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Multiple Kinds Of Podcasting
Not all podcasts are alike. One of the most prominent, if not the most prominent, is The Joe Rogan Experience. This podcast incorporates multiple camera angles, staff running computers in the background for fact-checking purposes, and individuals who will throw videos on a screen to be viewed by guests, Joe, and the audience.
The podcast uses professional microphone equipment and takes place in a room which has neutral sound through specific design—echoes aren’t ever a problem on JRE. They’ve got headphones, tables, employees, lighting, cameras, microphones, keyboards, and computers—in short, they’ve got it all.
At a minimum, the equipment costs for that podcast alone are going to be in the $15k range, at a qualitative level, and since for Joe, price is no object, you can expect he’s probably spent $30k+ on that aspect of his output alone. Most podcasters aren’t going to be operating from that sort of budget.
On the other end of the spectrum, people use tape recorders with computer jacks to capture conversations in public places, transfer them to computers, then upload them to free podcasting sites; from there, advertising via social media. In short, what laptop you need will depend on what you’re doing. Here, we’ll cover average qualifications.
The Middle Of The Road Defines Podcast Laptops
Even for high-end podcasts, you’re not really going to need a high-end machine. Free video editing programs like iMovie can edit most podcasts. It’s just a matter of lining up multiple camera angles, cutting between them, and adding in relevant music files or internet videos. The most basic device will do for most video and audio processing at that level.
However, that’s not the case in all areas. A cheap web portal like Google’s Chrome series can be had for between $250 and $1k, or thereabouts. The same is true of Dell, Lenovo, HP, Windows, and other laptop developers. Most models tend to come in a range.
For podcasting specifically, the general expense for requisite quality will vary between $500 and $700. There are a lot of resources out there to help you explore specific devices around this middle range; this site identifies the best laptop for podcasting at around $603 on Amazon.com.
Budgetary Considerations
That being said, if you’re having trouble buying a new laptop owing to budget, you can get one of the same quality at a reduced price if you buy an older next-gen device. Essentially, every year new computers are put out there, and the refinement process as far as technology is concerned proceeds in a relatively continuous fashion.
This means a device three or four years old may be under “average” device costs for the market if you buy it refurbished. It may deliver more than costlier options even so. Certain computers that were $2k when they were brand new will function just as well as brand new computers that are four years younger but sold in the $500 range when launched.
The issue with used devices comes down to unknown problems in operation. Sometimes sellers made a mistake that undermined either hardware or software integrity. Shops selling used devices can generally fix such problems, but not always, so it’s easy to imagine a situation where a less-then-new computer ends up glitching out, and you have to buy again.
Ease Of Use
Beyond the sort of podcast you’re running and the kind of budget you’ve got to work with, it’s wise to consider the learning curve for laptop operation. Just because a device runs on Windows OS doesn’t mean it’s precisely like the previous Windows device you purchased.
For example, if you’re doing a lot of typing, look at the laptop’s keyboard before you buy—some designs put “arrow” and “enter” keys too near one another on the righthand side, and it will take you three times as long to type something basic because your pinky doesn’t know any better.
So the final consideration on a good podcasting laptop is how easy it is to use while you’re running the podcast. You won’t want to be chasing bugs or incidental mistakes when you’re trying to produce content.
Making The Best Choice
The three primary factors influencing the laptop you choose will be how easy it is to use, your budget, and the sort of podcast you’re doing.
Definitely, use websites offering resources to get a more in-depth look at what hardware and software features are best for what you intend. Generally, basic video and audio processing capability that’s affordable and easy to use will define reliable podcasting machines.
