You’ll need a microphone
Cost: $50-$100 will get you something decent
You’ll need a shock mount
Cost: $16.99
You’ll need a mic stand/boom
That shock mount needs to be attached to something. You either need to get a mic stand (we have a couple since Sara and I played in a church band for a year) or you’ll need a boom that connects to your desk. Which one you prefer really depends on your configuration. If all you plan on doing is recording books, podcasts, or videos, a boom may work wonders.
Cost: $10-$20
You’ll need a mixer
This is what will power your mic. While you can hook a passive mic (like the one that came with your iPhone) into your laptop, any serious mic needs power and laptops aren’t built for that. Good news–the simplest mixers cost about $40, and if you can splurge up to $100, you can get do all right. However, if you want a mixer to handle lots of inputs and can be controlled from your iPad, then you’ll have to spend closer to $250.
Cost: $40-$100
You’ll need a desk
When it comes time to record, you need somewhere to put your laptop, the mixer, and other things. Root around the house and see if you don’t have a tiny desk that you can repurpose. If not, visit either Ikea, Office Depot, or another similar store. No need for a fancy desk. A small place to put your stuff will do.
Cost: $40 and up
You’ll need Audacity
I once recorded a podcast episode and moved some questions around due to a logistical boo boo on my end. You can also edit out tiny “pops” and more. Learning to drive this app is a useful skill.
You’ll need a studio
Since you’re not doing THAT, here is what you need: a room where there IS NO ECHO.
This may not be as clear as you realize. My wife recorded the opening chapter of her debut novel in her office, with no one else. When I listened to it, it was terrible. Not due to her performance, but the audio was “tinny”. After much scrubbing and filtering, I couldn’t improve it, deducing that the desk/walls/pinball machines/etc. had caused sound to bounce around and degrade the sound.
So I dug up a tiny desk she never used, found an extension cord, and set up all the things listed above in her closet. Following that, Sara found some opportunities where all the kids were asleep or all at school (no good recording when the 4-year-old is running around upstairs!)
So, assuming you scoop up all these things, the minimum price for all is (drum roll):
Total: $157
And you don’t have to do every step all at once. Ease into it. But know if that you want to record audio, this is the way to go. In this day and age, you really are in power to create content if that is your heart’s desire.
Good luck!
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