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To download podcast episodes with podcast-dl, give it the show’s RSS feed URL—or a saved copy of that feed—choose where files should go, and optionally enable a JSON archive to track episodes already saved. The project is a command-line tool, not a graphical app; its README calls it “A humble CLI for downloading and archiving podcasts.”
What podcast-dl does—and what it needs
This article covers lightpohl/podcast-dl. It reads a podcast RSS feed and downloads episodes using audio links the feed makes available. A feed must contain usable episode audio links for downloads to work; documentation does not promise access to every podcast, closed platform, or protected feed.
Do not confuse it with a separate utility named podcastdl by johndoe31415. The package metadata for lightpohl/podcast-dl version 11.1.1 declares MIT licensing and Node.js >=18.17.0; those are package-specific details, not guarantees for future versions or the release binaries. Check the project’s README and releases for current instructions.
Install or run podcast-dl
The README documents two ways to get started: run the package with npx if Node.js is installed, or download a binary from the project’s releases page. For package version 11.1.1, the declared runtime requirement is Node.js 18.17.0 or later.
#1 Best Overall
- [Natural Audio Clarity] Operated with frequency response of 50Hz-16KHz, the podcasting XLR mic delivers balanced audio range, likely to resonate with your audience. Directional cardioid dynamic microphone corded will not exaggerate your voice, while rejects unwanted off-axis noise for vocal originality and intelligibility during your PS5 gaming streaming video recording. (Tips: Keep the top of end-addressing XLR dynamic microphone AM8 facing audio source, and suggested recording range is 2 to 6 in.)
- [XLR Connection Upgrade-Ability] To use XLR connection, connect the podcast microphone to an audio interface (or mixer) using a separate XLR cable (NOT Included) . Well-connected and smooth operation improves audio flexibility to make you explore various types of music recording singing. The streaming mic isolates the pristine and accurate sound from ambient noise with greater no interference and fidelity. (RGB and function key on mic are INACTIVE when using XLR connection.)
- [USB Connection with Handy Mute] Skip the hassle of setting something up and plug the cable to play the dynamic USB microphone directly, which suits for beginner creators or daily podcast. You can quickly control the gamer mic with tap-to-mute that is independent of computer/Macbook programs to keep privacy when live streaming. LED mute reminder helps you get rid of forgetting to cancel the mute. (RGB and function key are only available for USB connection, but NOT for XLR connection)
- [Soothing Controllable RGB] RGB ring on the desktop gaming microphone for PC, with 3 modes and more than 10 light colors collection, matches your PC gears accessories for gaming synergy even in dim room. You can control the RGB key button of the dynamic microphone USB directly for game color scheme gaming or live streaming. Configured memory function, the streaming microphone RGB no need to repeated selections after turnning off and brings itself alive when power on. (Only available for USB connection)
- [More Function Keys] Computer microphone with headphones jack upgrades your rhythm game experience and gets feedback whether the real-time voice your audience hear as expected. Get the desired level via monitoring volume control when gaming recording. Smooth mic gain knob on the PC microphone gaming has some resistance to the point, easily for audio attenuation or boost presence to less post-production audio. (Only available for USB connection)
npx podcast-dl --url <PODCAST_RSS_URL>Replace <PODCAST_RSS_URL> with the feed address. The command’s required input is either --url or --file; use one, not neither.
Choose a feed and output location
Use a remote RSS feed
Copy the podcast’s RSS feed URL and pass it with --url. The default output directory is ./{{podcast_title}}, with the podcast title supplying the folder name. Set --out-dir if you want a different destination.
Rank #2
- Studio-Quality Sound for Clear Podcast Recording – The K66 USB podcast microphone delivers studio-quality, broadcast-level audio using a high-performance condenser capsule and cardioid pickup pattern that focuses on your voice while reducing unwanted background noise. Designed as a reliable microphone for PC, it features a wide 40Hz–18kHz frequency response and a 46kHz sampling rate to reproduce rich lows, smooth mids, and clear highs for natural, detailed vocals. With –45dB ±3dB sensitivity, it captures balanced sound without distortion during expressive speaking. Ideal for podcasting, voice-over, online classes, meetings, and professional content creation.
- Intelligent Noise Reduction Mode for Cleaner Podcast Audio – This podcast microphone features an advanced Noise Reduction Mode designed for clearer, more focused voice recording in real-world environments. Press and hold the mute button to enable noise reduction (blue indicator). In this mode, the microphone helps reduce keyboard clicks, PC fan noise, air conditioner hum, and background chatter. Default Mode maintains a warm, natural vocal tone for quiet spaces. Designed as a reliable microphone for PC, it allows creators to identify the active mode instantly and adapt as needed, ensuring clear audio for podcasting, gaming, streaming, online classes, meetings, and recording.
- True Plug-and-Play USB Microphone with Wide Device Compatibility – Engineered for effortless plug-and-play use, the K66 USB microphone requires no drivers, apps, or software installation. Simply connect and start recording on Windows PC, Mac, laptops, PS4, PS5, and tablets. Included USB-C and Lightning adapters ensure seamless compatibility with iPhone, iPad, and modern USB-C phones and devices, making it easy to switch between desktop and mobile recording. Ideal for creators working across multiple platforms, this microphone delivers consistent, high-quality audio for YouTube, TikTok, Twitch, Zoom, Discord, OBS Studio, Streamlabs, podcasting, livestreaming, and professional voice recording.
- Real-Time Zero-Latency Monitoring with Adjustable Volume Control – This podcast microphone features real-time, zero-latency monitoring through a built-in 3.5mm headphone jack, allowing you to hear exactly what’s being recorded without delay. Designed as a reliable microphone for PC, it includes a dedicated monitoring volume control that lets you adjust headphone listening levels independently for accurate and comfortable audio monitoring. Real-time feedback helps identify distortion, background noise, or uneven volume before it affects your final recording, making this podcast microphone ideal for podcasting, streaming, online teaching, voice-over work, and professional content creation.
- Precision Audio Adjustment Knobs for Full Sound Control – This podcast microphone gives creators hands-on control with dedicated knobs for microphone volume, monitoring volume, and echo adjustment. Fine-tune mic gain to maintain clear, balanced vocal output, adjust headphone monitoring levels independently for comfortable listening, and add or reduce echo to enhance depth and presence. Designed as a reliable PC microphone, these intuitive physical controls allow fast, on-the-fly adjustments without software, helping identify distortion, background noise, or level inconsistencies instantly. Ideal for podcasting, streaming, ASMR, voice-overs, singing, and professional multi-platform recording.
npx podcast-dl --url <PODCAST_RSS_URL> --out-dir ./podcastsUse a local RSS file
If you have saved the feed as a file, pass its path with --file instead:
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One-click scans. No signup required.
npx podcast-dl --file ./feed.xml --out-dir ./podcastsDownloading still depends on the feed containing usable audio links. The documentation says the default extraction order checks an episode’s enclosure first and then its link; that order can be changed.
Rank #3
- Custom three-capsule array: This professional USB mic produces clear, powerful, broadcast-quality sound for YouTube videos, Twitch game streaming, podcasting, Zoom meetings, music recording and more
- Blue VO!CE software: Elevate your streamings and recordings with clear broadcast vocal sound and entertain your audience with enhanced effects, advanced modulation and HD audio samples
- Four pickup patterns: Flexible cardioid, omni, bidirectional, and stereo pickup patterns allow you to record in ways that would normally require multiple mics, for vocals, instruments and podcasts
- Onboard audio controls: Headphone volume, pattern selection, instant mute, and mic gain put you in charge of every level of the audio recording and streaming process
- Positionable design: Pivot the mic in relation to the sound source to optimize your sound quality thanks to the adjustable desktop stand and track your voice in real time with no-latency monitoring
Keep a JSON archive to track saved episodes
Add --archive to create or use a JSON record of saved items. When enabled without a path, the documented default is ./{{podcast_title}}/archive.json.
npx podcast-dl --url <PODCAST_RSS_URL> --archiveAccording to the README, podcast-dl checks this archive before downloading an episode or writing metadata and skips items already recorded as saved. This is duplicate tracking based on the archive record; it is not a documented integrity check, recovery system, or guarantee that files remain available.
Rank #4
- USB/XLR Connectivity-AM8T comes with a dynamic microphone and a boom arm stand. Versatile PC gaming microphone kit with USB compatibility plug and play for PC in streaming or recording, without additional drivers. And also, while in XLR compatibility for mixer or sound card connection, the XLR studio vocal microphone is good at vocal, podcast, or musical instruments creation.
- Vibrant RGB Light-The streaming microphone RGB illuminates your gaming setup with customizable RGB lighting for a visually stunning game experience. You can easily control the RGB mode/colors or turn off by simply tapping the RGB button without making any complicated settings on specific software.
- Enhanced Features-Featured -50dB sensitivity and cardioid polar pattern, the USB recording mic kit not easily pick up background noise for delivering clear audio. The PC gaming microphone USB kit includes a boom arm for easy positioning, mute button and gain knob for precise control, headphones jack for real-time monitoring, and headphone volume control while streaming or recording.
- Decent for Gamers and Streamers-The XLR microphone designed specifically to meet the needs of gaming enthusiasts and streamers. Ideal for various applications, including gaming, streaming, podcasting, voiceovers, and more, which also works with popular streaming software like OBS and Streamlabs.
- Recording Microphone Kit-The dynamic microphone is more convenient for working from home or going out for podcasts, and the complete accessories allow for faster recording work due to its simple straightforward assembly. External windscreen of the XLR dynamic microphone filter out plosive voice.
Control which episodes are downloaded and how they are named
Podcast feeds vary in the information they expose, so fields such as episode numbers, durations, or season tags may not be available for every show. podcast-dl documents these selection and naming controls:
- Limit and offset: cap the number of episodes selected or skip an initial number of feed entries.
- Date filters: select episodes before or after a date.
- Title matching: include or exclude episodes using a regular expression.
- Feed order: reverse the order in which episodes are processed.
- Season: filter by season when the feed includes the documented iTunes season tag.
- Filename templates: build episode filenames from available details such as title, release-date parts, episode number, audio URL, duration, and episode GUID.
Templates can also use the podcast title and link. The README documents filename cleanup options for stripping spaces, removing special characters, changing spaces to underscores or dashes, adjusting letter case, and trimming. Episode numbers can be zero-padded or offset. Treat optional fields as conditional: for example, duration is included when found, and season filtering depends on a season tag being present.
Best Value
- Cut the Cables, Free to Pod - Dynamic microphone MAONO PD200W hybrid enjoy 3 ways for broadcast audio: go wireless for maximum freedom, USB for easy plug-and-play on phone, tablet, or computer, or XLR for a pro-level stable setup with audio interfaces
- Simple Setup, Studio-Level Sounds - With a premium 30mm dynamic capsule and cardioid pickup, the mic delivers studio-quality vocal reproduction for podcasting, streaming, and vocal recording. It achieves an ultra-clean 82dB signal-to-noise ratio and handles up to 128dB SPL without distortion
- Two Voices, One Perfect Conversation - PD200W supports a single receiver to connect two wireless desktop mics for duo podcasts or interviews. Records each mic to its own track so you can edit with precision, and keep every conversation crystal clear. The device also captures audio and video in perfect sync directly on the camera, eliminating the need for post-production alignment. (Note: Camera/Lightning accessories are sold separately.)
- Focus on Voice, Not Noise - Built for No-worries Recording even without a soundproof booth. Cardioid microphone design and advanced three-stage noise cancellation ensures your voice remains rich and focused, effectively minimizing background noise and room echo for broadcast-ready clarity
- Personalize Your Sound with MaonoLink - Take full command of your audio directly from your PC or smartphone through the MaonoLink app. Access 4 master-tuned preset modes to instantly adapt to different scenarios, while the powerful app enables precise adjustments to key parameters like EQ and reverb for a personalized sound profile
Save metadata, images, and transcripts
Separate options can write podcast-level metadata JSON, per-episode metadata JSON, episode images, and transcripts. Transcript type preference is configurable, but the presence of a transcript depends on what the feed or episode provides. These are documented outputs, not evidence that every podcast supplies complete metadata or transcripts.
Use ffmpeg only for optional audio processing
Basic downloading is distinct from audio conversion and processing. The documented --embed-metadata, --audio-format, --adjust-bitrate, and --mono operations require ffmpeg. Formats listed in the README are MP3, M4A, AAC, Opus, Ogg, FLAC, and WAV. Install ffmpeg and enable the relevant option only if you need one of these operations; the project documentation does not imply that every download is converted or has metadata embedded by default.
Run a command after each download
The --exec option runs a command after each downloaded episode. Its documented template variables include paths and the audio URL, allowing a separate command to act on a downloaded file. This is an optional automation step, distinct from the downloader’s core RSS retrieval workflow.
A practical first-run sequence
- Find the show’s RSS feed URL, or save its RSS XML locally.
- Run
npx podcast-dl --url <PODCAST_RSS_URL>, or substitute--file ./feed.xmlfor local input. - Add
--out-dir ./podcastsif the default title-based folder is not where you want the files. - Add
--archiveif you want podcast-dl to track items it has recorded as saved. - Use limits, date filters, title matching, ordering, or filename templates to narrow and organize the selection.
- Install ffmpeg and enable a processing option only when conversion, bitrate adjustment, mono audio, or embedded metadata is required.
The README and release binaries can change over time. Use the project page for the current option syntax, and follow applicable rights and feed terms when saving episodes; the project documentation does not provide legal guidance on those questions.
Quick Recap
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