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Podcast Production UK

Equipment by budget, microphones, recording software, remote recording, hosting, and distribution — the complete UK podcast production guide for journalists.

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Starting a journalism podcast in the UK

Journalism podcasting has grown significantly in the UK since 2018. Outlets from the Guardian and BBC to small independent investigative operations now produce regular podcast content. For journalists, the podcast is an extension of broadcast skills — writing for the ear, clear narration, strong interviews — with additional requirements around production, editing, and distribution.

The barrier to entry is lower than traditional broadcasting: you do not need a transmitter licence or studio access. But listener expectations for audio quality are high — poor audio is the most common reason listeners abandon podcasts after the first episode. Good equipment and good recording technique are essential.

This guide focuses on practical equipment choices, software, remote recording platforms, and UK-specific hosting and distribution options for journalism podcasters.

Equipment by budget

Entry level (£100–£250)

  • Zoom H1n portable recorder (built-in mic, records to SD card, USB interface) — around £90
  • Shure MV7 USB/XLR dynamic mic — around £220
  • Rode PodMic (XLR) + Focusrite Scarlett Solo interface — around £210 combined
  • Closed-back headphones: Sony MDR-7506 — around £80

Professional (£400–£800)

  • Zoom H5 or H6 recorder (interchangeable capsules, XLR inputs, field recording) — around £180–£280
  • Shure SM7B dynamic broadcast mic (the industry standard for spoken-word audio) — around £350
  • Rode NT1 condenser mic (very low noise, ideal for treated rooms) — around £170
  • Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 interface (two XLR inputs for guest) — around £160
  • Acoustic foam panels or a microphone isolation shield — around £30–80

Studio (£800+)

  • Electro-Voice RE20 (broadcast standard, used in many BBC and US radio studios) — around £380
  • Universal Audio Volt or Apollo Twin interface — around £200–800
  • Acoustic treatment (panels, bass traps) for a dedicated recording space
  • Professional headphone amp for multi-guest in-person recording (e.g. Behringer HA400)

Recording and editing software

Hindenburg Pro

The industry-standard podcast and radio editing software. Designed for spoken-word audio with automatic level correction. Subscription: around £20/month.

Best for: journalists and radio producers

Adobe Audition

Professional multi-track audio editor. Part of Creative Cloud. Powerful but more complex than Hindenburg. Subscription: included in Creative Cloud.

Best for: complex productions, noise reduction

Descript

Transcript-based audio and video editor — you edit the audio by editing the text. Excellent for podcast interviews. Subscription from around £12/month.

Best for: interview-heavy podcasts, speed of editing

Audacity

Free, open-source audio editor. Functional but dated interface. Good starting point but lacks the professional workflow of Hindenburg or Descript.

Best for: zero-budget entry level

Red flags in podcast production

  • Recording in an untreated room with hard surfaces — reverb and echo are very difficult to remove in post.
  • Recording remote interviews over Zoom audio — always use Riverside or SquadCast for separate local tracks.
  • Not monitoring on headphones during recording — audio problems are often only detectable on headphones.
  • Publishing at the wrong loudness target — mix to –16 LUFS integrated and –1 dBTP true peak.
  • Inconsistent episode length — listeners develop expectations; vary by no more than 10–15 minutes from your norm.
  • Skipping show notes — show notes are important for discoverability and listener navigation.

Podcast production checklist

  • Microphone is positioned correctly (5–8 cm, at mouth level, on a shock mount).
  • Headphones are on and audio levels confirmed before recording begins.
  • Remote guest is using Riverside or SquadCast (not Zoom audio) for their local recording.
  • Room is as acoustically treated as possible (rugs, curtains, soft furnishings).
  • Recording software is capturing to the correct format (WAV, 44.1 kHz, 24-bit).
  • After editing: integrated loudness is at –16 LUFS and true peak is below –1 dBTP.
  • Episode has accurate show notes with timestamps, guest name/bio, and any relevant links.
  • Exported MP3 is at 128 kbps minimum (192 kbps for music-heavy content).
  • Episode is uploaded to hosting platform (Acast, Buzzsprout, etc.) with correct metadata.
  • Distribution to Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and other platforms is confirmed.

Plan your podcast episode

Use our pitch generator to structure your episode angle, identify contributors, and plan your episode structure before recording.

Open Pitch Generator

Common mistakes

  • Buying a condenser microphone before treating your recording space — condenser mics reveal every acoustic problem.
  • Recording everything and editing nothing — tight editing is what separates professional from amateur podcasts.
  • Not saving a raw, unedited backup of every session before editing.
  • Inconsistent audio quality between episodes — listeners notice; maintain consistent gain settings and room setup.
  • Neglecting show notes and metadata — these drive discoverability on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.
  • Launching without a back catalogue — release at least three episodes on launch day to give new listeners something to binge.

Related guides

Audio editing basics
Cuts, levels, EQ, compression, and LUFS standards.
News podcast formats
Daily news, narrative, panel, and interview-led formats.
Interview techniques for broadcast
Getting usable clips for your podcast interviews.
Freelance broadcasting UK
Monetising your podcast and building a freelance broadcast career.

Primary sources

Frequently asked questions

What is the best budget microphone for a journalism podcast?
For a first podcast microphone, the Shure MV7 (USB and XLR, around £220) is widely recommended: it has a broadcast-quality sound, built-in USB for direct computer connection, and a dynamic capsule that rejects background noise well. The Rode PodMic (XLR only, around £100) is an excellent lower-cost alternative. Both are dynamic microphones — more forgiving of untreated room acoustics than condenser microphones.
What is the difference between a dynamic and condenser microphone for podcasting?
Dynamic microphones (SM7B, MV7, PodMic, RE20) have a tighter pickup pattern and are less sensitive to background noise — making them more forgiving in untreated rooms and home offices. Condenser microphones (Rode NT1, AT2020) are more sensitive, capture more detail and nuance, but also pick up more room noise, air conditioning, and ambient sound. For podcasting in a typical home or office environment, dynamic microphones are generally the better choice until you have a properly treated recording space.
Which remote recording platform should I use for podcast interviews?
Riverside.fm and SquadCast are the two industry-standard remote recording platforms for professional podcasts. Both record locally on each participant’s computer and upload the files to the cloud — which means the recording quality is not dependent on internet connection speed during the call (unlike Zoom or Teams recordings). Riverside offers video recording and a browser-based editor; SquadCast integrates with Descript. Both have free tiers with limited recording time and paid plans from around £15/month.
What podcast hosting platform is best for UK journalism podcasts?
Acast is the largest UK-based podcast hosting platform and has strong distribution to Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and other platforms. It offers a free tier for basic hosting and paid plans with monetisation features. Buzzsprout is popular for ease of use and good analytics. Spotify for Podcasters (formerly Anchor) is free but ties you more closely to the Spotify ecosystem. For professional journalism podcasts, Acast or Buzzsprout are the most common choices — both are straightforward to use and distribute to all major platforms.
Do I need an audio interface to use an XLR microphone for podcasting?
Yes. XLR microphones require phantom power or pre-amplification that a standard computer cannot provide. You need an audio interface to connect an XLR microphone to a computer: the Focusrite Scarlett Solo (around £110) or the Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 (around £160 for two inputs) are the most widely recommended entry-level interfaces for podcast production. USB microphones (Shure MV7, Blue Yeti, Rode NT-USB Mini) connect directly to a computer without an interface.

Related guides

BroadcastAudio Editing BasicsRead →BroadcastNews Podcast FormatsRead →BroadcastInterview Techniques for BroadcastRead →FreelanceFreelance Broadcasting UKRead →EthicsOfcom Broadcasting Code OverviewRead →BlogMultimedia Journalism Skills in the UKRead →

Primary sources