So, consider your first podcast a learning experience, and don’t worry too much about being perfect right away. You should get a TASCAM DR-40 and a set of headphones. It has good built-in mics and is a great little device that will last for a long time. You can also add better mics as you grow. Use a camera tripod to mount it, and start talking. It records to a flash card and can also be used as an external flash drive. The whole setup should cost less than $200. Just focus on improving and having fun.
As mentioned before, it’s a good idea to look at a simple headset/mic combo. If you are recording multiple people, you might want to consider using some of the Yeti Snowball mics, which are omnidirectional. You can put them in the center of a table and start recording. If you want to give your podcast the best chance of success, you might want to consider getting a decent setup. The best and cleanest option would be to get a RODEcaster Pro, 2 XLR cables, and 2 Shure SM58 microphones with pop covers. This simple setup will give you a high-quality sounding podcast.
For an advanced stage, the Scarlet 2i2 is a good unit with very clean preamps. The 2i2 is a good unit, but it’s best not to buy a bundle. These packages often offer poor value and do not include the right equipment for you, especially microphones. A good starting point would be an ATR2100 microphone, which can be plugged directly into your computer via USB and comes with its own mini mic stand and pop filter. No audio interface is needed. If and when you need to add a second mic, you can buy the 2i2 on its own and another ATR2100, and connect both mics to the 2i2 using the ATR2100’s included XLR cables. For headphones, use whatever you have available at first, and consider purchasing a nice pair of closed-back headphones when you have the budget.
