Podcast mic & computer monitor ( Photo by Tommy Lopez from Pexels)

My Podcast Setup And Why I Love Podcasting

How to Start a Podcast | Michele LorentzUpdated 31 January 2024

I’m often asked about my podcast setup. Questions are typically about editing software, hosting, and what microphone I use. Sometimes people just want to know more about getting started.

Since it’s a recurring topic, I put it all here on my website.

So let’s start with my setup, software and hardware.

Disclosure
Some of the links in this post are affiliate links. This means I make a small commission, at no extra charge to you, if you purchase using those links. Thanks for your support!

Hosting

I fortunately chose Libsyn for my hosting service. The choice was fortunate, because I could have chosen any number of other hosting services, any number of which could have caused me some grief and even regret. I’ll talk about all the things I love about Libsyn in a future update.

Recording, Editing & Sound

My preference used to be Skype with the help of Call Recorder for Skype. The pandemic changed that, because everyone started using Zoom for calls. Everyone became familiar with Zoom, which was never the case with Skype. I started out recording audio only, but with the ubiquity of Zoom, I tried video. I’m back to audio only after realizing I didn’t have the bandwidth to do anything meaningful with the video.

In 2020, I decided to start recording music, which lead me to purchase an 8-channel audio interface that would allow me to mic an acoustic drum kit. I also upgraded my digital audio worsktation (DAW) from Garageband to Logic Pro. I previously used to Garageband to edit my podcast, but switched to Logic Pro. Audacity is a good option for Windows users.

I can also recommend Auphonic for final sound treatment, although I now use Logic Pro for final mixing.

Hardware

My hardware setup consists of the following.

My audio interface would be overkill for most podcasters, but Focusrite has a great line of more affordable options available through Sweetwater and Amazon.

More gear recommendations at the end of this article

Episode Transcriptions

I was using a service called Otter.ai for episode transcriptions, but stopped doing transcripts altogether. Otter.ai affordable and relatively easy to use. Transcriptions will cost you additional time and money. This was an experiment for me. I was curious to see if transcripts provided SEO benefits or listener/reader feedback.

Why I Love Podcasting

I love the art of the interview. I also love all the new acquaintances I’ve been able to make. The super bonus of it is that I learn so much from my guests. Plus I get to share it with my listeners and email subscribers, to make your journey a little easier. Win-win. I confess to being a bit of a techie nerd, so there’s that too. Overtime I’ve learned it’s a great source of content for my email subscribers, blogs, social media and more. It’s a time consuming endeavor, but I really do enjoy it. You should too.

More Gear Recommendations

For new podcasters

USB mic option:

Audio interface option (required w/XLR mics):