Documentation:Podcasting Basics/What do I need

From UBC Wiki

Podcasts can be some of the lowest-investment forms of DIY media to create. If you have a computer and an external microphone of some sort, you can download some recording and editing software, and start producing high-quality podcasts right away.

Hardware

Computers

Nearly any computer made in the last 5-10 years will be capable of recording and editing an audio podcast: as long as your computer meets the requirements of the recording and editing software you'll be using, you'll be okay.

Microphones

While most laptop computers come with integrated microphones, it's strongly recommended that you use an external microphone of some sort: the audio quality will be significantly higher.

Here are a few useful links if you're looking at buying, borrowing, or using microphones.

  • The DIY Media website has a page on microphone suggestions, going over the various types of microphones available.
  • Choosing Microphones is a 4-minute video from lynda.com which has some helpful tips for deciding what kind of microphone will best suit your needs.
  • Wistia's Learning Centre demonstrates the quality of sound achieved with different mics in this 4.5 minute video.

Software

Recording and editing software

Windows
  • Sound Recorder does exactly what it says it does. It comes as part of every Windows computer, and will let you record audio. While it's not the fanciest program, it's free, and it'll get the job done.
Mac
  • Quicktime comes pre-installed on most Apple computers, and allows audio recording and limited editing. Quicktime is free software.
  • Garageband comes pre-installed on most Apple computers, and gives you more control over audio recording and editing. If you're using a Mac to record an audio podcast, Garageband will be able to do everything you need and more.
Cross-Platform (Windows/Mac/Linux)
  • Audacity is a free, open-source audio recording and edition program. Audacity is feature-rich, flexible, and allows users to manipulate sound files in basically any way imaginable. While it isn't as polished as professionally-developed software, Audacity is just as powerful as other audio editing programs, has a large library of tutorials, and works on any operating system.

Support

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