Podcast Starter Kit – sE DynaCaster Microphone, ART USBMix4 Mixer & ESI eXtra 10 Headphones (Bundle)

This podcast starter kit gives one host a proper XLR recording chain without the guesswork: the sE Electronics DynaCaster broadcast microphone, the ART USBMix4 four-channel mixer with built-in USB audio, and a pair of ESI eXtra 10 monitoring headphones. It suits new podcasters, streamers, voice-over artists and anyone moving up from a USB microphone who wants hands-on control and a sound that holds up next to professional shows.

Why these three pieces work together

The weak point of most budget XLR setups is gain. Broadcast-style dynamic microphones are quiet, and small mixers often run out of clean preamp gain before speech reaches a healthy level, so you end up turning the knob to the top and hearing hiss. The DynaCaster fixes this at the source. Its built-in DYNAMITE preamp adds up to 30 dB of clean, transparent gain when you flick its switch and the mixer supplies 48 V phantom power. Channel 1 of the USBMix4 provides exactly that phantom power, so the microphone and mixer meet each other halfway and your voice arrives strong without pushing the mixer’s preamp to its limit.

sE DynaCaster: a broadcast mic with its own booster

The DynaCaster is a front-addressed cardioid dynamic microphone built around sE’s V Series capsule technology, with an aluminium voice coil and neodymium magnet. The cardioid pattern focuses on the voice in front of it and helps reject keyboard noise and room sound, which matters in untreated home rooms. Two recessed switches on the back give six tone settings, so you can shape brightness and low end before anything reaches the computer. A three-layer pop filter sits inside the grille, and the all-metal body has a built-in stand mount with a wide swivel range, so it fits most desk booms and stands.

With the DYNAMITE switch off, the DynaCaster also works as a regular passive dynamic microphone, which makes it useful well beyond podcasting: vocals, guitar amps and drums are all fair game. Explore more options in our broadcast and podcast microphones range.

ART USBMix4: a real mixer and a USB interface in one

The USBMix4 is a compact analogue mixer with an integrated, class-compliant USB audio interface, so it plugs straight into a Mac or PC without drivers. Channels 1 and 2 have XLR / 1/4-inch combo inputs with two-band EQ; channel 1 adds switchable +48 V phantom power for the DynaCaster, and channel 2 has a Hi-Z switch for plugging in a guitar or bass directly. Channels 3 and 4 work as a stereo pair for a keyboard, music player or second line source.

The assignable USB record source is the feature podcasters love. Set it to loopback and the mixer combines your microphone with whatever is playing on your computer, such as a guest on a video call, intro music or sound effects, and sends that blend back to your recording or streaming software. Main and headphone outputs have independent level controls, and the unit runs from USB power or the included 5 V power supply. Browse other analogue and USB mixers if you need more channels.

ESI eXtra 10: headphones you can trust

Monitoring on headphones is how you catch plosives, clipping and background noise before your audience does. The eXtra 10 uses 50 mm neodymium drivers in a lightweight, semi-closed design, with a 32-ohm impedance that is easy for a small mixer to drive. Frequency response runs from 15 Hz to 29 kHz. The 2.5 m cable ends in a 3.5 mm plug with a screw-on 6.3 mm adapter, and the headphones come with dSONIQ Realphones ESI Edition, software that simulates different listening rooms and speakers so you can check how your episode will sound elsewhere. See our full headphones range.

Who is this kit for?

• Solo podcasters and streamers who want XLR quality and physical knobs instead of software sliders.
• Interview hosts with remote guests, using loopback to bring a phone or video call into the recording.
• Voice-over and audiobook narrators who need a focused, low-noise voice chain.
• Musicians who also want to record guitar through the Hi-Z input on channel 2.

Who it is not for: two or more hosts in the same room who each need a boosted microphone. The USBMix4 supplies phantom power on channel 1 only, so a second DynaCaster on channel 2 would run without its DYNAMITE booster and sound quieter than the first. For an in-room co-host, add a dynamic microphone that does not need phantom power to channel 2, or choose an interface with phantom power on every input.

Getting set up

• Connect the DynaCaster to channel 1 with an XLR cable (not included) and turn on phantom power.
• Flick the DYNAMITE switch on, then set the channel gain so your loudest speech stays clear of the clip LED.
• Speak a hand-width from the microphone and slightly off-axis to soften plosives.
• Connect the mixer to your computer by USB and choose it as the input in your recording software.
• Plug the eXtra 10 into the headphone output and set a comfortable monitoring level.

Key Features

• Cardioid dynamic broadcast microphone with switchable +30 dB DYNAMITE preamp
• Six tone settings via two recessed EQ switches on the microphone
• Internal three-layer pop filter and all-metal construction
• Four-channel mixer with two XLR / 1/4-inch combo inputs and two-band EQ
• Switchable +48 V phantom power on channel 1 and Hi-Z instrument mode on channel 2
• Class-compliant USB audio for Mac and PC with assignable record source and loopback
• Semi-closed monitoring headphones with 50 mm drivers and Realphones ESI Edition software

FAQ

Does this podcast starter kit work with two hosts?

It is designed for one host. You can add a second dynamic microphone that does not need phantom power on channel 2, but only channel 1 powers the DynaCaster’s DYNAMITE booster.

Do I need phantom power for a dynamic microphone?

Not for the capsule itself. The DynaCaster needs 48 V phantom power only to run its built-in DYNAMITE preamp, and channel 1 of the USBMix4 supplies it.

Is an XLR cable included?

No. You will need one XLR cable to connect the microphone to the mixer.

Can I record a guest on a phone or video call?

Yes. Set the USBMix4’s record source to loopback and it blends your microphone with your computer’s audio, so the remote guest and your voice are captured together.

Does it need drivers?

No. The USBMix4 is class compliant and works plug-and-play with Mac and PC.

Can I use the DynaCaster for music too?

Yes. Turn DYNAMITE off for a passive dynamic microphone suited to vocals, guitar amps and drums. Find more kits in our studio bundles range.