1. "RE: podcasting/recording without a studio" In response to Reply # 0
I do a fantasy football podcast on a budget. It's me and a bud, and I have my phone connected to the mixer to take calls using a mix minus. I tried doing Skype for calls, but I found a regular cell phone line to be much better quality. Skype got choppy on me and the quality wasn't as good.
I skimmed the article - I personally wouldn't mess with a condenser mic if you're just starting out, unless you have great acoustic conditions. Condenser mics pick up everything -- fans, AC running, fridge running, cars driving by. And they cost more. A dynamic mic will sound fine and not pick up the background noise and hum.
Here is my setup
-Behringer XM8500 mics (2 of them) with Shure foam ball windscreens and desk stands -Behringer X1204USB mixer -Headphone amp to split the monitor to 2 pairs of headphones. Pyle Pro PHA40 -iPad for sounds using the Soundboard app by Ambrosia software. Ambrosia is defunct and Soundboard is not supported or updated, but it works well.
I can explain the phone hook up, or you can google mix minus for how to set that up.
I connect it to a Macbook Pro through USB. I record with Audacity and run the raw recording through Ableton Live for compression and editing. There are probably cheaper options for compression, but I already had Ableton.
I spent more than I needed to on the mixer, but I figured I'd get something with more inputs than I need in case future projects call for it. That's a $180 mixer (although I paid $150). You can get a USB mixer with fewer inputs for well under $100.
>which one of y'all does this? > >what do you use to record? >usb mic or analog mic w/ a usb interface? > >i think i'm going to start up a podcast. it'd be interview >style. usually just one guest but maybe a few at a time >depending on the theme > >this article was super helpful but im wondering if anyone has >experience/examples of using slightly less. at least for the >outset. > >http://transom.org/2015/podcasting-basics-part-1-voice-recording-gear/ > >
10. "what monitor do you use? just curious" In response to Reply # 1
i wonder if it makes sense to buy smaller ones since i have to carry this around. not that the rockits are terribly big. if i could record bags on the subway i should be able to carry a monitor
14. "RE: what monitor do you use? just curious" In response to Reply # 10 Tue Jun-30-15 03:07 PM by Wonderl33t
I meant monitor signal. The mixer has a monitor output that goes to the headphone amp, and the amp splits it to 2 pairs of headphones.
When I edit, I just use the laptop speakers or my Sennheiser HD 497 headphones. Or if I really want to hear the detail, I have Alesis M1 520 monitors in the other room on my desktop PC. ______________________________ http://i.imgur.com/81XSukd.jpg <-- Happy trails
15. "ahhhh. ok yeah i started to think about it after i asked like" In response to Reply # 14
'wouldn't there be an echo of the monitor on the recording?" lol.
but yeah for editing/playback im good on that. i would like the headphone split though. i doubt i'd interview 2+ people at a time a lot but i do know i'll be doing it once in my initial episodes.
19. "RE: the mixer has 4 mic inputs too?" In response to Reply # 18
Yeah, the X1204USB has 4 XLR mic inputs as well as a couple of extra line-in inputs. ______________________________ http://i.imgur.com/81XSukd.jpg <-- Happy trails
"Where was the peace when we were getting shot? Where's the peace when we were getting laid out? Where is the peace when we are in the back of ambulances? Where is the peace then? They don't want to call for peace then.
5. "someone suggested snowballs" In response to Reply # 3
im hearing different things about them though
lol man if i had studio access i wouldn't have to worry about any of this. i know of some resources but i feel the likelihood that they'll let me use their space free depends on the initial output
PoppaGeorge Member since Nov 07th 2004 10384 posts
Tue Jun-30-15 01:54 PM
7. "sheeit... I can duplicate pretty much every studio function in a PC" In response to Reply # 5
Even the oldest of my PC's can pull off high quality recording (an old 933MHz P3 running XP), it's all about knowing what you're doing and what your limitations are. In this day and age, unless you just want to blow money, there's very few scenarios where it would be worth it to invest in studio time.
I don't know how it is in Mac land, but I could pull off an entire studio for free under Windows complete with high quality compression (multi-band if necessary), multi track audio recording, high quality effects, and all that (legit free, not cracked warez full of malware and shit).
All you would need would be mics, headphones, and monitors if you want. ---------------------------
"Where was the peace when we were getting shot? Where's the peace when we were getting laid out? Where is the peace when we are in the back of ambulances? Where is the peace then? They don't want to call for peace then.
8. "well i wouldnt need any of it is my point" In response to Reply # 7 Tue Jun-30-15 02:03 PM by teefiveten
i wouldnt pay for studio time
i have monitors and i could always stand to have an extra pair of studio headphones (i already have a pair I dj with) so buying those wouldn't seem to be an outlay for me
the initial reviews of mics had me shook price wise but the berhinger route seems to be plausible and extremely inexpensive. i may skip the mixer and amp and go straight for a usb interface. audacity is free for mac and i already have ableton so it looks like i can do this for under $150
ideally i could have access to just walk in a space and record but i need something to show first.
also, part of the studio space appeal is having a location to have guests come to since it'd be a guest driven podcast. i live in NYC. it's hard to escape noise. i can't exactly interview folks in my bathroom.
Full blown multi-track DAW for dirt cheap. The demo is the full program, complete with saving and everything enabled (just a nag screen when you first start it). I've been using it more and more lately and I'm going to pull the trigger on buying it soon.
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"Where was the peace when we were getting shot? Where's the peace when we were getting laid out? Where is the peace when we are in the back of ambulances? Where is the peace then? They don't want to call for peace then.
9. "you don't need a studio" In response to Reply # 0 Tue Jun-30-15 02:12 PM by Rjcc
a decent mic and an amp can make you sound amazing, it's just all in the editing to make sure the levels are right and everything is consistent.
I always used a snowball mic
I think the only thing we used that cost money, was soundflower to pipe the audio over for our live feed while we were recording. I don't know what software out eidtors used to sync it all up, but we weren't even in the same room, we were talking over skype, recording mp3s independently then putting it together.
24. "yeah im definitely trying to avoid the phone" In response to Reply # 22
my subjects mostly live in NYC or will be passing through so i am trying to avoid that.
i'm also thinking about using my office on a saturday/sunday to record. lol. it'll be quiet. i may have to worry about wind b/c it's high up in the building. once i get all the gear i'm going to do a test run.
i'd have to monitor and be in the cast so i need something i can eyeball fast that's not big and has a grillion buttons. granted there shouldn't be too much or any adjusting once we get started but just in case there is a need to, i'd like it to be compact and easy to read.
28. "It depends on what you're going for." In response to Reply # 25
I personally prefer to do all of the music and sounds live because it's a more immersive experience for the cast and callers. But it is hard to mix and host, so there will be some mistakes and it won't sound as professional. I like a little bit of meta-radio, though. I think it's entertaining.
>if there's a person not on-mic doing the mixing that's a good >setup. > >but most of the vocal audio should probably be recorded on >separate tracks, sans any music. > >add music etc. in post production.
I've been accused of being an M-Audio shill elsewhere on the internet, but I've been using their products since the mid 90's when they were called Midiman. I've never had a problem with any of their stuff.
Tascam... I was a big Tascam fan in the late 80's and throughout the 90's, but I've been wary of their audio interfaces, particularly the long term support of them.
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"Where was the peace when we were getting shot? Where's the peace when we were getting laid out? Where is the peace when we are in the back of ambulances? Where is the peace then? They don't want to call for peace then.
38. "tascam has what i want more though" In response to Reply # 37
it's got individual headphone amps and the LED indicators so i can quickly see if someone's input is too hot
the M audio doesn't have either. i don't need the headphone so much but i'd like something other than just the software i'd be using to record to tell me if my levels are too high
sorry thats all i got (.. ) ~~~~ When you are born, you cry, and the world rejoices. Live so that when you die, you rejoice, and the world cries. ~~~~ You cannot hate people for their own good.
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