How to Set Up a Podcast: Where to start
Introduction
Podcasts: The new craze!
If you’re wanting to get in on this new audio trend, but don’t know where to start, this post is going to give you the basics and get you on your way to being the next big thing!
Objectives:
- Equipment: From budget to professional, what are your options?
- Which software can you use?
- Where can people find your podcast?
- How can you promote your podcast?
Equipment: From budget to professional, what are your options?
You may think that podcasts are an expensive endeavour, but they don’t have to be! Listed below is all your essential kit, from budget to bougie!
Essential kit:
Laptop
Now, you don’t need a laptop specifically but it is useful due to its portability. You could also record your podcast onto your phone!
However, if you’re looking for a bit more of a professional set-up, then here are some parameters for you to think about:
- RAM - you’ll need a laptop with at least 8GB of RAM.
- CPU - a multi-core CPU is preferred, so Intel Core, Apple M1, and AMD are good examples.
- DAW - this about which Digital Audio Workstation you’ll be working with, and which laptops it will be compatible with.
Microphone
Relying on your phone or computer mic quality is likely to leave you with a scattered and unrefined sound.
Headphones
Essential for audio quality control!
Price breakdown: Budget edition:
Laptop
BackMarket is a reliable site that sells refurbished tech, so if you’re working with a budget it’s a great place to start!
Microphone
- Amazon Basics; This mini mic plugs into any computer, a good quality option for £21.99.
- Zealsound; This mic has detachable plug-ins so it can connect to a computer, iPhone, or Type C jacks, a great option for £36.99.
- RODE NT-USB Mini; A cheaper option for those wanting RODE quality, this is priced at £99.00.
Headphones
Price breakdown: Bougie edition
Want to take your set-up to the next level? Here are some more expensive podcast equipment options.
Laptop
- Intel Core i5 laptops can be found on many sites, Argos has them starting at £349.00.
- BackMarket has the Apple M1 series, starting at £443.81.
- Laptops Direct has good deals on AMD laptops, starting at £189.97.
Microphone
- The NOS X500 is a USB microphone boom set, found at Curry’s for £49.99.
- Maono USB-C can be found at Maplin for £54.99.
- RODE NT-USB, a well-known brand. Found on Amazon for £110.92.
Headphones
- Sony WH-CH520 are wireless bluetooth headphones found through the EE store for £39.99.
- Pioneer DJ HDJ-CUE1 are wired headphones, you can find these on Argos for £60.00.
So, now you have the basics! If you’re feeling confident with your podcast and want to expand your set-up, there is some more kit you can add to your set-up.
Non-essential Kit:
Pop filter
These aid in eliminating plosive pops, these are harsh sounds that happen when certain consonants are pronounced that result in a burst of air hitting the mic. Many say they increase sound quality!
Camera
Video podcasts are very popular! This way, your podcast can be recyclable content, with uses for every platform. A DSLR is the best to look for, as they are multi-purpose. If you’re looking to learn about filming with a DSLR, we have courses available with industry professionals!
Field recorder
Recording on the go! If you want your podcast to include interviews outside, or vox pops (short clips taken from interviews with members of the general public), then you may want to invest in a field recorder.
Mixer
If your podcast will be hosted by multiple people, you may want to invest in a mixer so you can monitor the different vocal tracks.
Price breakdown:
Pop filter
- Tiger MSA21 can clamp onto any tubular microphone, you can find it for £7.00 on GAK.
- The Aokeo also has a clamp attachment, and can be found on Amazon for £12.99.
Camera
- The Panasonic Lumix FZ82D is compact and lightweight, found on Jessops for £399.00.
- Canon EOS 2000D is great for beginners, found on Argos for £429.99.
- The Sony ZV-E10 is ideal for those with experience in content creation and want fast, high quality results. You can find this on Jessops for £599.00.
Field recorder
- Sony ICD-PX470 has both focus and wide-stereo recording options. This can be found for £59.15 on Amazon.
- Zoom PodTrak P4 is specifically for podcast recording! You can find this on Bax Music for £158.00.
Mixer
- Maono Maonocaster AME2 has a noise suppression function for increased audio quality, you can find this on Thomann for £93.00.
- The Behringer FLOW 8 can be wirelessly controlled via the app, you can find this for £159.00 on Gear4Music.
Which software can you use?
Now that you have your equipment ready to go, what software should you use?
Riverside
Riverside FM is a high-quality recording studio compressed into an app! A HD video and audio editing software with different pricing tiers.
Free:
- Up to 720p video quality.
- Riverside watermark on all your things.
- 44.1 kHz audio quality.
- Unlimited single track recording and editing.
- Magic Clips; AI generated highlights of your clips for posting.
- Video calls.
- Live streaming in 720p to social media with basic branding. Omnichat included.
Standard (£11.87/month):
Everything in free plus:
- Up to 4K video quality. Crispy.
- No watermark. It’s all you.
- 48kHz audio quality. Sounds good.
- Smooth Speech & Set Pace
- Image & Text overlays.
Pro (£18.98/month):
Everything in standard plus:
- Magic audio, just one click for studio sound!
- AI transcriptions, with 100+ languages included.
- AI generated show notes.
- Magic clip controls.
- AI generated speech in your own voice.
- Teleprompter.
- Full brand kit.
- Live chat support.
- Accept live call-ins.
Spotify for Creators
Spotify for podcasters is a completely free platform for creators, you don’t even need a spotify subscription!
Features Include:
- Unlimited storage
- Detailed analytics
- Tools to connect with fans, understand how their podcast gets discovered, and how to stand out on Spotify.
- The mobile Spotify for Creators app allows you to manage your show on the go.
How to Get Started:
- Create an account with Spotify for Podcasters.
- Choose to start from scratch, or link to an existing podcast.
- Use the tools to grow, monetise, and manage your show.
Additional Information:
- You can use Riverside integration alongside Spotify!
Audition
Adobe Audition is a powerful audio software for recording and editing. There is no free version of Audition, but the features make it worth the price!
Features:
Multi-track editing;
- Record, rearrange, and layer multiple audio tracks.
- Apply effects to multiple tracks without damaging the original recordings.
- Mix vocals, background music, and more!
Audio Effects;
- Use audio plugins to enhance the sound.
- The Match Loudness tool matches the volume of every clip.
- Use the EQ (equaliser) to enhance your audio.
- Create a more balanced sound with the Multiband Compressor.
Noise Reduction;
- Say goodbye to unwanted background noise! No more beeps, hisses, or other unwelcome interruptions.
Templates and Presets;
- Custom-made templates and presets can help you create your podcast
Cost:
Adobe Audition can be purchased on its own for £21.98/month. However, you can purchase all the Creative Cloud apps for £56.98/month.
Where can people find your podcast?
The Top Podcast Platforms:
So, now you have your podcast up and ready to go, but where are people most likely to listen?
The Top Podcast Hosting Platforms:
Where can you publish your podcast? You can use all these hosting platforms for free!
- Spotify for Creators; offering audio and video podcasting, free hosting with unlimited uploads, advanced analytics, and monetisation.
- Acast; the free plan offers one show with five episodes (you can get unlimited uploads if you let your show become available on Acast’s advertising marketplace), relatively detailed analytics, and a basic podcast webplace.
- RedCircle; unlimited hosting and distribution, unlimited bandwidth and episodes, accept listener donations, podcast webpage, and standard analytics.
You can find links to many other good options here!
How can you promote your podcast?
So, you’ve got your kit, you’ve got your editing software, you’re ready to post your episodes… but how can you spread the word?
Social Media
Think about who your target audience might be, create a ‘target audience persona’ and use that persona as a jumping off point for your marketing! Ask yourself these questions:
- How old is my ideal listener?
- What gender is my ideal listener?
- Where do they live?
- What’s their job?
- What are their hobbies and interests?
You can base your answers off of research for a more accurate approach, but you know your content best. Who would best enjoy your podcast?
Now that you know your ideal listener, you can delve a bit deeper into which kinds of social media they use, and therefore which kinds of social media you should be posting on! For example, if your ideal listener is 19-25 years old, you probably won’t gain as much subscriber growth by posting on FaceBook as you would by posting on Instagram or TikTok.
Directories
Post your podcast to anywhere and everywhere you can dream of! Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and Google Podcasts are a few examples of directories where listeners will go to find new podcasts, utilise them as much as possible.
SEO
Each episode title is an opportunity to demonstrate what your podcast is all about!
Using keywords at the beginning of your title will increase your SEO, and gives you a bigger chance of being discovered by new listeners!
For example, a podcast episode named ‘Mastering Productivity: Top 10 Time Management Tips for Entrepreneurs’ would be more searchable than ‘How Entrepreneurs Can Get Better at Managing Time’.
Crossover content (website)
Starting, or utilising pre-existing, newsletters, websites, or blogs is a great way to get the word out about your podcast!
You can create a corresponding blog post for each podcast episode via your show notes or script.
Posting links and highlighting your blog across different platforms is a great way to boost your visibility!
Podcast Promotion Services
If everything on this list is giving you a headache, don’t stress! You can enlist the help of a marketing agency!
Some of the most popular podcast marketing services include:
Conclusion
Now you know the podcast basics, and are all set to take the podcasting world by storm!
Do you want a leg-up on your competition? Our industry professionals are here to help, book a Podcasting Course today!
by Josie Daniel | 24 Mar 25
