Are you on a tight budget, looking for podcast equipment that’ll still give you studio quality?
Well, luckily with podcasting equipment, more expensive doesn’t always mean better. You can create professional content with just a few affordable basics. At the very least you should start with a microphone, headphones, and recording software. If you can afford to invest more, it’s worth getting a few extra items like a pop filter or stand.
We’ll help you get a bang for your buck! This guide covers the best podcast equipment under $100. You’ll be recording studio-quality podcasts, for a fraction of the price, in no time.
What podcast equipment do you need for a good podcast?
When it comes to basic podcast equipment for beginners we recommend starting with a suitable budget based on what you’re able to spend. Podcast equipment can get expensive, but it doesn’t have to. Fortunately, you can get good-quality equipment at an affordable price without compromising the quality of your podcast.
Keep in mind that to complete your podcast set up you’ll need the following basics:
Microphone(s)
Headphone(s)
Camera (if recording video)
Recording & Editing Software
Extra podcast equipment that you could also consider include:
Microphone Stand
A Mixer
An Audio Interface
Pop filter
Extra lighting
A shock mount
When choosing what you need think about how many hosts and speakers you have as well as what kind of environment you’ll be recording in. Once you’ve made your list you can get shopping for affordable podcast equipment.
To help you out watch the video below and read on for some of the best podcast equipment in 2023, all for a budget of under $100 per item.
Best Podcast Microphones for under $100
Price: $99
Why podcasters love the Audio-Technica Consumer ATR2100x:
Designed with content creators and podcasters in mind, the Audio-Technica Consumer ATR2100x ticks all the boxes. It’s versatile, durable, easy to use, and records great-sounding audio. Plus, with its USB output, you don’t need a mixer to start recording with the ATR2100x.
Specifications:
Type: Dynamic Handheld Microphone
Output: USB & XLR for added versatility
Polar Pattern: Cardioid, which reduces background noise
Frequency Response: 50 - 15,000 Hz
Other features:
Hardwearing Metal for long-lasting durability
Headphone jack with integrated level control so you can monitor your audio directly
Low latency
Rode PodMic Cardioid Dynamic Podcast and Broadcast Microphone
Price: $99
Why podcasters love the Rode PodMic:
The Rode PodMic is compact and perfect for podcasting. It was built to capture speech during broadcasting and podcasting, and you can tell. Its integratedpop-filter and shock mount preserve the integrity of your audio.
Specifications:
Type: Dynamic
Output: XLR
Polar Pattern: Cardioid, for reduced background noise
Frequency Response: 50 - 13,000 Hz
Other features:
Internal Pop Filter and dual-layer mesh reduces popping and protects your audio
Why podcasters love the Sennheiser HD 280 Pro headphones:
The Sennheiser HD 280 provide accurate audio representation with great comfort levels for lengthy recording and editing sessions. Plus, according to Forbes, podcasting legend Joe Rogan swears by the Sennheiser HD280 Pro.
Lightweight and portable thanks to their collapsible design
Excellent comfort with soft earpads
Durable and Robust
Good sound isolation
Audio-Technica ATH M40x
Price: $99
Why podcasters love the Audio-Technica ATH M40x headphones:
Affordable headphones with accurate audio monitoring, excellent sound quality, and good comfortability. The ATH-M40xis a good rival to the ATH-M50x for a lower price.
The Behringer Xenyx 1202FX is a robust all-rounder that gets the job done. It offers all the functionality that a podcaster needs for a decent price. Best for podcasters who need numerous input channels.
Specifications:
8 input channels: 4 Mic inputs with integrated preamps and 4 Stereo Inputs
Internal 24-bit multi-effects processor
1 Post Fader Aux path
Headphone Output
External Power Supply
Mackie 402-VLZ4
Price: $88
Why podcasters love the Mackie 402-VLZ4:
This compact mixer packs a punch. The Mackie 402-VLZ4 is portable, affordable, yet still offers full features with 4 channels.
Perfect for podcasters, the Rode PSA1 Studio Arm is ultra-flexible to adapt to all recording environments and get the perfect mic positioning every time.
Features:
360-degree rotation for optimum mic positioning
Velcro cable wrap to neatly tie cables and keep them out the way
Desk clamp ranging up to 55 mm thickness
Supports all microphones up to 1.1kg in weight
The Best Camera for your video podcast for under $100
Logitech HD Pro C920S
Price: $69.99
Why the Logitech HD Pro is perfect for video podcasters:
The Logitech HD Pro delivers crystal clear HD quality for a great price, what’s not to love?
Specifications:
Max Resolution: 1080p/30fps
Mount: Universal Mount which fits laptops, desktops, and tripods
Field of view: 78 degrees
Focus: Autofocus
Connection: USB to your device
Power: 1 A battery required
Other features:
Privacy shutter for when you don’t want to be on camera
Light-correction which adapts to your recording environment
In-built microphones for podcasters who don’t have their own
Price: Free plan, paid plans starting from $15/month
Why podcasters love Riverside:
Riverside records you and your (remote) participants in up to 4K studio-quality podcast every time. It’s sleek, easy to use, and ideal for podcasters of all levels. You can start recording on Riverside for free, but we suggest trying one of the paid plans to make the best of our features. Paid plans only start at $15/month, which we’d say its a steal.
Features:
Studio-quality recordings with up to 4K video and 48kHz audio resolution
Local recording so all files record on your device instead of relying on faulty internet connection
Separate audio and video tracks for all participants to give you more editing flexibility
Browser-based so that you don’t need to waste storage downloading any apps
Media board for adding easy sound effects live
In-built editorfor quick customizations, removing unwanted sections or repurposing your podcast into shareable clips
Mobile app so you can record on the go with any Android or iOS device. (You can even turn your phone into a secondary camera!)
Progressive upload to minimize upload times and risk of data loss
Producer & Audience modes that are automatically excluded from the recording
$100 can go a long way in getting you the best equipment for your podcast. As we’ve seen, investing in your podcasting setup for the long-term doesn’t have to mean breaking the bank. You can record a studio-quality podcast with a small budget and reap substantial rewards.
Now we’ve seen just how many options are out there, it’s time to get your bargain podcasting starter kit together and start recording. Start by trying Riverside.fm for yourself today for free - you won’t look back.
This article will provide you with actionable steps to select the right video podcast software to record, edit, and publish your wonderful video podcast.
Riverside.fm is an audio-video tool that collapses the pod/broadcast studio experience into your browser. The service captures lossless audio and up to 4K video locally, syncs it, and uploads as you go.
Riverside.fm is an audio-video tool that collapses the pod/broadcast studio experience into your browser. The service captures lossless audio and up to 4K video locally, syncs it, and uploads as you go.
Riverside.fm is an audio-video tool that collapses the pod/broadcast studio experience into your browser. The service captures lossless audio and up to 4K video locally, syncs it, and uploads as you go.
“YouTube has the infrastructure to introduce audio hosting and origination, and match it to video with all the rich analytics it already provides. A seamless creator experience, plus SEO marketing tools, plus the benefit of being a platform most have been conditioned to equal. Give it a turn-key opportunity to activate a more cohesive strategy around both video and audio, to the benefit of all parties.”
A.J. Feliciano | Head of Podcast Network
“People are working from home more and more. Audio-only is not as in-demand because the need to multitask while commuting is no longer there.”
Stone Roshell | Head of Podcast Production
“Live streaming may become the biggest way to grow using video for your podcast.”
Stone Roshell | Head of Podcast Production
“With major platforms like Spotify, TikTok, and YouTube putting more resources into video podcasts.. now is a uniquely opportune moment for smart creators to harness that energy by investing in video for audience growth.”
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