Russell Brand was one of the first Hollywood superstars to make the transition to podcasting.
And it’s turned out to be a great move for the smooth-talking Englishman.
Brand’s podcast Under the Skin has been a hit, attracting millions of listeners and downloads each month.
It’s become an outlet for Russell to wax lyrical about spirituality, science, politics, environmentalism, and self-development.
Under the Skin is a high-quality show that sounds as good as any of the world’s top podcasts.
However, he doesn’t have a super fancy studio like Joe Rogan and records most of the episodes in his home.
So… What podcast equipment does Russell Brand use to make Under the Skin sound so good?
Just show me the gear!
Don’t want to read a lengthy review about the podcast gear Russell Brand uses and just want to hurry up and buy it?
Well… here ya go, then.
- Microphone — Shure SM7B
- Microphone arm — Rode PSA1
- Headphones — Sony MDR 7506
- Headphones — BeyerDynamic DT-990 Pro
- Software — Adobe Audition
- Computer — Macbook Pro
What podcast microphone does Russell Brand use?
The microphone Russell Brand uses is the Shure SM7B.
The Shure SM7B is the gold standard for podcast microphones. It’s specifically designed for vocals and is used by the likes of Joe Rogan and Rich Roll.
The microphone sounds incredible and it looks pretty damn cool, too.
The only thing is it’s a naturally “quiet” microphone (this is necessary to produce the super clean recordings), so you’ll need to buy a Cloudlifter CL-1 or something similar to boost the signal.
If you don’t want to splash out on the full pro set-up, Shure recently released the MV-7, which is essentially the USB version of the SM7B. This is proving to be a great option for podcasters who want an affordable plug and play option with first-class sound quality.
Get the Shure SM7B microphone here
Get the Shure MV-7 microphone here
What headphones does Russell Brand use?
Russell Brand has been known to use two different sets of headphones — the super classy Sony MDR 7506 and the more chunky and heavy-duty BeyerDynamic DT-990 Pro.
The Sony MDR 7506 headphones are probably the best bang for your buck when it comes to a studio microphone, selling for around $100.
They sound great and look even better. The only downside is that they come with a 1/4" jack output, which doesn’t fit most modern inputs. But you can easily buy a cheap adapter.
The BeyerDynamic DT-990 Pro headphones are absolute beasts. They’re designed for mixing and mastering in the studio so you can be sure they sound incredibly crisp and clean.
They’re quite a bit more expensive but they’re right up there with some of the best headphones money can buy. They also come with a mini jack output (and a 1/4" adapter) so you can plug and play with most modern computers and devices.
Get the Sony MDR 7506 headphones here
Get the BeyerDynamic DT-990 Pro headphones here
What microphone stand does Russell Brand use?
Russell Brand uses the Rode PSA1 microphone arm (two of them, in fact) for Under the Skin.
It’s the same one that Joe Rogan uses and that’s because it’s arguably the best.
The Rode PSA1 is extremely robust and stable. With a shock mount, it prevents the microphone from picking up bumps, knocks and the sound of placing a cup of tea down on the table (Note: The shock mount is sold separately).
The PSA1 is designed for broadcast use and is easy to move during a conversation (it’s not fixed in one place).
Get the Rode PSA1 microphone arm here
What computer and software does Russell Brand use?
Russell Brand uses a Macbook Pro computer running Adobe Audition.
It’s hard to find more recent evidence of the software he uses, but a Macbook with Audition is a pretty standard setup for podcasters.
I’m not going to use this as an opportunity to convince you why they’re good options for podcasting. The computer and software you use are far less important than the microphone and headphones.
However, you won’t go wrong with a Macbook Pro and Audition.
Get the latest Macbook Pro here
Get Adobe Audition here
This stuff won’t bring you everlasting peace
If Russell were here right now, I’m sure he’d say not to give in to the traps of consumerism by buying all of this fancy podcast gear.
It won’t bring you joy, happiness, and oneness with the universe.
However, it will help you to produce a high-quality podcast and that’s what you’re here for, right?
Just a heads up that I’ve included affiliate links for some of the gear listed in this article, which means Amazon gives me a tiny slice of the purchase price. Let’s face it, Jeff Bezos has enough money as it is. Help him to share some of it with me.
