Something you can plug into the audio jack on your microphone or computer so you can listen to what the microphone is picking up while you're recording is a good idea. My co-narrator for King's Table used a Yeti Pro with a mic boom and a shock mount (he got the whole setup off of ebay) and had very good results with it as well.

I'm sure it would be fine, but I can't personally attest to it. Blue also makes a cheaper Snowball microphone that I've heard of people using. A quality USB microphone (a Blue Yeti is a very nice choice, one of the most popular microphones, and will only run you $130 on Amazon.A laptop would be nice (they're quieter), but I just used an old desktop. So here it is: the minimalist setup guide. My audio passed Audible's recording standards with flying colors and was well-received by listeners. I decided to make an attempt with the absolute minimum in equipment and setup using one of my short stories as a test case.

This can be intimidating, especially if you're not confident in your ability to judge 'good' audio from 'bad'. Just like your bike-fanatic friend who recommends a $3000 bike to get you to and from work, Audiophiles will often insist that you'll never produce good audio without a $1000+ home studio system (or better yet, rental time in a professional studio). Enthusiasts always recommend the very best equipment, and they tend to think all of it is indispensable.

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