Podcasts & Podcasting Gear

Elgato Wave Link 2.0 Provides AI-Enhanced Audio Control with Voice Focus, One-Click Routing, and Pro Effect

Elgato, formerly a brand of Elgato Systems, was a gaming company that, in the past, produced Thunderbolt devices. In 2018, when the brand was acquired by Corsair, the brand was renamed Elgato and since then has been producing a line of hardware including webcams, microphones, Stream Deck controllers, capture cards, lights, teleprompters, and capture devices. They have released the newest version of their audio management software, Elgato Wave Link 2.0. The new application introduces many improvements and features, chiefly Voice Focus and One-Click Audio Routing. Voice Focus Voice Focus, created with ai|coustics, offers state-of-the-art vocal improvements for Elgato Wave microphone…


Shure SM4 Home Recording Microphone Captures Pop-Free Audio with Clarity

Shure microphones are among the best you can buy. Trusted by experts, they are well-constructed, offer a range of features, and do an excellent job of capturing audio so your recordings sound great. The new Shure SM4 Home Recording Microphone is a large-diaphragm condenser microphone designed for at-home and studio recording, whether you are capturing vocals or instruments. If you record podcasts, videos, your latest jam session, or spend a lot of time on video calls, you need to check it out!


Cherry Xtrfy Ngale X Microphone and Boom Arm Review: Excellent Sound in a Familiar Form Factor

In early 2023, the German company Cherry joined forces with Swedish brand Xtrfy to become Cherry Xtrfy and now offers a varied line of products, including gaming mice, keyboards, headsets, and, most recently, microphones. The Cherry Xtrfy Ngale X microphone ($189.00) represents the top of the line, which also includes the Ngale R Microphone ($119.00) as well as the UM series, which includes the UM 9.0 Pro RGB ($149.99), the UM 6.0 Advanced ($109.99) and the UM 3.0 ($79.99).


SteelSeries Alias Pro XLR Mic Review: Two Excellent Products in One

SteelSeries has earned a reputation for its high-quality gaming headsets and has now entered the gaming microphone market with two versions of its new Alias microphone. I am testing the SteelSeries Alias Pro, an XLR microphone, and the Stream Mixer interface in this review. A sister product, the SteelSeries Alias, is a USB microphone with an integrated interface.



AKG Ara Microphone Review: Easy to Use, and It Sounds Great

Cameras and microphones have become part of daily life for many of us during the pandemic. While most external video cameras have built-in microphones, they’re usually only slightly better than using the microphone integrated into a laptop. Unfortunately, the best external microphones are often rather complicated to use. However, the AKG Ara microphone is an excellent dual pattern USB mic, and it’s easy to use.


Shure MV7X Podcast and MV88+ Stereo USB Microphones: Perfect for Content Creators

Shure makes some of the best microphones on the market, and their portfolio just got a bit bigger. They’ve just introduced two new microphones, the Shure MV7X Podcast Microphone and the Shure MV88+ Stereo USB Microphone. Each serves a different kind of creative and, if past experience with Shure microphones holds as I expect it will, both will be awesome.




Spotify Stream On Event Shares What’s Next for Spotify with Exciting Podcast Updates

Spotify has become the go-to music and podcast streaming service for many with good reason. Breaking the traditional recording industry model and making the release of new material more accessible and monetizable for musicians and content creators, the service has made it possible for unknown talent to break out and for established talent to get their material out to even more listeners. Whether you use Spotify Free or Spotify Premium, you’ll be interested in today’s Spotify Stream On event.




It’s International Podcast Day — Here Are Some Products to Get Your Show Started

2020 has given us a lot of time to reflect, complete goals, and even find new things to do with our time. One growing trend has creatives starting podcasts. September 30th is International Podcast Day, and there’s never been a better time to get started. No matter what platform you decide to publish your show on, all podcasts have to start with the proper equipment, and I think these are some that are worth checking out.




A Review of MXL’s AC-404 LED USB Microphone

As a podcaster, I’m typically of a simple mindset — Absolutely no USB Microphones. They are a hindrance when recording as well as editing, picking up every single noise possible. But MXL’s AC-404 USB Conference Microphone actually surprised me; here are my thoughts.


Become a Podcasting Hero with the MXL APS Podcasting Bundle

For the past few years, I’ve been trying to increase Gear Diary’s presence on YouTube. Sure, we are approaching nine million lifetime views but that’s not enough. But do make a decent video requires a good microphone. I’ve tried a few, but MXL Podcasting APS Bundle promises to make it even easier.


Blue Blackout Spark SL Condenser Microphone Review

Being a podcaster, I’ve learned that a good microphone is hard to find. You can search any group, any forum, and someone will suggest the Blue Yeti Mic as a starter microphone. But what if I told you that while USB microphones are great, Blue Microphones offers better microphones that are more versatile, that will grow with you over time?


Blue Ember XLR Microphone: Making Podcasting Easier

Alright, let just get this out of the way now: If you’ve ever attempted to podcast using a USB Microphone, it’s not the greatest experience you will have. Sure, a USB microphone may be most convenient, but with the Blue Ember XLR Microphone, you can have complete control as you record your audio.


Using Zoom’s H6 As an Audio Interface for Podcasting

Let me just begin by saying this: Without the Zoom H6, my podcast experience has been less than mediocre. I’ve recorded using a USB Mic for the better part of year to record my show, but Zoom’s H6 has been a delight to use, and going forward it’s the only way I’ll record my show.


The Theranos Story Unfolds Further in ABC’s New Podcast “The Dropout”

I am utterly and completely fascinated by the saga of Theranos. The story is so insane it’s hard to believe it is true, and every new bit of information makes you wonder all over again how it all unfolded. Now ABC has waded into the discussion with a podcast expanding on their research on Theranos for an episode of Nightline!