Microphones
Audio-Technica ATR2100x
The best first microphone for almost everyone. Dynamic, so it rejects room noise, and it has both USB and XLR outputs — plug into a laptop today, into an interface later. The mic most Austin podcasts should start on.
Rode PodMic / PodMic USB
A broadcast-style dynamic built for talk. Warm, present, forgiving of an untreated room. The USB version skips the interface entirely; the XLR version grows with your rig.
Shure SM7B
The radio and podcast standard, and the mic in the room at Austin's biggest shows. Needs a clean preamp or a Cloudlifter (~$150) to hit full level. The SM7B + Cloudlifter combo is the default Austin upgrade.
Electro-Voice RE20
The other broadcast workhorse, prized for handling close, booming voices without distortion. If the SM7B isn't your sound, this usually is.
Interfaces & Accessories
Rode RODECaster Pro II
A complete podcast production console: mic preamps, faders, sound pads, and onboard recording. If you record multiple people in one room regularly, this replaces a pile of separate boxes.
Focusrite Scarlett 2i2
The most popular two-channel USB interface in the world. Clean preamps, rock-solid drivers, and enough headroom for two XLR mics. The standard bridge from one USB mic to a real signal chain.
Rode PSA1+ Boom Arm
A sturdy desk arm keeps the mic at mouth height and off the desk, killing keyboard thumps and giving you a consistent distance every episode. Small upgrade, big difference in sound.
Audio-Technica ATH-M50x
Closed-back studio headphones that keep your mix honest and stop bleed into the mic. The industry-standard "what does it actually sound like" reference.
Software & Hosting
Audacity
Free, open-source recording and editing. Does everything a first season needs at zero cost. Pair it with Auphonic for automatic leveling. More tools on the sources desk.
Descript
Edit audio by editing the transcript, with one-click filler-word removal. The single biggest time-saver for solo and interview shows. Full write-up on Sources.
Riverside
Records each remote guest locally in high quality so a weak connection doesn't ruin the file. The standard for video podcasts with guests out of town.
Hosting: Buzzsprout / Transistor / Libsyn / Spotify for Creators
Pick one host, upload your file, and it generates the RSS feed that places you in Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, iHeart, and Amazon Music. Submit once, appear everywhere. Details and trade-offs on the sources desk.
Austin Rooms & Community
Austin Podcast Studio Rentals
Multiple Austin studios rent fully equipped, sound-treated rooms with pro mics, cameras for video podcasts, and engineering support. Search "podcast studio rental Austin" for current rooms and rates. See the studios section.
Coworking Podcast Rooms
Several Austin coworking spaces now include bookable, sound-treated podcast rooms — ideal if you don't want a permanent studio. For workspace options across the state, see Texas Coworking.
KUTX 98.9 & KOOP 91.7
Austin's music and community stations are a free, ongoing master class in programming, voice, and segment pacing. Listening critically to local radio is one of the cheapest ways to get better on the mic.
Podcasting Community & News
Keep current with Podnews (daily industry brief) and r/podcasting (peer feedback). The full annotated list lives on the Sources page.
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