Choosing the best mixer for a podcast production varies according to the need of the user such as how many people are involved, and how many people are involved, and much more. This article includes recommendations for solo and multiple users. You can find a variety of USB mixer choices here. You should always keep in mind one very important thing while you are choosing an audio mixer that you'll need one XLR input for each person in the room or studio. You may think that you don’t need it because you are doing it solo but what if you ever want to include a guest live, you'll need an extra input and XLR mic for them. Because of that, I'd really look for a mixer that has more input than you think you'll need.
Things we need to know for buying a mixer:
Now that you've decided to buy a podcast mixer, here comes the tricky part. The range of mixers on the market is staggering, and the choice isn't made easy by the ridiculous number of features and specs listed for each one. The mixers are designed by keeping in mind audio engineers, and those people know a lot about the technical details. Therefore, those who sell mixers cover the technical specifications all over their website. As a podcaster, you need to consider these 3 things to ensure a smooth podcast mixing:
- Number of channels
- Control types
- FX Send
I'm only going to include mixers that include a USB connection, so you don't have to worry about how to connect them to your desktop computer or additional devices to get your recordings on your podcasting laptop is required. USB audio interfaces are also popular ways to record on your desktop but you will not have the same control over EQ, gain, and level, etc. Following are the best choices available for USB mixers for podcasting.
1.Behringer Xenyx Q502USB:
The Behringer Xenyx Q502USB is a great option if you are on a budget and are looking for USB mixers for solo recording. But (and this is a big but) it only supports 15V phantom power, not 48V phantom power, which requires multiple mics. This strictly limits your options of an upgrade if you want to continue using this mixer in the future. The Behringer Xenyx Q802USB provides you with input and output via USB, 3-band EQ for the first 2 channels, and a compressor and also includes 2 XLR inputs. It's still a budget model, but a bit above the single XLR option. You should look for Q1202USB as it has a low price range but you do get more inputs and options.
2. Yamaha AG03:
The Yamaha AG03 and Yamaha AG06 are the mixers for single and 2-person podcasting, live streaming, and gaming, which make them good for creating podcast intro and outro. They are a step up from the Xenyx line above. They include an easy-to-use “loopback” feature for adding computer audio to your mix. You also get headphone jacks of almost 1/4″ and 1/8″. Compression and EQ is a single button and is preset to a standard sound setting, though you can change those settings on the computer. You should look for this option as it is good for your use.
3. Rode Rodecaster Pro:
The new Rodecaster Pro is an impressive mixer that includes Bluetooth for phone calls, a sound pad for integrating pre-recorded sounds, automatic compression, among many other awesome features. This provides you with 4 inputs for headphones, 4 inputs of XLR, faders, 8 sound pads, a built-in microSD card slot, and much more. I recommend that you look at the Rodecaster Pro review, which covers all.
4. Yamaha MG10XU:
The Yamaha MG10XU uses knobs instead of faders, which some people can see as a disadvantage or downside. If you jump up to a Yamaha MG12XU with 6 XLR inputs, they fade you away, but with better components, the price goes up too. Otherwise, these include quality preamps and are an excellent alternative to USB mixers. A great alternative to Mixer if you want to record spoken audio and instruments. You should look out for variations in the options of this gadget as it also comes in a version that lacks the built-in effects of a USB.
5. Mackie PROFX8 V2:
The Mackie ProFX8v2 gives you both recording and live performances perfectly. You will get 4 XLR inputs in this gadget along with 3-band EQ, panning and compression controls, AUX/FX, and faders. It comes with a push-button of 100Hz with a low-cut filter. Each channel gets faders of 60mm so you can easily adjust levels. Another awesome feature is the ability to switch between line-level and hi-Z for the first channel. Hi-Z stands for hi-impedance and allows you to plug a guitar or bass into a mixer without needing to go straight to the box. This is the best podcast audio mixer under $200 and I would recommend it to most people if I could.
