Back to Basics: 3 Podcast Specialists Share What’s Really Needed To Start A Podcast

By Sng Ler Jun

When you type in the keywords “how to start a podcast”, you will likely be bombarded with many guides suggesting how you should do things, whether they are finding the equipment you need to kickstart your podcast or even providing podcast interviewing tips that journalists use to get interesting responses. These are all valuable resources to help you get a head start. 

But do you know what’s better? It’s hearing from the pros, learning from their mistakes, and paying heed to their advice. Here, we interviewed three podcast specialists — Adwin Lin from Audio-Technica, Mike Mayuni from City Music Singapore, and Grehg Yeo Guang Jin from career development podcast 1 Foot In — who shared with us what’s really needed to start a podcast in the confines of your home.      

Should podcasters invest in a decent podcast setup at the start of their podcasting journey? Why or why not? 

Adwin Lin: I recommend aspiring podcasters to invest in a decent audio setup. Podcasts, as well know them, rely on having clean and clear audio to tell a story. You would be surprised to know that professional equipment can be rather affordable these days, such as the AT2040 (which retails at only USD99). 

Mike Mayuni: You may have considered recording your podcast with your smartphones, which are practical and convenient. But smartphones also have their own limitations, such as their inability to capture a whole spectrum of voice due to their micro-sized microphones. You will definitely miss out on some of the voice timbres and nuances. Plus, it will also pick up on noises from the surroundings and that can be distracting. 

When it comes to podcasting, we prefer to record our content as cleanly as possible. This means capturing our voices rather than the noise around us. Don’t get us wrong though, smartphones are great devices to kickstart things but we advise getting a dedicated portable handy recorder, such as the Zoom H1N which has a superb onboard X-Y Microphone or a Zoom H2N.

Could you share one tip on editing a podcast during the post-production stage? 

Adwin Lin: Understanding how your audience listens is key. They could be hopping between other podcasts too. Getting the loudness and clarity to be similar to other well-edited podcasts is ideal. Pay heed to your audio on commonly used speakers, such as that of a laptop’s, smartphones’, earbuds’ and travel headphones’. Editing your podcast on a proper monitoring headphone such as ATH-M40x and ATH-M50x during the post-production process can be helpful. These studio category headphones provide accurate and detailed audio responses.

Mike Mayuni: When it comes to post-production, you should have some audio knowledge and be familiar with some basic audio editing software. The post-production process includes splicing or truncating the audio sections, removing unwanted audio or noise, audio repairs, enhancements and also adding background music or sound effects to your episodes. All these add "colour" to your episodes and make them even more exciting. 

Other than understanding the post-production process hands-on, it is also essential to ensure that your audio is recorded with good quality audio. Try to record as "clean and organic" as possible. That way, you don’t have to be spending hours trying to clean and repair your recorded audio. 

Grehg Yeo: I would argue that a good podcast needs to be passable in technical elements, but superior in creative elements. Let the technical aspect of things build up over time. In other words, make every podcast you do a learning experience. 

What do you think should a basic podcast setup comprise? Which piece of equipment do you think a podcaster must have in their arsenal? 

Adwin Lin: Decide if your recordings are to be carried out on a laptop or an external audio recorder. Only one USB mic can be connected to a laptop for any one person. Should two persons or more persons be involved in the recording, the recording interface hardware should be toggled to a multi-microphone input. Select a vocal microphone that isn’t too bass boomy and captures voices with clarity. Select a pro-monitor headphone that does not sound too bright and too bassy. Invest in a table microphone stand to hold the microphone close to your mouth.

Mike Mayuni: If you are a solo podcaster, the basic setup comprises a decent USB microphone that you can be connected directly to your laptop. You may also consider a USB microphone that can work for PC, Mac and iOS devices, such as the Samson Satellite. 

Next up, the microphone. Learn the differences between a condenser and a dynamic microphone. If you are recording your podcast in a quiet environment, use a condenser microphone to capture delicate sounds and higher frequencies. If you are recording in a noisy environment or outdoors, consider a dynamic microphone that can handle high volumes without much distortion. 

If your podcast features multiple hosts and guests, you might want to consider a mixer that is also a recorder, like the Zoom Podtrak P4 which is able to connect to four independent microphones and record directly onto the SD Card. 

Lastly, don't forget the XLR cables that you will need to connect the microphone to the Zoom Podtrak P4. 

Grehg Yeo: Each podcaster should invest in a good microphone, but that doesn't mean you need to break your wallet on it. If you have been using a random microphone, consider upgrading it. From experience, spending $100ish to upgrade your microphone is more than enough to take you to 80% of the podcast's quality Other equipment-wise, I am using the Samson Q2U, Shopee's cheapest pop filter and boom arm, and Zoom for remote calls. 

What makes a good podcast?

Adwin Lin: A good podcast provides comfortable voices recorded with enthusiasm. Your audience should enjoy listening to your podcasts for long hours without ear fatigue. The volume between the persons talking should be well-balanced too. Audio distortion must be avoided and clarity is essential for easy listening. The content, of course, is also equally important.

Mike Mayuni: There is no specific formula for creating a good podcast. I would tune in to any podcast as long as the topic is interesting. A podcaster needs to be clear and focused to capture the listener’s attention. You have got to be clever and understand what the listeners are looking for so they will keep looking forward to your upcoming episodes. This is why it is important to have a regular schedule. 

Grehg Yeo: I love this question. A good podcast I think has two elements. Firstly, it is all about having the right equipment and the skillsets to operate them. Only then can a quality podcast be produced. Secondly, it is then about how interactive can the host be; you have got to figure out your storytelling niche, think through your questions, learn how to prod guests and make for a good finish at the end.