Best External Microphones for Your iPhone

If you are seriously looking into recording videos, music, and podcasts on your iPhone, you should consider buying an external microphone to give your audio the best quality. Here are some of our suggestions for great external microphones on iPhones. These are all compatible as long as your iPhone has the lightning port.

Rode SC6-L

This mic is great for interviews, as it features an input and output breakout box that allows for two mics and one pair of headphones. You can also record on separate tracks through the app.

Rode VideoMic Me-L

This mic is directional, and allows you to focus on one noise source while reducing other noises around you. It comes with a clip and windshield to secure your mic even further and to protect it in harsh outdoor weather.

SHURE MV88

This mic has a great sound quality. It’s pocket-sized and compatible with iOS. It has an all-metal construction with both directional and stereo pickup. You can download the Shureplus MOTIV app to change different settings on the mic as well.

ZOOM iQ7 Mid-side

This mic features a capsule that can be rotated in order to be used horizontally or vertically. It also has two directional mid and side elements that can help you record audio coming from different directions.

ZOOM iQ6 X/Y

The ZOOM iQ6 X/Y features two unidirectional recorders to cover wide areas and center sound sources. You can change the analog dial to suit your needs, and choose the best option mic gain setting whether you’re in a loud area or a quiet one.

Conclusion

All of these mics are of great quality, so be sure to do your research and choose the one that best fits your needs. When filming and recording with your iPhone, other additional equipment might also be your friend as well.

So which mic will you choose? Do you have others to recommend? Let us know!

- By Julianna Martinek

The Top 6 Podcast Hosting Websites

There are many different websites that offer to host your podcasts, so choosing the one that is best for you can be more difficult than it should be. Whether you want to start a podcast, or you’re just looking to find something better, this list can surely help with that.

In order to start a podcast, you will need to sign up with a website to create your flow and to store your sound bites. The best podcast hosting websites will be easy to use, and will be of great quality.

Here are our top 6 hosting sites

1. Podbean

2. Captivate

3. Buzzsprout

4. Transistor

5. Castos

6. Simplecast

Podbean:

Podbean is great for those who are newer to podcasting. Their plans start at $9 a month, which allows unlimited uploads, advanced stats, etc. Podbean also is available on iOS and Android.

Captivate:

Captivate is a great new podcast hosting website, it has many features to help make your podcast the best, and none of the features are overly complicated, so it’s great for first time users. You can also add as many team members as you want to your podcast. They also added an easy sponsorship kit that allows you to highlight your most recent podcasts. Captivate is also mobile friendly, and also uses the colours you want. Their plans start at $19/month, which allows you to host an unlimited number of podcasts. They also have a 7 day free trial period so you can try it out for yourself!

Buzzsprout:

This website was meant for podcasting to be easy, but not at all limited. They have a great interface and an easy to use dashboard, so you don’t need to over complicate your uploads and can spend more time creating. Buzzsprout also regularly updates their features for the best possible user experience. Buzzsprout’s plans start at $12/ a month, there is a forever free plan, but your podcast episodes will be removed after 90 days.

Transistor:

Transistor is a newer hosting website that focuses more on brands and serious podcasters. Transistor allows you to host as many podcasts as you need, get statistics, add and manage your team members, etc. Their plans start at $19/month, and they feature a free two week trial.

Castos:

Castos allows users to integrate wordpress into their site. Their plans start at $19/month, which allows unlimited uploads and the ability to customize your own format. They also offer a free 14 day trial

Simplecast:

Simplecast has really cool embeddable players on their site. They also allow you to receive detailed analytics. Simplecast also has multiple different ways that you can format your podcast. Their plans start at $15/month.

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If you need help making your podcast sound amazing, we offer podcast production services that can elevate your brand and amplify your message. You can hear a sample of our work here.

We look forward to adding massive value to your podcast development process.

Contact us to get started.

Conclusion:

All of these websites will give you great results, and whichever one you pick should be up to you! Remember to consider factors such as price, analytics, simplicity, and other details that are specific to you and your podcast. So ask yourself: what criteria does your podcast hosting site need, and which is the best site to fulfill those needs?

- By Julianna Martinek

Podcast: What is It, How It Works, Who Creates It

Hmm..how would I describe a podcast to someone who has no prior knowledge of it? Probably by breaking it down into something we could relate to that has been around for a while. 

Think of it as a series on Netflix. There are apps and websites like Netflix that cater specifically to podcasts (check out our blog: Best Podcast Listening Apps For iOS and Android to find the best app for you). Apps like Spotify Podcasts, etc. are a huge hub of recordings in a single place that talk about blogs, shows and topics in different genres that might intrigue you.

And similar to Netflix, you can download/browse these podcasts anytime and anywhere!

What is a podcast?

If I was to describe what is a podcast in a couple of words, it would revolve around these common answers:

• On-demand

• Free of charge

• A niche

• A repurposed radio

• Audiobooks for blogs.

• An audio version of a blog that you can listen to anywhere.

Another way to describe a podcast would be to think of it as an online talk show on any topic. If you think of something that fascinates you, there’s probably a podcast you can listen to about it!

Where does it come from? Who creates it?

The word Podcast comes from the blend of the words iPod and Broadcast. 

It’s mostly used by individuals as a means of sharing information/their thoughts in order to bring together people with similar interests.

Podcasts are very economical for its creators when compared to writing/recording audiobooks, creating radio shows, etc. They are very cheap and easy to make as they can be produced from the comfort of your own home without having to rely on radio stations for recording and broadcasting.

Today podcasts are created by many different individuals as well as groups of people. Some podcasts available are from (this is a very small list):

• Companies (big and small)

• Radio Stations 

• TV Networks 

• Comedians

• Art Historians

• Storytellers

• Churches

• Podcast-only Networks

If you need help making your podcast sound amazing, we offer podcast editing, mixing, and mastering services that can elevate your brand and clearly share your message.

Learn more about all of our podcast production services and hear a sample of our work here. We look forward to adding massive value to your podcast development process. Contact us here to get started.

How do they work?

Podcasts aren’t necessarily structured like say a TV show series, with the exception of being divided into episodes to create a sequence that is easy to follow. Pre-production features such as length, style, format, etc. aren’t pre-determined. Some podcasts may be released daily, some weekly or even monthly.

With only the topic decided in advance, they are more freestyle rather than scripted.

Another amazing thing about Podcasts is that you can subscribe to them like you would a newsletter. You can receive notifications for every new upload, never missing an episode!

Conclusion

Podcasts are audio entertainment, anywhere, anytime, about anything. They are a great way of gaining knowledge on interesting topics or even just generally having something to listen to while you’re driving, at the gym, working, etc.

You can choose from thousands of topics and genres made for people of various ages. 

And the best thing about them: they are so easy to listen to and browse through that even the non-tech savvy people can learn how to use it in minutes.

Here are some of my favourite podcasts to get you started:

1. The Joe Rogan Experience

2. The GrowthTLDR With Kieran Flanagan and Scott Tousley

3. The Jony Studios Podcast

4. The Tim Ferriss Show

Did you find one you liked? Let me know which one in the comments below.

- By Neha Agarwala