How much does it cost to produce a podcast? The answer isn’t a simple one, because there are many factors to consider, but this is one of the most common questions we get asked. We’re breaking down some fixed and variable costs that you should consider when choosing your podcast adventure. All prices in CAD!

Fixed costs

Here’s what you will definitely need to record a podcast.

A space to record and something to record with.

If you want to record at home, and your home is quiet, you can use a USB microphone—an infamous example is the Blue Yeti, which clocks in around $150. Things to know about USB microphones: you should record yourself (and yourself only!). This option is best for one speaker, like doing voice overs or interviewing someone remotely.

A USB microphone comes with some drawbacks as well. Because you have to be physically connected to a computer, you’re limited in what you can do. You can’t record two different people at the same time, at the same computer. If you’re going to be recording two speakers, you will need two mics. (Two people speaking into one mic introduces a lot of problems later on when you go to edit the audio. Trust us.)

If you do want to record two people at once, you’d need an interface with two different inputs and two different microphones. The interface alone will run you anywhere from $200 to $600. By the way, if your house or apartment is not suitable for recording because it’s loud and cannot be fixed with soundproofing measures like blanket forts or closet recording sessions, you may need to rent a studio space. They range from $150 to $300 per hour, depending on the hourly minimum and COVID regulations.

What kind of microphone should I get?

Well, what kinds of interviews will you be conducting? If you expect to travel with your gear, you may want to consider easily transportable field gear that doesn't need to be plugged into your laptop (also, how are you going to do streeters while holding a mic and laptop!? I’m not saying it’s impossible, but it would be challenging).

If you need to be able to travel to people's homes you need a field recorder, like a Zoom, which allows you to record two or more at the same time, depending on the number of XLR inputs. Lucky you, we have a breakdown of each Zoom recorder here. One huge bonus of investing in a field recorder is that you can also use it for at-home recording.

Here are other things you need in your basic podcasting kit:

A microphone, like the Shure Vocal Dynamic SM58 ($130 new)
XLR cables ($15 to $20 each, and you probably need at least two plus one spare)
SD card ($20 to $50, depending on the capacity)
Batteries ($15 to $25)
Windsock and pop filter ($10 to $20)

You should also consider subscription-based tools that will allow you to record remotely, edit audio powerfully, and create promotional assets.

Remote Recording

If you’re doing a remote interview over Zoom (which allows multi-track recording), you’ll probably want to have a paid Zoom plan where meetings can go longer than the 40 minute basic plan. Cleanfeed, Zencastr, and Riverside are other options. Look them up to see their plans and what will fit your needs!

Zoom ($200 to $320/year)
Cleanfeed ($27 to $42/month)
Zencastr ($25/month)
Riverside ($9 to $30/month)

Research & Production

Audio editing software (i.e. Adobe Audition subscription - $25/month)
Music library licensing (i.e. Blue Dot subscription - $50/month)
Transcription services (i.e. Descript subscription - $15/month)
Subscription to various newspapers (i.e. the Globe and Mail $1.99/week for the first 24 weeks, the Toronto Star $0.99-$3.99/week, the New York Times $2.00/month for the first year, the Washington Post $39/year.)

Promotion & Distribution

Canva for graphic design and social media posts (i.e. Canva Pro subscription - $17/month)
Later for social media scheduling (i.e. Starter subscription - $18/month)
RSS feed (i.e. Simplecast subscription - $15/month)
Website hosting (~$100 per month)
An email address for your show ($20 per year)

Variable costs

These usually come down to people and their time. How long it takes to do something can cost as little as FREE if you do it yourself, to thousands of dollars to pay someone else to do it. An example of this is composing your own music for a podcast, versus hiring someone to do it for you.

If you plan to outsource production (the actual process of researching, drafting scripts, chasing guests, mixing, editing, mastering, publishing), social media management & graphic design (which includes making a show logo) - basically, anything that involves labour, these costs will all vary depending on the scope of work.

Okay, that was a lot of information and I was overwhelmed writing it out. If you want to pretend you didn’t read all that and just want someone to take care of everything for you, contact us.

Variable costs can fluctuate greatly depending on the style of podcast you want to make—a conversation style podcast versus an eight-episode narrative podcast will have different price tags. For the most accurate quote, book a call with us! Once we hear your idea, we can work together to make it a reality.

The Hidden Costs of Making a Podcast