The Hardware Costs For A Newbie Podcaster

I've wanted to mention this in a public forum for a while, and now that my O'Reilly blog is up and running I think it’s the perfect venue. Podcasting can be cheap. I can say that now that I've spent several hundred dollars upgrading my podcast rig. When I began with my first podcasting adventures, on The Gadget Show, I started on a budget.



Let's ignore the cost of a computer and bandwidth. Lets make the assumption that if you're taking the plunge into making your own podcast that you've already got this organized. That's not to de-emphasize this cost in any way, it is just that the cost of podcasting, Internet access, and social class is a completely different topic.



I'll also leave hosting costs and software to a later post. All of which are important, but I'd never get to the point if I didn't.



The total cost of the hardware for me to start was zero dollars. That's right, nada. I cheated; a mate of mine loaned gave me a USB microphone (a $50 Logitech headset if you need to buy one). That's all I needed to record a show. These days basic recording software comes with the operating system, so that isn’t even a factor.



I'll confess though. I did spend $32 on Audio Hijack Pro. I wanted to record interviews over Skype, and on the OS X platform, it was the easiest way. For months though, that's all I needed.



If you do start on a budget, it's also worth investing in a coat hanger and pair of stockings. No, not as a method to avoid detection by the secret service, but to make your own Pop Shield. That way when you speak it'll stop the plosives occurring in the recording from the letter P. O'Reilly's in-house hardware hacker, Phil Torrone, would be proud.



If you're keen to start a podcast, don't let people convince you that an entry-level rig is worth a few hundred dollars. It isn't necessary to launch your own assault on the world's eardrums. Wait until you've given it a try, and if it's something that you enjoy you can invest more money later.



Successful podcasts aren't made by hardware alone.




Yes, I looked like an idiot with stockings wrapped around my head.

Have you got advice for a newbie-caster? Leave your comments here.