Our Gear
What Do I Need To Start a Podcast?
That is the very question Steve asked himself in 2014 when he started the OHL Fanboys Podcast. When he came back to start All 60 in 2024 some things had changed, and he had more questions again. There are a lot of factors that go into starting a podcast and bottom line is you will be spending some money to get off the ground. Some people to save on costs perhaps just use the microphone already built into laptops, or even just your phone. That is certainly an option but if you want to get halfway decent sound quality, you’re going to want to invest in a microphone or two. Depending on your own financial situation perhaps some of the following costs might scare you away, perhaps it won’t seem that bad. At the end of the day, you don’t need a professional recording studio (though it couldn’t hurt!) to record a podcast. Lets take a look specifically at the gear used here at All 61: A CHL Podcast.
Microphones
Audio-Technica ATR2100x
This is the microphone I used for the entirety of the 2024-25 season as we kicked off our inaugural season! Very easy to use with USB-C or XLR cable options. It also has a headphone jack on the bottom if you like to hear your own voice while recording. Plus, a handy Mic stand so you don’t have to constantly hold it which can cut down on unwanted noises being picked up. Came in at a very reasonable price at just under $100cad. There is also a ATR2500x version for just over $100 if you want to beef up a bit.
Zoom ZDM-1
A new addition prior to the 2025-26 season. This Zoom ZDM-1 microphone is a bit beefier than the Audio-Technica. This one only uses an XLR output so you would need to plug it into a recorder directly. This is the mic I plan to use going forward unless it causes any problems. It also comes with a Mic stand and a windscreen as well. I have found the audio quality so far to be a tad better than the Audio-Technica. I bought the microphone as part of a bundle with a pair of headphones that you’ll see below. The package was $140cad.
Recorders
Zoom Podtrak P4
The Zoom Podtrak P4 is like having a mini sound and mixing board. The unit itself is about the same size as a smart phone, so it is easy to transport and use on location. It has four XLR inputs for microphones as well as four headphone jacks. Volume controls for each input as well as induvial mute buttons and a sound pad to play any one of four pre-selected sound bites. It also has the ability to record audio directly from your phone or computer! Everything saves onto an SD card in multitrack form for much easier editing in post!
Cleanfeed.net
This is a great option for recording with other people over great distances. It’s a simple website that you can use to send invites to whoever you want to record with. You can control sound levels and add pre-selected sound bites that you can play with a click of the button. The website is free to use however if you want to save your audio as multi track which makes editing much easier you will have to pay a fee of $22US per month.
This website was a life saver for me during the 2024-25 season.
Headphones
Zoom ZHP-1
A very comfortable set of headphones that came in a combo pack with the aforementioned ZDM-1 microphone mentioned above for $140cad. These headphones are wired so you will need a 3.5mm audio jack to plug them into.
Editing
Audacity
Audacity is the program I have been using to edit audio ever since the start of the OHL Fanboys podcast in the fall of 2014. The best part? Its free! It will definitely take you some time to learn the program but it’s ultimately very easy to use and there are plenty of guides on YouTube.
