Podcast starter kit: Everything you need to launch your podcasting empire

Unfortunately, the microphone on your headphones doesn't cut it. If you want your podcast to sound legit, you need a proper microphone for recording. And with the popularity of podcasting, good equipment isn't going to bust your budget. You can get near professional quality microphones for under $150. "If you're starting out, I recommend a USB microphone — like Logitech's Blue Yeti," Weber says.

The Logitech Blue Yeti is a condenser microphone, which makes it more sensitive to sound compared to a dynamic mic. This helps pick up your surroundings, but it does mean the sound can get blown out with too much volume. Luckily, the Logitech has a mute feature. With the press of a button, you can mute to block out sneezes, coughs, or sirens.

The setup with the Blue Yeti is genuinely a breeze; simply plug it into your computer, and you can start recording. The microphone is enabled with studio settings like headphone volume, pattern selection, and microphone gain, making it a great starting point for folks not ready to operate a complete soundboard.

If audio quality is a top priority when planning your podcast, swing for an XLR microphone. As recommended by Solomon, the best XLR microphone is the Shure SM58, which will give you crisp, clean audio.

"They are a bit pricier than some of the other 'beginner podcaster' mics, but we have noticed a big difference in audio quality and ability to clean up background noise," Solomon says.

The SM58 is a professional grade microphone; you'll find your favorite singers using them onstage as they're known for their durability (meaning they can withstand a mic drop). The SM58 delivers really clear sound, which will benefit beginner podcasters who don't necessarily know how to clean up audio and don't have a professional producer to help.

It's also a dynamic microphone, which can withstand a lot more sound, so if you're worried about over enthusiastic guests, this mic isn't going to get blown out by their volume. The SM58, doesn't include a stand (or cables) but can be easily attached to a stand.

The biggest obstacle with the Shure SM58, which will be valid for any XLR mic, will be attaching it to your recording device. For audio newbies, it might mean investing in on an audio interface or recorder, like the Zoom H4N, or investing in an XLR to USB converter to connect the mic straight to your laptop.

The Shure SM58 is a perfect starter XLR microphone as it's durable as you fumble, doesn't have complicated controls, and delivers fresh, clear audio. Plus, it's a great value — professional quality sound for just $99. If you did want to upgrade to an even more sophisticated mic, Allard says the Shure SM7B is also an industry favorite and creates stunning audio; however, it comes at the not-so-beginner-friendly price of $399.

Studio headphones are essential for podcast recording and audio editing over something like your AirPods or noise-cancelling headphones. That means you'll need a pair of studio headphones if you're producing your own podcast. Allard, who spends long hours producing podcasts, recommends the Audio-Technica ATH-M20X headphones for beginners.

"They're fantastic for accurate sound. I was a producer on a show recently and had to keep an ear out for any background and distracting sounds, [and they're] a godsend," Allard says. Plus, they're incredibly comfortable to wear.

The Audio-Technica ATH-M20X features sound isolation, also known as passive noise cancellation. The headphones are designed to physically block sound, while headphones with active noise cancellation use technology to block sound. This might be great for listening to podcasts, but it has drawbacks for producing and editing podcasts. Headphones with passive sound isolation also don't rely on a battery like ANC headphones do. So with the ATH-M20X, you can go on a marathon of recording and editing and never need to charge them.

However, sound-isolating headphones such as these are best used in quiet studio environments, which shouldn't be an issue for most recording spaces.

Suppose you will use an XLR microphone or need portable equipment for reporting in the field. In that case, an audio recorder is your best friend. The Zoom H4n is endorsed by both Weber and Allard.

Allard notes that while there are more affordable audio recorders to get you started, the H4n is a better value with its versatility. The H4n doesn't need to connect to your laptop to record, giving you the freedom to take your podcast outside the studio (or, more realistically, your apartment). However, it can also act as an audio interface and connect your microphone to your laptop.

For podcasting beginners with no audio experience, there will be a learning curve to using a new piece of equipment, but ultimately, it will result in better sound quality. As Weber told us, "Don't be afraid to do many, many test runs."

The Zoom H4n has two XLR inputs, so you can plug in two mics at a time, but the recorder has its own built-in microphone too. It's able to record up to four audio tracks at a time, which is great for capturing interviews and b-roll all in one.

It runs on AA batteries, which is a bit old school, and you'll want to pack plenty of backups as the battery life is limited to 5.5 hours of recording time. Weber also recommends getting a 32GB memory card with the recorder to collect your audio when not using it as an interface with your laptop.

While some microphones, like the Logitech Blue Yeti, come with a built-in stand, others don't. So, if you decide to go with something like the Shure SM58, you'll need a mic stand.

Solomon says, "I would advocate for a mic stand with an arm, which is usually better than a small desk one." In addition to their popular mics, Shure makes mic stands that are sturdy and straightforward. The Shure Mic Stand with Boom is our pick for beginner podcasters who need a desktop microphone stand.

It doesn't need to be clamped to a table, making it easy to move around and adjust. The boom arm also gives more flexibility to adjust the mic for the best levels.

The microphone height ranges from 10.5 to 16 inches. The base is non-slip and features a vibration-absorbing gasket that helps prevent noise if you bump into the stand while recording.

Read our full review of the 14-inch M3 MacBook Pro.

MacBook Pros power the creative industry in graphic design and video editing, and the same is true when it comes to podcast production. The MacBook Pro with M3 chip is one of the most powerful computers we've tested, with superior processing and stunning visuals that will be an added bonus for those who want a video component to their podcast.

A hidden perk to getting a MacBook (if you don't already have one) for your podcasting needs, is that it comes with free software for editing. Weber says that Apple's GarageBand is a great place to start podcast editing, and because it comes preloaded, you'll have what you need without spending an extra cent.

But if all Apple laptops come loaded with GarageBand, couldn't you swing for a cheaper model? Great question. If you're on a budget, a MacBook Air can work, but it has different computing power. In her full review of the MacBook Pro, Mashable tech editor Kimberly Gedeon noted that the MacBook Pro scored 11,998 on Geekbench, a CPU performance test, while the Air only scored 10,416. That difference matters, especially when juggling software like audio and video editors, which will drain your memory.

For beginners who have never even opened an audio editing software before, trying to edit an hour or even just 20 minutes of content will feel impossible. If you need help, a service like Descript can be a huge help as it automatically transcribes recordings, distinguishes between multiple speakers, generates captions, and supports video editing.

Allard, who has worked in various editing programs, thinks Descript is best for beginners. "It creates the transcript for you, and you can edit off of that — it's nowhere near as comprehensive or fine-tuned as Adobe Audition, but you can definitely get away with [it for] basic edits," she says.

On Descript, after you upload your recording, the transcription is produced and instead of editing from the audio track, you can delete lines from the transcription to edit the audio, making it far more intuitive than other software. Plus, if you find you're a little wordy, dropping lots of "ums" and "uhs" in your recordings, Descript will automatically scrub them from the audio.

You can get started on Descript for free, which supports just one hour of recording and transcription a month, but paid plans start at $12 a month and offer more monthly time in addition to added features.

Adobe Audition is the gold standard of audio editing. Allard loves working in Audition, as it's a comprehensive and fine-tuned program that lets you comb through your recordings with precision. You can adjust volumes and restore broken audio for crisp, professional recordings.

With Audition, you can edit together dozens of audio tracks to create compelling podcast. It supports unlimited hours of recording and can effortlessly manage an unlimited number of tracks. Whether you're layering in music or sound effects, Audition's scalability makes it a go-to tool, even for music production.

Audition's expansive offerings can be overwhelming to beginners. However, it's going to be the right upgrade for someone who really wants to dive into audio production, whether you're dabbling as a hobby or hoping to make a career out of it. Luckily, Adobe has extensive training and tutorials to help users get started.