Amin
Hall of Famer
In time, I hope that many of our members will participate in the podcast, either as a discussant, a co-host/interviewer, or as an interviewee. Since some of the technical questions are bound to come up again and again, I thought I'd make a thread here to review some of the information and address any questions.
A podcast is basically a web show that people can subscribe to using iTunes or another service of their choice (I use Doggcatcher on my Android phone). There are video podcasts and audio podcasts. Ours is audio only (for now).
We make our audio podcasts by recording conference calls on Skype (www.skype.com), which is free. For members who don't or can't use Skype (very slow internet connection or no microphone), we can connect the Skype call to your landline telephone, but the audio quality of a regular phone is inferior to that of a decent microphone plugged into Skype.
Skype is easy to download, install, and use. You can test the audio quality of your microphone by downloading Skype and making a free "Test call". Some computers have pretty decent sounding built-in mics (my dad's iMac mic sounds remarkably good), but you will get even better sound using a dedicated USB microphone.
Regardless of whether you use the built-in mic or a USB mic, you'll need to listen to the conversation using headphones (any headphones will do) rather than the speakers on your computer, because the speakers will pick up everyone's voice and introduce an echo.
I do the recording of the Skype call on my home computer and do some light editing (automatically remove long pauses and static) in Audacity.
You can subscribe to the SeriousCompacts podcast using the links below:
Subscribe in iTunes
Subscribe in another podcast client
If you're interested in doing a lot of Skype, I highly recommend this $30 Plantronics headset which sounds great and is all you need to hear and be heard clearly.
If you really enjoy podcasting and want to take things to the next level, here are some recommended microphones based on budget:
For ~$90, you can get the Blue Yeti microphone, which sounds fantastic. The Yeti has four pickup settings: stereo, cardioid, omnidirectional, and bidirectional. If you are recording yourself for the podcast, use the cardioid setting.
For around $220, you can get an even better podcasting mic, the Rode Podcaster. That mic is probably overkill if you're being recorded via Skype but it's a terrific mic if you're making your own recordings.
I don't think the Rode comes with a stand, so you would need something
like this: Amazon.com: On Stage DS7200B Adjustable Desk Microphone Stand, Black: Musical Instruments
To get the most out of either of the above microphones (Blue Yeti or Rode Podcaster), I
highly recommend a pop filter like one of these:
Amazon.com: Blue Microphones The Pop Universal Pop Filter: Musical Instruments
Amazon.com: Nady MPF-6 6-Inch Clamp On Microphone Pop Filter: Musical Instruments
A more complicated option which gives you greater flexibility is to use a traditional XLR microphone in conjunction with a separate
interface that boosts the signal, converts it to digital, and has a USB (or Firewire) out to go to the computer. Here is an example of one such interface: http://www.amazon.com/M-Audio-Track...struments&rps=1&ie=UTF8&qid=1326407862&sr=1-4
As of February 18, 2012, I use the following equipment to record:
A podcast is basically a web show that people can subscribe to using iTunes or another service of their choice (I use Doggcatcher on my Android phone). There are video podcasts and audio podcasts. Ours is audio only (for now).
We make our audio podcasts by recording conference calls on Skype (www.skype.com), which is free. For members who don't or can't use Skype (very slow internet connection or no microphone), we can connect the Skype call to your landline telephone, but the audio quality of a regular phone is inferior to that of a decent microphone plugged into Skype.
Skype is easy to download, install, and use. You can test the audio quality of your microphone by downloading Skype and making a free "Test call". Some computers have pretty decent sounding built-in mics (my dad's iMac mic sounds remarkably good), but you will get even better sound using a dedicated USB microphone.
Regardless of whether you use the built-in mic or a USB mic, you'll need to listen to the conversation using headphones (any headphones will do) rather than the speakers on your computer, because the speakers will pick up everyone's voice and introduce an echo.
I do the recording of the Skype call on my home computer and do some light editing (automatically remove long pauses and static) in Audacity.
You can subscribe to the SeriousCompacts podcast using the links below:
Subscribe in iTunes
Subscribe in another podcast client
If you're interested in doing a lot of Skype, I highly recommend this $30 Plantronics headset which sounds great and is all you need to hear and be heard clearly.
If you really enjoy podcasting and want to take things to the next level, here are some recommended microphones based on budget:
For ~$90, you can get the Blue Yeti microphone, which sounds fantastic. The Yeti has four pickup settings: stereo, cardioid, omnidirectional, and bidirectional. If you are recording yourself for the podcast, use the cardioid setting.
For around $220, you can get an even better podcasting mic, the Rode Podcaster. That mic is probably overkill if you're being recorded via Skype but it's a terrific mic if you're making your own recordings.
I don't think the Rode comes with a stand, so you would need something
like this: Amazon.com: On Stage DS7200B Adjustable Desk Microphone Stand, Black: Musical Instruments
To get the most out of either of the above microphones (Blue Yeti or Rode Podcaster), I
highly recommend a pop filter like one of these:
Amazon.com: Blue Microphones The Pop Universal Pop Filter: Musical Instruments
Amazon.com: Nady MPF-6 6-Inch Clamp On Microphone Pop Filter: Musical Instruments
A more complicated option which gives you greater flexibility is to use a traditional XLR microphone in conjunction with a separate
interface that boosts the signal, converts it to digital, and has a USB (or Firewire) out to go to the computer. Here is an example of one such interface: http://www.amazon.com/M-Audio-Track...struments&rps=1&ie=UTF8&qid=1326407862&sr=1-4
As of February 18, 2012, I use the following equipment to record:
- Microphone: Heil PR-40View attachment 47708
- Computer #1 (main workstation): Lenovo ThinkPad W520View attachment 47709
- Computer #2 (backup recording and Skype): 11" MacBook AirView attachment 47710
- Mixer/audio interface for Thinkpad: Allen & Heath ZED-10FXView attachment 47711
- Compressor / expander / gate: DBX 266XS Dual Compressor GateView attachment 47712
- Audio interface for Macbook Air: M-Audio Fast TrackView attachment 47713