A podcast is a trendy way that allows a person or a brand to connect to countless people via conversational blogging. However, Podcasting is not as easy as it seems. Whether you are a rookie podcaster or a pro, if you aspire to be a podcaster, you will need some essential equipment to help you run an effective podcast smoothly. Basically, you are going to need a well-efficient laptop system as your podcasting partner. Picking the best laptop for podcasting is something that you should keep at your top priority as it will help you record, edit, and publish your podcast more effectively.
In this article, let’s find out some of the best budget laptops for podcasting that can complete your podcasting gear requirements in the most efficient way. Hopefully, this guide will offer you complete knowledge related to selecting the best laptop for podcasting.
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What to consider before buying a Laptop for Podcasting?
The selection of a laptop can be a tricky decision when it comes to your podcasting journey. As a rookie, you wouldn’t like to spend too much on a laptop, but you would still require a laptop that offers you high-end specifications for a better podcasting experience. It makes it necessary to find the best budget laptop for podcasting that can help you with all of your needs in the long run.
Make sure to keep these few factors in mind while selecting your podcasting partner:
RAM
A computer’s RAM defines its capacity to hold some data in its memory while processing it for further use. Considering this fact, you always need to make sure that you get a laptop with a higher RAM capacity. That way, it will be smoother to handle multiple audio tracks, plug-ins, and different editing software at a time. So being a podcaster, it will be much better for you if you go for a laptop with at least 8GB of RAM. If you are an aspiring podcaster, then your best decision will be to get a laptop with 16 GB of RAM for high-end performance for a long-time.
CPU
Being a computer’s brain, a CPU has to process all sorts of data, run all the calculations, and perform different tasks all the time. With a high-speed processing unit, it will be easier and quicker to run all of these tasks, which is why as a podcaster, it is essential to buy a laptop with a multi-core processor. A multi-core processor enhances your laptop’s computing capability and allows a podcaster to use high-end plug-ins and DAW.
Latency
The best selection of a laptop will be a laptop with a low level of latency. If latency is over 20 ms, then it will be noticeable to human ears. With a multi-core processor and higher RAM laptop, you will not have to worry about latency.
Internal Storage
A laptop with SSD storage causes less noise than HDD ones. So being a podcaster, make your best choice to go for a laptop with SSD storage. It will be beneficial for you with faster processing and a noise-free recording environment.
Operating system
Your choice of the operating system will totally depend on your preference. There is some software such as Logic Pro and GarageBand that work only on a MacBook. So, make sure to choose an operating system that is most comfortable for you to work with.
DAW requirements
DAW helps a podcaster to record, process, and edit audio tracks. Your selection of DAW software will always affect your choice of laptop. Whatever DAW you will choose as per your preferences, make sure to look at its minimum operating requirements with recommended requirements. If you keep a laptop that best meets your DAW requirements and can also handle any software upgrades with your DAW, you can always make the best results out of it in the long run.
Besides these requirements, as a podcaster, you must keep plug-in and upgrade/replacement requirements under consideration. While plug-ins help you enhance your Podcasting with additional use of musical instruments and sound effects and transitions, they also consume higher RAM capacity to run smoothly.
Also, you can try to upgrade your current laptop by replacing its RAM or storage units rather than investing in a new expensive laptop. It can save you a lot of money and also inexpensively fulfill your podcasting requirements.
Best Laptops for Podcasting
1. Apple MacBook Pro
With the Apple Macbook pro, you will get all the best things that make it stand apart from other models. You will find yourself enjoying the smooth performance of the macOS Sierra operating system while listening to podcasts.
If you are looking for a high-quality audio recording device, then the MacBook Pro with Retina display or Macbook Air will be the perfect option. However if you just need something that can run iTunes and record podcasts, there are many other laptops available in the market which would work perfectly fine as well. Let’s take a look at some of these devices:
Apple MacBook Pro With Retina Display – This is one of the most popular choices among podcasters because it has an excellent sound quality and comes loaded with all kinds of software tools required by any kind of podcast production. It also supports both USB 3.0
2. ASUS VivoBook
If you are searching for a budget laptop for podcasting, ASUS VivoBook can be the perfect choice for you. This laptop comes with 8GB of DDR4 RAM and also uses a combination of a 128GB SSD and 1TB HDD as an internal storage unit.
It runs Windows 10 Home OS and offers great features like dual speakers, HDMI port, Ethernet jack, etc. The battery life lasts up to 9 hours when used continuously.
3. Lenovo Ideapad
This Lenovo model is another good alternative to the Asus VivoBook F510 UA. Its design looks similar to the previously mentioned laptop but this time it comes with more powerful hardware components. It is powered by an Intel Core i5 processor along with 4 GB of DDR3 memory and a 500 GB hard drive.
This is a great laptop for podcasting. It has the following features:
- 8GB RAM, 1TB HDD, and Intel Core i5-7200U Processor
- Windows 10 Home 64-bit operating system with Office 2016 installed
- 1366 x 768 display resolution
- The Lenovo IdeaPad Y560p comes in two colors; black or silver.
4. Acer Aspire 5
This podcasting laptop offers 8GB of DDR4 RAM and 256GB of SSD internal storage. The 15.6-inch Full HD IPS display with a narrow bezel allows you to work for a long time without tiring your eyes. The laptop also features a vast range of connecting ports such as a USB 3.1 Type-C Gen-1 port, two USB 3.1 Gen-1 Ports, and another USB 2.0 port. It also includes an HDMI Port for excellent HDCP Support.
You can use this Acer laptop to create videos, edit photos, play games, watch movies, listen to music, read eBooks, and much more. It weighs about 6 pounds so you don’t have to worry about carrying around heavy loads. In addition, it provides enough power to handle multiple tasks simultaneously.
5. ASUS ZenBook
Another affordable laptop for podcasting is ASUS Zenbook. If you want to enjoy watching movies, playing video games, editing images, creating presentations, reading books, writing documents, surfing the internet, and even using social media apps, this laptop will do everything for you.
Driven by the 8th-Gen Intel Core i5 processor, ASUS ZenBook is a perfect podcasting laptop for beginners. With 8GB of DDR3 RAM and 256GB of SSD storage, this laptop can carry out multiple complex tasks without any disruption.
6. Dell XPS 15
The Dell XPS 15 is a great laptop for podcasting. It has an excellent screen, good speakers and it’s very lightweight. The only downside to this machine is that the battery life isn’t as long as some other laptops on our list. But if you’re looking for something with longer battery life then check out one of these options instead!
This laptop is perfectly suitable for Podcasting as well as video editing. It features a 9th-Gen Intel Core i7 processor and 16GB of RAM, and 1TB of SSD storage. With these features, this laptop makes it an elegant and speedy podcasting partner for podcasting aspirers.
7. HP Spectre x360
For those who want to invest more in their podcasting needs, HP’s latest model – HP Spectre x360 13tB and HP Spectre x360 offers great value for money. These laptops come loaded with powerful processors like the 6th-gen Intel Core i5 and i7 series along with NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 graphics card.
The HP Spectre x360 is a great laptop for podcasting. It has an excellent screen, good battery life and it’s very lightweight. The only downside to the device is that you can’t use your own headphones with it.
8. Lenovo ThinkPad
The Lenovo Thinkpad line is one of the most popular lines in business laptops. The ThinkPads are known for their reliability and durability, but they also have a reputation for being very expensive. However, if you’re looking to get into podcasting or video editing, then this laptop might be worth considering. It has an Intel Core i7-6500U processor with 8GB RAM and 1TB hard drive space. This model comes equipped with Windows 10 Pro 64bit OS. Dell Inspiron 15 7000 Series 2-in-1
For people looking for a high-performance notebook, Lenovo Thinkpad T460p is one of the most popular choices among them. Its sleek design and lightweight body allow users to enjoy working on it for hours together.
Podcasting is becoming increasingly popular nowadays due to various reasons including easy accessibility and availability of free content online. If you are planning to start your own podcast, make sure to choose a good laptop that suits your requirements. You may even consider buying a refurbished laptop from eBay or Amazon.
Most appealing podcasting software to choose from:
Here is a list of a few podcast editing software that can be most helpful for you to run your DAW:
Adobe Audition
Adobe Audition is one of the most popular music production tools used by many professional artists around the world. Adobe Audition has been designed specifically for creating podcasts and other media content. You can create amazing podcasts using this tool. In addition to recording, mixing, mastering, and publishing your podcasts, you can add various types of visual elements like images, videos, and text into your podcast episodes.
Audacity
Audacity is a free open source cross-platform app that lets users record their voice, edit sound files, mix sounds together, apply effects on recorded audio files, convert between different formats, etc. This application supports almost all major operating systems including Windows, Mac OSX, Linux, Android, and iOS.
GarageBand
Apple’s Garage Band is another great option if you want to do some basic podcasting work. The program allows you to import multiple songs at once so you don’t have to worry about manually adding each song separately. However, there’s no way to export your finished product directly to iTunes. Instead, you’ll need to use Apple’s own Audio Hijack Pro utility which converts MP3 files to AAC format before exporting them to iTunes.
Logic pro
If you are looking for an advanced solution then Logic Pro from Apple may be what you’re after. It offers more than enough features for any podcaster out there. With it, you will get access to over 100 instruments, thousands of loops, MIDI controllers, virtual synths, samplers, drum machines, sequencers, effect plug-ins, video editors, and much more.
Pro Tools
If you are serious about doing high-quality podcasting, then you should consider investing in a good software package such as ProTools. These programs offer powerful editing capabilities with lots of built-in plugins that allow you to manipulate your recordings easily. They also provide plenty of options when it comes to importing and exporting your final products. Some even come bundled with additional applications that make things easier for you.
A-List of Podcast Equipments for Beginners
- A laptop
- Mixer
- Headphones
- Microphone stand
- Acoustic treatments
- Podcast hosting provider
- An XLR or USB microphone
- Pop filter or windscreen
- Recording and editing software
FAQs
Here are a few recently asked queries on the best laptops for podcasting that most of the people are excited to know:
Are gaming laptops good for Podcasting?
- Gaming laptops are always equipped with high-end specifications and powerful hardware to handle heavy gaming needs. So we can make sure that gaming laptops can easily handle podcasting needs as well. Most of the gaming laptops are equipped with powerful processors and good RAM of 8GB to 16GB. These features make it convenient for you to play high-end games or edit your audio tracks for Podcasting. Also, you get several necessary ports that can come in handy for you to attach your podcasting equipment. So we can say that gaming laptops make them the best laptops for podcasting.
What laptop is best for Podcasting?
- The answer to this question depends on what you want from your podcast. If you are looking for a portable device that can record audio and video, then the MacBook Air or Macbook Pro would be perfect choices. However, if you need something with more power than the average notebook computer, then we recommend getting one of these laptops: Apple MacBook Pro, ASUS VivoBook, Lenovo Ideapad, Acer Aspire 5, ASUS ZenBook, Dell XPS 15, HP Spectre x360, and Lenovo ThinkPad.
How much RAM is needed for Podcasting?
- 8GB is sufficient for beginners; however, if you are a pro or aspirer, it will be better to go for 16GB to 32GB for using different podcasting instruments.
How much do I require to spend to start a podcast?
- You can start your podcast with a minimum amount of $1,000 to purchase the necessary podcasting gear and equipment.
Which mic is suitable for recording podcasts?
- The best microphones available today include Rode NTG4 shotgun mic, Blue Yeti, Shure SM7B dynamic cardioid condenser, Sennheiser EW100 omnidirectional capsule, AKG C414 omnidirectional capsule, etc.
Is it possible to record audio without headphones?
- Yes, you can. You need a microphone that is connected directly to your computer’s sound card or USB port and then plugs the mic into an external mixer. The best microphones for podcasting are condenser mics like Rode NT1A, Shure SM7B, Sennheiser EW100, etc. These have very high-quality sound but they also tend to be quite expensive so if you don’t want to spend too much money on them, consider getting something cheaper like this Blue Yeti which has been recommended by many podcasters as being good enough.
Why a quality laptop for podcasting can make a big difference?
The quality of sound recording depends upon many factors like microphones, audio interface, headphones, speakers, etc. If you are going to record podcasts, you must ensure that all these components are working properly. You might not be able to hear anything while listening to the recorded file but still this could affect your listeners’ experience. So, it is important to choose the right equipment for podcasting.