Popular Science - USA (2019-10)

by Jason Lederman / photographs by Claire Benoist

STARTER KIT IN 2019 , 6 2 MILLION AMERICANS TUNED IN TO PODCASTS

weekly, a number that’s growing. You too can capture some of those ears. But no matter

how good your banter is, audiences won’t subscribe if your audio is full of static or your

voice echoes like you’re broadcasting from deep in a cavernous warehouse. No need to

build a professional-grade studio to get smooth sound—just grab these basics.

POD IN

FULL

4

Soundproofing

Echoes can ruin a re-

cording. The Monoprice

Microphone Isolation

Shield sits on your desk

and surrounds your mic

with textured foam that

absorbs sound before it

can become unwanted

reverb. When it’s time to

pack up everything, the

padding folds to about

5.5 inches thick.

3

Headphones

Unlike most consumer

headphones, which add

bass to the playback,

Sony’s MDR-7506s accu-

rately convey whatever

you record. A detachable

quarter-inch adapter al-

lows them to connect to

both laptops and profes-

sional mixing boards, so

you won’t need to buy a

new set if you upgrade.

2

Pop filter

Consonant sounds like

buh and puh can cre-

ate bursts of air called

plosives that really

boom into listeners’

ears. Neewer’s 6-inch

studio pop filter—two

layers of fabric inside

plastic hoops—stands

between your mouth and

mic, dispersing air while

saving your sound.

1

Microphone

A knob on the back of

Blue’s Yeti USB mic

adjusts the sensitivity

of the device’s internal

sensors to let you pick

one of four recording

patterns. Cardioid

focuses on one person,

while bidirectional, ste-

reo, and omni directional

accommodate people

anywhere nearby.

12

34

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34 WINTER 2019 • POPSCI.COM