Are you podcasting only in your studio, and wish you could go mobile?
Mobile podcasting from a live sports event as a commentator or after a live music event in a backstage interview can be a powerful ambient sensation for your viewers and listeners.
Since podcasting’s greatest moments are moments of genuine life, why not go out into it? It adds value to your podcasts — or could.
But to go out and record your podcast, you need to have a mobile podcast setup. Something that is portable, lightweight, battery-powered, and that has all the features to record a high-quality podcast just as if you were in the studio.
The best professional mobile podcasting setup is the Zoom PodTrak P4 portable podcast recorder with the Zoom ZDM-1 microphone and headphone pack.
Want to know about it in more detail? Read on, friend.
Best Portable Podcast Setup – A Complete Minimalist Podcast Setup
As far as professional mobile podcasting tools, it will be difficult to find something better or more practical than the Zoom PodTrak P4 portable podcast recorder.
With the P4, Zoom (not to be confused with the meeting platform) offers an excellent bundle for portability and effective recording. The bundle includes the PodTrak P4 and two ZDM-1 microphones with portable stands, cables, and two headphones.
Let’s explore its features in more detail.
The Zoom PodTrak P4 Portable Podcast Recorder
The P4 is so full of features that you are not going to miss the studio. What stands out the most is that it’s compact, affordable, flexible, and captures professional-quality audio wherever you’re recording your podcasts.
It Comes With All the Ins and Outs for up to 4 Guests
You can use one or up to four mics, depending on the number of guests you have on the podcast. The P4 provides four high-quality mic preamps with up to 70 dB of gain to deliver excellent sounding recordings.
Each channel comes equipped with phantom power to enable condenser microphones, and it can be turned on or off from a dedicated switch.
The Podtrak P4 also provides four dedicated headphone outputs, one per person. Each mic and headphone volume knob is numbered for easy visualization and access.
Features a Call-In Channel for Phones and Video Conferencing Platforms
A useful feature is to receive phone calls on the podcast by connecting a phone to the recorder. Everyone connected to the mixer will hear the caller, and the caller will listen to everyone. At the same time, the whole conversation is recorded for the podcast.
The call-in channel can be selected in channel 3 by the flip of a switch, and it has a dedicated volume knob to control the call-in volume.
The phone can be connected using a TRRS cable or wirelessly via Bluetooth. For Bluetooth connectivity, it requires the Zoom BTA-2 adapter, sold separately.
Do you need to add a second caller from Zoom Meetings, Skype, Google Meet, or Microsoft Teams? No problem, you can connect your computer via USB to channel 4 by switching it to USB mode and control the volume of the incoming call. This feature will enable you to record any guests straight from your computer.
To automatically prevent echo and feedback from the caller’s phone, the PodTrak P4 uses a Mix-Minus function. It means that the audio fed back to the phone includes the mix from all the channels minus the phone’s incoming audio. That way, the caller can listen to the conversation without echoing his voice, reducing the system’s feedback.
Produce Your Podcast Like a Pro With the Assignable Sound Pads
The P4 allows you to use 4 pads for assigning sound effects to add originality to your podcast.
Assign up to 4 sounds from the 11 preloaded sound effects that include applause, laughter, and more, or you can easily change them or add your own by transferring the files from your computer.
It Serves as a USB Audio Interface for iOS, Android, and Windows
Turn the Zoom PodTrak P4 into an audio interface. It provides a 2-input, 2-output configuration when functioning as an interface while connected to a computer.
You can use it for recording or live to stream, allowing you to use the mixer on platforms like Twitch, Youtube, Etc.
Portable – Battery Powered
It has almost all of what you’ll need in a small form factor. It works with a power adapter (not included) or 2 x AA batteries, making it extremely adaptable.
On 2 AA batteries, the P4 operates up to 4 hours. You can extend the recording time by using a USB battery pack.
The Zoom ZDM-1 Microphone and Headphone Pack.
The ZDM-1 microphone pack is ideal for podcasting delivering studio-like sound without breaking the bank. It comes with everything you need to build your mobile podcasting studio.
The box includes one ZDM-1 dynamic mic, one ZHP-1 closed-back headphones, a ZTPS-4 tabletop tripod mic stand, a windscreen, and a 10ft (3m) cable.
Excellent Quality Mic Designed for Podcasting in Mind
The large-diaphragm dynamic mic captures smooth vocals with balanced tones, perfect for podcasting. Dynamic microphones are used in podcasting studios worldwide.
The ZDM-1 was designed by Zoom to be used for podcast and broadcast applications. Dynamic mics are more forgiving than condensers because their membrane is less sensitive, picking up less ambient noise, especially if recording in the outdoors or noisy environments.
Accurate Monitoring Headphones
With the ZHP-1 closed-back headphones, you can monitor everything that’s being recorded in the podcast, and each guest can hear everything in detail.
Besides delivering excellent sound, these headphones can help isolate external noise because they fit over the ear.
Their 40mm neodymium drivers provide a wide frequency range and superior sound accuracy.
The padded earpads and headband are very comfortable to wear even during a prolonged time.
The Mic Pack Includes All the Accessories you Need for Mobile Podcasting
The last thing you want in a mobile podcasting setup is to carry heavy and oversized microphone stands. With the ZDM-1 pack, you are covered! It comes with one ZTPS-4 tabletop tripod mic stand that lets you turn any surface into a podcast studio.
They are durable, lightweight, and are so small that you can pack several of them in one compartment of your backpack.
The pack also includes a windscreen perfectly designed for the mic to help reduce plosive sounds and unwanted sibilance from vocals.
The included 10ft (3m) XLR cable can be connected to the PodTrak P4 or any other audio mixer, for that matter.
Features You Want For Your Mobile Podcasting Kit
What do you bring along when you’re on your way to podcast out-of-studio? There are a few things you’ll need to remember. What are those, you ask?
- Keep it lightweight
- Keep it consistent with your editing and publishing workflow
- Think about power concerns
- Make a checklist
- Test your setup at home before you go out
Of course, being mobile, you’ll want to keep it lightweight. A backpack, duffle bag, or light hardshell case will be the best. Considering your gear can be quite expensive, you’ll want to keep it in a safe environment.
Using gear that is consistent with your sound quality, editing, and publishing workflow is absolutely necessary for you and your audience. It is something you want to keep in mind when choosing your mobile setup.
You should always try to deliver consistent audio quality. But being mobile once in a while, your audience will likely forgive any slight inconsistencies.
By the way, what gear do you have, and what do you need to bring? A checklist can help.
Make a Checklist and Check It Twice
It’s essential to make a list and write it down. That’s opposed to making a list and keeping it in your head. You want to be prepared every time you walk out the door with the purpose of portable recording.
There’s nothing as frustrating if you’re about to start your podcast or you’re setting up and notice a major component missing. You thought it was there, but lo and behold, it’s missing when you need it most.
A sample setup might look like this:
- Bag, backpack, or case
- Durable microphones (maybe even a backup)
- Portable mic stands
- Windscreen or wind foam
- Interface, recorder, smartphone, or tablet
- Earbuds or Headphones
- cables
- Batteries
- Webcam (optional)
- Adapters
This checklist is neither exhaustive nor universal. Every use case is different, so some things will need to come and go as needed. There are instances in which you might want to record your podcast using your phone.
By and large, you’ll need things that perform these functions at the very least.
No matter what your checklist looks like, you’ll want to test your gear. Do a “sample podcast,” and just don’t publish it.
Your Portable Podcast Setup
When setting up a mobile podcast studio, don’t forget about delivering consistent audio to your listener. You also want to make sure all your gear is easy to use and small enough to fit in a backpack. Remember to make a checklist and test everything ahead of time before you leave.
It’s a great idea to try out mobile podcast recording for authenticity and to engage more with your audience. These tips help you to do that with more confidence and assure you haven’t left anything behind.
If, after reading this post, you think that this setup for mobile podcasting has too much gear to carry around, read our article on how to record a podcast using your iPhone. There you’ll find a more straightforward podcast recording technique using your phone.
Are you ready to take your gear and your podcast to the next level? Virtuoso Central is here to help you out where you need it. Our articles are designed to inform you about podcasting and hardware.