Podcast Gear For Beginners | An Easy Guide To Choosing Podcast Gear, For Beginners

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  • Production Services
  • Podcast Setups
    • Solo Podcaster Setup
    • 2 Person Podcaster Setup
    • 3 Person Podcast + LiveStreaming
    • 4 Person Podcast + Livestream
    • Podcast Table For Four - Switch & Board Podcasting Studio
  • Articles
    • LEARNING CENTER
    • DIY Podcast Table Ideas
    • Dynamic Vs. Condenser Mics
    • XLR Vs. USB Mics
    • When to Use an XLR Mic
    • 3 Person Podcast + LiveStream
    • 4 Person Podcast + Livestream
    • 3 Ways To Improve Zoom Presentation
    • Stickers For Your Podcast
  • Podcast Tables For Sale
    • Modular Podcasting Desks
  • OUR PODCAST
    • Contact

PODCAST GEAR
​FOR BEGINNERS 
LEARNING CENTER

Custom-Built Tables For Audio & Video Podcasts

8/24/2022

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Picture of a 9 sided podcast table made from dark walnut wood and metal table legs
It's been quite the journey! From building the Podcast Gear For Beginners website as a resource during lockdowns in April 2020, to creating a uniquely designed modular-style podcast table and making our first sale. Thank you all so much for the support. 

Our newest venture is Podcast Tables Shop, where you can find custom-built podcast tables for sale. There is inventory currently in stock, or you can custom order a new table to go into production right away. 

These podcast tables are great for audio and video recording, or using as a podcast production desk or office desk. With these tables, you're sure to get versatility, beauty, and functionality. 
PODCAST TABLES fOR SALE

OUR WORK

TABLE FEATURES

  • 1.5" thick butcher block tops
  • chamfered edges
  • custom stains and polyurethane or oil and wax protection
  • sturdy, metal legs
  • power and USB outlets
  • cable clips under the table for cord management
  • cable grommets allowing cords to run from the top to the bottom of the table, keeping things neat and organized
  • quick turnaround on custom pieces
  • customizable options, based on your needs 

We're building and shipping these tables all over the United States to content creators, businesses and organizations who are taking content marketing seriously and investing into their strategy. Get your podcast table from PodcastTables.Shop today! 

Simply fill out our contact form to get started. We look forward to working together! - Jason, Own, Podcast Tables Shop
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Maono AU-PM500 Condenser Microphone Review

5/29/2021

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We're excited to review the Maono AU-PM500 condenser microphone! Maono has yet to release this microphone, get the skinny from Podcast Gear For Beginners. Check out the YouTube video for the full review, and the unboxing! 

Highlights of the PM500: 
  • This mic comes with a SWEET carrying case, making it very portable
  • Shock mount w/ metal pop filter included, very sleek 
  • The condenser mic has a great build, with metal housing 
  • Nice, full sound, keeping the low end robust
  • Needs eq in post, for sure 
More at Maono.com.

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MAONO AU-HD300T Podcast mic REVIEW

4/15/2021

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I'm excited to bring you the Maono AU-HD300T podcaster microphone review! Huge thanks to Maono for sending this our way. Check out our review video! 

The quick of it:
  • $69 price point - HUGE BENEFIT
  • USB/XLR combo - use it on a mixer, recorder, or plug and play right into your computer
  • Dynamic, Carioid pattern - great for podcast vocals
  • ** It sounds SO GOOD right out of the box, with no editing on the vocal track in post. 
  • Pop filter and shock mount included - a very nice touch
  • Comes with an XLR cable and USB C cable
  • Includes a tabletop mic stand

Maono really hits the beginner podcaster with a great product for a great price point at $69 at Maono.com. 
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7 GIFT IDEAS FOR Beginner PodcasT Equipment THIS Christmas 2020

10/26/2020

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THE Best gifts for podcasters this holiday season

Looking for gift ideas for your podcaster friend, boyfriend, girlfriend, spouse, brother, sister, or somebody else I haven't mentioned that is trying to start a show or is already obsessed with casting pods and you've heard enough already? This list is for YOU. 2020 has been a helluva year. Who wouldn't want some legit gifts to round out the year on a good note?

There are so many podcast equipment options out there, but here's what I'd ask for as a gift if someone wanted to really hit me with something nice, even for a beginner podcaster! These are in no particular order, it's just good gear that gets the job done, and is coveted by many podcasters and on wish lists all over the place. 
1) SHURE SM7B 
The holy grail of podcast mics! Okay, some would contest. But Joe Rogan uses them, so that makes them legit, right? The Shure SM7B is a high-quality broadcast, dynamic, XLR microphone that at a price point of nearly $400 is a a microphone to be desired for the pro podcaster. 
VIEW ON AMAZON
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2) RODE RODCASTER
Rode hit the podcast world by releasing their all-in-one podcast station, with 4 XLR channels each with effects and other options. The big feature is the mix-minus, allowing you to record remote interviews or phone calls via zoom or the web. 
VIEW ON AMAZON

3) ZOOM L8
The Zoom L8 is Zoom's response to the Rode Rodecaster, but with a few more features. The L8 is also $200 cheaper! Get 6 XLR channels, mix minus, sound effects pads, and effects for your podcast.
VIEW ON AMAZON
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4) RODE PROCASTER
The Rode Procaster is a higher-end dynamic broadcast microphone with a boomier low-end that's great for podcast vocals. The price point is double a typical dynamic mic, but worth it for the increase in vocal quality. 
VIEW ON AMAZON

5) ZOOM H6
A high-quality, portable solution for the podcaster on the go. Record to up to 4 XLR channels anywhere, without a laptop or computer, by recording internally to an SD, OR sync it to your laptop via USB and get two individual channels to your DAW. 
VIEW ON AMAZON
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6) CANON G50
While videocameras aren't your typical podcasting gear, they are handy if you're hoping to livestream or post the video recording of your podcast episodes. This camera yields a sharp image with a clean HMDI output, keeping the menu data off of the screen as you're going live. An upgrade to any podcast studio looking to utilize video! 
VIEW ON AMAZON

7) Sony MDR7506 Headphones
When it comes to sound monitoring, the Sony MDR7506 headphones are the industry choice and come in at a price point under $100! Great for monitoring audio while you're recording, and great for editing too.
VIEW ON AMAZON
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BONUS IDEAS!


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Rode PSA 1 Swivel Mount Microphone Boom Arm
For a studio-style setting, a nice, quality and heavy-duty microphone boom arm is a must. There are cheaper versions of boom arms, but not all are made with the quality and load-bearing capability of the Rode PSA 1. 
VIEW ON AMAZON

Computer Gaming Desk (Podcast Desk Table) 
While this pictured table is mean specifically for gamers, it'll also make a great podcasting table with it's built-in power strip and elevated stands for computer, monitor, or speakers. Podcasters will get creative in the way they set up their recording space, and this desk is a great start to a creative recording space. Add desk grommets and adhesive clips to run cables and keep it tidy. 
VIEW ON AMAZON
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Podcast Table Ideas - INEXPENSIVE DIY TABLE Transformations

9/3/2020

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WE NOW BUILD PODCAST TABLES! 

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Podcast Table For Three - Modular Wedge Style
Podcast Tables For Sale

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1 or 2 person podcaster table
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Modular Custom-Built Podcaster Live Stream Table

DIY BEFORE & AFTER PHOTOS

Before

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AFter

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Above: $50 used conference table is painted with $12 flat white paint. $8 Desk grommets are installed next to the mic stands. A $13 mini desk outlet is powering the devices. Adhesive cable clips under tabletop are $7.95, velcro cable ties are $7.99. Under $100 before tax!

*Use of these affiliate links may result in me receiving a small commission
​for your purchases. Thanks for your support!

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Tabletop Mic Stands
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Power Grommet
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Adhesive Cable Clips
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Desk Grommets

BEFORE

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AFTER

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Above: Used conference table found on Facebook Marketplace. Covered with a $15 tablecloth. I drilled out holes with a hole saw to run cables for the boom arms, and organized the cables under the table with cable clips. The black backdrop is simply a king size flat bed sheet, I cut slits in the top pocket to be able to fish the backdrop stand pole through the sheet to make it a large curtain. 
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Microphone Boom Arm
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Black Tablecloth
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Velcro Ties
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King size flat sheet
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Backdrop Stand

Finding The Right Table
​
Podcasting can get rather expensive, especially when investing in high-quality microphones, mixers, and headphones. If you livestream like we do, then aesthetics can also come into play. You want a neat, good looking podcasting table, but since you're just starting out and have already spent quite a bit of money getting started, you want to spend as little as possible. I put together our tables for under $100 each, with a little luck and a little ingenuity. This is my inexpensive DIY podcasting table journey. 

Use Facebook Marketplace, Craigslist, Garage Sales, and Amazon 
​
I knew I needed a table big enough for four people, and I also knew that I wanted a wooden table so that I could drill holes and use nails or screws for cable management and mounting things. So plastic was out the question for me. The first things that came to mind were kitchen tables and conference tables. I quickly searched the web hoping for something very cheap to come up. Buying new was out of the question for me, based on the pricing that I found. It was time to get crafty.

My savior? Facebook Marketplace! I typed in "conference table" into the search bar and found just what I was needing for only $50 from a small private school. Within hours it was hauled into our basement studio. Luckily our church had a closet full of unused chairs, so I snagged four for the podcast table (with permission). 

Not everyone has chairs laying around that they can use, but check out the FREE section in Facebook Marketplace and Craiglist in your area, you never know what you might find! ​​

INEXPENSIVE NEW TABLES FROM AMAZON FOR PODCASTING

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$109.99 TABLE & CHAIR SET
​FROM AMAZON

This is an inexpensive table and chair set available on Amazon.com. The tabletop is MDF board, and would respond well to a hole saw for adding grommets to run cables through the top of the table, and take screws to mount boom arms if needed.
VIEW ON AMAZON

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L-Shaped Desk with Storage Shelves FROM AMAZON

If you need something larger and still customizable, this L-shaped desk is great for one side being your computer space and the other side being your podcasting space. There's enough rom for boom arms, laptops, mixers, and other podcasting gear. 
VIEW ON AMAZON
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$59.99 OFFICE DESK
​FROM AMAZON

If you're a solo podcaster, this desk will work great for a podcast table. Also a wooden top, it will allow for holes to be drilled and screws to be used for customizing your tabletop for boom arms and other additions. Add two chairs and get 2 spots for recording!
View On Amazon

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BAR TABLE WITH TWO STOOLS FROM AMAZON

Want a bar height space for podcasting? This set from Amazon is a great option. However, you'll want to consider tabletop mic stands, or if you want to use a boom arm, it'll need to mounted to the top of the table because of the size of the lip around the edge. 
VIEW ON AMAZON

Functionality & Cable Management
Use Power Grommets, Cable Grommets and Cable Ties
​
There were a few things I knew I wanted to do to my table - add desk grommets so I could make sure my cables were tied together or managed in a way that kept them organized and out of the way, off the top of the podcast table. If you have cables running under the bottom of your table, the last thing you want is someone accidentally unplugging something with their feet during your recording. Believe me, it happens.

I used a two inch hole saw to bore through the tabletop where my two-inch desk grommets would go. Before drilling, I set out my podcast stands to see where I wanted them and then marked where I would be drilling. Measure and plan twice, drill once.
​

To power the USB interface and headphone amp, I installed a two outlet power grommet in the center of the table. The outlet comes with its own power cable, so I ran that to the nearest wall outlet with an extension cord. It also has two USB ports where I can plug in phone chargers, etc. Believe it or not, some people do want to charge their phones while they're podcasting. Me, I'm some people.
To Paint Or Not To Paint
Use Paint, or A Tablecloth

For one of our podcast tables, all I did was use a black tablecloth over the top, and cut holes through the fabric to be able to run my cables. The other table I decided to paint instead of using a tablecloth. If I had to do it again, I'd paint my table a color other than white because all the little knicks and scratches show up easily. And with the black tablecloth, I'm constantly having to brush off the dust and particles that accumulate with each use. I suppose it's all part of the deal! You decide which way you want to go. 

*Future tabletop idea: use free pallet wood cut into strips that create a top for a used conference table, sand, and then stain. In this case, I'd drill out desk grommet holes and mount a power grommet in the center of the table.
Sound Treatment
Use Moving Blankets As An Inexpensive Sound Treatment Solution
This doesn't necessarily have to do with your table, but it is a simple, inexpensive solution for a problem you may run into. Depending on where you're recording your podcast, you may have sound reflections. Reflections are caused when sound travels and bounces off of bare walls and floors, causing your audio to sound like you're sitting in an empty room or in an echo chamber. Hanging a few moving blankets on your walls and placing a rug on the floor are the easiest fixes, but certainly not the best treatment. If you're looking for more professional treatment, check out these kits at Sweetwater.
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While I chose to use moving blankets, there are many other options for sound-treating a room. Amazon.com carries a slew of acoustic panel options, and many podcasters will opt to put these up all throughout their studio. It certainly is more aesthetically pleasing to the podcaster eye! 

Happy shopping! Below are links to the items I've purchased in the past for my DIY podcast table projects. 
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Adhesive Cable Clips $7.95

Use adhesive clips for cable management under your table.
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2" DESK GROMMETS $6.99

Drill holes and install grommets to run cables off of the tabletop. 
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VELCRO CABLE TIES $7.99

Velcro cable straps are an easy way to organize cables out of the way.

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Mini-outlet $12.99

Install an outlet into the top of your podcast table for easy access to power.

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MOVING BLANKET $14.49

Moving blankets are a cheap way to help dampen sound in your room.

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6ft Black Tablecloth $14.99

If you don't want to paint your tabletop, throw a cloth over it!

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Power Grommet $35.99

Get power, network access and USB charging ports with this power grommet.

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2" Hole Saw
​$13.68

You'll need a hole saw for installing grommets onto your podcast table.

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Retractable power grommet $26.99

This is a fancier version of the power grommet. Put it away if you don't need it!


    HELP US CREATE CONTENT!

    ​WHAT EXACTLY ARE YOU LOOKING FOR WHEN YOU SEARCH "PODCAST TABLES" OR ANYTHING SIMILAR? TABLES FOR SALE? DIY IDEAS? LET US KNOW!

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This site contains Amazon Affiliate links, linking to products I use or recommend. The use of these links may allow me to earn a small commission for your purchases at no additional cost to you. Thank you for your support! - Jason 
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