If you’re getting ready to launch a new podcast, you may be considering one of Squarock’s podcast equipment bundles. These affordable kits contain (almost) everything you need to record, mix, and publish a podcast.
There are 10 different podcast bundles you can get from Squarock, although we’re only focusing on the two most popular here: the COMMANDER M1 bundle for two and the COMMANDER M100 bundle for two. Each of these comes with a podcast mixer/interface, microphone(s), cables, and unique bells and whistles.
We’ll compare and contrast both bundles below so you can determine which option is right for you. We’ll also compare three different alternatives in case Squarock’s options don’t meet your needs.
- Squarock Podcast Equipment Bundles at a glance
- Squarock Podcast Equipment Bundle features
- Squarock Podcast Equipment Bundle hardware
- Should you buy the COMMANDER M1 bundle or the COMMANDER M100 bundle?
- How to use Squarock Podcast Equipment Bundles
- Other Squarock Podcast Equipment Bundles
- Alternatives to Squarock Podcast Equipment Bundles
- The bottom line on Squarock Podcast Equipment Bundles
Squarock Podcast Equipment Bundles at a glance
How do Squarock’s podcast equipment bundles compare?
Get the details at a glance:
| Bundle | Headphones | Microphone | Software | Miscellaneous | Price |
| COMMANDER M1 bundle for two | Two 3.5 mm wired earphones | 2 STU1 condenser microphones; 2 mic suspension booms; 2 scissor arms; 2 mic shock mounts; 2 mic head cover foams | n/a | 2 XLR cables; 2 USB data cables; two 3.5 mm to 3.5 mm audio cables; six Hook and Loop tape sets (Velcro); user manual. | $299.99 USD |
| COMMANDER M100 bundle for two | Two 3.5 mm wired earphones | 2 dynamic microphones; 2 mic suspension booms; 2 scissor arms; 2 mic shock mounts; 2 mic head cover foams | n/a | 2 XLR cables; 2 USB data cables; two 3.5 mm to 3.5 mm audio cables; six two Hook and Loop tape sets (Velcro); user manual | $189.99 USD |
Squarock Podcast Equipment Bundle features
Squarock is a newer podcast equipment company that’s been offering podcast bundles since 2020. They are widely known for their COMMANDER M1 Kickstarter campaign, and today offer kits with professional-grade equipment.
The COMMANDER M1 and COMMANDER M100 are some of Squarock’s most popular mixer bundles. They also come with plenty of equipment to make your show a reality.
Here’s what you can expect from each one.
COMMANDER M1 bundle
Some people see the COMMANDER M1 as a budget alternative to the RØDE podcast bundle (more on this later). It includes everything you need to get your show up and running, including a microphone, M1 mixer, and a pair of earphones.
Here are some features of the COMMANDER M1:
- 48-volt phantom power
- 4 microphone-in inputs
- Modes for noise reduction, auto-tune, music only, loopback, side chain, and more
- 8 customizable sound pad buttons (and 4 additional buttons with 8 preset sound effects)
- 4 adjustable knobs for treble, mids, base, and pitch
- Bluetooth connection for music playback
COMMANDER M1 bundle pros
- This bundle comes with extra accessories like shock mounts and foam covers.
- It costs much less than most of its competitors, which proves you don’t need a large budget to get started with podcasting.
- The bundle is a fan favorite for customers. As of the time of writing, it’s maintained a five-star rating.
COMMANDER M1 bundle cons
- You only get earphones — not headphones — with this bundle. You may need to purchase higher-quality podcast headphones.
- The COMMANDER M1 bundle does not support USB microphones. This may be frustrating if you’re hoping to use USB mics you already own.
- You don’t get any editing software with your purchase of the COMMANDER M1.
- You sometimes need adapter cables to connect your phone to the COMMANDER M1, such as a Lightning or Type-C to 3.5mm. But this podcast bundle doesn’t come with these — you need to purchase all adapters separately.
COMMANDER M100 bundle
The COMMANDER M100 offers everything you need to start a two-person show. In return for a lower price point, you get a slightly different podcast interface.
Here are some features of the COMMANDER M100 compared with the COMMANDER M1:
- 4,000 mAh battery capacity (vs 5,000 mAh battery capacity)
- LED light indicator (vs an LED screen)
- ABS knobs (vs aluminum knobs)GAME mode (vs no GAME mode)
- 32GB Sound effect memory (vs 64MB)
COMMANDER M100 bundle pros
- You get a lot for a little with the COMMANDER M100 bundle. It’s one of the most affordable podcast equipment bundles of its kind on the market.
- The mixer itself is designed for streaming, which means you can pre-record shows or broadcast them live via streaming services.
- The addition of hook and loop tape (aka Velcro) makes it easy to secure your recording equipment.
COMMANDER M100 bundle cons
- You don’t get editing software with your purchase of the COMMANDER M100.
- Squarock doesn’t go into detail about their condenser mic specifications. If you need specific features from your podcast microphones, these may not be what you’re looking for.
- Squarock doesn’t provide detailed information about the specs or functionality of the M100. However, this may not be a limitation if you’re not looking for specific capabilities or limitations.
Squarock Podcast Equipment Bundle hardware
Both Squarock equipment bundles come with an interface/mixer, earphones, cables, and microphones. The biggest difference is the included microphones — one kit works with dynamic mics, while the other works with condensers.
This is what you get with the COMMANDER M1 bundle:
- Your M1 mixer
- STU1 condenser microphone (x2)
- Microphone suspension boom (x2)
- Scissor arms (x2)
- Microphone shock mounts (x2)
- Microphone head cover foams (x2)
- 3.5 mm wired earphones (x2)
- 2 XLR cables, USB data cables, and 3.5 mm to 3.5 mm audio cables
- Six hook and loop tape sets (Velcro)
- Your user manual
And this is what you get with the COMMANDER M100 bundle:
- Your M100 mixer
- Dynamic microphones (x2)
- Microphone suspension boom (x2)
- Scissor arms (x2)
- Microphone shock mounts (x2)
- Microphone head cover foam (x2)
- 3.5 mm wired earphones (x2)
- Two XLR cables, USB data cables, and 3.5 mm to 3.5 mm audio cables
- Six hook and loop tape sets (Velcro)
- An instruction manual
You should know neither bundle comes with podcast editing software. If you don’t already own a DAW, you need to download or purchase software separately.
Should you buy the COMMANDER M1 bundle or the COMMANDER M100 bundle?
The answer to this depends on your specific use case.
First, you should consider each bundle’s differences:
| COMMANDER M1 | COMMANDER M100 | |
| OTG/PC ports | 1 | 2 |
| GAME mode | X | Check |
| Microphone type | Condenser | Dynamic |
| SFX memory | 32GB | 64GB |
| Build material | Aluminum | ABS (plastic) |
Since the COMMANDER M1 was built for higher-quality sound, it’s best suited for podcasters who want to emulate a professional studio environment. It also comes with double the SFX memory and a more durable outer shell.
The COMMANDER M100 is best for podcasters on a budget. It’s also compatible with live streaming platforms so you can pre-record or broadcast your show in real-time.
How to use Squarock Podcast Equipment Bundles
Squarock’s podcast equipment bundles come with instruction manuals. Their step-by-step setup is relatively intuitive — it only takes minutes to start recording.
Here’s how to set up your Squarock podcast equipment bundle:
- Unbox your items and set up your microphone. Depending on your recording environment or podcast bundle, this may include screwing in the stabilizer, attaching a boom, and securing the pop filter.
- Connect your mixer to your recording device. Squarock supports Windows, Mac, Linux, and even the PS5. You also don’t need to download drivers to support your editing software (ranging from Adobe Podcast Enhance to Audacity or Audition).
- Connect your earphones to the monitor.
- Connect your microphone(s). Keep in mind the COMMANDER M1 does not support dynamic microphones.
- If you want to play music in the background, you can connect your phone with the 3.5mm cable. Just keep in mind you may need to purchase an adapter, which doesn’t come with these podcast bundles.
- Turn on the interface and adjust your audio accordingly.
- You’re all set. You can now record, edit, publish, and promote your podcast.
Here’s a visual guide to setting up the COMMANDER M1:
The same general steps apply to the COMMANDER M100 bundle.
Other Squarock Podcast Equipment Bundles
Curious about the other bundles Squarock has to offer?
Here are three options you may want to investigate:
- Podcast Equipment Bundle SR-AP503: Comes with an audio interface/mixer, one microphone, one XLR-3.5MM cable, one suspension boom scissor arm, one wired earphones, two USB type C cables, two 3.5mm TRRS audio cables, and a user manual for $109.99 USD.
- Podcast Equipment Kit SR-AP502S(II): Comes with your audio interface/mixer, one microphone, one XLR-3.5MM cable, one foam hood, one set of wired earphones, one charging cable, two 3.5mm TRRS audio cables, and a user manual for $89.99 USD.
- Podcast Equipment Bundle for 2: Comes with your audio interface, two sets of wired earphones, two foam hoods, two dynamic microphones, one XLR-3.5MM cable, two USB type C cables, two 3.5mm TRRS audio cables, and a user manual for $229.99 USD.
Alternatives to Squarock Podcast Equipment Bundles
Squarock’s cost-effective equipment can get your podcast off the ground. But its value-centric bundles may not offer staying power, especially as your show starts to grow.
Below are three popular Squarock alternatives that may be closer to what you’re looking for.
Focusrite Podcast Bundle
The Vocaster Two and the Scarlett 2i2 are Focusrite’s closest alternatives to Squarock’s bundles. But instead of adding mic accessories and extra hook and loop tape, each purchase comes with limited access to podcast recording software and closed-back headphones for easier editing workflows.
Keep in mind you get what you pay for — Focusrite bundles are much more expensive than Squarock. They do, however, come with a three-year warranty, which means you don’t have to worry about the cost of mechanical failure.
We wrote a full guide to Focusrite bundles here.
Maono Podcast Bundle
Maono is similar to Squarock in several ways: it offers dozens of equipment bundles at comparative prices. Two of its most popular bundles — the Maonocaster E2 and the Maonocaster Lite — come with earphones, pop filters, and cable accessories.
Another similarity to Squarock’s bundles is that Maonocaster bundles don’t include editing software. If you’re not already working with a podcast DAW, you need to purchase a paid platform or use podcast AI tools instead.
You can learn more in our guide to Maono podcast bundles.
RØDE Podcast Bundle
The PodMic 2-Person Podcast Kit is one of RØDE’s most popular podcast equipment bundles. Each box comes with a Rodecaster Pro II, dynamic microphones, and NTH-100 headphones, as well as accessories like desk boom arms and XLR cables.
Because the PodMic 2 is a top-of-the-line bundle, it’s also at the top of most people’s budgets. This is a five-figure purchase at the very least, although in return you receive high-quality, long-lasting equipment.
The bottom line on Squarock Podcast Equipment Bundles
Squarock’s podcast equipment bundles offer plenty of value for your dollar. They’re also easy to use and simple to set up, making your next recording session a breeze.
But if you’re looking for an easier way to streamline podcast production, there’s not much Squarock’s bundles can do. You need the help of professionals if you want to stand out from the crowd.
At The Podcast Consultant, we make it easy to produce quality podcasts through whatever equipment you use. We can help with audio and video production, podcast audits, and even social media collateral to help you find the right audience.
Is your business podcast a good fit for our services? You can book a discovery call to find out. Once we chat about your needs and goals, we can confirm if we are a good fit and discuss the next steps.