THE BEST MIC FOR BEGINNERS AT YOUR STATION: WHAT TO LOOK FOR

best mic for beginners

Microphones are the most essential pieces of equipment for a radio station. After all, you can expect anybody to listen to you if you are not able to provide high-quality content.

It’s relatively simple to find the best mic for beginners, but not everyone knows where to start.

Let’s explore everything you should keep in mind during your search.

1. Price


As you may anticipate, the price of the microphone is one of the most important factors to consider. In general, you won’t want to purchase highly expensive equipment for a beginner since they won’t have the experience to make the most of it.

Additionally, beginners don’t always handle microphones as carefully as they should, which can easily damage the device. So, purchasing a microphone that costs thousands of dollars is generally unwise in this scenario.


However, this doesn’t mean that you should aim to purchase the cheapest microphone possible. Although this equipment is easy to replace if something happens to it, you will likely find that it produces subpar quality.

Instead, a reliable microphone for a beginner should cost around $200-$300. 

2. Directional Capability


There are many different microphones on the market that all have different functions. Some are specifically designed to pick up sound far away, while others are perfect for close-range speaking.

There are four directional categories that you’ll encounter:

  • Cardioid
  • Omnidirectional
  • Bidirectional
  • Shotgun

In the context of a radio station, cardioid microphones are the most favorable type.

Omnidirectional microphones pick up sound from every direction, as the name suggests.
 This can easily prove to be an issue when you have multiple speakers on your show.

Although not quite as much of a problem, a bidirectional microphone can still be difficult to implement. Shotgun microphones are geared more toward filming as opposed to speaking.

This information will ensure that you make the decision that’s best for you while also streamlining the purchasing process. 

3. USB vs XLR


This is a debate that many people find difficult to settle. For those unfamiliar, a USB microphone plugs directly into a computer via a USB port.

In general, there is no additional required setup, but you may need to download drivers in order for the microphone to function. More often than not, you can get the microphone functioning in seconds.

An XLR microphone, on the other hand, is a bit more complicated and is the type of device that you’ll often find in a music studio.

This device requires an XLR cable to be connected to an audio interface. The interface is then connected to the computer. 
Due to the way an XLR microphone functions, it requires a secondary source of power in this manner.

The main benefit, though, is that your recordings will be of a much higher quality. You will also be able to adjust the gain on your audio interface, which can help give the recordings a bit more fullness.

For beginners, it really depends on the type of quality you’re looking for. If someone new at your station simply needs a microphone to use, a USB microphone will suffice. If you need a warm, professional sound, though, it’s best to go with an XLR microphone. 

4. Frequency Response


All sound exists on a spectrum. The range that most of us can hear from 20 hertz to 20,000 hertz. Interestingly, microphones typically do not convert sound on a one-to-one ratio.

This means that some frequencies will be a bit more focused while others will be more muted. When speaking directly into a microphone, it’s best to have a bit more emphasis on the highest frequencies while maintaining a dip in lower frequencies.

This is due to the fact that the lower frequencies of somebody’s voice often make you sound congested or muffled. By enhancing higher frequencies, you’ll give the audio recording a more crisp, warm sound.

Although you can use software to change these values, many people prefer to use a microphone that is already crafted to accommodate this endeavor. For a beginner, the same concept applies. Even if you choose a USB microphone, you will want to find one that is built in this manner for the best results.

5. Durability

As previously mentioned, cheap microphones will need to be frequently replaced. But, microphones that are highly durable are ironically often also cheap.

Microphones that can produce high-quality recordings are often extremely sensitive to movement or shock. Dropping one even a single time could sometimes be enough to affect its performance.

However, beginners are not always the most careful when handling microphones. So, it’s best to find a microphone with a good balance of quality and durability.

You should also consider the general longevity, as well. By reading online reviews, you’ll be able to learn from other people’s experiences with the device and determine how long you can expect it to last. This is especially important for smaller stations that don’t have a particularly large budget to keep purchasing new equipment.

To increase the longevity of a device even further, be sure to properly train your users on how to handle them.

Finding the Best Mic for Beginners Can Seem Challenging 

But the above information will make the process far smoother. From here, you’ll be able to ensure that you find the best way for beginners and prevent any issues from arising in the future.

Want to learn more about what we have to offer? Feel free to reach out to us today and see how we can help.

9 CREATIVE RADIO SHOW IDEAS FOR RIGHT NOW

radio show ideas

You turn off the radio, frustrated. It all seems to be the same old thing. You want to hear something new and interesting, or at least a new spin on the same topics. 

If you’re looking to spice up your local radio channel, there are plenty of radio show ideas to explore. No matter what radio programming you choose, having enticing show topics is what will keep your listenership levels large. 

Are you feeling stuck with brainstorming radio ideas? Don’t worry! Here are some of our favorite radio show ideas to help you make some changes to your radio show content. 

1. Politics and News Galore

There is no shortage of world politics and news in 2020. A radio show sharing pertinent politics and news are in high demand, and you’re guaranteed to have a lot of people tuning in to get their fill. 

From COVID-19 pandemic updates to exploding American politics and more, you will have plenty to talk about and share with your listeners. Check out our services to see how we can help you make your radio show ideas a reality.

2. Media: Movies, TV, and Music

Thanks to quarantine and nationwide lockdowns, many are turning to old comforts to get them through these times. One great example is Netflix streaming all of Avatar: The Last Airbender (in addition to the sequel The Legend of Korra). Returning to an old movie or TV show favorites with a fresh eye will appeal to a lot of listeners. 

There are several different routes you can go. From character analysis to general rewatch commentary, you have a lot of material to work with. 

You can also focus on music as well. It’s radio, so talking about your favorite music and playing it for your listeners will give them something to relax to! Maybe your listeners will discover new musicians to follow thanks to your suggestions. 

3. Gamer Paradise

Quarantine means gamer paradise (well, maybe)! A radio show dedicated to the newest, up-to-date news in the gaming world will also bring in a lot of potential listeners. 

Reviewing gameplay can help listeners decide if they want to play a game or not. It also provides listeners with any affirmations about how they feel about a game. 

You can also speak about upcoming releases and what gamers are anticipating in terms of the game. Don’t be afraid to ask listeners what they would like to hear you talk about too in terms of gaming! 

4. Appeal to Your Fellow Foodies

If you’re not a gamer, you’re definitely a foodie: who isn’t?

Talking about food isn’t just reviewing the taste of food. It can be sharing new recipes or speaking with cooking experts about tips and tricks. 

Having a radio show about food should explore local options as well if your listenership is local. Supporting local businesses during these times will provide them with free advertising and will also incentivize them to recommend your radio show to potential views. It’s a win-win for everyone! 

5. Radio Drama for Those Missing the Theater

The theaters are closed! Drama nerds everywhere are itching to be back listening to stories unfold onstage. Well, if people cannot gather in a theatre, they can listen to a radio show performing radio dramas. 

Radio dramas are not a new concept. Because of the pandemic, podcasts and other radio shows are growing in popularity. Cater to a new audience with radio dramas. 

From Orson Welles’ infamous War of the Worldsto new devised pieces, a radio drama could provide your listeners with some well-needed creative release. 

6. The Sports Zone

There’s nothing wrong with having a good old sports radio show! 

Between sports like baseball and football making returns amid the pandemic, you still have plenty to talk about. Analyze teams’ and players’ skills and project scores. Allow your viewers to call in to get their thoughts known too. 

Better yet, consider talking about fantasy football line-ups and prospects as well! 

7. Travel (But Not Today)

Travel isn’t an option right now due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, but that doesn’t mean you can’t think about it! 

A radio show focused on travel can provide listeners with travel tips on certain places, as well as showcase more unique travel destinations that listeners maybe aren’t familiar with.

Take time to acknowledge how the travel industry has been hurt but also the importance of staying safe during the pandemic. 

8. Stay Healthy! 

A health and lifestyle radio show isn’t a bad idea either. Given the current public health crisis with COVID-19, a show about staying healthy is important. 

Talk about proper precautions to take to keep people and their communities safe. You can also explore which foods keep people more energized or helps to boost their general immunity. Bring medical experts on your show to give their point of view as well. 

In terms of lifestyle, speak to how people are staying active despite the pandemic. You will inspire your listeners to take steps in their own lives to stay active too! 

9. Listen to the Listener

If you are feeling unsure about content, you can always reach out to your listenership to see what they are interested in listening to. 

Your listeners tune into your radio show because they are interested in what you have to say, so let them offer topics or suggestions on how to spice up your radio show a bit more. They know best, as the consumer! 

No Shortage of Radio Show Ideas

Radio show ideas are plentiful. You can take your radio show in any direction you would like to. Most of these topics are flexible and won’t get old. 

Are you looking for assistance on virtual PD, imaging/voice talent, or formats? Contact us so we can help you make the most of your radio show! 

WHY YOU SHOULD HIRE A VOICE TRACKING RADIO PERSONALITY

radio personality

Are you looking to create a new show or radio commercial to appeal to your target market? Do you want to find ways of attracting your customers to your brand? If so, then you need to hire a radio personality to add life to your new radio endeavors.

Doing so can give you the help that you need. Rather than going through the motions and reading off a script, the radio talent you hire will bring those words to life and open your customer’s ears!

See below for all of the reasons that you should hire a radio personality and give your new show the excitement it so desperately needs.

1. Represents Your Brand

The voice that you use in your new show or radio advertising initiatives will play a pivotal role in whether or not listeners receive your message. They can tell when you’re merely reading words off of a script.

A radio personality can connect with the listeners and give an exact representation of the brand image you’re going for.

For example, if you’re wanting to make a fun show that talks updates listeners about the hottest celebrity gossip, you want someone with a fun and zany voice.

If you’re running a show about answering medical questions from callers, you’ll want someone with a firm and professional sounding voice. Someone that can put it into terms that you understand. You get the idea.

Be sure to reach out to find the right radio voice talent for your project. Doing so will get your show off on the right foot from the get-go.

2. Generates Excitement

Generating excitement for your show isn’t as easy as it sounds. It means that you have to bring the same level of energy to the mic every single show. 

You have to deliver the same tone and vibe that the audience is expecting. You either have it or you don’t. No amount of coffee is going to fix it if you don’t have that particular skills. Listeners will turn you off faster than you can say “radio”.

No matter what type of show you’re running, the show’s voice(s) have to create excitement from within. 

If you’re a murder mystery show, then the radio personality will have to create suspense and intrigue. If you’re a top 100 songs show, the radio voice has to generate enough interest to keep the listeners tuned in to see what song made it to the top.

You don’t have to have a unique show concept to get a following. People tune in for the person behind the mic. Without the right level of energy, you could turn people off to your show. They may never turn back to it again.

3. Encourages Listener Engagement

The listeners of your new radio show are a lot like customers. They want to be told what to do. If you’re fortunate enough to earn their trust, then they will consider everything you say as a firm fact.

That’s the power of an attractive radio personality for your show. They’ll be able to connect with your audience in a way that you otherwise couldn’t. They will encourage your listeners to engage with your brand on multiple levels.

For example, if your radio show is throwing a nonprofit event at a small business nearby, then your radio voice can pump up the excitement of the event.

They’ll make it sound more appealing for your target market, which will lead to you getting face to face with more qualified listeners. People want in on the fun, and with the right radio personality, you can direct your audience any way you want them to go.

4. Create Familiarity

Put yourself in the shoes of a member of your show’s audience for a second. You hop in the your car after a long day of work, turn the ignition, and what’s the next thing you do? Turn on your favorite podcast and/or radio station.

Why? Because you’re familiar with that radio station. You know that you’ll enjoy listening to the radio personalities on it and the songs they play (if applicable). This is a prime example of familiarity, and it’s a powerful tool for your up-and-coming show.

If you have new voices running the show from show to show, your audience can never get comfortable with your show’s vibe. If a listener tunes in expecting to hear “Froggy Tom’s” voice, then they’ll be disappointed to hear a different voice.

5. Off-Air Connection

The personalities and people on your radio show will extend far beyond the time restraints when you’re on the air. If a listener likes the brand you’re selling, they’ll want to connect with you and your radio voice off-air as well.

That means following you and your show on social media, on your website, relistening to your episodes on playback, and so on.

Without a proper radio personality, you risk not connecting with your audience in a strong enough way. You want listeners to view your show as a must-listen. That way, they’ll not only listen to every episode but follow your every move as well.

Find the Right Radio Personality for Your Needs

Now that you have seen all of the different reasons that your new radio show needs a radio personality or two behind it, it’s time to start your search for the right voice.

Be sure to read this article for more information on what characterizes an outstanding on-air broadcaster for you to use while you search.

To hear some of the industries top radio voice tracker’s or if you are or if you want to speak with one of our radio talent gurus. Ready to take the next step to higher ratings?  Let’s chat! Contact Jason Kidd, CEO of VirtualJock.com today!

7 FACTORS TO CONSIDER WHEN BUILDING A RADIO STATION FORMAT

A Microphone in a Recording Booth

When Marconi made the first transatlantic radio wave, he probably never imagined we would be where we are today. More than 244.5 million American adults listen to the radio each month. In the competitive climate of radio today, you’ve got to be top-notch to grab the attention of listeners and earn your way to the top of the market. Whether you are starting a radio station or changing your format, you know that you have an important decision to make. The foundation of your station lays in your format and you have to know your audience to provide relevant programming. Keep reading for 7 factors to consider when building a radio station format!

1. Consider the Competition

Just like any product or service on the marketplace, the first step is seeing what is already out there. Using All Access and Nielson’s ratings you can see where the market is too saturated. If there are decades-old stations that you know listeners are committed to, you might stay away from that format.

If you’re up for a challenge and have a great idea, go for it. However, the best option is looking for formats that aren’t tapped into yet. You want to offer something unique and interesting to grab the listener’s attention and then retain it.

It’s important to pay attention to companies as well. Sometimes watching how a company is behaving in a market can let you in on some secrets. If they are planning to sell or change their game plan, you’ll be able to make a better decision for your future.

2. Research the Demographics

Another marketing plan must-have, you’ll need to find out who is listening. Meaning you should know exactly what demographics make up your market. You’ll need to find out information about age, race, sex, employment, education, income, marital status, and more.

These factors can give you a major hint as to what they would like to hear. Most radio broadcasting companies will create a “sample profile” of one of their station’s listeners. Whenever you need to come up with content, you refer to that profile. If they would most likely be interested, your content is good to go and works when it comes to trying to target your audience.

The more information about your potential listening audience that you have, the better you can relate, sell, and provide relevant information to them after you have decided on the format.

3. Can Your Team Sell It?

It would be great to just pick a format that you think is the most interesting. When building a radio station format, you’ll need to consider how you are funding this operation. 

Sales are the way to do it. Making an informed decision about business comes down to money. If you think you have a great idea about which format to go with, sit down and think about how marketable it is. Ask your team if they believe in the decision and what challenges they think you may face.

Depending on the format, you may have vastly different clients looking to advertise on that station. For example, your local smoke shop might not be interested in advertising on your gospel station. In that case, you probably wouldn’t want them to either.

4. How Are You Going to Promote It?

When it comes to radio stations, marketing is a double-edged sword. Thank your Promotions Manager, they have a lot on their plate! Not only are you concerned with promoting your clients in the best way possible but you have to make sure you are getting your station out there too.

The big question is how are you going to create a unique identity for your station.

Think about ways that you can promote the format. Non-profit involvement is a wonderful way to get out there and make a name for yourself while making a difference in the community. Depending on the attitude you bring with your format, some non-profits may be hesitant to work with you.

On one hand, you could have the edgiest rock station ever and be super successful. On the other, you could have a talk station full of angels. Both have their own benefits. Either way, you’ll need promotional materials to get you to the top. This means coming up with creative ideas and then all of those logo-ed out materials that we all end up with way too much of.

Also, think about remotes. How is your format going to look out at businesses and how exactly does it come into play when you are on-site with listeners? Your street-team will need to know how to represent your unique identity and have the right tools to do so.

5. Syndication, Clocks, and Programming

Another big question is syndication or no syndication? Where are you getting your radio shows from and what does that sound like in your market? These are very important questions to ask yourself and will save you some pain once you’re deeper into planning.

Furthermore, think about clocks. Sometimes there are formats that stick to a general idea about how clocks should be composed. Your rotations for commercials, music, and voice-tracking will be the foundation of how you compete in a market against other stations. This includes how you schedule your shows. A one minute difference could throw your whole game off.

Your format will come into play with your sweepers and liners as well. These will act as another key identifier for your brand. Working between programming and production is an important relationship to consider. Virtual Jock offers production services to help out! 

6. Who Is Your Talent?

You could have the greatest program director in the world and still miss the bar if your talent isn’t on point. Consider the factor of who is going to be on your station if you choose a certain format. These are the voices (and nowadays faces), of your station.

We love sounding local when it comes to radio. You’ll need to find talent that fits your format, sounds good, and if they aren’t local they need to make it sound local. Hiring outside of your market can be intimidating so if you’re looking to make sure you’re getting the right people, check out our talent.

7. What Isn’t Working?

Back to the competition, but not so competitive this time. Pay attention to who is failing. If you notice there is a format that is overall underperforming in the ratings, find out why. Depending on the answer you know you have a chance to make something happen there or you know to stay away.

Securing the Right Radio Station Format

Keep in mind that radio is a service and a product so you still need to think about the marketing plan when you are trying to figure out which radio station format will work best for you. Taking these factors into consideration will help you plan for the long haul and create the best station possible.

Set yourself up for success and next time the ratings book comes out, you’ll be sweating a little bit less and the office won’t be so dead.

We offer great format design at Virtual Jock, make sure to check out our services and see what we could offer you!