How To Start A Podcast In India: Equipment, Cost & Setup Guide

How to Start a Podcast in India: Equipment, Cost & Setup

SUMMARY

Introduction:

Podcasting is an enjoyable and approachable way to share your ideas or knowledge with a large audience. A podcast is an audio program, similar to the talk shows in radio, where you can tune in at a specific time. However, podcasts are on-demand. Hosts cover a bit of everything, from life hacks to travel and tech.

The episodes run 10 to 60 minutes and are released on a schedule, such as every Saturday. Podcasts can be in any language, so they appeal to a wide range of groups. They can be accessed on apps such as Spotify or YouTube, and are generally free of charge. In this article, we will discuss how to start a podcast in India with the equipment and setup costs.

Why Start a Podcast in India?

India is the world’s third-largest market for podcasts by consumption, fueled by affordable smartphones and a massive population. Hosting a podcast here will allow you to reach that ever-growing audience with stories or conversations about local issues such as education and health. It’s also a chance to express yourself creatively without needing a big team or a government license.

Many Indian podcasters have turned their shows into income sources through sponsorships from brands. There is a huge gap in the market for regional content. The demand for content in Hindi, Tamil and other languages is huge, while there are plenty of English-language podcasts. Podcasts build a level of trust that just can’t be faked in a social media post.

Planning Your Podcast

Creating a great podcast requires a good plan. Start by choosing a theme or category that appeals to you, such as food recipes, gym tips, or movie reviews. Figure out what your audience wants to hear by looking at shows like yours. Pick your podcast format: solo, co-hosted or guest interviews.

Choose a name that is catchy and memorable. Create a plan for your first few episodes with bullet points, questions, or segments. Consider your target audience and create content. The planning helps you keep things neat and consistent, which are important when trying to grow your show.

Costs Involved in Starting a Podcast

Category	Beginner (Budget)	Professional (Studio)
Microphone	Rs 2,500 – Rs 5,000	Rs 35,000 – Rs 50,000+
Headphones	Rs 1,000 – Rs 2,500	Rs 10,000 – Rs 25,000
Audio Interface	Not needed (USB Mic)	Rs 25,000 – Rs 60,000
Recording Software	Free (Audacity, GarageBand)	Rs 3,000+/mo (Adobe Audition, Descript Pro)
Podcast Hosting	Free (Spotify for Podcasters, Hubhopper)	Rs 2,500+/mo (Captivate, Transistor)
Accessories	Included in mic kit	Rs 10,000+ (High-end stands, XLR cables)
Total Initial Cost	Rs 3,500 – Rs 7,500	Rs 1,00,000 – Rs 2,50,000+

Essential Equipment to Start a Podcast

A USB microphone is essential for clear audio. You just plug them straight into your computer or phone. Opt for dynamic microphones if your space is loud, as it does not capture room noise easily.
Over-ear or on-ear headphone styles are useful for checking sound quality during recording; seek out comfortable ones. Even ordinary wired earbuds can sound good.
Pop Filter, a tiny, circular mesh that attaches in front of your mic to minimise popping sounds from breaths or words with “p” or “b.”
A stand will be able to retain the mic in place and at your desired angle and height; It ranges from Rs 500.
You can use what you have at hand to record; you don’t need fancy technology or laptops, unless you are doing something with a complicated edit.

Editing and recording software

Audacity: An open-source tool that’s free for recording and editing. It’s an excellent combination for beginners to cut clips, insert cool effects and export files to any computer.
GarageBand: Free with Apple devices, user-friendly interface for recording tracks, adding music and basic edits. It comes with some built-in effects.
Spotify for Podcasters: Free mobile app to record, edit, and even host podcasts with zero technical headaches. Good for short episodes, it also has music libraries.
Adobe Audition: A professional software that has more advanced features, such as noise reduction; available on subscription and will cost approximately Rs 1,000-2,000 per month.
Dolby On: Free app for smartphones. It lets you record high-quality audio and includes basic editing tools like reverb reduction.

Setting Up Your Recording Space

The single greatest enemy of a podcaster is noise. You’re not required to have a professional studio to record in, but you need a quiet room, free from disturbance. You can hang up blankets or curtains on walls to soak up echoes. This is a hack that many podcasters use to increase the quality of their sound.

Stay 4-6 inches away from the mic. If you sit too close in front of your mic, it sounds muffled, and if you slouch too far away, it’s as if you are whispering. Put your mic on a table with cushions below to prevent vibration. Use good lighting for video. Once you’re sure your setup is working, record a quick snippet and check for issues.

Step-by-Step Setup Guide

Download and install the software, or just download Audacity. Plug your mic in and select it to use in settings.
Test Recording: speak into the mic, play back and adjust the volume. Fix any issues like static.
Record episodes; include intro and outro before and after main content every time. Beginners should try to keep the episode between the 20–40-minute range.
Edit the Audio and then take out all unnecessary bits, cut pauses, add intro music, and normalise volume.
Export the file in MP3 format for easy sharing.
Sign up for a hosting service and upload your episode.
Submit your show to directories for wider reach.
Promote your launch on social platforms.
Release and gather feedback. This process can take a week if you’re prepared.

Hosting and Distribution

You can not just directly upload an audio in apps. You need a podcast host. Hosting is where you store your podcast files online so listeners can access them. Free platforms like Spotify handle this and even help with monetisation. Other options include Buzzsprout or Hubhopper, starting at 500 rupees monthly for unlimited episodes. Spotify is the most popular choice in India because it is 100% free and very easy to use.

For distribution, submit to popular apps in India like Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or Google Podcasts. Many hosts do this automatically. Track your listens through their dashboards. Buzzsprout is a paid service that provides detailed data on people listening to you. While Hubhopper is great for local distribution. It lets you reach apps like Ganna and Jiosaavan more easily.

Marketing Your Podcast

To grow listeners:

Social Media: Share clips on Instagram, Twitter (X), and YouTube. Use hashtags to make them reach a wider audience.
SEO: Use keywords in titles and descriptions for better search visibility.
Ads: Start free, then use small Ads targeting Indian users.
Consistency: The best marketing is showing up every week. People will eventually make your show a part of their routine.

Common Challenges

New podcasters often face noise issues; to fix this, you can record at night or use editing tools to clean it up. Don’t look at lower listeners at the start. Be patient and promote steadily. Practice and use templates, as editing can be time-consuming. Always back up your files to avoid tech glitches. Everyone starts off thinking their voice can’t possibly be right for a podcast (as phone voice sounds different to your normal speaking voice), but relax and you’ll soon get used to it.

Conclusion:

Launching a podcast in India is not difficult if you take the right approach. Plan your launch and marketing steps, concentrate on what makes you unique and keep things simple. Get started as a podcaster with inexpensive equipment and free software. The secret to retaining listeners is consistency and fun. In this article, we told you how to start a podcast in India by using free and affordable resources for setup.