Mic stands play an important role in getting great audio at home or the office. Here’s a couple of things to look out for: Avoid mic stands that are designed to sit on your desk. These won’t allow you to get your mic close enough to your mouth and make it difficult to get a clean recording. Instead, use stands that will give you the flexibility to experiment with mic positioning. Floor stands with boom arms or stands that you can mount to your desk are a great example. If you’re looking for the best of the best, König & Meyer have a wide range of high-quality mic stands to choose from.

If you're looking to buy an audio interface for your microphone, make sure you check what software you're getting with it. For example, the M-Track 2x2 comes with Pro Tools, and the Scarlett 2i2 comes with Ableton Live Lite. This can be a deciding factor when looking for something a little more pricey. Check out my blog post "Podcast Equipment Tips" https://www.richardjamesnewton.com/post/podcast-equipment-tips

What’s the difference between dynamic and condenser microphones and how do you choose between the two? Without getting too technical, the real difference is the way they convert acoustic energy into an electrical signal. Now you may have heard that condenser mics pick up a lot of room noise. But it’s not specifically room noise. It’s that condenser microphones tend to pick up a lot more detail in general. Good and bad. Whereas dynamic microphones tend to be a lot more focused on the loudest source within their pickup pattern. When should you choose one over the other? If you’re recording in a space without acoustic treatment I’d recommend sticking to dynamic microphones. To make full use of a condenser microphone, I’d recommend only using them in a well-treated space that is free from reflections and resonant frequencies. Check out my blog post "Podcast Equipment Tips" https://www.richardjamesnewton.com/post/podcast-equipment-tips

When it comes to microphones, there's a ton of options. To help narrow them down, I'd recommend buying from brands that have the experience. Brands like Shure, AKG, Sennheiser and Audio-Technica are great examples and they've all been manufacturing microphones for 50 years or more. Here are some of my favourites... Audio-Technica ATR2100 - A popular entry-level microphone with USB and XLR connectivity. Shure MV7 - My clients are getting amazing results with this microphone. Its USB and XLR connectivity make it a versatile and easy to use option for anyone new to external microphones. Shure SM7B - A popular choice amongst professional podcasters, the Shure SM7B will not disappoint. Being XLR only, this will require the additional purchase of an audio interface and possibly an inline microphone preamp to boost its gain before your interface. Check out my blog post "Podcast Equipment Tips" https://www.richardjamesnewton.com/post/podcast-equipment-tips