Don't ask me why, all will eventually become clearer as the year goes on, but I am looking at possibly producing, or assisting to produce a regular podcast. I've had a look at the podcasts kits, which are basically mic / in-line mic-preamp and 2/3/4 channel mixer USB/Firewire to PC/iMac, then software to suit. I'll be buying 2 x kits. One is for someone who is really not technically minded at all, and one for me. I'd prefer to buy identical kits, plus buy kits rather than make them up myself. Anyone got any recommendations for kits / sites / software? I've had a look online and have a vague idea, but would prefer to get some impartial practical advice from someone who's either used these kits, produced a podcast and established good and bad points, or issues they had to iron out. I'll be going out obtaining interviews, recording them to either DAT or Minidisc and also using pre-recorded material, stabs & music. I really don't need an expensive kit, but the mics are probably the most important plus the editing software. Anyone?
Youve got garageband Would work great to edit stuff together. Use skype if you need to record voice online.
He's on PC, I am Mac so I was hoping to use the same package / applications - makes me easier to explain things to the other person involved (I'll run my iMac in WinXP so it is more or less the same environment).
http://www.freepodcastcourse.com/ Umm, a podcast is basically an audio feed. You can record audio in any format and convert it, technically. All you need is a microphone and an interface to your computer. The most basic setup is a headset with microphone, plugged into your sound card. Easy! Podcasts are basically MP3/MP4 files with attached RSS feeds. You'll find free generators, such as this: http://www.podcastblaster.com/podcast-feed/ Yup, that's right. They're selling software / manuals, but actually tell you on their site how to do everything for free! Seriously, don't get ripped off. Mic + interface (can be sound card) + recording software + feed generator
Thanks for that, I am going to see whether I can get an external mixing desk, nothing with too many inputs, but enough to take MD/DAT/CD/MIC. Daft them selling stuff and giving you all that info on how to do it for free.
Yeah, I found a firewire version in USA - can't see that it would make that much of a difference though as I really don't talk that fast lol I used to have a 24 channel Behringer Eurodesk - wished I had kept it, but moved to a Yamaha Digital desk, which was no end of trouble. Normally Yamaha stuff is amazing, but this was second-hand and I suspect had been badly mistreated. Having utterly slated Minidisc a month or so ago on here regarding mechanism quality I discover that my brother loves it and wants to use it, so I had to agree to use a pro deck. Managed to obtain this (which would do the trick for the podcasting if I could get a small 4 or 5 channel desk). Not convinced the EV vocal mic is what I am looking for though. Contains a remote AKG wireless mic, standard EV vocal mic, Sony DJ headphones and an HHB Pro MDP500 recorder (ugh!)
Either mic should be fine. Don't get too elitist - a mic is a mic pretty much. When it comes to recording speech, a standard dynamic mic will do the job. And MiniDisc is OK. It was quite common for field recordings at one stage. We used MiniDisc to play backing tracks live back when I was involved in the industry. Never had a problem that I can recall. We used them at college, too. USA? Behringer have UK dealers - Turnkey was a stockist til they went bust. Off the top of my head, you could try Guitar, Amp and Keyboard centre (gak.co.uk I think), Thomann (thomann.de), Dolphin Music, soundslive.co.uk... umm, my mind's gone blank but there are more. Oh, or a little site called eBay ;-) Apparently The Guitar Store in Argyle St, Glasgow are a stockist of Behringer.
Hey, who's elitist, I don't mind the manufacturer it's the fact that instead of it being good for say, vocal pick-up in a journalistic sense, it is better for singing vocals due to the pattern. It's very tight. Move it a fraction and it drops off and that's not good when you are recording from person to person in an interview. People have a nasty habit of either starting to speak before the mic is under their lips or just as you've pulled the mic away and the drop off with this EV mic is immediate. I love the AKG one though, it is a very sensitive mic and seems to pick up a lot, but I can only use that with a mains supply. Darn it! I am bidding on a Sony mic I have used before for recording live music. It was great, so hopefully it will do. The EV can become a desktop mic! When I mentioned the USA, I was meaning I found the particular Behringer product I wanted in the USA and not yet in the UK, either via Dolphin (were I've just bought a pile of MDs) or eBay, which seems odd. Turnkey & Sound Control dying was a real shame. I bought the Eurodesk from Turnkey...15 years ago. Sound Control were my local BIG dealership. The Guitar Store is awful, they might have small Behringer items though. I much prefer the mighty 'Guitar Guitar' based right up at the other end of Argyle Street. They customised my Fender acoustic and a damned good job they did - horrah! You spend a great deal of time on Google! You should buy that Google server lol
Haha! That was all off the top of my head, actually - other than looking on the Behringer site for your local dealer ;-) I get monthly mail-outs from Thomann still. All you need is one of their bog standard mini desks. The all-pot ones are fine, really, but they have versions with short faders if you'd prefer. I have a Xenyx. It does the job - or would but I need a new PSU. Downfall with Behringers - I've seen a few desks where the PSU craps out! F**king painful when you're monitoring on cans at the time! :dammit: I did an interview on BBC World Service a loooong time ago. It was amazing how basic their gear was. IIRC a Sony portable DAT with a small Sony mic. Yeah, but you want a hypercardioid or shotgun if you're outside - that's a DESIRED feature to minimize wind noise! ;-) Here are a couple of OB mics: http://www.dolphinmusic.co.uk/shop/flypage/product_id/5801 http://www.dvcreators.net/sennheiser-md46-handheld-interview-microphone/ Some articles that might be useful: http://noisetheatre.blogspot.com/2006/06/interview-microphones.html http://www.oade.com/Tapers_Section/faq-mic.html This company has quite a good range: http://www.solidstatesound.co.uk/Mics - Shotgun.htm http://www.solidstatesound.co.uk/Mics - Report.htm Are you looking for an OB mic, then?
I'll be looking for an OB & decent desktop mic. Sony microphones used to be fantastic. My late Grandfather was a bit of an audio buff and had this amazing 1970's Sony portable cassette recorder that the BBC used to use for conducting interviews. Eventually it gave up the ghost, but the microphone just went on and on. I used it for several recordings about 10 years ago and the microphone out performed all of the other mics I could lay my hands on. Actually, I want THAT microphone back! The last microphone I was pleased with was a Sennheiser (spelling) and frankly I'd settle for a Sennheiser broadcast microphone and a shotgun. The auction I am tracking at the moment is for a Sony shotgun. I'll have a look at the links you sent me! ;-)
Wouldnt it be better if he runs OSX (hackintosh) considering the apps available in that OS? BTW, podscasts are so 2004! now it's all about twitter:lol:
My brother can switch his PC on, and from that moment onwards it becomes a mystery tour! I don't want to start him off with a completely new OS. It's also the reason I want to be using a duplicate kit because if anything goes wrong I either know what he means (in his non-tech-talk (example: 'The whotsit just froze on me because I pressed the thingy down')), or I can figure it out! Yeah, I heard all about Twitter (never used it) a few months back. I've never bothered to check it out, but re Podcast.... bring on 2004! :nod:
Yeah that sounds like my entire family too... Dont bother with twitter, the 140-character limit means you are completely unable to write anything meaningful. Anyway, just messing with you on the podcast part, is that it was the "it" thing back then, when the ipod and not the iphone was all the rage.
