Episode Summary: What equipment and gear power this podcast — a full breakdown of the audio chain, microphone terminology, and a tiered shopping list for one-man-band content creators planning their setup.

What You'll Learn

• The full audio chain: microphone, XLR cables, gain booster, interface, DAW
• Dynamic vs. condenser microphones, and why dynamic wins for podcasting
• A tiered microphone shopping list, from under $100 to $300+
• The exact hardware setup used to record every episode of this show

Ask Mike Anything: Green Screens with a Webcam

Question: Can a Logitech C920 webcam be used with a green screen for screencast tutorials?

Answer: Yes. The basics of green screening (chroma keying) are covered well in this B&H Video tutorial: How to Use a Green Screen. Screencasting software: Screenflow and Camtasia.

The Basics: Audio Chain

Microphone → XLR cables → Cloudlifter or FetHead (gain booster) → audio interface (mixer or standalone interface) → DAW (digital audio workstation).

Microphone Terminology

Dynamic microphones (recommended for podcasting) are widely used in broadcasting because they pick up sound right in front of them and reject unwanted room noise. They don't require phantom power, but tend to be "gain hungry."

Condenser microphones are more sensitive and pick up more ambient/room noise, and do require phantom power.

Update: the Audio-Technica ATR2100 jumped to $79.99 on Amazon after previously selling for $35-50 — its popularity with new podcasters drove the price up fast.

Dynamic mic examples: ATR2100, Shure SM58, Shure Beta 58A, Rode Podcaster, Rode Procaster, Electro-Voice RE-320, Shure SM7B, Heil PR-40, Electro-Voice RE-20.

Condenser mic examples: most USB and shotgun microphones, including the Blue Yeti, plus the newer Shure MOTIV Mics.

Mike's Hardware

Microphone: Shure SM7B Boom arm: Rode PSA-1 Gain booster: Cloudlifter / Triton FetHead XLR cables: Canare XLR Cables Mixer: Allen & Heath ZED 10 USB (main interface) Audio interface (backup): Scarlett 6i6 Headphones: Sony MDR-7506 Computer: MacBook Pro Retina (13") DAW: Adobe Audition

Read the complete show notes and resources on mikemurphy.ai.

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