6 Gear Upgrades You Need for Your Podcast Studio

The beginner phase is over. You have your platform; you have your audience. Now it’s time to upgrade your podcast studio. But what are the best upgrades to transform your podcast from “some person talking in their bedroom” to “oh, that’s a real podcast?”

If you want to take your podcast to the next level, here are six gear upgrades to consider.

As a podcaster, your microphone is the soul of your setup. It captures your voice: the most important thing about the podcast! And you want your voice to come through nice and clear with every single word.

Many podcasters start with a simple USB mic — and that’s perfectly fine! But if you want the most clarity and even further upgrade potential, it’s time to upgrade to an XLR mic.

XLR mics support better sound quality and scalability. They’ll stick with you as you upgrade the rest of your setup for years to come. There are tons of amazing XLR broadcast microphones out there, but there are two that I really like:

Your little audio interface or mixer might have worked for your podcast so far, but you’re bigger and better now. Don’t you think you deserve a few extra features designed specifically for podcasting? Of course you do!

A dedicated podcast workstation can take your show from good to great by adding features specific to podcasting — you know, things like multiple headphone outs, onboard effects, and assignable performance pads. Just think of the possibilities!

Did you know the room can impact your podcast’s sound just as much as outside noise or your audio processing? An untreated room can create reverberations, echoes, muddiness, clarity loss, boominess, or any other negative words you want to add. So what do you do? Treat your room!

Acoustic room treatments are basically things you put around the room designed to absorb unwanted sound. They can be something simple like a rug and curtains, bigger decorations like plushy chairs and couches, or something more formal like acoustic panels and soundproofing.

Acoustic treatments might not be the sexiest upgrade for your podcast, but you’ll definitely be able to tell the difference in your recordings — and so will your audience.

You might think your mic stand is just something to hold your mic — and to an extent, you’re right — but it does much, much more than that. Holding a microphone isn’t just keeping it off the ground; it’s keeping it in the correct position to accurately capture your voice. A sub-par mic stand might droop or require constant readjustment, all of which will impact your podcast recording. What if someone walks across the studio or bumps the desk? Will your mic stand transfer those vibrations into your mic or absorb the vibrations and keep your recordings clear?

A good mic stand doesn’t just hold your mic; it boosts your recording quality and ensures your microphone can do its job properly without unwanted noise.

A good podcast mic stand is what you’d also use in a recording studio. They have larger, heavier bases for extra sturdiness, strong clamps to keep your mic in the correct position, and sometimes even vibration-dampening features.

Many podcasters like to use high-quality microphone boom arms that clip right on a desk. They save on space and (let’s be honest) look really cool on video. Look for a boom arm with strong supports, springs, and vibration dampeners — in case your guest decides to put their drink down a little too hard.

Podcasts might have started as an audio-only platform. But they’ve evolved… Now if your podcast isn’t on video, is it really a podcast? Sure, you can start with your webcam or even a single-cam setup, but if you want to make your podcast look professional, it’s time to upgrade to a multi-cam setup. And for that, you need a video switcher.

Multiple camera angles make any podcast more exciting. Rather than your audience just staring at your face the whole time (as lovely as that may be), give them more dynamic video to watch by swapping to different camera angles.

You can find all sorts of video recorders to upgrade your podcast right here at AMS, including video switchers to swap camera shots with the click of a button.

RODE leads the pack here with the RODECaster Video S — the perfect complement to your RODECaster Pro II mixer.

Since your podcast is on video now, you should probably get some lights, too. There’s nothing that screams “amateur” louder than poor lighting that causes grainy video quality.

Many podcasters like to use simple ring lights, like the Nanlite Halo. They put a soft glow on your face without casting nasty shadows. And if you want to step up a little farther, some legit stage lights strategically colored and placed can completely transform your podcast. You can even put some lighting effects in the background to add some extra atmosphere.

Your podcast is a production, so make it look like it!

You have great ideas. Now make the presentation look and sound as great as your podcast topics. By upgrading your mic, adding a dedicated podcast workstation, fixing room acoustics, finding the right mic stands, adding multiple camera angles, and upgrading your lighting, you can take your podcast from great to incredible!

At AMS, we have all the gear you need to upgrade your podcast. And with 0% interest payment plans and VERY fast shipping, you can get all the gear you need to take your podcast up a notch right away. And if you have any questions, give our gear experts a call at 800-458-4076. They know all about podcasting and will happily point you in the right direction. Now get out there and take over the airwaves!