What Podcast Gear Does Tim Ferriss Use?
Updated: Get the microphone, headphones, recording equipment and software used for the Tim Ferriss Show
Have you ever wanted to know what podcast gear Tim Ferriss uses for The Tim Ferriss Show?
His recordings always sound so smooth and silky, like they were recorded in a professional studio.
But most of the time, Tim is sitting in his home or office using a simple podcast setup that doesn’t cost the earth.
The thing about Tim is we know he’s an obsessive experimenter and optimiser so the podcast gear he uses will have been thoroughly tried and tested.
He probably got a tonne of advice from his Silicon Valley friends — many of whom have their own podcasts — about which podcast equipment is best.
So, without further adieu (as Tim would say), let’s dive into the podcast gear that Tim Ferriss uses.
TL;DR
Just want the gear list without having to read the whole article.
Here you go… 👇
- What microphone does Tim Ferriss use? — Shure SM58-LC Cardioid Dynamic Vocal Microphone 🎤
- Other microphones — Audio-Technica ATR2100x-USB Cardioid Dynamic Microphone and Shure MV88 iOS Digital Stereo Condenser Microphone for iPhone 🎙️
- What recording device does Tim Ferriss use? — Zoom H6 6-Track Portable Recorder 🎛️
- What headphones does Tim Ferriss use? — Apple Airpods 🎧
- What remote recording software does Tim Ferriss use? — Ecamm Call Recorder for Skype 💻
What podcast gear does Tim Ferriss use?
The question Tim asked himself when he started The Tim Ferriss Show was: What would this look like if it were easy?
He wanted a no-frills, simple way of recording a podcast that would produce a quality product with minimal effort.
If that sounds good to you, then you’ll want to know what podcast gear he uses.
Tim Ferriss is one of the godfathers of the podcasting world — alongside the likes of Joe Rogan (see the gear he uses here), Rich Roll, and Marc Maron.
He hosts the who’s who of business, sports, investing, technology, mindfulness, science, and self-development and the show has been downloaded more than 500 million times.
Tim’s a great interviewer who has the ability to perform mental gymnastics alongside some of the world’s sharpest thinkers.
What microphone does Tim Ferriss use?
Tim uses a Shure SM58-LC Cardioid Dynamic Vocal Microphone which is a total bargain at less than $100.
The Shure SM58 is one of the most widely-used stage microphones, popular for both music recording and performance.
Rock stars. Pop idols. Comedians. Presidents. Popes. Immortal words have passed through its iconic grille for generations.
But the SM58 is also good for recording podcasts.
Tim likes it because it’s super sturdy and durable and he likes to hold the microphone in his hand when he’s interviewing guests on the podcast.
Tim uses microphone covers to prevent popping and breathing noises, and a simple six-foot XLR cable to connect the microphone to his recording device.
Get the Shure SM58 microphone here
Other microphones
The Audio-Technica ATR2100x-USB Cardioid Dynamic Microphone
Tim has a couple of other microphones up his sleeve for when he’s travelling and needs to record intros or advertisements on the go.
The Audio-Technica ATR2100x-USB Cardioid Dynamic Microphone is his go-to travel microphone.
Because it’s a USB microphone, it’s also a good option for recording remote interviews via Skype or Zoom directly into the computer.
The other microphone Tim uses on the go is the Shure MV88 iOS Digital Stereo Condenser Microphone for iPhone.
This little microphone simply plugs into your iPhone and allows you to record studio-quality audio remotely.
What recording device does Tim Ferriss use?
Zoom H6 6-Track Portable Recorder.
Tim Ferriss uses the Zoom H6 6-Track Portable Recorder for in-person recordings.
It’s basically a mini recording studio that fits into the palm of your hand and eliminates the need for a computer to record a podcast.
The audio is studio quality and the device is highly reliable and trusted by podcasters, journalists, and musicians alike (just make sure you use fresh batteries for every new episode!).
You basically plug your microphones into the Zoom H6, adjust your settings and hit record.
The audio can either be saved directly to the device, or it can be used as an audio interface with your computer.
It’s a powerful little device and, I think, Tim has been using it since the beginning.
When he’s recording remotely via Skype, he will either use the Zoom H6 as an audio interface or use the Audio-Technica USB microphone above.
Get the Zoom H6 6-Track Portable Recorder here.
What headphones does Tim Ferriss use?
Tim doesn’t often use headphones for his podcasts.
When he’s recording in person, he doesn’t wear headphones.
When he’s recording remotely, he’s most recently been using Apple Airpods (or something similar), as shown in the image above.
It just goes to show that sometimes less is more.
Tim Ferriss Show equipment extras
Tim recently tweeted that he’s using a sound shield in his “pop-up podcast studio”.
Judging by the image, he’s using the Studio Microphone Foam Shield.
These are great for reducing the sound that bounces off the walls.
Professional recording studios are covered in foam proofing.
This is just a simple way to create better-sounding audio without having to fit out an entire studio.
Get the Studio Microphone Foam Shield here.
What remote recording software does Tim Ferriss use?
Tim uses Ecamm Call Recorder for Skype for his remote podcast interviews.
It’s a simple piece of software that integrates with Skype and allows you to record good-quality audio and video.
I feel like this kind of software will be made largely redundant by Zoom and other remote recording platforms such as Squadcast (recommended).
But this is what Tim has been using and continues to promote.
The minimal podcast set-up
As you can see, Tim Ferriss’ podcast gear is pretty minimalistic.
He likes to keep things simple and efficient.
All of this gear packs into one small carry bag that he can grab and go with at a moment’s notice.
The most important thing is that Tim’s audio always sounds great — so if you use his podcast gear then you can be confident that yours will, too.
Not gonna lie, there are a few affiliate links in this article. Think of it this way, if you buy some of this gear you’ll be taking a tiny amount of Jeff Bezos’ (the guy who owns Amazon) money and giving it to me. You’re pretty much Robin Hood. A modern-day hero. I, for one, salute you 🖖
