(Part 2) Best products from r/podcasts

I don't have a good answer to your first question, but to answer the second; The mics are a good choice, but the kit doesn't come with a way to hook all of them up into a single computer. You could attach them through USB to seperate computers, then import all the recordings onto the computer you edit on, but that's a lot more of a hassle than it needs to be.

If the company is paying for everything, I'd recommend something like the Rodecaster Pro interface. It has four XLR inputs, plus a phone input for people calling in (or to use for other sound effects), and lets all the audio run into a single computer. You would still need a headphone preamp and the headphones (although you really only need a nicer set for one person, whoever is mixing/editing), and the mics of course, but it would be a convenient solution if the company will be paying for it. Otherwise, I'd say go with what you've got, and find a good four-input interface (something like the Behringer UMC404HD), but I don't know of a great way to have phone calls recorded using an interface.

As for your final question, I'd recommend setting up a discord server (it's really simple) over phone-ins. You can get a bot for it (I use Craig) that records everyone individually, and lets you have a .WAV of the tracks.

​

It's hard to give a definitive "what's going to work best" without knowing the budget you have to work with, but hopefully that helps! Also, feel free to ask any other questions and I'll do my best to answer, or at least point you in the right direction to someone/somewhere that can.

Well start at the beginning. People notice high quality recordings. If you listen to your Pod on headphones, crappy mics then get compressed to crappy MP3s is tedious to listen to.

If there are 2 or you, plan on spending a couple hundred bucks to solve this.

I use Sterling ST-51 Condenser mics- You can generally get them on sale at Guitar Center for $70 bucks. Here is a link to amazon

After you get that you'll need two XLR cables
After that you'll need some sort if interface. I have never had more than four people on my podcast, but the nature of podcasting generally means you'll get good a production, go as big as you can early, someone somewhere will want to pay you to produce for them. It's better to have the flexibility out of the box then have to cluge around with shitty hardware. However if you're on a tight budget there are other things you can get. Audio to computer interfaces give you more flexibility because you can add things like music live during a recording from other devices, allow you to use Skype (which isn't obvious when you have high quality mics and interfaces) I trend toward Focusrite, they make Bad Ass equipment. The Scarlett series works well for me. They don't have a loop back feature, but if you get that far let me know and ill tell you how to do it for the cost of a $1 RCA cable.

You can get linear PCM recorders Here and Here for about the same money as an audio interface, so its your call. They put it all in one package, but in the long run I think you'll end up getting tired of moving large files to your software for editing. I use the Tascam DR-40 and give it to people who are traveling - it is STELLAR and less than anything else on the market, because its old. But it's record out of the box- Easy.

Now Software- Ive used pay versions of Cakewalk. Ive used Audacity, which is great but clunky. I have landed on Reaper. It is the most full featured, open, continually updated, solid, go to, piece of software you can find. They're not dumb, they let you download a fully functioning copy for free. Its Not hampered in anyway. If you don't buy a license then you have to sit through a click away every time it opens. Better yet, just try it for a while, then you will appreciate it and want to buy the $60 license for small business or home use. Brilliant in every way.

That set up will last you for years and give you virtually pro quality production capability.

TL;DR
Mics (and Cables) Sterling ST-51 or similar (less than $100 ea)
Audio interface ( Many in, Many out, USB 2, Focusrite or Tascam)
Software (There can only be one, Reaper, Hands down)


Edit: My pods are at Defensesecurity.org , Homeready.org and Renman24.com - if you listen to the first ones and then listen to the latest ones you'll notice my equipment improvement, and editing style change. Its a muscle, work it out and it'll get better.

Edit 2: spelling and links
Edit 3: Links again

Here are my recommendations:


Books on making radio:

• Out on the Wire taught me different formulas for how to write a good story. I give it 4 stars, it was great!
  
• Sound Reporting is like the NPR handbook. It covers all the different roles people have when making a radio show and goes into detail on how everyone completes their task. Everything from ways to book guests, to what a producer does, to how to sound like you aren't reading on the air. 4 stars too, great book!
  
  
• Reality Radio is a book containing short 1 off stories from many famous radio hosts (mostly from NPR). If you want the audio version that is very much abridged, you can check out these 4 audio clips from different conferences: Reality Radio: Events Reality Radio: Bob Edwards Reality Radio: 7th Ave Reality Radio: Songs
  
  
• Radio Diaries (Free) is both a physical book and I linked to their free book. It teaches you how to turn a personal story into a good radio show. Really great tips here and super quick to read! 5 stars!
  
  
  For marketing and promoting I recommend Gary Vaynerchuck's Crush It, or any book by Seth Godin. Gary will motivate you to make something that kicks ass, and Seth will teach you ways to market it successfully. Neither talk about podcasting, it's just marketing in general.
  

There's a ton of great advice here already, but here's something I wish somebody told me at the beginning: Don't start with a USB mic. Get a Mixer and an XLR mic. I can't tell you how much I wish I'd have gone with this setup at the beginning, to allow for expansion in the future. Even just a little Behringer XENYX Q802 USB for myself and a potential guest, and an Audio Technica AT2020 XLR would have been an amazing way to kick things off. It's also crucial to include a pop filter and XLR cable, so this AT2020 bundle with the mic, pop filter, and cable all included, is a great deal. This is a much more solid investment, and as I said, I wish somebody told me this when I started.
Edit:
Even better, there's this AT2035 bundle. The AT2020 and AT2035 mics are very similar in quality, but the AT2035 comes with a shock mount, which is a great addition to any setup, in order to avoid all those little bump and vibration noises.

We had a discussion with some high school students in Zurich a few months back. Some of their questions might give you ideas as to what developing broadcasters wanted to know after hearing some of our podcasts. The link is right here.

As a former "telecommunications" student, I was disappointed that I only learned some basics about editing, but not much about effective storytelling, fact-checking, booking guests/interviews, inflection/speech, and layouts/scripting.

Most of what we picked up was by creating the podcast and finding resources like this book. I would have loved to have had a teacher explain how to create good podcasts before we started on ours.

Edit Also: I did a group project to create a "This American Life" style piece. It was really lackluster because we had to use audio that other people gathered and some people didn't have to record anything at all. I think you may be better served by having the students do individual 5-15 minute features as opposed to massive hour-long Radiolab-style productions because many of the people that make popular podcasts don't even do full hour-long shows. Hour long shows are great if you have a good, reliable staff with well-defined roles, but it can be a little unwieldy with students.

Mod mics? You mean something like this? Those aren't going to be amazing, but honestly I've known people who record their show using their laptop's internal microphone and it sounded okay. It's more important to use what you have and produce something rather than sit on your hands and produce nothing.

That board you linked claims to have 8 inputs, but it actually has 4 stereo channels, two of which are mic-level and two are line-level. If you have more than 2 people, that's probably not a great option. I also wouldn't recommend that particular mixer because it has no USB-out. It's also going to be outputting stereo, which is to say two audio channels. You can record in stereo, but it will give you less control when editing. If you want to get a board like that, I'd recommend this one from Behringer. It's substantially the same, but has USB.

Incidentally, how many people are you going to have on your show? If it's more than two, what I'd actually recommend is something more like this 4-channel audio interface. To use those mod mics you'll need some adaptors for the 1/4" microphone plugs. But it will let you record up to 4 individual audio channels, and if you decide to upgrade to better microphones in the future you'll be able to use the same device.

You might be able to find it for less than $100, but that's the first one I came up with.

If you have more than 4 people, I think you'll have a hard time finding an effective solution for less than $100. But again, I think the quality of your show is more about the content than the fidelity of the audio.

First, I suggest you continue holding a single mic and pointing it between you and your guest. That keeps you in control of the conversation.

I now use and like the Electro Voice RE50N/D-L ($200). Yes, it's a bit pricey, but it's really nice! It has a long handle that means your arm will be much more comfortable holding the mic. The capsule is internally shock-mounted to reduce handling noise. The neodymium is more sensitive and requires less gain from your recorder, and thus introduces less hiss. The omnidirectional nature is handy for ensuring you're always capturing the voice of the other person without having to point the mic precisely at them.

However, a more directional mic could be better in noisy environments. There, I might recommend the Sennheiser MD46, which I've used in my NAB Show videos from 2015.

But I was also quite impressed with what I got from a Zoom H1 at NAB Show 2016. It's much smaller than the DR-40.

Lastly, you could consider recording into an iPhone with Sennheiser's upcoming HandMic Digital.

I've been thinking about your request all day as I replaced the water pump, alternator, thermostat and belt in my son's car. I'm not sure I can give you an option to fit your requirements for $300 mostly because the recorder alone is going to eat the majority of your budget.

Since you need three microphones I thought about the $270 Zoom H5 Portable Digital Recorder plus the $70 Zoom EXH-6 Dual XLR/TRS Capsule but that is $340 total plus you lose your ability to record the "ambiance" sounds you are looking for.

Instead I would recommend the Zoom H6 which you can find occasionally on sale for $299. But this would give you up to 4 XLR microphone inputs AND the ability to record the factory sounds with the X-Y microphone capsule or the omni-directional capsule that comes standard with the H6.

Now because the budget is COMPLETELY blown on the H6 recorder I can offer a 3 pack of Behringer XM1800S for $40. These microphones are serviceable but if you are looking for much better sound I'd opt for one of these four microphones:

Knox Podcast Microphone

Audio Technica AT2005

Audio Technica ATR-2100

or a Samson Q2U

The Knox goes for $40. each one of these microphones come with a stand which you'd need plus they all have USB capability so you could use them with your mobile device in a pinch - but you can only use one of them at a time.

If you are interested in looking completely professional I'd recommend the $200 Sennheiser MD-46 interview microphone with these [Nu-Era Tabletop Microphone Stands) for $7 a piece. I used the H6, MD-46 and Nu-Era Stands at a convention last weekend and it worked sweet indeed.

If you need another microphone solution that better fits your budget let me know. I have dozens that i can recommend depending on what you are willing to spend.

I feel like I must apologize for not being able to stick to your $300 budget. The recorder is the tough part and I'm finding it difficult to work around it for your need case.

Did I hit the mark or miss it completely?

Regarding FaceTime on the Mac, there was a bug in FaceTime Audio regarding mic selection where it would only use the internal or 1/8" jack for input. That was fixed recently. Unfortunately, I'm on the dev betas and I don't recall if it's fixed in the latest 10.10.2 release or in the beta releases. This was never a problem with FaceTime Video, however.

Also, there is a desktop application that will be leaving beta soon called PodClear. It will use a paid service but it will let you get double headed recordings regardless of the method you use to communicate and it lets you control the record button and settings to you don't have to trust the guest to know what they are doing. It will be pretty darn cool as it lets you have effectively unlimited guests using Hangouts or Skype and get pristine locally recorded tracks sent to you.

http://www.podclear.com

You can also of course just wire you Mac or IOS device into your mixer. The best hardware I've found for this that always works with the Apple TRRS single headphone port is a Tascam iXZ.

http://www.amazon.com/TASCAM-iXZ-Instrument-input-iPhone/dp/B005NZ05J8/

I've had luck with some RCA video to TRRS cables as well but occasional noise occurred. A Behringer UCA222 or UCA202 depending on your color choice is also well worth the cost if you are mix-minusing with a mixer.

http://www.amazon.com/Behringer-UCA222-BEHRINGER-U-CONTROL/dp/B0023BYDHK/

!

I'm pretty sure the problem you are having is trying to use multiple USB microphones on one computer. There are ways to do it, but even when you get it set up, it's a completely unreliable set up and you will findself regularly having technical troubles and losing recordings from crashing software.

Ideally you should record to a dedicated audio recorder like a Zoom or a Tascam, they are the most reliable.

If you want to record to a computer, you need a usb mixer and xlr microphones. Behringer can get you started for cheap, if your podcast becomes successful you can upgrade to better quality later.

The q1202 USB mixer is a great cheap place to start.

You can grab yourself a 3 pack of microphones as well. They aren't amazing but they will sound better then an expensive condenser microphone in a room where you can't control the sound (aka open plan living spaces).

I am not too familiar with hosting and feeds, but learning on Audacity is your best choice here. Depending on how many guests you want (I assume 2) grab two of these Nady SP-1 kits. They are awesome because the come with a nice mic stand with boom arm, greatcable, and a nice mic for the ultra low price. I use the Zoom H4n to record my podcasts since I do not have a mixer.

This Nady MSC3 kit is nice too, but the cable produces too much of a hum and the mic stand feels cheap.

Edit: This kit will get you off the ground for about $260 and it should last a long time. The mic kit is cheap enough that if a kid breaks it, you can just buy a new one. Make sure kids don't touch the H4n; that isn't cheap.

With a $500 to $700 budget I might suggest the following. Steer clear of the "packaged podcast stuff". And others will have their own opinions and thoughts but here are mine.

Recorder: Zoom H4nPro $230. Portable, flexible, will accept up to 4 inputs. Records on a SD Card.

Software: Audacity. It is free and allows you to manipulate and put together a cohesive product.

Mics: 2 of the ATR 2100 USB $150. Again, flexible and a decent beginner mic.

Accessories needed. 2 wind screen/pop filters for mics ($20), 2 mic stands ($20), 2 XLR cables for mics ($25)

Headphones: Sony MDR7560 $80 2 might be nice, but 1 required.

That is about $550 to $600 at this point.

If you wanted a studio mic, a decent starter mic is the MXL 990 at $100/ea. But beware that this is a condenser mic and it will pick up a ton of ambient sound especially in a non-treated room.

You may want to add a mixer into the mix at some point. I have a Behringer Xenyx 1204USB $139, but wish I had known more when I bought it and I would have bought the Behringer UFX1204 with the difference being that the one I have sends out a single stereo track to the recorder, but the latter has the ability to send separate tracks. Woudl be very handy if your guest is VERY soft spoken, there is a lot of talk over one another, etc.

Hey man just wanted to say thank you for taking the time to respond with so much detail.


Your answer pointed me in the right direction and what I've found is that my mixer (Behringer 1202fx) only exports 1 channel. My understanding is that although I have 12 channels going into my mixer (that I can adjust, e.g. adjust gain on each) when it goes out of my mixer and into my mac, it's all one channel (this video helped me understand this: https://youtu.be/1VC1Dho7nh0). One of the next versions (Behringer 1204fx usb https://www.amazon.co.uk/Behringer-X1204USB-Xenyx-Input-Mixer/dp/B0039PPW60) looks like it would be able to record to 2 channels, but mine can't.


I had to bite the bullet and look into another option - either go for the 1204 (or another mixer with the 2 channel input) or an audio interface. It looks like the Focusright Scarlet 2i2 audio interface is a good option (https://www.amazon.co.uk/Focusrite-Scarlett-Audio-Interface-Tools/dp/B01E6T56EA). It records 2 channels, so in audacity I can record both mics on a separate channel. This seems worth it to me, because if someone speaks over the other or if someone starts coughing or their mic picks up noise or one person is louder than the other (and I don't pick this up when recording), I am assuming this means I can edit each mic's audio independently, so that when combined it's better quality.


If my understanding looks wrong, please let me know and thanks again for taking the time :)

That's what I assumed too but in the Q&A under the product on Amazon I found someone who asked a similar question, and it sounds to me like the USB does NOT act as phantom power. It makes no sense to me why that wouldn't power it but ....

Looks like I'll either need to try tunnelsup's idea, using the box I have or just get a new mic. If my box doesn't work, I think I'd sooner buy a new mic than spend $100 on the box he linked, since my current mic is likely not that great compared to one I could get for ~$100, and not have to mess with the extra equipment.

Something like:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B001AIQGUO/ref=sxbs_sxwds-stvp_3?pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_p=3341940462&pd_rd_wg=usvQf&pf_rd_r=MYY3HVKDYCKQ5X1C7WDV&pf_rd_s=desktop-sx-bottom-slot&pf_rd_t=301&pd_rd_i=B001AIQGUO&pd_rd_w=rztVA&pf_rd_i=cardioid+dynamic+mic&pd_rd_r=dd2399dd-3576-490a-850b-74a9ce98bea6&ie=UTF8&qid=1510069656&sr=3

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0015MJE22/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=wirerealm-20&camp=1789&creative=9325&linkCode=as2&creativeASIN=B0015MJE22&linkId=48aeb14c54c5e3fdb71465825fa1b06b

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B072PR6W8P/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B002VA464S&linkCode=as2&tag=wirerealm-20&th=1

All but 1 cost less than the box, and have great reviews. Proven to sound great and work out of the box direct to PC.

I use anchor its awesome, the support team is always really helpful and quick, plus they post almost everywhere.

If you already have a mac book tho you can record right into it. if your budget is around 1000 you can get some nice stuff. My set up rn is just a zoom H6 and two audio technica mics and a pop. If you want a nice headset thats not too expensive I like these.

The zoom is nice because it can double as a mixer and it portable, the mic can plug into your computer through usb so your not just stuck recording into the zoom.

Don't know if this will apply to your needs/budget/expertise, but here's how I record Culture Vultures Radio. (Add a dot com to that to find our site.)

• Mics are Audio-Technica AT2020USB which is a large diaphragm condenser which don't require a mixer and phantom power. They're about $130 at Amazon.
  
• Using a mid-2009 model MacBook Pro which I've upgraded to 8GB RAM and an SSD. Have used Yosemite and Mavericks.
  
• A Behringer headphone amp/splitter to convert the one output from the MBP to 4 headsets.
  
• Using Reaper DAW to record. I couldn't figure out GarageBand to save my life for some reason, so I started using the recording software I already had a license for.
  
• Pop filters! These are generic cheapo units (~$6.50) and they work fine. My co-host used to like to blow the mics by doing the Stewie on Family Guy "Wil Wheaton" thing and it totally blocks that.
  
  The tricky part was setting up the aggregate audio device to pipe in the mics into Reaper. It's funky and it took me a couple of hours to get two freaking mics working - haven't tried a third yet - but it worked out.
  
  To save space on the HD, I set up Reaper to print the tracks as MP3s at 192kbps instead of WAVs. I apply compression and limiting when I record to get a nice solid level. When I'm done, I transfer the project folder to my bruiser of a gaming PC and apply an expander to the tracks to minimize mic bleed and background noise like fans or furnace/AC (we record in a basement). On mixdown, I hit the music track and the overall mix with master bus compression to make it nice and full-sounding with even levels.
  
  It's a slightly involved process to do, but I think the results and quality control are worth it. We used to go into the Internet radio station's studios to do the show live and just put the recording out as the podcast, but they tripled the studio fee and I calculated that if I bought my gear and sent them a file to air, it would pay for itself in 13-14 shows; we've done 18 so far. Bonus is that when the studio was stifling hot in the summer when the AC broke down and they've been having chronic technical problems affecting audio quality, it hasn't impacted us. We miss the live feedback from the listeners and it takes much longer to produce a show, but it's a tighter product overall.
  
  Hope this helps someone, if not your specific needs. Cheers.

Most computers can't deal with 8 USB mics at once, on top of the fact those mics don't work well all in the same room together. I would get a USB XLR mixer and some dynamic mics.

8 people seems like a lot? This mixer goes up to 6 via XLR and is pretty affordable. Behringer is an "affordable" brand.

Speaking of Behringer, these mics are pretty decent for the price. They will slightly pick up others in the room, but nothing a simple gate in post can't fix. I don't know your budget, but if you want to get fancier, you can go with the MXL BCD-1.

I use the Focusrite 18i20, it's way more pricey.


I enjoy using Reaper.FM, it's $79 on both Mac/PC. It can record your software and edit it. I'm on Mac, I record everything with Audio Hijack first, then do my post in Reaper.

If you have more questions, let me know. I can get more specific with other stuff if you care.

The ATR2100 is a really good, inexpensive dynamic mic option. The AT2020 is a great condenser option.

As for theme, find something you are passionate about. Something you can talk about no matter how you feel that day. A lot less "work" to do if you focus on something you love.

Thanks /u/STGGrant for your response. Would be glad if you could highlight on a couple more things. Like, after buying the mic, let's say the Blue Yeti one, which comes with a USB, I won't need any mixer right? I'll just be able to record using Audacity, and then something for hosting the audio files. I googled and found this one for the mic. So just to make sure, just connect the mic using the USB and start recording using Audacity, right? And what do you use for editing? Looking for tips, because I'm a total beginner you know!

Thanks again.

[Kids, Storytelling] Elderberry Tales - Agasi Kidnaps Weensy
SFW

https://www.elderberrytales.com/

When Teensy comes home to find that his wife Weensy has been kidnapped by the giant Agasi, he sets out on a quest to rescue her. He receives help from the most unexpected set of companions - from a centipede, an egg, and many others! Enjoy this funny tale from the Sama people of the Philippines. 

"Agasi Kidnaps Weensy" is translated and published by Kauman Sama Online, an organization devoted to sharing Sama culture and language worldwide. Proceeds from the sale of this book will be used to print books in the Sama language for kids in the Philippines, as well as making more Sama Stories available to a wider audience.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07QX973BH/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_bibl_vppi_i0

Illustrations by Vanjoy Sanchez and Elmo Anggilan
Translation by Luke Schroeder

As others have mentioned, XLR mics with a mixer is a good start for multi-mic. Of course, as long as you have a PC you can output to mixer to for recording.

A great starting mic is the ATR2100. We started with a cheap 2-input Behringer, outputting to my PC and Audacity. We eventually upgraded to using a Zoom H4N Pro going to a macbook and Garageband. The Zoom gives us a bit more recording freedom, which is nice.

I use that mixer for my podcast. Bought it off Craigslist for 40 bucks about four years ago and it's still going strong. It gets the job done and I really have no need to upgrade. But like others have said:

• Don't record with an onboard soundcard. You'll pick up a ton of static (I learned the hard way).
  
  
• If you can save up for a USB mixer it's probably a better choice.
  
  But like I said, that's the mixer I use, granted I didn't pay $90 for it. The way I'm able to record to my PC is with this Behringer USB audio interface. Sure it's a lot more cables, but it was a much cheaper alternative back when I was starting up and didn't have the funds for a USB mixer. I would check your local craigslist or eBay for some used Behringer or Mackie mixers, both are built to last and there are some great deals to be had. Spend the extra money you save on better mics and you'll be on your way. If you're the paranoid type you can always invest in a digital recorder for back up, since someone else mentioned there's always a risk the program or PC will crash. Hasn't happened to me yet, but you never know. Be sure to let us know when your first episode is up!

Your budget was right around what we spent, although we didn't use a mixer cause we do everything through skype and record locally. So that said all the stuff below if for a non-mixer set-up, maybe it works with a mixer, idk.

The Blue Yeti is a good mic for the price. It is not a professional mic by any stretch, but for $100 it's about as good as you are going to get, imo. Blue also has a snowball, for $50 which I actual have one of but have not yet tested in terms of recording quality.

The stand you can get for cheap. This one is the one I use, it screws right into the bottom of the Yeti.

Headphones I would actually recommend not going cheap on. We had this issue in one of our early podcasts where I broke out a $15 pair of cheap sony headphones and you could hear the audio I heard through the mic. I use these now, they're amazing, very comfortable.

[comedy, literature?] Jeff Reads His Book | Episode 12: Chapter 12

NSFW (language)

RSS | iTunes | Google Play | TuneIn | Stitcher

I surprise myself with the appearance of a recurring character as I read Chapter 12 of Bringing Balance, a book I wrote in a month. Erin, Henry, and hunky Stephen attempt a daring rescue of Margaux, resulting in flirting and a public display of affection. Jeff notes a major issue with his writing style during his lunch hour. Discussion questions close out another exciting episode!

Jeff Reads His Book is a podcast where I read Bringing Balance, a book I wrote in a month. I critique spelling and typos, identify gaping plot holes, and ridicule the awkward dialog I incorporated into this work of literature. Come along for the exciting journey into a fantasy world riddled with grammar errors!

Website | Mastodon | Twitter

The blue yeti is alittle up there if you are buying more then one. Blue snowball maybe be the next best thing.

Yeti

Snowball


PS: When the podcast goes up DM me the link I would love to give it a listen cause I play Pathfinder myself and always like it when people record there sessions.

There is a way using Soundflower if you're on a mac or try this other reddit thread if you're on a PC.

However, that is definitely going to be a bit of headache. The much easier, but obviously more expensive solution, down the line would be to use two XLR mics and a mixer. A mic like the ATR2100 that is USB / XLR is a very good choice and what my wife and I use on our show. From there any of the inexpensive Behringer mixers are really all that you need. So for just over $200 you have a very scaleable set-up. Add in a Zoom H1 / H4 and you don't even need the computer anymore.

My main mic is a
MXL BCD-1 Dynamic Microphone

Works amazing for anyone who is on the move and does not have a padded environment. It barley picks up anything! Even better with a compressor.

My guest mic (When recording on the set) is a
AKG 220 Perception Condersor



I do not use a mixer
There are a few reasons I don't:

1.) I'm only a one man setup. Most of my interviews will be done via Skype, Phone, External recorder. This saved me over $300 dollars.

2.)I use an audio interface UR222 interface

3.)This allows me to up the gains without introducing noise. You don't even need a compressor with this saving you another $100-150.

• Capturing sound -
  *128 if you have lots of music bit for podcast and 64 for mono speech only. Here is a quick guide:
  
  

• 320 kbps – Virtually indistinguishable from original CDs
  
• 128 kbps – Typical for musical MP3s and quality podcasts
  
• 64 kbps – Common bit rate for speech podcasts
  
• 48 kbps – Reasonably common for longer speech podcasts
  
• 32 kbps – Poor, usually used to reduce download times
  
  
  
  

Yeah I might be a little better at answering this one Kate lol

Matt here, yeah I just bought this http://amzn.to/1QKzFBd and http://amzn.to/1QKzF4p and haven't had any time to sit down and learn how to effectively use them with Google Hangouts, my plan is to have a bunch of wires everywhere linking a guest google hangouts through the mixer and have our google hangouts through the mixer and somehow output separate audio tracks...I don't even really know if that's possible yet

Otherwise yeah, I record my own audio track in Sony and mix everything/everyone else in Sony; I don't put music under the podcast anymore, I do use music in the breaks though

So despite all that I'm still using my yeti http://amzn.to/1P2n5rC

CAD u37 is great, but it seems to have some issues on Mac...
I got it on sale at amazon and I love it!
http://www.amazon.com/CAD-U37-Condenser-Recording-Microphone/dp/B001AIQGUO/

If your looking for Cheap I would Look for a USB condenser. It will hook directly to your computer. You will not need a cord, it will have the USB cord included.

I don't own this, but the Amazon review are favorable. One of the reviewers made a sound sample. Sounds good for the money.

Technical stuff is easy. The hardest part in this project will be content.

Read these if you already have not:

1.) Reality Radio

2.) Sound Reporting

What content are you creating? I'd love more information etc..

MXL makes a mic called the BCD-1 that currently runs for $160 a piece. Stacks up very well with the SM7b and RE20. Same frequency response meant best for speech.

That's my current mic, and I recommend it 100%

what you need my friend, is a Zoom r 16. It's a digital mixer that a lot of pros use. Affordable too 300-400 bucks. It allows you to record your mics to the mixer itself, and then import later to computer as wav files for editing/mixing. you need a single 1/8 stereo to two 1/4 mono cable to connect your computer directly into the board. link here https://www.amazon.com/Hosa-CMP-153-Stereo-Breakout-Cable/dp/B000068O3C/ref=sr_1_10?ie=UTF8&qid=1474666467&sr=8-10&keywords=1+8+inch+to+1+4+inch+adapter

this cable will connect your computer speaker out put to the board. then from the board you can control all your mics and the sound clips from the computer, and play you tube live as much as you want. The sound will all end up in the board and not on your computer as you record it. That's how you create that "live" effect you want.

I have a Yeti, and it's pretty great. One step up from a snowball.

I think you would be better off making sure eveyone had their own mic. some cheap lavs, 4-channel mixer into your computer or recorder might be alittle cheaper than 2 yetis that need to be shared.

Slightly off topic, but I have this one and I love the quality it gives me

http://www.amazon.com/Blue-Microphones-Yeti-USB-Microphone/dp/B002VA464S/ref=sr_1_1?s=musical-instruments&ie=UTF8&qid=1414886399&sr=1-1&keywords=blue+yeti

If I was recording in person and had that much money to spend (I record over Skype for my podcast, as we all live hundreds of miles from each other), I'd be hooking studio mics or shotguns up to something like the Zoom H4n Handy Portable Digital Recorder or TASCAM DR-40 4-Track Portable Digital Recorder and recording onto an SD Card (which I'd easily transfer from afterwards) and not recording straight onto computer. Obviously still have popguards, stands, etc.

Why would I do this? Because it's what I do when filming - even though I've got a good laptop the audio wouldn't be that good if I used your set-up with shotguns and converters. So it would be better quality, mainly due to no conversion connections, and you wouldn't have any electronic humming while recording from the recording equipment itself.

Obviously the above wouldn't work for someone doing a live cast.

If it's just you and your buddy and you aren't doing any Skype call-ins, and you guys can both be in the same room all you'll need is...

Two mics:
ENTRY/BASIC: https://www.amazon.com/Audio-Technica-ATR2100-USB-Cardioid-Dynamic-Microphone/dp/B004QJOZS4/ - $64.00 American - $128 total.

Intermediate: https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/356521-REG/Audio_Technica_AT2020_AT2020_Condenser_Microphone.html - $99.00 American - $200 total.

Two XLR cables: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01JNLTTKS/ - $5.99 American - $12.00 total.

One XLR-to-USB setup: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00CTKI45M/ - $99.00 American

Two Scissor Arms: https://www.amazon.com/Adjustable-Microphone-Suspension-Broadcasting-Voice-Over/dp/B00DY1F2CS/ - $12.99 American - $26.00 total

Two Pop Filters: https://www.amazon.com/Neewer-Studio-Microphone-Filter-Shield/dp/B00ACFAULC/ - $6.95 American each - $14.00 total.

A DAW: Audacity - Free - https://www.audacityteam.org/download/

TOTAL BASIC COST: $280-355 American

If you need to do a Skype call Mix-Minus it will cost an extra $20-50 depending on how you would like to do it.

Here's a copy/paste from a thread a while ago. This setup is kind of expensive, but it's a good setup if you plan on podcasting for a long time. If you're looking at running a show with multiple hosts/guests in-studio and via Skype, this is a good setup to have.

Also, I had bad experiences with Behringer mixers. They're fairly cheap but they don't last long. I had one for maybe three days and hated it. There was a loud hissing noise every time we'd record. I've heard other people have the same problem. I've also heard the reason Behringer is so cheap is they're assembled with the cheapest components. So that's why they don't last very long.

"First off, I wouldn't recommend garageband for recording or editing. It's a resource hog that eats up your ram. I've had it freeze up in the middle of recording before and while editing. I recommend going with Audacity. It's not as user friendly as garageband but it's reliable. I recorded for 2.5 hours in one sitting with no problems.

As for a mixer, I highly recommend the Alesis MultiMix 8 USB. You just plug it into the USB of your laptop, adjust the sound settings on whatever program your recording into and you're set. You can use it to pull audio from the laptop (ie Skype call or YouTube video) into the mix.

There's also the Alesis MultiMix 4 USB. It's cheaper, has less bells and whistles but it works just as well. Though, you'll need this cord if you want to pull audio from the laptop.

In order to hook up multiple Headphones with these mixers, you'll need a headphone amp.

As for mics, the Audio-Technica ATR2100 is a great mic for the price. And it's got xlr and USB cords."

When I wrote that, the Audio Technica mics were $30 a pop. Now they're almost twice as much. I've been podcasting with mine for over a year and a half and it still works great.

Here's a link to my podcast, in case you want to gauge the audio quality of this setup.

https://www.amazon.com/BEHRINGER-Audio-Interface-4-Channel-UMC404HD/dp/B00QHURLHM/ref=mp_s_a_1_3?keywords=behringer+4+channel+interface&qid=1564197330&s=gateway&sprefix=behringwr+4+&sr=8-3

I have the 2 port version of this. It is clean and quiet. Very nice for the price.

I would splurge a bit more for

http://amzn.com/B0039PPW60

I have the bigger version of this, and it had a bit of a learning curve, but once i got it all figured out, everything works great.

The usb allows you to record the output via usb instead of messing with adapters from RCA. If you want to record audio using the computer as a source ( music/videos/etc ), do not use the usb line in option, it really limits you, use a 3.5mm to double 1/4 inch and put it into one of the balanced channels past the 4 unbalanced ones. Get a good cable, otherwise there's bad hum. Also, i found a headphone amplifier was incredibly helpful when having several people on shows, they could each have headphones with independent volume control, i got this one:

http://amzn.com/B003M8NVFS

I noticed, you could not just use a stereo 1/4 inch cable from headphone out to headphone amp, it wasn't coming through stereo, so i ran RCA output to 1/4 inch stereo to the headphone amplifier, and BAM worked.

I'm not an expert, so i could be wrong about all of this, just what i've done after hours of tinkering.

Google Voice is free. Here's my setup:

I got a used Mackie mixer off of Craigslist for less than $200. I run it into my PC with a set of stereo audio cables and I plug both the mic and headphones into the mixer. My setup works great. Here's my setup:
Microphone: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B004QJOZS4/ref=sr_ph_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1463590499&sr=sr-1&keywords=audio+technica+atr2100
Mixer: http://www.amazon.com/Mackie-802VLZ4-8-channel-Compact-Quality/dp/B00EDHWLFI/ref=sr_1_8?s=musical-instruments&ie=UTF8&qid=1463590526&sr=1-8&keywords=mackie+mixer
headphones (although you don't have to spend this much): http://www.amazon.com/Sony-MDR7506-Professional-Diaphragm-Headphone/dp/B000AJIF4E/ref=sr_1_1?s=musical-instruments&ie=UTF8&qid=1463590609&sr=1-1&keywords=sony+headphones+mdr7506
cables: (these aren't my brand, but you need two sets of this kind of cable)
http://www.amazon.com/Hosa-CMP-153-Stereo-Breakout-Cable/dp/B000068O3C/ref=sr_1_1?s=musical-instruments&ie=UTF8&qid=1463590655&sr=1-1&keywords=quarter+inch+male+to+.35mm+male

we use the Zoom H5N or cheaper the http://www.amazon.com/Zoom-Handy-Portable-Digital-Recorder/dp/B001QWBM62/ref=cm_cr_pr_product_top great for recording

Just my 2 cents:

Regarding equipment you would definitely need a nice microphone to record with.



The Rhode NT1-A is an excellent one, and the package on this link contains all kinds of accessories you would need: a shock mount, cables, pop filter, etc.
For a bit cheaper, you could have the Audio Technica AT2020, this is what I use. You can record pretty decent things with this beauty.
There are others of course.



For the microphone to work, you need a pre-amplifier. Lot of people keep trashing Behringer products but I find their MIC800 is a fine choice at the lower price range.

To give you a straight forward answer, I would say no. I would use the laptop, an audio interface and as many mic as there are people (this could get pricey). an other alternative would be to have a portable recorder like a Zoom H4n Pro Handy Recorder. this allows you to record a room and plug in XLR cable with a mic.

​

You have to keep in mind that when you are recording that the room will play a role in the audio quality (in other words... bigger room = more reverb/echo). the more people you have, the harder it will be to edit the audio since some people will talk louder than others.

​

Yes unfortunately it is. I was able to get live-stream to pick everything up when I figured out I had to assign my firewire audio (aka the Mac audio) to the "main mix" - unfortunately I'm looking to make my "firewire aka Mac audio" it's own unique track. I think if I get a cable like this:

http://www.amazon.com/Hosa-CMP153-Cable-Inch-Dual/dp/B000068O3C/ref=pd_bxgy_MI_img_z

I may be able to accomplish this through my 5/6 channel. Does this make sense? What do you think?

Sorry about the excessive cursing, I guess in a way cursing is another filler that we use to try to add some significance to what we are saying. We shall work on that!

As for the place of recording and recorder alike- we recorded this in my basement. There really isn't anything to absorb the sound other then the shag carpet ( the floor is tiled). We recorded this while sitting on a couch and place it on a table about 2 feet away. Not the most formalized environment for recording. The microphone is CAD U37 USB Studio Condenser Recording Microphone and we also have a filter on it as well.

Something like this

You can spend more and get one with balanced inputs, but even these cheap little ones work well.

I recommend a Yeti.

It's not what I use but my setup doesn't work for what you're looking for. This is a solid mic, in my opinion.

This is the mic I'm using now. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004QJOZS4/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1.

With this https://www.amazon.com/Stage-Foam-Ball-Type-Windscreen-Black/dp/B0002GXF8Q/ref=pd_bxgy_267_img_2?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=X1DXBMJYZM01S7P5YNX3

Question. What would the mixer and headphones be for? I've heard it recommended many times.

I would go with the highly recommended Blue Yeti microphone. For other podcast tips, check out it this podcast beginners guide.

On one show, GACC, we record with AT2020 USB mics fed into a USB hub and haven't experienced any problems directly with the mics, though the hub is getting temperamental having to feed so much power out.
https://www.amazon.com/Audio-Technica-AT2020-Cardioid-Condenser-Microphone/dp/B0006H92QK
On my other show, WWTQ, we use MXL 990 XLR mics fed into a mixer that USBs into a computer.
https://www.amazon.com/MXL-990-Condenser-Microphone-Shockmount/dp/B0002GIRP2/

In both cases the audio is comparably similar and easy enough to edit via Audacity or whatever software of choice, we use on-mic pop filters rather than those that clip to the stands, which will show up on audio if bumped or moved or adjusted during recording.

That said, streamers the world over are using mid-range headsets to great effect with little issues, and there are lapel mics that aren't as cumbersome, but carry different problems with their usage, but both are cheaper-to-same cost as a XLR/stand/mixer/usb setup

You would plug this cable into the mixers external out and the other end into your laptop


Hosa CMP-153 3.5 mm TRS to Dual 1/4 inch TS Stereo Breakout Cable, 3 feet https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000068O3C/ref=cm_sw_r_other_apa_DseRyb3KTAAZC

I believe you can use a 3.5mm to dual 6.35mm cable and plug your phone directly into the Focusrite and get your mother to call you.

You'll plug one of these (or something similar) into your mixer's headphone jack:

https://www.amazon.com/Behringer-Ultra-Compact-4-Channel-Headphone-Amplifier/dp/B000KIPT30/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1487820405&sr=8-1&keywords=headphone+mixer

You use this.

BEHRINGER MICROAMP HA400 https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000KIPT30/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_tfqWzbYRVCW5W

I did. I went with the following item:

Behringer Microamp Ha400 Ultra-Compact 4-Channel Stereo Headphone Amplifier https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000KIPT30/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apip_MCBYcDZxieVlq

http://www.amazon.com/Behringer-UCA222-U-Control-Ultra-Low-Downloadable/dp/B0023BYDHK/ref=pd_sim_MI_4?ie=UTF8&refRID=0FBGN4Q2EAYN1X0Z6B75

Try this one here

I started a podcast with my nephew about 6 months ago. Since starting, our setup has evolved a lot from where we started, which was two USB microphones into my laptop. Now we have:

Behringer 1204usb mixer

2x LyxPro LDX-20 condenser microphones

2x LyxPro LDC-10 condenser microphones

And some scissor mount stands and a behringer headphone preamp for four headphone outputs. Overall it wasn't tremendously expensive, but the quality shot way up.

Here is about the cheapest you can get.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B003QKBVYK/ref=mp_s_a_1_3/141-0208002-0495156?ie=UTF8&qid=1525792824&sr=8-3&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_QL65&keywords=h1+zoom+recorder&dpPl=1&dpID=4133M%2BDeEtL&ref=plSrch

Check the Xenyx line of Behringer mixers. Affordable, does everything you need. You won't find a better value for the price. A lot of audio snobs turn up their noses at Behringer stuff, but I'm an audio engineer and I've used tons of it and its never let me down. It always seems to have the right functionality and you can get 4 channel mixer with USB functionality for about $150 on Amazon

(http://www.amazon.com/Behringer-XENYX-X1204USB-Premium-12-Input/dp/B0039PPW60/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1458146364&sr=8-2&keywords=behringer+xenyx)

I don't think something like that exists. But without more info as to why you want that set up, this is functionally similar. Behringer Q1202USB 12-Channel Mixer with [Behringer Microamp Ha400 Ultra-Compact 4-Channel Stereo Headphone Amplifier] (https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000KIPT30/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_w0.vzbRY5JCH3)

I've used an Ars Technica AT2020 and its all right. USB mics are occasionally tinny and I don't always like em.

Currently using the Audio-Technica AT2020 and couldn't be happier

I didn't listen to the whole thing b/c I'm not super into listening to people talk about cars (unless its Top Gear), but the first thing I noticed was the inconsistencies in the volume of the speakers & the audible distance from the mic, which puts psychological distance between you & your listener. Either pick up a higher quality mic (not sure what you're using but the Blue Yeti is a solid choice) or move in closer.

Another thing you might consider is being a bit more excited/lively when recording. I worked at a radio station for a few years and initially thought it was kind of ridiculous how different the DJ's presented themselves on-air vs in person but in order for them to sound "normal" and not completely lethargic they really had to amp up their presentation on-air. I'm not saying you need to be a cartoon character but just try livening it up a bit and see how it feels/sounds.

As for the actual content -- someone else will need to comment on that topic, as I know nothing about cars & everything seemed legit (albeit slightly long winded).

We use those mics for our recording. And no you can’t really do that; it needs some sort of phantom power.

We run our mics into this

BEHRINGER U-PHORIA UMC404HD https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00QHURLHM?ref=yo_pop_ma_swf

Then from there via usb into the computer. We record/edit with adobe audition.