The Ideal Tradeshow Podcast Setup: Shure Beta 57A, Portacaster X8, and GoPro Hero 9
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Tradeshows are buzzing with activity and provide a great setting for a live podcast. They provide several possibilities for you to interact with industry leaders, celebrities, and eager participants, collecting engaging tales and sharing insights on your podcast. To make the most of these possibilities, you'll need a podcast setup that can produce crystal-clear audio and high-quality BTS film even in the thick of the tradeshow floor's rush and bustle. My favorite configuration, which includes Shure Beta 57A mics, the Portacaster X8, and GoPro Hero 9 cameras, meets all of these requirements.
Headphones Audio-Technica ATH-M50X https://amzn.to/3Mlgi1C 🎧
GoPro HERO9 Black https://amzn.to/43fpiyb
Tascam Portacapture X8 https://amzn.to/3i8N9db
Shure BETA 57A https://amzn.to/3MyAXSa
Let's break down the separate components of this arrangement and explain why they perform so well for tradeshows.
Microphones Shure Beta 57A
The Shure Beta 57A mics are a critical component of my setup. They provide outstanding sound reproduction and are ideal for recording speech, whether you're interviewing someone at a tradeshow or just conversing with your podcast co-host.
These microphones have a supercardioid pickup pattern, making them ideal for tradeshows. A supercardioid pattern is very directional, which means it takes up sound from the front and back while rejecting sound from the sides. This feature helps to separate your subjects' voices from the background noise of a busy tradeshow floor.
The Shure Beta 57A is also very durable, which is critical when going from booth to booth, setting up and tearing down your equipment many times. Furthermore, its pneumatic shock mount technology reduces handling noise, which is typical while doing live interviews.
X8 Portacaster
My arrangement is powered by an eight-channel mixer called the Portacaster X8. It allows for the essential flexibility for live podcasting at tradeshows, where the number of guests might fluctuate from interview to interview. You can manage many guests with eight inputs, offering a variety of voices and opinions to your podcast.
The Portacaster X8 not only handles many inputs, but it also has superb audio quality. It has clean preamps and a variety of EQ and effects settings for fine-tuning your audio. Its USB interface makes it simple to connect to a laptop or PC for rapid editing or live broadcasting. It's also small and portable, which is a must-have element for any expo.
Hero 9 GoPro
A contemporary podcast must have visual material. Behind-the-scenes film enhances the podcast experience by enabling listeners to see the environment, responses, and personalities of the individuals you're speaking with. It strengthens the bond between you and your audience.
I use two GoPro Hero 9 cameras for this. Because of their small size, they are simple to transport and put up in a crowded tradeshow setting. Despite their tiny size, these cameras produce 5K video, assuring the greatest quality BTS footage. They can record smooth video even while you're moving since they have built-in picture stabilization.
When it comes to recording, having two cameras gives you more options. You may have one camera focused on the host and guest(s), and the other on the tradeshow itself or on detailed close-ups of goods, displays, or other things of interest.
The Ideal Podcast Setup: A Summary
Finally, the combination of Shure Beta 57A mics, the Portacaster X8, and GoPro Hero 9 cameras provides for the ideal tradeshow podcast setup. This configuration produces high-quality audio. Multiple guest flexibility and breathtaking BTS video, all in a small and portable container.
Headphones Audio-Technica ATH-M50X https://amzn.to/3Mlgi1C 🎧
GoPro HERO9 Black https://amzn.to/43fpiyb
Tascam Portacapture X8 https://amzn.to/3i8N9db
Shure BETA 57A https://amzn.to/3MyAXSa
But keep in mind that your equipment is just one component of the puzzle. Successful podcasting also relies on your ability to engage your guests and audience, as well as provide fascinating material that keeps your listeners returning for more. With this setup, you'll be well-equipped to make the most of your tradeshow podcasting experience.
