1Shure MV7+ podcast microphone
A good mic is the biggest upgrade a podcaster can make, and the MV7+ is built for speech. It plugs into a laptop by USB-C or into an interface by XLR, and its voice isolation and real-time denoiser cut out room noise. A tap on the LED panel mutes it.
Pros
- Rich, clear voice.
- USB-C and XLR.
- Cuts background noise.
Cons
- Needs a stand or arm, sold separately.
View on Amazon UK↗UK listing only in this guide.Amazon price at the time shown. Prices and availability can change; the price on Amazon at purchase applies. Product sources
Shure product page ↗
2Rode PSA1+ boom arm
A boom arm puts the mic in the right spot and swings it away after recording. Rode's PSA1+ moves silently, so it won't creak on the recording, and it rotates all the way round. It clamps to a desk and tidies USB or XLR cables inside.
Pros
- Silent movement.
- Full 360 rotation.
- Hides the cables.
Cons
- Needs a desk edge to clamp to.
View on Amazon UK↗UK listing only in this guide.Amazon price at the time shown. Prices and availability can change; the price on Amazon at purchase applies. Product sources
Rode product page ↗
3Shure SRH440A headphones
Podcasters need to hear exactly what's going into the mic while recording and editing. Shure's SRH440A are studio headphones made for podcasting, home recording and editing, with detailed sound that makes mistakes easy to spot. They pair nicely with the MV7+.
Pros
- Made for podcasting and editing.
- Detailed, accurate sound.
- From a trusted audio brand.
View on Amazon UK↗UK listing only in this guide.Amazon price at the time shown. Prices and availability can change; the price on Amazon at purchase applies. Product sources
Shure product page ↗
4Focusrite Scarlett Solo (4th gen)
When podcasters move to an XLR mic, they need an audio interface, and the Scarlett Solo is the one most people start with. It has one quality mic preamp, a guitar input and Air mode for a brighter voice, and it comes with recording software.
Pros
- Clean mic preamp.
- Simple to set up.
- Software included.
Cons
- Only one mic input, so a co-host needs a bigger model.
View on Amazon UK↗UK listing only in this guide.Amazon price at the time shown. Prices and availability can change; the price on Amazon at purchase applies. Product sources
Focusrite product page ↗
5Elgato Stream Deck
The Stream Deck puts 15 customisable buttons on the desk, each with its own little screen. Podcasters set them to start recording, mute the mic, play intro music or open their editing software in one press. It's the gadget they didn't know they needed.
Pros
- One-press control of their setup.
- Each key has its own screen.
- Works with lots of apps.
Cons
- Takes a bit of time to set up.
View on Amazon UK↗UK listing only in this guide.Amazon price at the time shown. Prices and availability can change; the price on Amazon at purchase applies. Product sources
Elgato product page ↗
What to buy someone who loves podcasting
Podcasters care about sound, so audio kit from trusted brands makes the best gift. The best gifts for podcasters improve their mic, monitoring or workflow. Check whether they use a USB or XLR mic before buying an interface. Headphones and a boom arm suit almost any setup.
How we picked these gifts for podcasters
We picked each product for what podcasters enjoy and because it makes sense as a present. The order is our own choice. The pros and cons come from published product details, not customer reviews.
Amazon shows the current price and delivery. Where we've checked that the US listing is the same product, the US link goes there. Otherwise you'll get the UK listing, labelled as such. More about our research.
