For Social Audio Hosts: A Quality Audio Set-Up of Equipment for Podcasts, Twitter Spaces, Zoom, IG Live, Facebook Live
Social audio platforms are the best marketing vehicles to quickly gain awareness for your personal brand or business. People are on the go 24/7 in different parts of the world, so your live Twitter spaces or podcast recordings are powerful methods of keeping the public connected with you.
Here is a roundup of the most cost-effective equipment you actually need for hosting Zoom meetings, Instagram live sessions, and other audio content without breaking the bank. Yes, I use these products!
For $100, the Rode PodMic Cardioid Dynamic Broadcast Microphone is a cost-effective, high-quality, dynamic broadcast microphone designed for podcasting, streaming, and voiceover productions. It has a cardioid polar pattern that picks up sound from the front, while rejecting noise from the sides and rear, resulting in clear and focused audio.
Disclosure, I use both a desktop microphone stand and a boom arm (which is my next go-to product) because I prefer to have options. The On-Stage DS7200C Adjustable Desktop Microphone Stand is sturdy and adjustable in height. It's designed to hold microphones securely on your desktop or coffee table. Easy to transport, it's the perfect mic stand to throw in your carry-on luggage when traveling. This stand has a weighted base for stability and a height-adjustable shaft for versatile positioning.
This is InnoGear Mircophone Arm Boom Suspension Stand is a professional-grade boom arm for suspending microphones. This boom arm has a flexible design that allows precise positioning and comes with a screw adapter clip to fit a variety of microphone types. If you want the podcast lounge look wherein you're sitting on a sofa chair, clip this boom arm to a thick, sturdy side table.
Note: This InnoGear adjustable boom arm works best on a horizontal furniture edge (like coffee table, desk) that has at least three inches of free edge depth with at least one-half inch thickness for the clip to properly tighten.
Now let's get to the important technical items. The IK Multimedia iRig Pre2 is the device that connects your XLR microphone to a mobile device or computer. It has adjustable gain, phantom power, and headphone monitoring, making it ideal for recording, listening on social media platforms, or podcast production.
Note: In order to connect the IK Multimedia iRig Pre2 to your iPhone, you will need the Apple Lightning to 3.5 mm Headphone Jack Adapter (shown later in this blog post).
The Amazon Basics Standard XLR Male to Female Balanced Microphone Cable connects your microphone to the iRig to reduce noise and interference. (Advanced social audio professionals use this standard XLR cable designed for connecting microphones to mixers, interfaces, and other audio equipment.)
The Apple Lightning Headphone Jack Adapter connects your iRig device to your iPhone, so that your headphone and microphone experience replaces your mobile device's audio/speakerphone ability.
Note: The Apple Lightning Headphone Jack Adapter is a must-have if you host Twitter spaces from your iPhone.
The LORELEI X6 Over-Ear Headphones with Microphone are basic lightweight headphones for an immersive audio experience. They have large over-ear cups and a built-in microphone for everyday hands-free calling and recording.
Note: The LORELEI X6 Over-Ear Headphones with Microphone comfortably fit heads bearing a fitted hat size of 7 1/2 and smaller. I admit they're not the most comfortable for wearing more than two hours and I wouldn't put them in a noise-canceling category.
A PodMic Pop Filter Foam Cover (two-pack) for the Rode PodMic is optional, yet absolutely recommended. It's designed to fit over the Rode PodMic microphone and reduces "pop" sounds and other unwanted noises from wind and breath.
A completely optional accessory, this LISEN organizer props up your tablet or mobile device for viewing ease. I place this organizer next to my laptop when I host Twitter Spaces so I can always view speakers and listeners on my iPhone while I use my laptop. The device holder has a swivel component so you can view the device screen upright like a document or at a horizontal angle like an open book.
Final Thoughts
I host and participate in Twitter spaces everyday, so I took my social audio experience to the next level from using the basic speakerphone function on my iPhone. For less than $400, I purchased these products and created this "Social Audio Starter Pack" on Amazon in the fall of 2022. As you research podcast and audio equipment, you may find yourself wondering whether it's necessary to buy advanced audio boards and microphones priced north of $500 - you don't need to. When you're just starting your business or social media presence, keep it simple and invest wisely.