I can't speak to remote podcasting, as we do all our stuff in my home studio. Speaking to the budget side of things, there are some great alternatives out there to USB Mics. I have one that I use for conference calls on my laptop, it's a Samson GoMic. It is quite responsive and very portable. I tried using it on our podcast when we started it up, but is did not work that well. I don't know how this might fit into your budget, but here is what we are doing here:

MIXER - We are using a 4 channel mixer with a Presonus audio interface into our iPad, where L and R outputs from the mixer go into the interface and get mixed down to stereo on the iPad. If you are looking to do just 2 mics and are not going to expand for a while, this will go right into your ipad with little trickery: http://www.amazon.com/Presonus-AudioBox-Bus-powered-Audio-Interface/dp/B00M0EHRBE/ref=sr_1_13?ie=UTF8&qid=1421082444&sr=8-13&keywords=audio+interface+ipad


SOFTWARE - Boss Jock Studio. $9.99 from the App Store. This software is great because we will record some stuff ahead of time, grab interviews, play theme music, etc. When we are don recording in Boss Jock, we will export it to the computer, clean it up (Normalize, Compressor, etc.), Convert it to MP3 then upload it to our site.

Mics - We found a great deal on some no-name mics at Guitar Center where we got 3 Mics, XLR cables and a few stands for around 120. 2 mics will likely be cheaper. Get some Pop filters too from Amazon, we got some for cheap (link: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B008AOH1O6/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o02_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1) they clip onto a mic stand. Don't hit them too hard or they go out of place, but they work great otherwise and you cant beat the price ($7.00 a piece)

HOSTING - This is important, because once you get the show set up, you don't want to move around too much. We are going self hosted using a VPS at OVH. We use Wordpress and Podlove to publish our feed, and handle the blog that goes with our show. From there we have the feed exported to iTunes store, and you can subscribe right on the site. We were doing SoundCloud for free before, but this is much better because we do a new show every week and want to have a rolling list of 10 episodes for people to snatch. it helps to have some wordpress foo because it might seem overwhelming at first, but we are happy to guide you through it. I do wordpress sites for my job so I can cruise through it with rather quick turnaround time.

Please, if you have any questions, we will be happy to help you out EVERY STEP OF THE WAY, just PM us and we will get you going, give you a run through, all that fun stuff. We were noobs once, and would love to pay it forward. As far as I am concerned, we are still noobs anyway, but at least we got the actual production aspect of our show hammered out.

If we don't hear from you, best of luck! Don't get discouraged, just keep doing it and you will be glad you did, it is a lot of fun and my friends and I have made a weekly ritual out of. We are basically drinkers with a podcasting problem.

Others have already asked some pretty useful questions, but if you're looking for more specifics here's what I know.

Recording & Editing Software

While I can't speak to resources for non-Apple tools. If you have a Mac you can start out with simply a good microphone and the GarageBand application.

Microphones and Pop Filters

If you're looking for a mic recommendation I've had a lot of success with the Yeti USB microphone. It's pretty versatile and the sound quality has been quite good. A cheaper reliable option is the Snowball. You can find mics for less than that but I can't vouch for the quality. No extra set up is really needed, just plug it in and record. Some people recommend a pop filter, they're pretty cheap and I've had a good experience with the Dragonpad ones. If you need an example of sound quality PM me, I'm happy to link you an episode I created using the Yeti mic.

Uploading and Hosting

Once you've recorded and edited your Podcast you'll need somewhere to host it so others can listen to what you've created. I usually upload the file to SoundCloud and then share the link or embed the player in my blog and website. There are a lot of other podcast-specific hosting sites out there but I've found SoundCloud to be free and easy.

Helpful Guide

When I first started out I came across a great blog article by Mike Cernovich that I followed to create my first episodes. You can read it here if you're interested (it's specific to using GarageBand though).

I hope this helps, a D&D podcast sounds great. Can't wait to hear what you create.

It can be done, but it takes some pretty hefty effort.

Now... I know I said avoid any and all hardware mixers, before, and I stand with that statement. But a great budget solution for this particular scenario is to grab one of these

NOW BE AWARE.

Yes, it will record all of you at the same time, HOWEVER, it will record you all on a single channel. Meaning individual EQ, edits, and adjustments will be impossible. You can get 2 channels, by mixing one input all the way to the left, and one to the right, then splitting them and making them mono, but that still leaves 2 odd men out.

The very best solution for the home podcaster is to find a 4 input interface like this one. This will split your channels nicely, and do everything you need it to do. If you're on a tight budget, but need full interface capability, you can use this guy. I used one at the start of my podcast, and loved it. It looks AMAZING, and it worked great for me, but unfortunately, it's pretty obviously not as good as a Focusrite, thanks to their absolutely stellar preamps.

EDIT: Fixed USB mixer link, original was NOT USB capable

It depends on your recording environment. If you are just starting out and are recording in a bedroom or office I recommend a cardiod dynamic. Cardiod refers to the pattern around the mic that it picks up. Cardiod mics are most sensitive right in front of them in contrast to omidirectional mics which are sensitive to sound from any direction. A dynamic mic isn't as sensitive as a condensor mic and doesn't pick up a lot of background noise.



If you are just starting out I recommend one of the following:



One Person w/ USB mic:

Audio Technica ATR2100 -- ($69)
https://www.amazon.com/Audio-Technica-ATR2100-USB-Cardioid-Dynamic-Microphone/dp/B004QJOZS4/ref=sr_1_5?crid=3VSBIQQ3JBF11&keywords=audio+technica+atr2100&qid=1551358784&s=gateway&sprefix=audio+technica+atr2100%2Caps%2C156&sr=8-5



Neewar Boom Arm -- ($14)
https://www.amazon.com/Adjustable-Microphone-Suspension-Broadcasting-Voice-Over/dp/B00DY1F2CS/ref=pd_bxgy_267_3/130-3630075-7767759?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=B00DY1F2CS&pd_rd_r=bbd378dc-3b58-11e9-bd63-17b75475049f&pd_rd_w=hAX4Y&pd_rd_wg=0cwDw&pf_rd_p=6725dbd6-9917-451d-beba-16af7874e407&pf_rd_r=THVQ9RCXBFP8QTKXH408&psc=1&refRID=THVQ9RCXBFP8QTKXH408



On Stage Foam Wind Screen -- ($3)
https://www.amazon.com/Stage-Foam-Ball-Type-Windscreen-Black/dp/B0002GXF8Q/ref=pd_bxgy_267_2/130-3630075-7767759?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=B0002GXF8Q&pd_rd_r=bbd378dc-3b58-11e9-bd63-17b75475049f&pd_rd_w=hAX4Y&pd_rd_wg=0cwDw&pf_rd_p=6725dbd6-9917-451d-beba-16af7874e407&pf_rd_r=THVQ9RCXBFP8QTKXH408&psc=1&refRID=THVQ9RCXBFP8QTKXH408


(Total - $86)



_____

One Person - w/ XLR interface:

BEHRINGER UMC22 Interface -- ($60)
https://www.amazon.com/Behringer-UMC22-BEHRINGER-U-PHORIA/dp/B00FFIGZF6/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=umc22&qid=1551358965&s=musical-instruments&sr=1-1



Behringer Ultravoice Xm8500 -- ($20)
https://www.amazon.com/Behringer-Ultravoice-Dynamic-Microphone-Cardioid/dp/B0002KZAKS/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2DW4EVX2PF5KX&keywords=xm8500&qid=1551358987&s=musical-instruments&sprefix=xm%2Cmi%2C192&sr=1-1


Audio-Technica ATH-M20, Can use any headphones -- ($50)
https://www.amazon.com/Audio-Technica-ATH-M20x-Professional-Monitor-Headphones/dp/B00HVLUR18/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2B8B1B60ZJQ7U&keywords=ath-20x&qid=1551359014&s=musical-instruments&sprefix=ath-20%2Cmi%2C195&sr=1-1-catcorr


Knox Boom Arm -- ($50)
https://www.amazon.com/Knox-Professional-Microphone-Snowball-Microphones/dp/B07D7JTR5M/ref=sr_1_1_sspa?keywords=knox+boom+arm&qid=1551359032&s=musical-instruments&sr=1-1-spons&psc=1


On Stage Foam Wind Screen -- ($3)
https://www.amazon.com/Stage-Foam-Ball-Type-Windscreen-Black/dp/B0002GXF8Q/ref=pd_bxgy_267_2/130-3630075-7767759?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=B0002GXF8Q&pd_rd_r=bbd378dc-3b58-11e9-bd63-17b75475049f&pd_rd_w=hAX4Y&pd_rd_wg=0cwDw&pf_rd_p=6725dbd6-9917-451d-beba-16af7874e407&pf_rd_r=THVQ9RCXBFP8QTKXH408&psc=1&refRID=THVQ9RCXBFP8QTKXH408


(Total - $189)



The first group is "as cheap as you can get" and still get decent quality. The second group is definitely a better setup.

Ethan cohost of the Shieldwall Podcast https://shieldwallpodcast.podbean.com



EDIT: The second group is definitely a better setup in that it allows you to upgrade down the road with better gear. If you have the money an Audio Technica ATR2100 or AT2005 would sound a good bit better in the second list than the XM8500. But do these sound 4 times better considering them being 3-4x the price? Hard to say.

Condensers are fantastic, if you have a quiet, acoustically treated space. The clarity you can get is much better than what you will find in a dynamic mic. The downside is that they pick up everything. Dynamic mics have a lot more mass (relatively speaking) in the diaphragm than what you find in a condenser's capsule, so they aren't going to pick up the softer reverb or background noise (more mass = more energy needed to move it).

So if there is still some soft echo or room noise in your recording space, a dynamic may be the better choice. If you've gotten rid of all the room noise and did a good job with acoustic treatment, a condenser will give you a clearer sound. If you have a very noise-isolated area, and great acoustic treatment, you will notice more noise from a cheaper condenser though. The internal circuitry in all condensers causes some self noise, and cheaper condensers are going to be noisier.

You may also want to consider the tone you're going for. If you want a radio broadcast sound, a dynamic is the way to go. If you want more clarity and a fuller frequency response, you'd need a condenser. You also may want to keep in mind that so long as the audio is good, most listeners aren't going to be able to tell much difference.

People listen to podcasts over cheap earbuds, car speakers while in traffic, on their phone, etc... The biggest change in quality for the average listener is going to come from acoustic treatment. A well treated space with no background noise is going to sound pretty good, even if you're using a cheap $50 dynamic. Poor treatment and background noise are going to make your audio sound bad even if you're using $1,000+ mics. So once you have your studio space built up, mic selection isn't really as big of an issue. You do still want a good mic (just because everyone doesn't listen on great headphones/speakers doesn't mean you should ignore those that do), it's just not as essential as the recording space itself.

​

As far as mics within your budget, a large diaphragm condenser like the Lewitt LCT 240 Pro sounds fantastic, or it you want something with a tighter polar pattern the Audio-Technica AT875r has a clear tone and is highly directional (it's a short shotgun mic, but if you have acoustic treatment then it's fine to use indoors).

If you want a condenser with very little self-noise, you are going to need to save up more unfortunately. There are some good options that aren't too expensive, like the Lewitt LCT 440 Pure or Rode NT-1, but they still are a bit outside of your current budget.

I'd buy my current setup...

Focusrite Scarlet 2i2 Audio Interface ($150)

(2) MXL 770 Cardoid Condenser Microphones - Amazing quality microphone for the price. ($144 for 2)

(2) XLR Cables ($20 for 2)

(2) Microphone stands. I use this Gator for my main mic stand and a cheap scissor arm stand for my second. ($100ish for 2)

(2-pack) Microphone pop filters. I like these replicas of the Popgard, but also have one real PopGard that I paid $40 for. Either is much better than those pop filters on a long extension arm that gets in the way. ($10 for 2)

Zoom H4n Pro or H5 portable recorder. I have a Zoom H4 Pro (and a regular H4) but either would work well for recording a podcast on the road or on location somewhere without a computer. ($200-275)

Audio-Technica ATH-M50x Studio Monitor Headphones ($150)

Software - GarageBand or Audacity or other free DAW. Or, if you already have a Creative Cloud subscription like I do, Adobe Audition.

All of that is way less than $1k, and give you the ability to do a two-person interview podcast in the studio or on location. With the extra $100 or so, buy some sound proofing materials for your studio.

This is exactly what my setup looks like right now.

I've done a few in the field podcasts using a Zoom 6 and it worked great! I strongly suggest using lavalier microphones with your Zoom in the field. I feel that people get relaxed quicker if they don't have to hold a mic in their hand. I use these guys:
https://www.amazon.ca/Movo-LV4-O2-Omnidirctional-Microphone-Windscreens/dp/B016V12XW4/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1541035673&sr=8-5&keywords=xlr+lavalier+mic&dpID=41rNc37DcjL&preST=_SY300_QL70_&dpSrc=srch

The quality is pretty darn good too. Good luck!

Also consider renting equipment to get a feel for stuff before committing. I'm in Canada so Long & McQuade is my go to for rentals.

I'd go with Shure SM58's. They have great sound and sustain noise. If you want to save some money, I wouldn't discount GLS Audio's version which you can get for less than $50 a mic. I love them and have used them to record people like Rogan and others with great results. I use a Shure SM7b these days, but they are on the high end.

Love that you use a 2i2. Focusrite makes great stuff.

Take a look at this mixer:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01ATAK938/_encoding=UTF8?coliid=I2BR4I7RNDFL6P&colid=308EUVC8V7ROA

I made the mistake of buying a Behringer 1204 USB and while it is good and I like it, the Allen & Heath will allow you to record the mics on SEPARATE tracks which is a great perk to have when editing. Slightly more than the $150 I spent, but a good value.

Also, if your budget allows, I might try recording to a standalone portable recorder and not a laptop. Eliminates potential noise (fans, drives, etc) and offers more flexibility. I have a Zoom H4nPro and it is good enough.

But if you go with a Zoom H6, you might not find the need for a mixer as it has a ton of mic inputs and a pseudo mixer built in.

I am unclear of the application you want to use this for - if you just want to have two people participate in a podcast - and I presume here the podcast is just two people talking - and your aim is to record it (for later upload).

Then all you need to do is have two mics combined - which your special dual microphone set already does.

What you can do is plug this microphone jack into the mic port of a Y-splitter (of the type I mentioned above) - then plug in a headphone splitter into the earphones port of the same Y-splitter.

Then plug the Y-splitter into your Android device.

Now you just record as usual.using our app or other audio recorder app.

Now the problem is with your requirement that you also hear yourself and the other person speaking (i.e. whatever is being recorded - you also want to hear). On Android this will always have audio latency (i.e. delay). If this was an Apple device (iOS) it will have much less delay - but there will be some delay but it won't confuse you. I can't think of an app off the top of my head - I think RobVox is also available on iOS - so perhaps if you have an iOS device you could try RobVox and if it allows recording and it already has the Headphone mirroring feature - then it may work better on iOS - check them out on iOS:

https://apps.apple.com/us/app/robovox-voice-changer/id584847250
RobVox Voice Changer

Other than this - if you are willing to forgo the listening-to-yourself part - i.e. are willing to just leave your headphones off so you can listen to the other person just over the air, then you can use the Android solution - since you will then not have to listen to yourself. With our app you can turn off the headset mirroring feature - click Settings - Output Settings - Listen to Record (Headset) - and turn if Off.

But if you want to hear the recording also - then go with the iOS (test an iOS device first with RobVox if you can).

Other than that there maybe dedicated audio recorder devices which allow two mics, and have audio mirroring - these will have very low latency I think. But these would be expensive also.

You will need one which has a separate port for the audio output for headphones for audio mirroring (basically you need devices which have a field recorder feature).

I know some of the very expensive such devices have that:

https://www.amazon.com/Tascam-DR-40X-Four-Track-Recorder-Interface/dp/B07N3FDT3M/
Tascam DR-40X Four-Track Digital Audio Recorder and USB Audio Interface
$179

https://www.amazon.com/Tascam-Stereo-Portable-Digital-Recorder/dp/B004OU2IQG/
TASCAM DR-05 Portable Digital Recorder (Version 2)
$90

https://www.amazon.com/Zoom-H5-Four-Track-Portable-Recorder/dp/B00KCXMBES/
Zoom H5 Four-Track Portable Recorder
$279

I can't off the top of my head recall which have the audio mirroring feature, but I think some devices like these have the audio mirroring to headphone - and have a separate headphone port. And possibly even two ports for two microphones (?)

For these types of solutions, the folks on r/podcasting may have better solutions.

Hey, I know I'm hitting this late. I'm looking to start a DnD play podcast with a few friends of mine. I'm totally new to audio recording though and would love some advice on getting recording gear. I was looking at mics and equipment and found a really good deal on some very cheap mic sets, and also know I'll probably need Phantom power and a mixer.
Do you think I could get away with starting with this stuff I've picked out (I've gone cheap because I'm very new at this) or is there other stuff you would recommend? Also ,is there anything I'm missing or should I be able to plug this stuff into a PC and record? OH! I almost forgot, I'm getting 3 mics to record 5 people, do you think that's enough or should I plan on one mic per person? Thank you for taking the time to read this!
Stuff I'm planning on buying:
Mixer: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07QDN6Z83/ref=ox_sc_act_title_3?smid=ALJSAJJCN3221&psc=1
Mic Set : https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0756V2B6R/ref=ox_sc_act_title_2?smid=AVM8BIH53RWJ1&psc=1
Phantom Power : https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00KAPGLQC/ref=ox_sc_act_title_1?smid=A2HC58KVPP5OOH&psc=1

Are you guys planning on recording in person?

If you can scrape together just a bit more money, I'd really recommend something like the Blue Yeti. Mainly because you can set it to bi-directional mode, so you and your friend can sit on either side of the mic and get clear audio without having too much interference.

https://www.amazon.com/Blue-Yeti-USB-Microphone-Blackout/dp/B0170NWLWY/ref=sr_1_3?s=musical-instruments&ie=UTF8&qid=1526020706&sr=1-3&keywords=blue%2Byeti&th=1

I honestly would not recommend that pack you found. The mic is fine, but you can find that same mic by itself for less than $20. USB to XLR cables are notoriously bad. And the Neewer NW-800(or whatever brand this mic is, they're all made in the same factory) is a cardioid condenser mic, which means it'll pick up audio really well and clearly right in front of it, but anything to the sides or back will be very quiet and not full.

Also, just so you're aware, Windows REALLY doesn't like more than one USB mic connected at the same time, so if you guys want to move to having two separate mics you will eventually have to get an interface. You can get something like a Behringer UMC202 and two microphones(something like Pyle PD58) if you have the budget for that, and then upgrade your mics down the line.

Behringer Audio Interface: https://www.amazon.com/Behringer-UMC202HD-BEHRINGER-U-PHORIA/dp/B00QHURUBE/ref=pd_lpo_sbs_267_t_0?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=XVYQ6F57F9J89M61B16E

Pyle Mics: https://www.amazon.com/Professional-Unidirectional-Microphone-Connection-PDMIC58/dp/B003GEBGA0/ref=sr_1_1?s=musical-instruments&ie=UTF8&qid=1526021122&sr=1-1&keywords=pyle+pdmic58

YouTube has some good stuff on shotgun mics. Unfortunately shotgun mics don’t have a good cheap option like dynamic mics have. Good ones are expensive They also take quite a bit of skill/knowledge to get them sounding good.

Maybe something like 2 or 3 of these.
Audio-Technica AT875R

First, the basic Zoom H6 ($399) would let you just press record and then you can remove the SD card and import the four XLR tracks (and even a couple ambient tracks if you like or replace the supplied mics with two more XLR ports for a total of six). It also does allow you to act as an audio interface straight into your DAW as you see fit. But honestly, why would you? Unless you needed to mix in a Skype call or something similar it would be simpler.

http://www.amazon.com/Zoom-H6-Six-Track-Portable-Recorder/dp/B00DFU9BRK/

The default inexpensive dynamic mics that do a decent job are the Audio-Technica ATR2100-USB ($60) and AT2005-USB ($50) or the Samson Q2U ($40), all essentially identical mics with the 2100 having a Limited lifetime warranty. They do a decent job of reducing crosstalk and ambient noise, especially for the price. All have USB or XLR interfaces.

http://www.amazon.com/Audio-Technica-ATR2100-USB-Cardioid-Dynamic-Microphone/dp/B004QJOZS4/

http://www.amazon.com/Audio-Technica-AT2005USB-Cardioid-Dynamic-Microphone/dp/B007JX8O0Y/

http://www.amazon.com/Samson-Handheld-Microphone-Headphones-Accessories/dp/B001R747SG/

The Samson's price has been varying from $38 to $52 of recent. For the money they sound good and do a decent job of reducing the ambient noise. Plugged into a Zoom H6 they work well (never used the Q2U myself)

!

If you are serious about this I'd get a one ear broadcast headset like this one. A broadcast headset will have a dynamic cardioid microphone that sportscasters use to eliminate as much background noise as they can. A lavaliere microphone is basically a condenser microphone and will pick up a lot of the background noise.

Since you'll need a recorder with an XLR connection in order to connect that broadcast headset I'd recommend either the Zoom H4n Pro or the Zoom H5 instead of that Tascam DR-05.

Good luck with whatever you try! Starting to podcast is great no matter how you do it!

Here's my recommendation for a podcast starter kit:

• Microphone: Audio-Technica ATR2100-USB
  
• Pop filter: This one.
  
• Headphones: Sennheiser HD 202 II
  
  
  The ATR2100 USB is a dynamic mic that sounds good, and has both USB and XLR options.
  
  ​
  
  If you have a bit more money, I'm currently using this setup:
  
  
• Pre-amp: Behringer UMC202HD
  
• Microphone: Audio-Technica AT875R
  
  ​
  
  A pre-amp will improve the amount of gain you get from a dynamic mic (like the ATR2100). The biggest complaint about dynamic mics is they don't always produce a lot of volume.
  
  ​
  
  I've written a longer beginner's guide here.

have you ever heard of an interface?

you can get a nice one (Focusrite Scarlett) for anywhere from $110 or there’s this nicer one for $379

those will either have 1 XLR input (meaning the cheaper one can only record one microphone) or 4 XLR inputs (which means the nicer one can record 4 people on a podcast at one time.

an interface will work just like your blue snowball in the way that it will plug in through USB, and essentially give you microphone preamps that can plug ANY mic in the industry into it and be able to get you some beautiful sound. is that something you’d be interested in looking at?

This is right up my alley because I went through this exact process a few months ago - literally, I was deciding between these exact three microphones.

I bought the XM8500 and an XLR-to-USB adapter first, and the audio quality was terrible. Like, worse than apple earbuds into my iPhone. And like you said, after the adapters and accessories you're really only saving like $20 on something you'll be using for years to come. So absolutely don't do this.

I ended up buying the Q2U and have been recording using the USB cable into my laptop. Feel free to check out any of my last few episodes to hear the sound quality. I've been very pleased, we are actually getting better sound out of the Q2U then we were getting from the Shure SM58s in the sound studio we used to record in. And the best part is that it still has an XLR output so if we ever decide to upgrade our setup we only have to buy an interface.

It does come with a foam cover included, as well as the USB and XLR cables, and a small desktop tripod. However, it sounds weird with the foam cover, and honestly the biggest difference in sound quality I have noticed across all recording scenarios and microphones is having a pop filter. Get this one, it's only $7 and can attach right to the tripod that comes with the Q2U - I've bought three of these, there is absolutely no reason to spend more on a "higher quality" pop filter if you're not a pro.

We also bought these boom arms which fit the Q2U and are really nice to have but the tripod will be fine if you don't want to drop the extra $20.

I give this out a lot. I use all of these, and they were recommended by another podcaster who uses them too.

Here is my short list. I personally have used these. I still use everything but the mic (I upgraded) Everything together is less than $125 USD. Good luck!


Mixer https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00EK1OTZC/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o09_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Mics (You get 3, so you can have others on (they will need their own mixer for this setup) https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000NJ2TIE/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Mic Stand, pop filter https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01EBDZHNQ/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&th=1

Sound paneling https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B071VDDVHQ/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o04_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

These things and Audacity (which is free) will help you make a professional sound on a budget.

Seeing how we only have a single guest on our show, I use an iRig. I give them my phone number and they call in.

The call routes directly from my iPhone into DAW and outputs into our headphones. This also allows each of us, (three hosts), to talk to them directly as well. The quality of the call is amazing and one of the best purchases I've ever made audio wise.

Any condenser mic should work, and you can spend a lot or little and will probably end up with similar results either way.
HERE’S one for $35,
HERE’S one for $70, and
HERE’S one for $130. Any one of these mics would most likely serve your purposes. More expensive does not always mean better, so try not to overspend. I’d recommend using Amazon (unbeatable customer service IMO) and find your price point, then let the customer review section guide you to the best choice! Good luck!

Hummm this is my shopping list for the cheapest usable equipment I could find, the interface is for 8 people so don’t get that lol and the prices are for 4 people but this is about the best I can think of (they’re might be cheaper stands and getting a shorter xlr cable might be a good idea but this is kinda a baseline)

4 Microphones $80https://www.amazon.com/Behringer-Ultravoice-Dynamic-Microphone-Cardioid/dp/B0002KZAKS/ref=pd_aw_sim_267_1/134-4918017-9581726?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=B0002KZAKS&pd_rd_r=67247d59-873d-11e9-b9fc-e96a8f51671e&pd_rd_w=rl713&pd_rd_wg=YUNRU&pf_rd_p=469620d9-3e90-496d-9dc8-b19f900ba5fe&pf_rd_r=43C56ST8VNKF3SY65G3P&psc=1&refRID=43C56ST8VNKF3SY65G3P

4 Pop filters $40https://www.amazon.com/Professional-Microphone-Stabilizing-Recordings-Broadcasting/dp/B01N21H9WY/ref=mp_s_a_1_4?keywords=pop%2Bfilter&qid=1559702707&s=gateway&sr=8-4&th=1&psc=1

4 XLR cables $40 https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B003JJQMD8/ref=psdcmw_11973421_t2_B00018CXV0

5 Microphone stands $60
https://www.amazon.com/InnoGear-Upgraded-Adjustable-Microphone-Snowball/dp/B07F82BPLV/ref=mp_s_a_1_20?keywords=microphone+stand&qid=1559703326&s=gateway&sprefix=microphone+st&sr=8-20

Audio interface $150
Amazon.com: BEHRINGER Audio Interface, 4-Channel (UMC404HD): Gateway

Total: $370

We used to record on a Blue Snowball mic and then upped our game, and we did it without using a mixer based on some tips we got from this subreddit.

We have 4 people recording, and chose to use a Zoom H6. It can record up to six tracks (but the most we've used is 4). Our microphones are Samson Q2Us, which is the same as an Audio-Technica ATR-2100 mic. (We chose the Samson Q2Us instead because they came with headphones and cheap stands and cost less.)

We decided to get boom arms with shock mounts and pop filters in order to reduce noise. To be honest, the Zoom H6 alone, using the capsule mic, produces better sound than our Blue Snowball. I also like the H6 because I can take it on the road and record mobile interviews clearly, even in noisier environments.

Here's one of our latest podcasts recorded with this setup, and here's an old one with the Blue Snowball for comparison. (Jump around the episodes a bit and you'll see the difference.)

Good luck with whatever you choose!

I'd go with a mixer. You can get a decent behringer for $200 with 3-4 mic inputs (XLR) and get yourself 3-4 decent xlr mics and cables. That way you dont have to all be huddled around one microphone. You could set up a table and go at it. From that mixer, a cable or two going to a digital audio device like a steinberg C1 into your PC or Mac for recording. Most mixers also have a second output you could plug into a phone or something like a Zoom recorder so you have a backup recording in case the PC or Mac doesnt record for whatever reason.

Or to do it on the cheap, just a portable Zoom recorder like THIS ONE can be setup on a tiny tripod somewhere in the room. I've used a Zoom H1 to record whole panels at comic conventions and the audio actually came out pretty damn good. John Barrowman from Arrow/Doctor Who actually touched my recorder making it priceless so I can't sell it sorry. :)

Using the same mic, coincidentally, and have been pleasantly surprised. Figured it was worth a go before mic shopping. I don't have a shock mount but have been using a floor boom like this one. Also picked up one of these pop filters from Amazon which seems to cut down, especially with some mic testing/technique. Good luck!

I recommend this boom mic stand! Very easy to set up, plus the xlr cable is built into the arm. Love it!

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00CPCJI2C
That would a pretty good choice and, given your original budget, doable. There are likely cheaper options that would be fine as well, though, if you're really trying to minimize costs.

There are a few solutions. There is something called a Podcast Hotline Kit, but it's a little finicky with the model mixer. Another good solution is to use an Irig2 and create a mix minus.

I have no problems with affiliate links. You should change yours to your affiliate link, and get a few bucks for being helpful and pointing out the price drop.

Edit: To add to the helpfulness, here's the mic and a few accessories to get a good setup without breaking the bank.

• ATR2100-USB mic - $54.50
  
• Boom arm - $13.99
  
• Shock mount - $14.95
  
• Windscreen - $2.95
  
  Total = $86.39 for a darn good setup. (All are affiliate links. I'd be happy to remove these if the conversation swings in that direction.)

there isn't a mixer that takes USB mics, I'm pretty happy with the Behringer X1204USB I got last december. I'd also recommend the AT2005 USB mic. It has both USB and XLR and is usually around $60. It's a dynamic mic that works well and the mixer has the capacity to have 4 of them.

For an arm, I have a cheap Newwer Mic Boom that works well, but I don't think it'd hold up under a lot of stress. It's a good starter though and has a XLR cable built into it.

What you need is a board
BEHRINGER XENYX 1202 https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000J5Y282/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_KgURAbGQA217A

3 mics

Monoprice Large Diaphragm Condenser Microphone - (600800) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00AJHBVMU/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_yhURAb1K08J02



3 mic arms


Neewer NW-35 Metal Suspension Boom Scissor Arm Stand with Built-in XLR Male to Female Cable, Shock Mount and Table Mounting Clamp (Black) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00AK7SKL4/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_.hURAb4CEZSSE

Some kind of pop filter too.


It’s a little more than what your budget was but this is all really cheap gear and you won’t need any sound proofing and your audio will be clean once you get settings all set up. I strongly recommend this as a starter build. I’ve been using a similar setup for years.

Get a used h6. Should be around $300 w/ shipping.

Get the H6 adaptor capsule. $70 new.

Get 6 wired lav mics. $25 each * 6 = $150.

Total= $520 + tax

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That all said, spending $100 on an omni-directional USB condenser mic is not the worst idea, even though everyone else hates it. Look, if you're only publishing this so a couple of people can listen to it, what's really the return on the $600 investment? Is having perfect audio really going to increase your listenership? Is this for archival purposes, or for public purposes?

oh ok so I am not sure about the one I linked to but I can say for certain that this one does because it's the one I have. It has a brass adapter that you can unscrew from the shockmount. (if you look closely at the pics you can see the brass adapter on the shockmount)

> Will an interface plug directly into my computer…

Yes! Most audio interfaces use USB. I also often use mine on iOS devices via the Apple Lightning to USB connector.

I'm listening to your latest episode, Interview with Robin Hanson, and the first thing that comes to mind is to get a pop filter for each mic to cut down on the breath from talking. I ordered these
I really like the topic. Gonna listen to your other episodes as well.

To use that with a computer, you’ll need something like this: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000KW2YEI/

You need something like this then.

BEHRINGER U-PHORIA UMC202HD https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00QHURUBE/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_fiCLzbWDM60Y6

So just stick with the UMC202 I mentioned in the original post. this one

This is the one I have, works well enough for me and for $12.

For my tabletop rpg podcast its me and a player at the table and two others Skyping in from separate locations. I highly recommend having separate mics and a mixer. This allows you to record each track. If you only have one track and someone coughs or makes a noise, then you can't really edit it out.

However, since its only two people for me, I can cheat and set each mic to be panned left and right so I can split the two tracks. I'm not as such how to easily do more people without something like a Zoom H6.

I also have a Yeti

This is what I use
https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B01N21H9WY?psc=1&ref=ppx_pop_mob_b_asin_title

example

As an example... is this ok to start with?