Brian Heater, a notable figure in the tech journalism world, currently serves as the Hardware Editor at TechCrunch. His illustrious career spans across various prestigious publications, including Spin, Wired, Playboy, Entertainment Weekly, The Onion, Boing Boing, Publishers Weekly, and The Daily Beast. Beyond his role at TechCrunch, Heater hosts the weekly Boing Boing interview podcast RiYL and has made regular contributions to NPR.
Residing in a Queens apartment with a rabbit named Juniper, Heater maintains a home recording setup that reflects his commitment to quality audio production. Even during his tenure at ESPN/FiveThirtyEight, he ensured his recording environment was up to par. His choice of equipment includes an Electro-Voice RE27N/D microphone, valued at $500, which he runs through a FocusRite Scarlett 2i2 interface. This setup allows him to control mic levels seamlessly and connect with others over platforms like Zoom or Riverside.
“I run my mic through the FocusRite Scarlett 2i2, a simple but mighty interface that lets me control my mic levels and route right into my computer, where I am often joining people over Zoom or Riverside.” – Jody Avirgan
Heater has a preference for the Rode NTH-100 headphones over the more commonly used Sony MDR-7506. This choice highlights his unique approach to audio equipment, setting him apart from other podcasters.
“The one place I deviate from the typical Podcaster 101 kit is in my headphones. Everyone has the Sony MDR-7506, and I’ve run through my fair share of those, but I really like the Rode NTH-100 headphones.” – Jody Avirgan
For editing purposes, Heater relies heavily on Descript for both audio and video tasks. He has been using Descript for years and now completes nearly all his editing within the platform. In addition to this, he records a local backup file using Hindenburg and then saves it to Dropbox. This meticulous process ensures high-quality content for his audience.
Heater's expertise extends beyond audio production. He creates social videos for projects like "This Day" and "Summer Album / Winter Album," as well as original content for Instagram. His versatility in handling various media formats showcases his adaptability in the ever-evolving digital landscape.
“Like a lot of podcasters, I’ve been doing more and more video stuff lately.” – Jody Avirgan
Throughout his career, Heater has contributed to several leading tech publications such as Engadget, PCMag, Laptop, and Tech Times. He even held the position of Managing Editor at Tech Times. His journey took a significant turn when he left ESPN just three weeks before the pandemic hit. In a moment of consideration, he reached out to ESPN, humorously offering to return the microphone he purchased for hosting the "30 for 30" series.
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