What to Buy During Amazon’s Big Spring Sale If You’ve Always Wanted to Start Podcasting

I’ve produced a number of podcasts over the years, both professionally and just for fun, and I’ve noticed that it’s becoming increasingly cheaper and easier to start, so if you’ve always wanted to get that podcast going, now is the time. Amazon’s Big Spring Sale includes a ton of gear for podcasting, so you can at least get an adequate-sounding setup for under $150 — but if you have a little more to spend, there’s some high-end tech available on sale, too. Here’s a guide to what you’ll need, depending on how much you want to spend.

All-in-One Podcast Solution

It’s almost as easy to record a podcast with one of the all-in-one options below. These come bundled with an audio unit and mic (or mics), ready to plug into your computer or phone, so you can get started right away.

cheapest option

The ALSO GO Upgraded Podcast Equipment Bundle for 2 comes with an audio mixer, a few microphones, and earbuds for monitoring. All you need is this and a PC or phone to get started, and it’s on sale for $49.29. It will produce a serviceable podcast that sounds better than the built-in mic on your phone, and it comes bundled with push-button sound effects and voice changing. If you’re just dipping your toe in, this is a great starter, but there are some disadvantages to this cheap gear. If you’re ready to move forward, read on.

A mid-range podcasting bundle

MAONO AU-AM200-S1 Bundle: This is a significant jump in quality compared to the option above, but it still comes in at under $100 during the Amazon sale. That’s $94.98, down from $128.53. Unlike ultra-budget kits, this mixer has a two-level noise reduction chip to eliminate hum, and it’s Bluetooth compatible so you can pipe in music or guests without plugging in a cable.

A high-end podcasting option

SquarockTek Podcast Bundle for 2: If you want to look professional right off the bat, this higher-end option is on sale for $254.99 (originally $299.99) and features an XLR/USB hybrid condenser mic. There’s also a port to plug your guitar in.

All-in-one kits come with a mic, but if you want to add another co-host, try the Logitech G Yeti Orb. This streamer-friendly USB-C mic is a no-fuss option for $49.99, which is 30% off the retail price of $70.

monitor headphones

It doesn’t matter how good your microphones are, it won’t mean anything if you can’t hear the mix, so you need some headphones for monitoring. These OneOdio wired over-ear headphones are a perfect solution. On sale for $27.99, they’re more than enough for listening if the levels are extreme, and they come with a cord that connects to both the 3.5mm jack on your laptop and the 6.35mm jack on your mixer.

mobile podcasting microphone

If you’re thinking of taking your show on the road, you’ll need some microphones. These DJI Mic Mini Lavalier Mics are wireless with a 300 meter transmission range, and have built-in noise cancellation. They plug right into your phone and are on sale for $45. But if you want to go even lower, check out these Mini Mic Pro; They’re two for $18.28, which is 39% off list price.

A laptop that can handle audio and video editing

The PC (or Mac) you already have is probably enough to handle basic podcasting, so I’m not including it in the pricing, but if it’s an on-sale computer it can easily handle all your podcasting needs.

Acer Aspire 14 AI Laptop: On sale for $899.98, 34% off list price of $1,359, this PC has 32GB of RAM, which is plenty for audio and video editing. The processor is powerful enough to handle on-the-fly noise reduction so that your living room sounds like a studio. It comes with a USB hub with HDMI, USB-A, USB-C, SD card, and Ethernet ports so you can plug just about anything into it, and it weighs only 3.09 pounds, so you can record remote episodes without any hassle.

Other Podcasting Gear You’ll Need, But You Probably Don’t Think About

acoustic treatment

The classic solution to “wow, the living room is really eco-y” is to hang a bunch of blankets and record in your closet, but you might be able to get away with a less janky solution, like this microphone stand with isolation shield for $33.99.

USB hub

You will need more ports. Something like this Powered USB Hub 3.0 is on sale for $22.09. The key is the “powered” part to make sure the juice is constantly flowing and not sucking your laptop’s battery.

backup storage

This may be overkill, but if you’re recording on-the-fly, the audio files can be so large that you’ll want to make sure you can store them outside of your phone. There is a one terabyte external storage available for $127.49.

Cable and Cable Management

You will need cables. If you’re sticking to a 3.5mm setup (like with the ALSO GO or MAINO kits), you’ll want to upgrade the cables that come with them to gold plating to avoid corrosion. These 3.5mm wires are a little more than 5 bucks. Don’t forget cable management too. These Velcro cable ties may be the best $13.59 you ever spend.

Basics: How much does it cost to start your podcast?

You can record a (very amateurish sounding) podcast for free on your phone, but we’re not animals, so here are the cost details for the three tiers of podcasting.

“We are not animals” Starter: ~$145

This is the perfect place for a setup that doesn’t feel like you’re recording inside a trash can.

“Guest Ready” Mid-Range: ~$193

This is the sweet spot. You get a better mixer and a cleaner signal for under $200.

• the kit: MAONO AU-AM200-S1 Bundle ($94.98)

• Accessories: The headphones, hub, isolation shield and Velcro ties are listed above.

• Total: $192.64

“Nearly radio-ready” prosumer: ~$350

This is for the maker who wants the most versatile setup. It includes the SquarockTek bundle with a high-quality hybrid XLR/USB mic, and includes its own monitoring headset.