take a look at more expensive microphones. Manufacturers use more expensive components for more expensive microphones. This isn't always reflected in the specifications of a microphone. Thanks to the more expensive components, recordings sound more detailed.
Which accessories do you need?
With accessories, you can increase the user-friendliness and joy of your microphone. By using a stand for your microphone, you can keep your hands free while talking. You also avoid recording the sound of you touching the microphone. If you also want to avoid recording ambient noise, you can use a shock mount on a tripod.
