Video Podcast with iPhone Setup: Connect a Podcast Mic to Your Smartphone
As an Amazon Associate, Pod Sound School earns from qualifying purchases made through the links provided on this website. This means we may receive a small commission at no additional cost to you if you choose to purchase through these links. Your support helps keep the content coming. Thank you!
Recording a video podcast with just an iPhone and a few key accessories is not only possible but surprisingly easy if you're looking to create a professional-looking video podcast without upgrading to an expensive Sony camera.
In this guide, I’ll walk you through how to create a sleek video podcast with iPhone setup, highlighting essential tools like the RØDE USB PodMic.
I’ll also show you how to connect a podcast microphone to your smartphone for crystal-clear audio, giving your podcast that high-quality edge whether you’re recording for Apple Podcasts or YouTube.
Since it’s now easier than ever to plug a USB microphone into your smartphone to record high-quality audio and video content, this brings up a very important question…
What is it that really makes a video podcast a podcast?
Is it the presence of the microphone in the shot with the person who's speaking?
Can you have a video podcast on TikTok and Instagram?
Or to be considered a podcast, does it have to be shared on audio-only platforms like Apple Podcasts?
Whatever the answer is to those questions, one thing that is certain is that the presence of a podcast microphone in the shot will stop people in their tracks while scrolling so they can pay attention to what you're saying.
So by the end of this guide, you'll know how to create a really cool video podcast setup using your smartphone and the awesome RØDE USB PodMic.
Jump to a specific section:
WATCH OUR RELATED YOUTUBE VIDEO: Video Podcast Setup with iPhone - Connect Podcast Mic to Your Smartphone
Before we start, welcome to the Pod Sound School! I'm Studio Steve, an audio and video producer and instructor in our online coaching programs with about 20 years of experience in professional audio production.
If you’re interested in learning more about how podcasting can help you grow your business, sign up for our mini course Idea to Podcast Simplified for Business Owners.
The Essentials for a Video Podcast with iPhone Setup
Now, to get a really awesome video podcast setup, you're going to need more than just your phone and the RØDE USB PodMic.
You're also going to need a stand for your phone and some type of lighting.
And then you will also need a stand for your USB microphone as well, and there are different options for that. I'm gonna go over my top recommendation for you.
You're gonna need the RØDE SC19 USB-C to Lightning Cable which comes in 7 fancy colors.
WARNING: The SC19 cable looks like it has a USB-C or Thunderbolt connector on one end with the little iPhone Lightning connector at the other end. While this may look just like the charging cable that comes with your iPhone, the cable that comes with your iPhone will not function with the RØDE USB PodMic. Even if it shows up on your phone the right way, it's going to have crackling noises and it's just not going to work! You have to get the SC19 cable.
2-in-1 Lighting and Phone Stand
Now back to the lighting and the phone stand again. I love a doinky 2-in-1 ring light and phone stand. You can find a version of it almost anywhere. We have a few of these and I just love these phone stands because they come with a built-in ring.
Ring lights are used in the beauty and makeup industry because they give you a nice even light and reduce all the shadows on your face, giving you a more youthful look.
The drawback that many people see with a ring light is you will see a little ring of light in your eyes when you're using it, but that's usually a fair trade-off, especially when you compare it to the unflattering light that most of us have in our spaces, in our rooms that we're in.
This 2-in-1 ring light stand is of course perfect for attaching your phone, and when you're ready to upgrade to a DSLR or a camera with a detachable lens, it will still be incredibly useful for behind-the-scenes shots or any phone recordings you need to make.
The 2 Microphone Stands I Recommend
When it comes to mic stands, I recommend two different options.
I'm a big fan of the classic tried and true microphone or stage stand, which comes in plenty of different types.
They're very affordable and have these boom arms usually on the top that come with the stand allowing you to adjust it in different ways.
These are really great all-around stands you can use in any scenario, even if you decide to step away from your desk.
But because most of us are making content at some sort of table or desk, desk clamping stands are very popular for a reason.
My all-time favorite for those is the Elgato Wave Mic Arm LP low profile desk clamping stand. He's amazing…this is really probably my favorite product.
The Wave Mic Arm LP comes with a heavy-duty clamp/base that you attach to your desktop and the bottom end of the boom arm slides right into the top of the clamp/base.
You can actually adjust the top half of the boom arm for the lift and fall, Elgato’s name for those positions.
There is also a ball head at the top of the arm so you can pivot and position your microphone at the perfect angle for you.
So, if you're recording at a table or desk, the Elgato desk clamping stand and a 2-in-1 ring light and phone stand will be amazing and all you need to really get cooking.
Setting Up the Equipment for a Video Podcast with iPhone
Now let’s get all of the equipment set up.
In the photos above, I have some studio lights turned on, and the camera I used to record the video demonstration of this setup is a Sony A7 IV camera. You can learn more about using Sony cameras for recording video content in these 3 blog posts:
Best Cameras for Video Podcasting: From Consumer Gear to Professional Gear
Best Sony Camera for Video Podcasting: How to Create a Cinematic Look
Build My Video Podcast Studio and Multipurpose Content Office with Me
Once I finish walking you step-by-step through how to get everything set up, I'll press record on my iPhone and you can be the judge of how the RØDE USB PodMic sounds when connected to the phone.
How to Set Up Your Phone, Light, and Mic
The thing that can be tricky with your phone is you should use the camera on the back of your phone because it’s usually a much better camera than the selfie camera located on the screen side of your phone.
You'll get way better results with the camera located on the back of your phone.
But before you pop your phone into the 2-in-1 stand, you’ll need to open the RØDE Central app.
DOWNLOAD AND OPEN THE RØDE CENTRAL APP ON YOUR PHONE
To use any of the RØDE equipment with your phone, you will need to download the RØDE Central app.
There's also another recommended app, the RØDE Capture app, which will allow you to capture video directly to your phone It’s definitely worth experimenting with as well because one of the challenges to recording on a phone is the file management aspect — it can be difficult or very time-consuming to get the files off of your phone to edit later but that's for another blog post altogether.
In this blog post, I want to focus on showing you how to record audio on your phone and generate audio files that will wind up in your photo library. Even if you use the RØDE Capture app, those files you capture on the app will also wind up in your photo library.
CLIP YOUR PHONE INTO THE 2-IN-1 STAND
Setting up your phone with the screen pointing away from you can be a little tricky because you won't be able to monitor the shot — you won’t be able to see the screen to ensure the image looks good.
But that's all right, with enough trial and error, you can get it to work just right.
PLUG THE SC19 CABLE INTO YOUR PHONE
Check to see if the RØDE Central app is open and chillin on you phone.
Then take the RØDE SC19 USB-C to Lightning Cable and plug the lightning connector into the iPhone. Now the cable is ready to be plugged into the microphone.
Before you take time to position your phone for the final shot and record, get the microphone set up.
SET UP THE MICROPHONE STAND AND POSITION THE MICROPHONE
Now it’s time to set up the Elgato Wave Mic Arm LP low profile desk clamping stand and attach the RØDE USB PodMic.
Another thing that's really cool about the Elgato Wave Mic Arm LP stand is it has magnetic plates that cover the cable channels in the arm to neatly hide whatever cables you want to hide which is really fun.
To attach the microphone to the Elgato stand, you’re going to need to screw on an adapter ($8 US for a 6-pack).
Beware that you may wind up needing adapters to go with your stands. These mic stand/tripod adapters are very common and inexpensive, so it’s very handy to have a set on hand for the different mic stands and camera support you may encounter as a content creator.
Go ahead and screw the adapter onto the desk clamping stand and screw the USB mic onto the adapter.
Both the RØDE USB PodMic itself and the Elgato stand are highly adjustable so go ahead and position the stand and mic to the perfect position for you.
The reason this is such a cool stand is that it’s considered to be a low-profile arm or microphone stand meaning it's low to the desk.
The other desk clamping microphone stands you'll commonly encounter typically have an arm angled like an upside-down V so they cover more of your background in the camera frame.
Next, plug the SC19 cable into the microphone. The cable is too short to be able to hide it inside the cable channels of the Elgato stand so you’ll have to feed the cable straight through the arm using the hole closest to the mic.
Once you get the mic plugged in, you will see the RØDE USB PodMic appear in the RØDE Central app.
Testing and Fine-Tuning Your Sound
Before pressing record, adjust the audio settings using the RØDE Central app on your phone.
The app comes with a really cool done-for-you processing effect that you can toggle on and off.
It also comes with 3 classic podcast effects you can manually adjust and toggle on and off:
Noise reduction
Compression
EQ
There's a high pass filter that can help reduce those low rumbles and the plosive sounds when you pronounce those words with p, t, k, b, d, or g in them, so the high pass filter is a very helpful effect to turn on.
You can adjust the gain of the microphone as well. I like to keep mine close to the top, but not pushed all of the way. If you notice in your recordings that your audio is clipping a lot or that your voice sounds like it's overdriven, come into the RØDE Central app and make sure that you reduce the volume of your voice here.
Once you’re done adjusting those settings, the app is ready for you to record.
A little green light will appear on the bottom of your RØDE mic to indicate the mic is attached to your phone.
The RØDE USB PodMic has a built-in audio interface, which is super neat and convenient, making this video podcast setup budget-friendly.
When the RØDE USB PodMic is connected to your phone, it becomes the audio interface for your phone so if you want to hear the output volume from your phone, you will need to plug headphones into the PodMic.
PLACE A WINDSCREEN OVER YOUR MIC
The last touch you can add to this microphone is the poofy windscreen that comes with the RØDE USB PodMic.
A windscreen or pop filter will help even more with reducing plosives, those words with the letters p, t, k, b, d, and g in them.
Additionally, it's a good idea to approach your mouth at an angle to your podcast microphone because that will also help you reduce those plosive sounds.
How to Position Your Phone for a Video Podcast
Now it’s time to open the camera app and set up your final shot so it looks nice.
Before you adjust your camera move your microphone to its final position next to your mouth.
While you’re adjusting your camera shot from the backside of the stand, you’ll be able to use the position of your microphone as a reference to estimate your position/height on screen and how the shot will look because your microphone indicates where your mouth will be in the shot.
THE FINAL SOUND AND LOOK
And here we are, you can be the judge of how this video podcast with iPhone setup sounds and looks.
The final look only includes the ambient light in the room and the ring light because I turned off the fancy photography-style lights I was using to record this video.
For the ring light, I cranked the brightness up all the way. You can also adjust the color temperature of the ring light if you want to experiment with warm or cool daylight temperatures.
So what do you think about the setup and my podcast voice using a USB microphone connected to an iPhone? I think it sounds pretty amazing.
WATCH OUR RELATED YOUTUBE VIDEO:
Video Podcast Setup with iPhone - Connect Podcast Mic to your Smartphone
Final Thoughts
Setting up a video podcast using your phone and the RØDE USB PodMic is an incredibly efficient way to produce high-quality content without the need for expensive gear. The simplicity of this setup allows you to focus on what truly matters: creating engaging content and delivering your message clearly.
Whether you’re recording for YouTube, Apple Podcasts, or even live streaming on social media, this setup ensures you sound professional while keeping things accessible and budget-friendly.
The beauty of podcasting with your smartphone is its versatility. With just a few tweaks, you can easily switch between formats, from horizontal video podcasts to vertical content for platforms like Instagram and TikTok. This flexibility opens up more opportunities to repurpose your content across multiple channels, maximizing your reach and impact.
Ultimately, it’s not about having the most expensive equipment, but about how you use what you have to tell your story and engage your audience.
By following this guide, you’ll be well on your way to creating a professional-looking video podcast with minimal effort, all while using gear that fits in the palm of your hand. Now it’s time to hit record and start sharing your voice with the world!
PIN THIS POST TO READ LATER
LEARN MORE ABOUT VIDEO PODCASTING AND PODCASTING GEAR
Record a Video Podcast On Your iPhone: Video Podcast Setup for Beginners
The DJI Osmo Pocket 3 Camera—Easily Record a Video Podcast While Traveling
Best Cameras for Video Podcasting: From Consumer Gear to Professional Gear
This is How I Choose the Right Podcast Microphone for Audio-Only and Video Podcasting
Easy Cinematic Lighting Setup for Video Podcasts (With Just 3 Lights!)
RECOMMENDED YOUTUBE VIDEOS
Record a Video Podcast With Your iPhone // Video Podcast Setup for Beginners
No more excuses! Recording a podcast or a video podcast with your iPhone is so easy and fun.
Best Cameras for Video Podcasting: From Consumer Gear to Professional Gear
Studio Steve shares his top picks for video podcasting cameras across various budget ranges: consumer, prosumer, and professional.
FREE PODCASTING RESOURCES
Get Even More Video and Audio Podcasting Tips and Gear Picks ➔ Subscribe to Pod Sound School’s FREE Creator Hub Newsletter
Go from Podcast Idea to Podcast Planning & Execution ➔ Take this FREE Mini-Course for Business Owners and Creative Professionals
Build Your Video Podcast (Production, Equipment, Studio Setup, Training, Distribution) ➔ Grab this FREE Step-By-Step Workbook and Watch this Video
See If You Have What It Takes to Become a Professional Podcast Editor ➔ Try Podcast Editing in This FREE Mini-Course for Aspiring Podcast Editors
WORK WITH US / TAKE A COURSE
Launch Or Upgrade Your Video Podcast ➔ Work 1-On-1 With Us
Showcase Your Brand, Products, or Services ➔ Done-For-You Video Ads and Sponsored Videos
Launch Your Video Podcast in 6 Weeks ➔ Done-With-You Group Coaching Program
Become a Video Podcast Editor in 12 Weeks ➔ LIVE Group Training Program
Why Work with Pod Sound School? ➔ Read More About Us // View Our Portfolio and Media Kit // Binge Watch Our YouTube Channel
