Podcast setup: the equipment you need for solo shows and co-hosts
A podcast lives or dies on audio, and most of it comes down to three choices: the right kind of microphone for your room, headphones so you can hear yourself, and getting the mic close to your mouth. Here is the equipment for a solo show or a two-person table, with reviewers' current picks for each piece.
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Essential
A podcast microphone for each host
Dynamic mics are the safe choice for normal rooms because they reject echo and background noise. Every person on the show needs their own mic; sharing one sounds distant.
Top pick: Sennheiser Profile USB · Full list: Best podcast microphones
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Essential
Closed headphones for each host
Monitoring through headphones lets you catch plosives, rustle and level problems while you record, without the sound leaking back into the mics.
Top pick: Audio-Technica ATH-M50x · Full list: Best studio headphones
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Essential
An audio interface
For XLR mics. Pick one with an input per host, enough clean gain for quiet dynamic mics, and a headphone output for each person if you can.
Top pick: Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 4th Gen · Full list: Best audio interfaces
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Essential
Boom arms
Keep each mic at the same short distance from each mouth and stop table bumps from reaching the recording.
Top pick: RØDE PSA1 · Full list: Best mic boom arms
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Upgrade
A podcast equipment kit
If you would rather buy once, our podcast equipment guide ranks complete mic choices for beginners and growing shows.
Top pick: FIFINE AmpliGame A6T · Full list: Best podcast equipment kits
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Upgrade
A camera for video podcasts
YouTube rewards video. A webcam or two is enough to start; good light matters more than resolution.
Top pick: OBSBOT Tiny 3 · Full list: Best 4K webcams
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Upgrade
Soft key lights
For video episodes, one light per host in front and slightly above eye level makes everyone look consistent.
Top pick: Elgato Key Light · Full list: Best key lights for streaming
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How to set it up
Pick a quiet, soft room
Rugs, curtains, a sofa and a full bookshelf soak up echo better than bare walls. Record away from fridges, air conditioning and windows facing the street.
Put each mic close
Mount each mic on an arm a hand-width or two from the speaker's mouth, slightly off to the side to soften plosives. Consistent distance keeps levels even through the episode.
Set levels with real speech
Ask each host to talk the way they will on the show and set gain so peaks land around -12 dB. Leave headroom for laughter; clipping cannot be fixed later.
Record each mic on its own track
A multitrack recording lets you fix one person's level or cough without touching the others. Most interfaces and recording apps support it.
Do a test episode
Record five minutes, listen back on headphones and fix anything that sounds roomy, boomy or harsh before the real recording.
Mistakes to avoid
- Sharing one microphone between two people, which sounds distant and uneven.
- Choosing a sensitive condenser for an echoey room, which records the room as much as the voice.
- Monitoring on speakers, which bleeds into the mics.
- Recording everyone to one stereo track, which makes editing far harder.
Questions
What do you need for a basic podcast setup?
One microphone per host, headphones to monitor, and a way to record: a USB mic straight into a computer, or XLR mics into an audio interface. Free software such as Audacity or GarageBand is enough to start.
What is the best podcast setup for two people?
Two dynamic XLR mics on boom arms into a two-input audio interface, with a headphone for each host. It records each voice cleanly on its own track and keeps the mics from picking up each other.
Is a USB or XLR mic better for podcasting?
USB is simpler and fine for solo shows. XLR with an interface is better for two or more hosts on one computer and leaves room to upgrade parts later.
How do I record a podcast with a remote guest?
Use a remote recording service that records each person locally and uploads the files, so internet hiccups do not end up in the audio. Ask the guest to wear headphones and use the best mic they have.
Do I need a pop filter for podcasting?
It helps with condenser mics and close speakers. Many dynamic podcast mics have a built-in filter, and speaking slightly across the mic instead of straight into it softens plosives too.
We don't test products ourselves: each pick is the one independent reviewers recommend most in our matching buying guide, and changes as their recommendations do.