The rise of online content led to the development of podcasting, the digital alternative to radio where anyone with a microphone and an idea could be an audio star. Even though the podcasting community has been thriving for years, it certainly had its moment in the fall of 2014 when WBEZ’s This American Life created a podcast spin-off called Serial. The series’ initial season dealt with the 1999 murder of a Marylandhigh school student and reached 5 million streams or downloads all over the world – hitting that mark quicker than any podcast in the history of iTunes. According to the Pew Research Center, the number of Americans who have listened to a podcast in the past month has nearly doubled since 2008, and Edison Research’s latest study of podcast consumers finds that one-third of all Americans have listened to at least one podcast. So what does this all mean? Well, there are podcasts out there on everything from the history of sushi to gardening and even podcasts about how to podcast. It’s an exciting time for audio professionals and there’s no better time than now to get started on your own podcasting dreams. There’s one piece of advice that all top podcasters get asked: What kind of gear do you use? And we’ve been lucky enough to be mentioned by some of the best in the business who rely on A-T gear to produce their shows. If you’re already a seasoned podcaster you probably know that it takes more than a great microphone to get the best sound – you also need a great pair of monitor headphones to help you fine-tune your sound. And trust us, your listeners will be able to hear the difference. Microphones For Podcasting If you’re starting a podcast, the first order of business is the front-end technology that will connect you to your listeners: your microphone. Without a high-quality mic to capture premium audio, your podcast may be over before it even begins. Here are two of our favorite models for podcasting: the AT2020USBi and the ATR2500-USB. AT2020USBi - Cardioid Condenser USB Microphone Combining high-resolution audio with increased connectivity options, the AT2020USBi cardioid condenser microphone adds a new level of sound quality and convenience to our USB microphone line. Modeled after the critically acclaimed AT2020, this digital output mic features an A/D converter with a 24-bit/96 kHz sampling rate to deliver high-resolution articulation and intelligibility. The AT2020USBi works with both USB and Lightning cables, so you can digitally capture audio on a PC, Mac or iOS device. The integrated gain control adds to the convenience, allowing you to adjust the input level directly on the microphone. ATR2500-USB - Cardioid Condenser USB Microphone The ATR2500-USB plugs right into your computer’s USB port, and functions seamlessly with your favorite recording software. This large-diaphragm side-address condenser offers a USB output for recording to your computer, a quality analog-to-digital converter for excellent fidelity, and a headphone output with level control for monitoring. Its cardioid polar pattern reduces pickup of unwanted sounds from the sides and rear. Studio Monitor Headphones for Podcasters Many podcasters rely on studio monitor headphones to round out their home studios for producing podcasts. Our two fan favorites are the ATH-M30x and ATH-M40x. ATH-M30x The ATH-M30x headphones combine modern engineering and high-quality materials to deliver a comfortable listening experience, with enhanced audio clarity and sound isolation. Tuned for highly detailed audio, with strong mid-range definition, these versatile headphones are designed primarily for tracking and mixing, and offer added features for increased portability. ATH-M40x The ATH-M40x are tuned flat for incredibly accurate audio monitoring across an extended frequency range, enhanced with superior sound isolation and swiveling earcups for convenient one-ear monitoring. Engineered with pro-grade materials and robust construction, the M40x are used not only in studio setups but are also loved for DJ monitoring. Once you set up your podcasting studio, be sure to share with us on social media using the tag #AudioTechnica or let us know in the comments below!