What’s the Difference Between a Live Podcast Event and a Livestream?

A live podcast event is done in front of a live audience and doesn’t have to be recorded (though it can be).

A live stream, on the other hand, is a podcast recorded online on one or more platforms where listeners/viewers can consume it while it’s happening.

Live events usually take place in a small venue like a coffee shop or bar and live streams take place on YouTube, Twitch, Podbean, etc.

Yes, a live podcast event can also be a live stream, but that’s not very common, for technical complexity reasons you’ll soon understand.

Related Article

Podcast Events in 2022 | An At-a-Glance Guide

There’s no shortage of podcast events, conferences, and conventions in 2022. Fill up your calendar with this handy list! Find out more »

How Do You Plan For Your Live Podcast Event?

All too often, arranging the location and promoting the event so you have live listeners in attendance take the front seat when planning a live podcast event. And we get it, you want there to be a certain exciting energy in the room during a recording. But you are recording it for listeners to consume later, so it’s a good idea to plan this side of the event as well.

Get the Right Podcasting Equipment

I’ve not put on a live podcast recording, but I’ve attended a few. Also, I recently heard Rob and Elsie from Libsyn’s The Feed answer a question on how to prepare for a live podcast event. Here’s what they said about good equipment set up in this episode (at 54:07).

Use Dynamic Microphones for a Live Recording

For microphones, Rob suggested the Shure SM58 and Elsie the Shure MV7. Either way, you’ll want dynamic microphones so that the recording focuses on your voices and NOT the atmospheric sounds in the room.

One big difference between these two recommendations is that the Shure SM58 only uses XLR cables and the Shure MV7 can use either an XLR or USB cable. If you’re purchasing this equipment for live recordings, then this won’t make a big difference. But, if you often record on your laptop without a mixer, then you might want to go with the Shure MV7 due to its cord flexibility.

Record Into a Mixer to Keep Thing Simple

For the mixer, Rob suggested the Zoom H6 to plug the microphones into. The Zoom H6 does have four XLR ports, however, for your first live recording, you may want to keep things simple and only record two people. It’s always good to give yourself time to grow into a new recording environment before figuring diving into more complex situations. This is a live event, so there’s always the chance for unexpected factors that no one can predict.

Just Like in Your Online Recordings, Wear Headphones

It’s important to remind you that headphones are still important during a live podcast event. They might even be more important than in a remote recording because there is a lot more noise interference in a live event than in a remote recording. This could prevent the speakers from hearing each other. So be sure that each speaker has headphones on. This also prevents you from talking too loud because you’ll be able to hear yourself in the headphones.

How Do You Include Audience Questions in the Recording?

So far you’ve got two microphones in the Zoom H6, but you’ll need a mic for the audience members asking questions also. Elsie suggests a third XLR cable going into the Zoom. A very long XLR cable. This microphone will be in a location where the audience member can come up to the mic and ask their question. So the XLR cable needs to be long enough to go from the Zoom H6 to the audience area. Rob cautions that for audience participation, it’s important to get the audience member right on a microphone so that their voice can be heard.

Additionally, he recommended that the audience member might need to repeat their question if it’s not loud enough the first time. “Better to edit out the first time they ask the question than spending a bunch of time in post trying to boost a low volume question” Rob advised in this episode.

Related Article

How to Turn Live Broadcasts into Podcasts that Don’t Suck

Podcasting live is good for short term engagement. With this simple structure, you can make your live eisodes have evergreen utility as well.  Find out more »

Do I Need Two Sets of Microphones for the Podcast Event?

The thing that many podcasters might forget about is the double microphone situation. You’ll want one mic for each speaker so that the audience can hear them through the PA (public address) system AND another mic for the same speaker so that the recording device, in this case probably a Zoom H6, can capture their voice for the recording. So with two mics per speaker and the audience microphone with the super long XLR cable, how do you

• Matt Cheney of Kult Media in the UK suggested, “Have a lav mic setup on each speaker that is recorded but not transmitted and use standard mics for the live stream into the PA system.”
• Jeni Wren of Gritty Birds Podcasting cautioned to set your expectations right for the recording because “There will be an echo, that’s something you just have to deal with.” (Tip: Try Izotope for this)
• I attended a podcast event in a small bar a few years ago with a slightly different setup. They used standard mics for the recording and relied on the small space to carry their voices to the audience members. They were sitting very close by, and there weren’t many noises in the bar, so this worked. In this case, they were able to avoid using a PA system entirely.
• James Archer of The Miami Chronicles said that larger venues have staff to help with the PA system. He also suggested, “set up a mic that will capture the audience, that can be mixed in live or after.”

Remember to Test Out Your Recording Setup

Going back to Elsie from The Feed, she suggested testing out your recording setup well in advance. If possible, do the test in the exact place where the recording will happen. If that’s not possible, find a similar setting and do it there. “I’m not just talking about a few minutes,” Elsie admitted. She recommended doing at least a 10 to 20-minute test recording in this environment.

Since this is most likely a public space, I’d like to add a reminder as a common courtesy to those around you during your test recording. Always check with the venue staff beforehand to make sure that it’s okay to do this.

Next Steps

• Looking to try your hand at some live streaming to get a hang of podcast broadcasting?
• Here’s how to edit and produce your live recordings.
• And here’s our list of Podcasting Events in 2022 – sometimes, the best way to learn is to watch others doing it.

• Take you through its main features
• Test how it performs
• Assess build quality
• And more!

I may sound like a broken record to anyone familiar with my reviews.  Nevertheless, I’ll say it once again. 

Good quality audio gear has never been more affordable than it is now.  

Back in the day, you used to have to spend close to a thousand dollars for an interface that was a cut above the home consumer level, which at the time wasn’t designed for professional use.  This is no longer the case as companies continue to innovate while bringing costs down.  Your audio interface plays just as big of a role in your sound quality/tone as your mic and physical recording space. 

Disclaimer: This kit was provided free for review purposes. We also use an affiliate link in our article, which means we’d earn a small commission, should you choose to buy via it!

The Volt 2: What Is It?

The Volt 2 is a 2-in/2-out audio interface that features:

• Stereo out via ¼ inch jacks for speakers
• Shared headphone amp for channel one and two
• Direct Monitoring
• Vintage Recording Mode
• MIDI in and out x1
• 48V Phantom Power
• Instrument In

You also get a handful of free software goodies! Better yet, the price tag is only $189 USD for the Volt 2.  Continue reading to find out why that is so mind-blowing!

Universal Audio has a nifty little comparison chart between the Volt 2 and Apollo Solo.

Front Perspective of the Volt 2 Audio Interface

Volt 2 Review: Recording Performance

I tested the Volt 2 with a condenser and dynamic mic, the Skylight and Limelight from 512 Audio.  No extra gear is required to get healthy recording levels for a dynamic mic! The preamps need to be pushed fairly high – however, they were still clean! No hiss from the preamps was introduced to the recording from using a higher gain setting.

This raw recording (okay I took out the mouth clicks; no one wants to hear my spit) is measured at -23.84 RMS or -24LUFS with a true peak of -3.36dB… perfect!

Volt 2: Recording With Vintage Mode

I found that Vintage Mode was more beneficial for the dynamic mic test. The dynamic mic sounds slightly muddy.  Vintage Mode opened up my voice, thus removing the slight mud from my voice when recording.

The opposite was true with the condenser mic test in Vintage Mode.  It adds a slight touch of warmth to my voice.

Volt 2 Review: Overall Findings for Recording

What Vintage Mode does to your audio is going to be dependent on your voice, mic used, and your room (condenser mics that are more sensitive).

The Volt 2 is great for people who maybe don’t have the best-treated recording space to use a dynamic mic and its many benefits for such a scenario. 

One thing that I didn’t really care for was that the Phantom Power (48V) is shared between channels 1 and 2.  This means you probably shouldn’t use a condenser and a dynamic mic together. Overall, though, the preamps perform and sound great for its price tag.  It really does maintain that quality expected from Universal Audio.

Recording Findings for Windows Users

Sometimes, when using an ASIO driver for your DAW, it was a common issue that audio outside of your DAW would be muted when the software was open.  This isn’t the case with the Volt 2. I had audio inside Pro Tools (my DAW), and I was still able to hear audio outside of the program without any special routing.

Headphone Amp

This interface only has one headphone jack input.  So if you are recording with a second person, depending on the recording setup of what you’re doing, you may need a headphone splitter.  This would allow the second person to use headphones as well, but the volume will be shared.  Not a big deal as this is common on units of this price range.

Related Article

Best Podcast Headphones for Recording, Editing & Production

Make recording and editing easier with a good pair of headphones for podcasting.  Find out more »

The headphone amp itself, however, is quite impressive.  It was able to drive my DT990 250 OHM Pros no problem.  Meaning? These headphones require a lot of “power” to get them at a comfortable volume and maintain details.  The headphone amp was also clean of hiss while turned up – clean headphone amp, nice! Although, for the safety of your ears, only turn up to a comfortable volume!

Monitoring Through Speakers

The Volt 2 couldn’t drive my 5.5 inch driver speakers very well.  Even past the 12 o’clock position it still wasn’t the same loudness as my SSL 2+ at the 10 o’clock position.  This unit operates best in a headphone environment for playback.

Recording Latency

Latency is the time it takes the audio signal to leave the interface into the DAW and be heard through your headphones.  It’s usually measured in milliseconds.  For the Volt 2, it’s super minimal while recording.  You’ll hear slight “phasey-ness” but nowhere near an echo.  The Volt 2 has direct monitoring capabilities, so this will give you zero latency while activated for recording.

The Build

The body is solid and has some weight to it.  This gives it a sturdy feel.  At the same time, it’s relatively compact and still light enough for mobile travel.  The Volt 2 is typically USB powered. However, there is a separate DC power cable (no block included) that you can use to record directly into Apple-only mobile products, such as tablets or phones, while on the go.

The buttons are sturdy – no double pressing to activate or deactivate features.  These buttons light up in bright colours too, so you know exactly if onboard features are active or not.

• Sound Quality for Price Point: 5/5
• Features and Extras for Price Point: 5/5
• Build: 5/5
• Total: 5/5  

Conclusion: Volt 2 Review

All in all, the Volt 2 is a great means to tap into that Universal Audio quality without breaking the bank.  Overall, it performs exceptionally well and outpaces most competition in its price range of $189.00 USD.  It seems to be geared more towards solo usage in its compact design – perfect for a podcaster. 

The preamps are clean and strong.  Its headphone amp should be able to drive just about any headphones. The direct monitoring is nice, as well, for a podcaster, voice artist, or singer.  I would definitely recommend this as a podcaster’s first interface.

If you’re still looking to shop around, though, then check out our Best Audio Interfaces for Podcasters roundup!

• Provide an overview of Maonocaster E2
• Test out onboard features
• Test recording quality
• And more!

This unit was provided by Maono free of charge for review purposes. We also use some affiliate links in our articles and may earn a commission should you buy through them – though never at any extra cost to yourself!

Connection Features

The Maonocaster E2 is an audio interface. The unit has:

• Two mic inputs (1 XLR and one 3.5mm jack)
• Aux in (music playback only)
• Live output 1 and 2 – seems to be for connecting phones for streaming apps
• Mic setting toggle for condenser and dynamic mics
• ¼-inch instrument in
• Bluetooth connection for music playback only
• Monitor SPK (for headphones or speakers)
• Aux Knob
• Monitor Knob
• 2x 3.5mm headphone jacks on front panel

Physical Controllable Effects on the Unit

• Wet/Dry mode for onboard effects
• Automatic vocal tuning for singers
• Pitch knob
• Built-in simplified EQ (Lo, Med, and Hi knobs)
• Onboard reverb effects with depth and decay time controls
• Eight sound pads

For a more detailed look, you can check out the Maonocaster E2 product page.

Maonocaster E2 Sound Pads

For these, you need to record sound effects internally into the unit.  The internal storage is limited, so short recordings assigned to the pads will be what you’re able to do.  There is no SD expansion and no drag and drop from your computer to add either sound effects or any stock sound effects.  The Sound Pads do have a separate volume control on the unit, which is nice.

Connecting the Maonocaster E2 to a Computer

A Windows machine seems to recognize it instantly. I didn’t need to switch any sound settings in the sound card window.  There isn’t a dedicated ASIO driver, currently, so you will need to use a DAW that supports direct input from Windows Audio.

When the Maonocaster E2 is connected to the computer, it still runs off of battery.  The USB C to A cable is used for computer connectivity, and there is a separate port on the unit for charging the battery.  No charging block is provided.

General Findings for the Maonocaster E2

I liked that the EQ and pitch controls had a notch in them so that you could tell when these controls were set to zero at the center.  During my testing, I found that this unit simplifies many things compared to other interfaces or mixers.  For instance, the wet/dry mode is like a light switch.  The effects are either on or off.  No need for extra routing of the fx for them to be recorded.

The headphones and speakers are on a shared volume knob. Traditionally, interfaces have separate volume controls for each.  Additionally, I also found the output from the interface a tad unusual compared to traditional interfaces.  In order to hear playback from my DAW after recording, I needed to use two separate knobs – the “aux” knob, and the “monitor” knob.  When listening through headphones, there was no volume output for playback until I turned the aux knob all the way up.  However, it was still not loud enough, so I turned up the monitor knob which then helped to increase the volume through the headphones.

This seems like a confusing way to control volume output for computer playback. The monitor knob, by itself, is Direct Input Monitoring, meaning it appears to control the monitoring of the input signal (I could hear myself in the headphones when speaking into a mic); yet, it was able to control the playback volume post-recording when used along with the aux knob. I also found it strange that there was only one speaker output jack rather than the L/R configuration, so headphones would be your best bet to use for stereo playback.

Recording With the Maonocaster E2

The preamp’s tone lacks luster, but the 60dB dynamic mic setting was able to give me healthy recording levels.  A level of -23 RMS or -24LUFS with a true peak of -4.29 was measured with iZotope RX after recording. For a budget-friendly device, the self-noise was within minimum expectation.  After boosting to -16lufs, there was some noticeable hiss not from my recording environment.

I found it unusual that two separate controls – one fader and one knob – both had an effect on the mic’s input gain going into my DAW, rather than the traditional one knob dedicated to input gain.

On-Board Noise Reduction of the Maonocaster E2

This feature is pretty impressive for a device at its price range. I deliberately recorded with a ceiling fan on high with a condenser mic, PM500

On-Board EQ of the Maonocaster E2

The EQ parameters are lo, mid and hi, meaning that the frequency that is either boosted or attenuated is limited.  For the test, I turned each knob to its extremes each way.  Turning the “Lo” all the way down made my higher-pitched voice tinny.  I suggest the EQ parameters should be used sparingly on a voice.

On-Board Pitch Effect of the Maonocaster E2

You can pitch your voice up or down with a dial in real time.  There was a little bit of a metallic sound artifact when pitching up.

Onboard Reverb Effects of the Maonocaster E2

At times, while flipping through the reverb settings, there was a crackle in the recording, and one preset failed to activate when this occurred.  Other than that, these presets sound pretty good!  

This interface features a dry/wet mode option, where “dry” is the usual setting activated when no onboard processing is desired. There are also depth and decay time knobs which control the reverb parameters.  One annoying aspect of these controls was that, even when dry mode was activated, reverb was still being applied to my voice recording. It only stopped applying reverb when I turned both depth and decay knobs all the way down.

Conclusion

The Maonocaster E2 has a price tag of $129.99 USD.  The functionality seems to sway more towards live audio such as streaming.  Sometimes the buttons need pressing a few times to get them to activate.  After reading some of the in-box documentation and info on the Maono site, the company is upfront that their product targets introductory users and will not sound like a higher-end unit. But what stood out to me was that they state that they listen to their user base input to implement features based on that feedback. 

As this new company grows and finds its footing through its products, this interaction is refreshing to see. Overall, I could understand that the design tried to make the process more simplified in some ways, but it ended up making certain controls more confusing.

• Performance Quality: 3.5/5
• Build Quality: 3.8/5
• Features for price point: 4/5

Related Article

Rodecaster Pro II Review: A Jack of All Trades Podcasting Device

The Rodecaster Pro II is the next generation of Rode’s revolutionary Rodecaster “all-in-one” podcaster studio. Is it worth buying? Find out more »

• Cover a plethora of features
• Test out the Revolution Preamps
• Test out the onboard processing from APHEX®
• And more!

Read on to see if the Rodecaster Pro II is the audio solution for you!

The items mentioned in this review were provided by Rode for review purposes. We also use some affiliate links in our articles and may earn a commission should you buy through them – though never at any extra cost to yourself!

What is the Rodecaster Pro II?

The Rodecaster Pro II is a few things, actually.  It’s a digital mixer, an audio interface, midi controller, and standalone recorder all wrapped up into one unit.  This unit also has onboard processing from Aphex, which is kind of a big deal.  For 40 years this company has been a major player in audio effects hardware and, in recent years, a digitized emulation version of their legendary gear.

The processing units included are:

• High Pass Filter
• Noise Gate
• Compressor
• Exciter
• De-esser
• EQ
• Big Bottom
• Panner

All these processing units can be accessed directly on the Rodecaster Pro II.  If a touch screen and rotary dial aren’t your things, you can make adjustments via the Rode Central app on your computer.  To learn more about what each one does specifically, you can read about it in the online user guide from Rode.

Rodecaster Pro II Out of the Box:

Out of the box you get:

• The mixer
• 1 USB C to USB C cable
• 1 power cable

Since you are only given a USB C to USB C to connect to a computer, you may need to buy an adapter for USB C to A if you don’t have a port. Apple users will need to buy a lightning cable to USB C or adapter.   Windows users will also need to download an ASIO file from Rode’s website for DAW use.

Rodecaster Pro II: Inputs

The Rodecaster Pro 2 has four Neutrik® combo inputs.  This means these inputs can be XLR mic inputs, instrument in, or line level.  Neutrik® is known for having high-quality connectors.  In addition, you can connect your phone via Bluetooth for call-in guests or any communication app and have their feed on a separate track.

In a Windows system, the ASIO caused all audio to be muted outside of a DAW, which is an unfortunately common issue.  However, with the dual USB function, I was able to hear audio in my DAW and Windows audio (everything outside of the DAW).  My DAW was routed to USB1 (Main) and Windows Audio to USB 2 (Secondary). With this setup, I was able to record myself directly into the DAW and a “guest” from a Zoom call, also separated.  You could then, potentially, have an additional guest call in and route the Bluetooth feed to its own track. There’s quite a bit of routing you can do.  Remote guest recording is a bit limited to a few people to keep everyone on separate tracks.

Note: To get the USB Main and USB secondary you need to either assign each to a physical fader or a virtual fader.

The Rodecaster Pro II: Outputs

This mixer has four physical headphone outputs – no sharing volume for in-person recording! There is also a L/R ¼ inch out for speakers. The Rodecaster Pro II features a mix-minus option for remote guest recording. This is a must so that the guest doesn’t hear a distracting echo of their voice.

The Rode Central App

Besides adjusting the Rodecaster Pro II settings, you can transfer internal recording and add customized sound effects to the Smart Pads here.  Everything is drag and drop, making it super easy.

Note: You’ll need a micro SD card to make internal recordings and add custom sound effects. This is sold separately.

The Rodecaster Pro II: Recording

All bells and whistles aside, here is the most important piece of the entire review.  The UI on the mixer has a visual aid to help you get healthy recording levels.  Additionally, a few presets are available, but everything can be done manually.

Rode claims that you will no longer require a cloudlifter, or the like, for a dynamic mic with these preamps.  Well… they were right!  Not only is additional gear to get a healthier signal from a dynamic mic not necessary, the signal is also insanely clean.  Below are some samples using their presets, manual, and no on-board processing used.

Depth Setting:

-23.9LUFS or -20.92 RMS with -6 dB true peak

Sparkle Setting:

-22.8 LUFS or -20.68 RMS -5.22 dB true peak

Punch Setting:

-23.4lufs or -20.44 RMS -5.41 dB true peak

Manual Setting:

-27.1 LUFS or -24.77 RMS -6 dB true peak.  I used a high pass filter to help with popping plosives and exciter only

No Processing:

-23.6 LUFS OR -20.56 RMS -4.24 dB True Peak

All recordings used the PodMic from Rode.  Overall, I am very impressed with the quality of these preamps.

Other Features of the Rodecaster Pro II

It’s advertised that it can be used to trigger midi like a controller in a DAW.  However, Reaper and Pro Tools don’t see the Rodecaster Pro II as a midi controller at this time on a Windows machine.  I’ve seen it work on an Apple computer via Logic from a Youtube video.

The Smart Pads are 100% customizable with several pages of “banks” that you can flip through. How you want to use the Smart Pads on-board vocal effects, sound effects, or MIDI triggering is completely up to you.

Some Cons of the Rodecaster Pro II

The headphone amp is so-so.  There are settings for the NH-100 which is the best for “loudness”, but the DT 990 Pros were a tad on the quiet side.  Past the 11 o’clock position, there was quite a bit of hiss.  It’s more on the quiet side with raw audio. Listening to louder material, like mastered music or a video on Youtube, it was more than sufficient and didn’t need to be set past nine o’clock. It may be slightly problematic when used as an interface editing raw audio to hear potential issues needing repairing/cleaning.

Another irksome feature is that the mixer as an interface only operates at 48kHz.  Sometimes there are scenarios where you need 44.1kHz or 96kHz.  This is a bit of a shortcoming for a unit that is supposed to act as an interface. You would need to potentially watch out for sample rate mismatch issues.

I couldn’t adjust the processing setting via the Rode Central App – this may be a Windows-specific issue. This next observation is a bit nit-picky, but the user manual could have been fleshed out more.  It reads more like a promo piece rather than “how do I do XYZ” for certain sections.

Additional Accessories

Some additional accessories are currently available for the Rodecaster Pro II – the cover is nice to protect from dust buildup.  There’s also a clamp-style stand – the PSA1+.  It’s quite sturdy but requires either a hole for cables that some desks have, or a fair-sized lip on the desk.

Conclusion: Should I Buy the Rodecaster Pro II?

For those who aren’t used to having to manually route every input for proper capture inside a DAW, it will be a slow burn to learn.  The Rodecaster Pro II comes in at $699. But keep in mind that three major players are integrated into the unit: Aphex, Revolution, and Nuetrik.  The preamps are very nice and clean.  You get a lot of inputs, and the inputs are designed specifically for a podcaster or streamer.  The buttons and faders felt sturdy, so less likely that you’ll accidentally bump something.  The Rodecaster Pro II is jam-packed with features.  There are still some things that need ironing out that, hopefully, future firmware updates will fix for Windows users. 

• Features: 4/5
• Ease of Use for newcomers: 3/5
• Price for Features: 4.5/5
• Customization 4.5/5
• Current Compatibility on Windows Systems: 3.5/5

• Test for microphone performance quality
• Discuss Build quality
• Discuss Ease of use
• Test for USB interference issues
• And more!

Please note this kit was provided free of charge for review purposes. We also use affiliate links in this review which means we may earn a commission should you choose to buy through them, at no extra cost to yourself. Read on to see how the Shure MV 88+ Video Kit stacks up against my gruelling testing regimen!

What is the Shure MV88+ Video Kit?

The main attraction here is the microphone itself, the MV88+.  This microphone is a stereo USB condenser microphone.  This means there are two capsules instead of the usual one to capture sound.  I’ll explain this a bit further on in the review.

The Shure MV88+ seems to be geared towards mobile recording with a cellphone as the interface.  It can be connected to a computer and used via a desktop app.  However, the cable to do so is not included in the box.  Since this is not provided, I’ll be sticking only to what the kit can do out-of-box.

For more information on compatibility and specs, check out the Shure MV88+ Video Kit product page.

The Shure MV88+ Video Kit Out-of-Box

This kit comes with:

• Tripod stand
• USB C and Lightning cable for cellphone connection
• A travel case with compartmentalized pouches
• The mic with a foam shield
• Mic clip that connects to the stand
• A start-up guide with easy-to-understand picture instructions

The Shure MV88+ Video Kit: The Build Quality

This kit gave me quite the surprise.  It is fairly lightweight.  Yet, everything is sturdy.  The mic clip in particular really hugs the mic – no worries of slippage or movement here.  The tripod, again lightweight, is sturdy, too.  It won’t fall over easily.  The neat thing with the tripod is that it’s able to adjust the angle of the stand that holds the cellphone and microphone.  Why is this neat? It means you have some customizable options for mic placement techniques to change the angle if you run into pesky popping plosives!

The cellphone holder is adjustable, so just about any cellphone should be able to fit securely.  This microphone itself is tiny compared to most microphones, but this doesn’t affect its performance.

The Shure MV88+ Video Kit: Recording Tests

I recorded with the light compressor setting with the limiter on. The Motiv app seems to have improved greatly since I used these features when reviewing the MV7.  The results are noticeably more transparent on the audio.  With these settings, I was able to achieve a recording level of -20LUFS with -3.72 and -2.85db true peak.

As far as USB-only microphones go, I’m pleased with the tone.  There is a very slight hint of warmth.

Note: It is normal for the true peaks not to match with stereo microphones.

Recording Tests: Plosives

You probably heard some popping plosives in the previous recording. To potentially remedy without editing (why work more if you can fix it at the source) I tested to see what the “moving the head back” technique would do to the tone.

It’s not a huge difference in tone, which is good.  That little bit of warmth disappears.  However, with a little EQ this can be fixed up easily.

Recording Tests: Off-Axis

This is where the benefit of a stereo microphone comes into play.  As a result, an off-axis danger zone is going to be a lot wider than your traditional microphone with one capsule.

I move the same distance to each side that I always do for every microphone review – which is only the amount I can move my torso in a chair with arms.  If you listen on headphones, you will actually hear my voice drift to the right and left respective to each movement.

The tone change is so slight that the majority won’t notice.  As a result, now you have your voice drifting between channels! Fixing this is easy by converting stereo to mono.

Editor’s Note

Remember to turn your phone to silent or do not disturb so that the notification sounds or vibration from the phone through the stand doesn’t leak into your recordings!

Recording Tests: USB Interference

I am always hesitant to use USB devices in audio because they are susceptible to interference from the devices they plug into – even more so in a cellphone recording environment.  However, my fears were unfounded this time.  There was one bar of a hum (the form interference takes).  Though, it was in a frequency inaudible to human hearing.

The Shure MV88+ Video Kit: Ease of Use

There is a Shure Motiv Audio and a Shure Video app for Android and iOS.  Motiv Audio is used when only wanting to record audio, and Motiv Video is for audio with video via a cellphone.  Since we at the Podcast Host are all about podcasts, I focused mainly on the Shure Motiv Audio app.

Shure’s app is where you will be spending most of your time.  The layout is simplified, and with some basic audio lingo knowledge, you should be able to utilize all the features.  Such features include:

• Virtual limiter and compressor
• High Pass Filter
• EQ
• Stereo width configuration and polar pattern selection

My only “gripe” with the app was that you could only record in 16-bit audio.  It would be preferable to record at 24-bit. If you’re unfamiliar with bit depth, think of 16-bit as standard definition on a TV, with 24-bit as HD, and 32-bit as 4K and above.

• Price: 3.5/5
• Performance: 4/5
• Ease of Use: 5/5
• Build Quality: 4.5/5

Shure MV88+ Review: Conclusion

The Shure MV88+ Video Kit is great if you are a podcaster on the go or want to do podcasting and video blogging.  Its price tag comes to approximately $249 on Amazon.  If you don’t plan on needing video or walking around filming and recording via cellphone, I think the Shure MV7 would be a better pick for the stationary podcaster.  The tone on the MV88+ isn’t bad, but the MV7 definitely blows it out of the water and is only a little bit more in cost (the trade-off is the MV7 isn’t very mobile). This kit is definitely for a person on the move or an introductory video blogging setup.  If that’s you, then this kit is for you!

Should you record with 2 USB microphones at the same time? To be honest, probably not.

Recording with a USB microphone is a really simple way to podcast. They’re quick and simple to set up and use.

Adding in a second one can complicate things though. Yes, it can be done – and we’ll show you how in this article – but it’s never an optimal setup.

So first, let’s look at a couple of better solutions.

Editor’s Note

Our guide on how to record with multiple USB microphones was originally written in 2016. We update this post periodically to reflect changes in technology, our recommendations, and because we’re always learning new things!

Best Options for Recording 2 or More People

If you want to record yourself and someone else in the same room, then here are a couple of great options. Both of them streets ahead of trying to record with 2 USB microphones.

Option 1 – Use a USB Audio Interface

If you like the simplicity of USB, then you might want to get your hands on something like the Focusrite Scarlett 2i2.

It’s a great little audio interface that lets you plug in 2 XLR mics and run them straight into your computer.

You can use any type of XLR mic with the 2i2. Check out our best mics for podcasting roundup to explore your choices on that front.

With this option, you’ll be able to record both of you on separate audio tracks, which will give you a bit more flexibility in post-production.

The 2i2 is brilliant, but there are other top USB audio interface options on the market right now, too.

Option 2 – Use a Digital Recorder

Why not take the computer out of the equation altogether and use a digital recorder like the Zoom H5, Zoom H6, or Zoom PodTrak P4?

These recorders let you plug multiple XLR mics into them and record on individual audio tracks.

This setup works great in-house or in-studio, but its strength is in its flexibility. You can go out in the field or on location and record great audio, without being burdened by a tonne of gear.

With the Zoom H6, you can record up to 6 independent tracks simultaneously. With the PodTrak P4 you can plug in 4 XLR mics AND use it to record online calls.

Check out our best digital recorders roundup if you’d like to look into this option a little more.

Just Tell Me How to Record With 2 USB Microphones

Alright then! If you’ve got your heart set on recording with 2 USB mics, here are 4 different options for you.

One thing I’ll say upfront too – this is often easier if you have 2 different models of USB mic. Sometimes having 2 of the same (eg; 2 Blue Yeti‘s) can confuse the computer. This doesn’t always happen, but it can. If you’re having trouble, I’ll again refer you to the (much better) options above.

Incidentally, if you want to buy a second USB mic, then you can’t go wrong with the Samson Q2U. It’s a brilliant microphone that works as both a USB and XLR model.

Anyway, about those options…

Option 1 – Use Rode Connect With Rode NT-USB Mini Mics

This is a new (2021) option, and, in my opinion, the best way of effectively recording 2 (or more) USB mics into 1 computer. The catch is that you’ll need to buy specific types of USB mic to make it work. Usually, when people want to record with multiple USB mics, it’s because those are the mics they already own.

The Rode Connect software is completely free, but the Rode NT-USB Mini mics are $99 a pop. That’s actually a very good price for what is an excellent little mic. But as I’ve said, there’s a decent chance you already own USB mics and don’t need to buy more.

Related Article

Rode Connect & Rode NT-USB Mini – A Multi USB Mic Solution?

4 USB mics into 1 computer, recorded in multitrack, you say?  Find out more »

Rode Connect can power up to 4 NT-USB Mini mics at once, and you can record them in multitrack. You can even bring in remote/online calls from apps such as Skype or Zoom. If this setup sounds appealing, check out our full writeup – Rode Connect & Rode NT-USB Mini – A Multi USB Mic Solution?

Option 2 – VoiceMeeter/Audacity (Free)

A common way of recording 2 USB mics on the Windows platform, is with VoiceMeeter. This is a free virtual audio mixer that lets you set up a range of different input options.

Once downloaded, you can select and manage separate USB mics inside VoiceMeeter’s control panel.

Next, you’d create an Input and Output source called “VoiceMeeter”, which can then be selected inside Audacity.

Now, you can record with both of your USB mics at the same time.

The slight catch is that it’ll record both mics onto the same audio track (whether that’s in mono or joint-stereo) inside Audacity.

You can see how this appears in the image on the right. The left and right tracks are exactly the same, containing the input from both USB mics.

The ideal situation is that we can get one microphone on the left track, and the other on the right, but combining them in this way isn’t a massive problem. It just means that you’ll have a little less control over your audio in the post-production phase since you can’t edit and process each voice separately.

If you do want that level of control, let’s look at how to record 2 USB mics on separate tracks.

Option 3 – ASIO4ALL/Adobe Audition

This option is slightly more complicated. Here, you’ll need recording/editing software such as Adobe Audition or Reaper, which are paid programmes.

With this setup, you’d also be using a free audio driver called ASIO4ALL.

It helps if you have 2 different models of USB mics too, as I’ve already mentioned.

I’ve put together a video tutorial on how to set this up with Adobe Audition. I used the Blue Yeti and Shure MV5 USB mics.

Check out our Best USB microphones roundup, if you’re still looking around for a good USB mic.

Bonus Resource: Free Online Microphone Test

I’m adding in a transcription of the tutorial too, in case you need to return to this in the future…

Tutorial Transcription: Record With 2 USB Microphones Into Adobe Audition

Here’s how to use audio recording and editing software, Adobe Audition, to run two different USB mics into the PC at the same time.

I’m going to use the Shure MV5 and the Blue Yeti as my two USB mics. It’s better to use two different models of mic here, as it might not work if you have two of the exact same.

I’ll also need to go to asio4all.com to download and install an audio driver called ASIO4ALL.

ASIO stands for Audio Stream Input Output. And ASIO4ALL basically powers up your computer’s sound card, giving it access to multiple inputs and outputs independently at the same time.

Next, when you open up Adobe Audition, go to File, then Preferences.

Set your device class to ASIO and ASIO4All v2 as your device.

Open up Settings to the right of device drop-down menu. Inside this control panel, you’ll see a list titled WDM Device List, and you want to click and activate the little power buttons besides your USB mics.

Come out of Settings after that and go to Audio Channel Mapping. Select both your USB mics as your left and right channels.

Leave the Preferences section and start a new multi-track session. On track one and two, use the input drop-down menus titled Default Stereo Input to select both your USB mics. Hit the R on both tracks to arm each one to record. And when you hit record, that’s you up and running with two USB mics at the same time.

In these setups we used the Blue Yeti, the Shure MV5, and the Samson Meteor.

Option 4 – Use Separate Laptops

If you and your multiple co-hosts all own USB mics, you probably all own laptops.

With this option, you’d just get together in the same room and record your own individual audio into Audacity, each on your own computer.

A couple of loud claps before the episode starts will give you a good marker to then sync the different audio tracks together in post-production.

Summary: Should I Record With 2 USB Microphones?

So it’s definitely doable, but far from optimal.

If you’re podcasting regularly and don’t plan on stopping, then it’s worth considering an investment in something like the Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 or Zoom PodTrak P4.

That said, if you’re putting together a setup from scratch, then you can run 2-4 Rode NT-USB Minis into Rode Connect and record in multitrack. You can even feed in remote guests from apps like Skype and Zoom, too.

I’ve covered a few more options here for recording with 2 USB microphones, and you can muddle along with those. But long term, they’re going to make life awkward, and could even start to hold you back. The easier your podcast is to record, the easier it’s going to be to stick with it, keep putting out new episodes, and grow your audience.

Want to Make Podcasting Easier?

Imagine you had one ridiculously simple place to record, edit, produce, and publish your podcast. That would be nice, wouldn’t it?

Well, imagine no more. That’s why Alitu exists. It’s the ‘Podcast Maker’ tool for folks who want to spend less time learning the tech, and more time creating and promoting great audio content. Try it out free for 7 days and see what you think!

You can break podcast equipment down into categories, based on how you record and capture your voice, from mic to mixer to recorder to computer.

The recording process can be made as simple or as complicated as you like. You can record right into your computer, ridding yourself of the need for a mixer or a recorder. Or you can go the full studio route, and use all four.

If you use very little kit, the process will be simple, but you’ll also have less flexibility and control. This isn’t an issue for most aspiring podcasters, though, as they’ve no intention of becoming an audio engineer – they just want to get their message out there.

If you fall into that bracket, then this podcast equipment and setup guide is for you. Here, we’ll take a look at what you might need, and why you might need it when you’re planning to start your first podcast…

If you need to zoom out first, go here to see everything you need to record a podcast, from planning to software.

Editor’s Note

Our ‘Best Podcast Equipment & Setup’ guide was originally written in 2014. We update this post periodically to reflect changes in technology, our recommendations, and because we’re always learning new things!

Types of Podcast Equipment (And Why You Might Need Them)

Let’s run through the various pieces of equipment commonly used to record a podcast, then. We’ll start with the microphone, then take a look at things like recorders, USB interfaces, and even headphones. Let’s dive in…

Check out The Podcasting Store for a curated list of podcast equipment, featuring at-a-glance prices and ratings!

The Microphone: Podcast Equipment & Setup

When you think about a microphone, you might imagine the typical musician’s mic. And, whilst you can absolutely use one of these to podcast, it’s worth noting that mics come in many forms, shapes, and sizes.

The bottom line is that a microphone is simply the tech needed to “hear” your voice and send it onward to be recorded somewhere. This makes it the first part of our recording “chain.”

So what options are available to us when thinking about our microphone?

Here are the main types, with links to our guides. Or, read on to get a summary.

• Read More: Best Microphones of every kind
• Read More: Best USB Microphones for Podcasting
• Read More: Best Headset Microphones

USB Mics

A common and simple piece of podcast equipment is the USB microphone. Often these are condenser microphones, which plug straight into your computer. USB mics are ideal for beginners, especially folks who do solo/monologue-style shows, and those running online interview podcasts. Check out our USB mics roundup to have a look through our favourite options on that front.

XLR Mics

XLR mics need additional equipment to run them. They don’t plug straight into your computer, but instead, go into an interface, mixer, or digital recorder (more on these all later).

You can actually get interfaces, mixers, and digital recorders in USB form though, so you can run an XLR mic into your computer, just not directly.

XLR mics are suited to folks who want premium sound quality, and a lot more production flexibility, as well as those who don’t want to be tied to a computer at all times. Check out the best podcasting mics roundup for our top picks there.

It’s a good idea to look for microphones that include both a shock mount and a built-in pop filter. Or, you might think about tagging a stand-alone double-layer pop filter onto your purchase. These two tools are incredibly valuable for podcasters who are working at the same desk they’re recording from and will help eliminate unwanted noise.

Recording Devices That Include Mics

You probably already carry a mic around with you in the form of your smartphone. You can turn this into a podcast setup by adding the Rode SmartLav+ and SC6. This kit is ideal for on-the-go recording and location interviews.

Alternatively, there are a lot of high-quality digital recorders on the market. You can record directly into these, or plug additional mics into them. Again, these are a great option for someone who’s looking for a flexible and portable setup.

The Recorder: Podcast Equipment & Setup

And speaking of digital recorders, we now need a podcast equipment option for actually capturing and storing your audio. This could be anything from a phone, to a computer, to a dedicated digital recorder itself.

Digital Recorders

A dedicated digital recorder is a great option for someone who wants to podcast on the go but is looking for a level of sound quality above what you’ll get with a smartphone.

On top of that, digital recorders offer a lot more settings and options for creating audio, because that’s what they’re literally built for. You don’t even necessarily need an additional mic to record into one because most of them come with built-in mics. Additional benefits include built-in SD card slots and multiple input(s). The SD cards can be handy when you want to quickly drop some audio files over to your desktop and can’t be bothered to relocate and plug in all your equipment.

Computers

There are a plethora of options available to you when it comes to recording directly into a computer. You can use a DAW (Digital Audio Workstation) like Audacity or Adobe Audition (check out our comparison of the two!), for starters. Or, if you’re looking to record online/remote interviews, there are many call recording options on the market nowadays too. Check out our podcast software guide for more on this front.

You also might want to take a look at our best computers and best laptops for podcasting, if you’re in the market for something optimal.

Smartphones

There are a tonne of recording apps out there that’ll enable you to record directly into your phone. You probably have a default recording app on there already, but here are a few options if you’re looking to upgrade your sound and range of flexibility.

• Best Audio Recording Apps for Android
• Best Audio Recording Apps for iOS & iPhone

Recording into a phone can be really convenient, though it lacks the flexibility and options of a dedicated digital recorder. Nevertheless, it’s often a great starting point for many, and you can always upgrade your equipment further down the line.

Interfaces & Mixers: Podcast Equipment & Setup

You don’t actually need an interface or mixer to podcast, but many podcasters do still utilise them. So why might you consider getting one?

• If you want to use an XLR mic.
• If you want to use multiple mics.
• If you want to record live, or “as live” – with all your music, SFX, etc. played in real-time.

My favourite interface is a little USB device called the Focusrite Scarlett 2i2, but there are other good audio interface options for podcasters on the market, too.

On the mixer front, there’s a growing argument that they’re no longer necessary for podcasters who want all of the features listed above. Podcast-specific devices like the Zoom PodTrak P4 and Rode Rodecaster are much better options these days, in my opinion. That said, if a mixer is still something you’d like to shop around for, here’s our best podcast mixers roundup which will give you a few options.

Headphones: Podcast Equipment & Setup

Headphones are a vital part of the podcast equipment lineup.

You should always monitor your recordings, even when doing a solo show. This means using headphones whilst recording so you can hear exactly what’s being captured. The benefit of doing this is that if there are issues, you can fix them right away.

You’ll also need headphones to hear your guest if you run an online interview show. They come in handy for listening back to recordings, and for editing audio too. Check out our best podcast headphones roundup for a few great options there.

What About the Room Itself?

You can have the best podcast equipment and setup in the world, but if you stick it all in a poor quality room, your show will sound terrible.

Treating your room for reverb is key. We have a full guide to setting up your podcast home studio that includes everything from utilising acoustic blankets to popping your mic into a simple cat bed or building a “cloffice“. Of course, you’ll want to eliminate unwanted background noise as much as possible, too.

Bottom line – if you get your environment on-point, even the most no-frills budget podcast setup can sound top class.

Production & Publishing

Once your podcast has been recorded, you have the option to edit it. How much editing (if any!) you do, is entirely up to you. See how much editing should I do in my podcast? for more on that.

When we get to this stage, the “podcast equipment” side of things is really just as simple as a computer or laptop. It’s what software and tools you use on your machine that you need to give thought to.

If you’re doing any sort of editing, you can choose one of the many software options out there. I’ve mentioned DAWs (Digital Audio Workstations) like Audacity and Adobe Audition already, and these are both great post-production options.

If you want to do some editing, as well as add in some intro and outro music, but you don’t want to learn how to use a DAW, then check out Alitu. Alitu is an app we’ve created that makes it easy to record, produce, and publish your podcast, even if you know nothing about audio. Again, you’ll just need a computer to run it.

Let Alitu Take Care of Your Podcast Editing

Alitu is a tool that takes your recording, polishes it up, adds your music, and publishes the episode, all automatically.

Learn more about Alitu

Finally, we get to the uploading stage. In order to publish your podcast for the world to hear, you need to sign up to a media hosting provider. This is basically where your podcast lives online, and the hub where places like Apple Podcasts and Spotify will look to pull all your content from.

You’ll find our favourite media hosting options right here. Each one has its own unique features and there’s something there to suit any podcaster, no matter their skill level, motivation, or budget.

Podcast Equipment Is a Means to an End

I mentioned already that most people don’t get into podcasting to collect loads of fancy and expensive audio equipment. Some folks do end up doing that, of course, but you definitely don’t need to.

It’s better to start simple so you can focus on your actual content, rather than whether or not your long chain of gear is all working correctly. Over time, as you grow, you can tweak and upgrade things here and there.

Summary: Best Podcast Equipment & Setup for Beginners & Pros Alike

Let’s sum things up by going full if…then. Here’s how you can decide what gear you need:

1. If you’re recording solo, or recording interviews online, then:

Get a Samson Q2U mic

2. If you’re recording 2 people in-person, on a budget, then:

Get a Smartlav & SC6 podcast setup

3. If you’re recording 2 or more people in-person, either on-the-go or in-studio, and have the budget for high quality, then:

Get 2 or more Shure SM58s and the Zoom PodTrak P4

The Samson Q2U is our most recommended mic and suits 90% of new podcasters perfectly. It functions as both a USB and XLR mic, so, if you decide to upgrade to a recorder or interface further down the line, it’ll work with them too. It’s also excellent value, and well within most folks’ budgets. You’ll often find the Q2U available in bundle deals with other podcast equipment such as a boom arm, pop filter, and headphones. This makes for an ideal podcast starter kit.

Aside from that, it’s hard to make any one-size-fits-all recommendations because there are so many variables. But remember, when it comes to recording, editing and publishing then be sure to check out our podcast production app Alitu.

And, if you’re looking for more help or guidance towards any aspect of podcasting equipment, or otherwise, then have a look at The Podcast Host Academy – that’s where we run weekly live Q&A sessions, and have video courses on everything from presentation and editing skills, to audience growth and monetisation!

Zencastr is an easy-to-use cloud platform where you can record high-quality audio and video for free. A clean, easy-to-use interface, a flexible free package, and the ability to upgrade to a more extensive plan when a podcast’s need grows are just a few of the reasons that they’re an indie podcast favourite for recording remote episodes. In this Zencastr review, I’ll go over a few more key platform highlights as well as let you know some cautions that podcasters shared.

Use coupon code THEPODCASTHOST for 20% off the first three months of a monthly pro subscription with Zencastr.  If used for a yearly subscription, it will be 20% off for the entire year!

What Do Podcasters Like About Zencastr?

Zencastr’s Pricing Is Irresistible

Probably one of the main reasons podcasters stumble upon Zencastr at first is their flexible pricing. Similar to the podcast host Anchor, they have a robust FREE plan that they call Hobbyist. But pricing options are where the comparison ends.

What Makes Their Pricing Plans Impressive

Not only do they have a free plan, but you don’t even need a credit card to register and use the platform. And at the beginning of the pandemic, they even expanded the free plan. “We used to have 8 hours of recording cap pre-pandemic. We changed that to unlimited recording for both the hobbyist and pro plan users during the pandemic” they shared when I spoke to them recently. Here’s a peek at their current pricing plans.

Why is the free plan on the right side of this chart, I simply don’t know but other than that the packages look fantastic. If you skip over the 14-day trial period and go straight to the free plan, you’ll still get some needed info about what you could be using (WAV instead of MP3 files and transcriptions) at the top of the Create new episode page.

The Platform Is Easy to Use for the Hosts and Guests

How many times have you tried out a new recording platform with a co-host or guest only to have everything go very, very wrong? That’s not the overall impression I got from Zencastr from the podcasters I talked to.

Zencastr Records Locally and Has a Simple Interface

Producer for Bleeding Love, Katie Rosin, shared that “…your guest doesn’t need to put an application onto their computer, but MORE importantly, it records the tracks separately and locally, so if there is a connection problem, it is usually not affected.”

I recently took to the platform to try it out for myself and was pleasantly surprised. And began to understand the hype. Registering, starting a recording session, and sending an invite to a guest were super easy. In no time I was at this recording screen with Jason, aka Agent Palmer, who volunteered to try out the platform with me (thanks Jason). You can see my track is on top and Jason’s is right below me. The sound was crisp and I only had one complaint. When Jason logged on there wasn’t a PING to let me know. I was in another window typing away while I was waiting for him to join me and only realized that he was there because he said something. This is not a big deal but would make the experience nicer, especially for audio-only recordings, which this test was.

Having Multiple Recording Options Is Useful

Podcast Producer and Manager, Jhenelle Monique, mentioned that the many recording options (pictured below) are a key feature she adored. “The ability to have cameras on and see each other while recording audio and video simultaneously is fantastic.”

Zencatr’s Audio Quality Is Spoiling

Zencastr’s homepage says that it “records a lossless 16-bit 48k WAV audio track per guest. ” And they do. But if you’re on the Hobbyist plan you’re going to get separate audio files with each recording, NOT these WAV files. Basically, you lose some audio quality when an audio file is compressed from a WAV file to an MP3 file. As long as you know what audio quality you want and that the Hobbyist plan gives you MP3 files and the Professional plan gives you WAV files, you’re good. For most beginning podcasters and podcast listeners, this distinction isn’t that important when you compare it to the quality that the content should be.

What Don’t Podcasters Like About Zencastr?

As the song goes, “Every rose has its thorn,” so with Axl’s wise words in mind, here are a few quick roadblocks that podcasters mentioned.

It’s Not Available on All Platforms

“I have used Zencastr about 10 to 15 times now. During those times, many of my guests or co-hosts had trouble logging in. Last I knew it was not available on apps, mobile devices, or on web browsers other than Chrome.” Sean of The Slacker Gets Serious.

What You Hear Is Not What You Get

“One potential drawback that I have noticed is that sometimes how you hear the audio during the call is not what you hear once it downloads. Sometimes people sound more or less clear depending on their individual recording conditions.” Podcast Manager Jhenelle Monique, has been using Zencastr since 2020 when I worked with Normalizing Non-Monogamy and they introduced it to me.

There Are Some Technical Glitches

And there were reports of these technical issues:

• guests getting stuck in the green room
• hard to test sound levels
• unclear picture sometimes
• health check system stopped
• false “available storage” message
• latency

But all of these problems were reported by one podcaster, and not repeated by others. Part of me wonders if computer type and speed are factors that affect some podcasters but not others. I’m not sure. What I am sure of is the high praise I’ve been hearing about Zencastr since I entered the space 5 years ago.

REMINDER:

Test out Zencastr with someone BEFORE you have a recording that you need or a guest that you don’t want to experience glitches withIn fact, as with all new technology we use for podcasting, test it more than once with different people. It doesn’t matter if the platform is good for this or that person, what you need to find out is if it’s good for you! You need a platform that works for your technology, workflow and personality, just to be safe.

Zencastr Is So Good I Might Even Forgive Them for the (Mis)Spelling of Their Name

Seriously, my fingers had minor crisis moments every time I had to type their name during this post. But their service is so impressive that I’m making peace at pausing instead of typing what I want to be the final “e” (phantom 2nd to last letter) in Zencaster, I mean Zencastr. See?

If you’re a new podcaster, have a tight budget, or simply want to try out a new remote recording platform, give Zencastr a go. I think you’ll be pleasantly surprised. And remember, if this tool doesn’t scratch your itch, you can always try out our tool, Alitu. You’ve got options!

Use coupon code THEPODCASTHOST for 20% off the first three months of a monthly pro subscription with Zencastr.  If used for a yearly subscription, it will be 20% off for the entire year!

• The Kit’s accessories and their quality
• The performance of the Maono PM500
• Extensive testing with results and explanations
• Summarized pros and cons

Read below to find out how the Maono PM500 Kit stacks up!

Heads up: This review uses affiliate links. We may earn a small commission should you choose to buy through them – though never at any extra cost to yourself!

Introducing the Maono PM500

The Maono PM500 is a large-diaphragm condenser microphone.  Out of box, you’ll get:

• The microphone x1
• Desktop stand x1
• Pop shield x1
• Shock mount x1
• XLR cable x1
• Manual x1 in a handful of languages

The price tag for the Maono PM500 Kit comes in at $149.99 USD. You’ll need an interface to use the mic, but aside from that, the kit contains everything you need to get recording. The manual lets you know which way to point the mic so it doesn’t end up backwards, and an easy to understand assembly guide for the other accessories.

The Maono PM500 Kit Sound Quality

My initial impression of this mic is that it has a clean and clear tone for the voice.  There is no noticeable colouring to the tone (brightness or warmth).  This is preferable for many scenarios. It has a bit more of a lower frequency pickup than most mics at this price range. However, this didn’t muddy the voice in my testing.  

Maono PM500 Kit Off-Axis Test

I find this to be super important in a podcast scenario.  In a natural-sounding conversation, people can be lively and most likely won’t be sitting completely still.  So, of course, I have to test what happens if a host or guest goes off-centre from the mic’s diaphragm (the area that houses the capsule to capture the sound).

For this test, I moved to the left and right side only to the extent that my torso could move in a chair that has arms, which was about 6 inches off-centre from the mic. 

As you can hear, there is a slight loss in the high-end detail of my voice.  However, it’s not overly drastic.  A little corrective EQ will help smooth things out in the mix.  Surprisingly, there wasn’t much of a drop in recording levels either.

Maono PM500 Kit Plosive Test

Take a listen to the plosive test below:

There are quite a bit of popping plosives even with the pop shield placed and the mic is the standard 6 inches away on the desktop stand.   This can happen to any mic, even with a shield, so to remove plosives at the source some mic placement techniques will need to be used.

Maono PM500 Kit Accessories

Let’s take a look now at the other stuff in the box.

The Stand

The stand has some heft to it.  This lessens the risk of the mic shaking and that noise being picked up into your recording.  The stand is semi-adjustable, so the height can be adjusted to be slightly higher by a few more inches.  You can’t adjust the angle of the stand to help alleviate plosive issues, though.

You may need to get an extra foam “mic sock” to help with plosive reduction.

The Shock Mount

The shock mount is a bit on the flimsy side.  The mic was susceptible to wiggling around even after tightening the available piece. 

The Pop Shield

The shield covers the entire mic’s diaphragm with an air space but there was still a noticeable amount of popping plosives.  The shield’s material didn’t cause any resonances, which is good.

The Cable

The cable is marketed as high-quality, low noise.  After looking at spectrograms of my test recordings, I can say that is true as there was no cable-induced noise.

Pros and Cons of the Maono PM500 Kit?

Now that we’ve had a look and a listen, let’s weigh up the plusses and minuses of the Maono PM500.

Pros

• The mic does, overall, sound good for its price range
• The mic is of a sturdy build
• Frequency response clearly captures full range of the voice
• Comes with almost everything you need to start recording
• Price point is decent for a microphone kit
• Assembly of kit was easy
• Slight off-axis is forgiving for those unaccustomed to microphone etiquette

Cons

• Plosives may be an issue that may require some tweaking for mic placement
• The pop shield and shock mount aren’t perfect

Best Used For

• Podcasting
• Streaming/video blogging

• Microphone Performance: 4.2/5.0
• Price: 4.0/5.0
• Quality of Included Accessories: 3.9/5.0

Conclusion

At a price point of 149.99 USD, this microphone performs generally well on the voice.   The list of pros does outweigh the cons.  However, it is a bit disappointing that the shock mount didn’t hug the mic enough, so you’d be better off just having it on a stand.  That said, it’s the mic’s tone and overall performance that matter the most. 

Hopefully, this review has helped you decide whether or not the Maono PM500 and its kit it is right for you. If you’re still looking to shop around a bit though, be sure to check out our Best Podcast Microphones roundup!

This post contains affiliate links. We might earn a small commission should you choose to buy through them, though never at any extra cost to yourself.

What is the PreSonus Revelator Dynamic?

In PreSonus’ own words, “The Revelator Dynamic USB microphone takes the clarity and warmth of our fan-favourite PD-70 microphone and adds easy-to-use, customizable presets to further polish your voice.”

It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure out that the Revelator Dynamic is a dynamic mic. Dynamic and condenser are the two main ways mics are built and how they function. The Revelator Dynamic also has a Cardioid polar pattern, which means it’s designed to pick up the voice of one person at any one time.

What’s It Good At?

The Revelator Dynamic is a mic for recording vocals – that could be anything from podcasting and audiobook narration to rapping or singing.

Reducing Background Noise & Reverb

It seems like PreSonus have designed the Revelator Dynamic to address some of the common problems of the podcaster. Two of the biggest are unwanted background noise and reverb.

The mic’s off-axis rejection means that it performs well even in less than ideal conditions. I’d always recommend trying to do your best to create a good sounding recording environment. But getting some extra help from your gear, without reducing the sound quality of your voice, is a big plus here.

So if you’re struggling with the sound of your room, the Revelator Dynamic would make for a good choice. If you’re in a pretty decent environment, though, then you might consider a condenser mic like the PX-1 instead.

Background Noise Vs Hiss

By “background noise” I’m talking about the sounds of life happening around you. With the Revelator Dynamic, your neighbour’s dog and your kid’s annoying singing toy are less likely to find their way into your next podcast episode. But I found the level of hiss was pretty noticeable in my test recordings. To be honest, though, this is my experience with most dynamic mics and definitely isn’t a deal-breaker.

Cost of the PreSonus Dynamic Revelator

At the time of writing, you can pick up one of these mics brand new on Amazon for $200, so a bit more than the AKG Lyra, but a bit less than the Rode Podcaster. Here’s our full USB mics roundup if you’d like to do some more shopping around, too.

Universal Control Software Panel

You have the option to manage your mic from PreSonus’ Universal Control Software panel. This is available as a free download. For what it’s worth, you actually get a free download of their Studio One Artist DAW too, when you register your mic. I use Adobe Audition, myself, and was able to set the UCP up to record into that, instead.

The Universal Control Software is essentially like a digital mixer or interface. You can use or create presets and save them to the mic itself so you can access them at the touch of a button. These presets use EQ and other audio wizardry to liven up your voice.

I didn’t think the default presets sounded very good, or, at least, they didn’t work with my voice at all. With a bit of tweaking and playing around you’d no doubt find a setting that compliments you, though. Personally, I prefer to record voice in as “raw” a state as possible and do any kind of this work in post-production. If you do live podcasting or even gaming, then these might be a lot more appealing to you.

Accessories

The Revelator Dynamic comes with a USB-C cable to plug it into your computering machine. It comes with a decent and robust little desk stand too, so that’ll get you started right out of the box.

Further down the line, you might want to mount it on a mic stand or boom arm. This can improve your mic technique and lessen the risk of unwanted sounds making their way into your audio.

Should I Buy the PreSonus Revelator Dynamic?

At $200, the PreSonus Revelator Dynamic isn’t the cheapest USB mic on the market. If you’re plagued by reverb or a noisy recording environment, though, then it can be a godsend and well worth the money. It’s worth noting that the Shure MV7 performs a similar role, and works in both USB and XLR form, BUT is a bit more expensive.

If your podcasting environment is in decent condition, and you’re looking for some PreSonus kit then you might consider the PX-1 running into an Audiobox USB 96, instead. Remember, you can also shop around some more in our comprehensive Best Podcasting Mics roundup, too!