TMUP Live 74: Elsie, Podcasting, Yoga and balance
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Tonight Elsie Escobar from Wizzard Media, YoGeek Workout
Mudra Moments Podcast and Elsie’s Yoga Class: Live and Unplugged Podcast (Free Online Yoga Classes) joins me for an information filed show about new media, podcast production and more.
Show Notes
Podcasting Equipment links
Headset: Plantronics audio-650-usb-multimedia-stereo-headset
Do you even need a mixing board?
Well I think in many cases no. You can get an excellent audio interfacxe that will provide you with excellent quality.
Microphones
Mics are a very personsal thing so go over to your local music store and try some out. Let me give you three that I think rock
Heil PR 20 US $150.00: elsie has been using this one for a while
Heil PR 40 US $350. This is the mic I use today , the mic Leo Laporte and many other podcasters use
Shure SM7B US $350.00 This is another industry standard that has been around for about 30 years It’s Flat, wide-range frequency response for exceptionally clean and natural reproduction of both music and speech. If you heard Paul Figgiani the other day on the show reviewing the Peak Pro 6 software he uses an SM7
Mixing Boards:
Again there are lots of choices here and if you are going to be someone that has enough time dedication and dollars to go into this level of podcasting don’t skimp you very much get what you pay for. That being said I’m excited about the following mixers today.
On the lower end of price but not quality there is the new Mackie 402VLZ3 $99.00 Mackie outfitted the 402-VLZ3 with two phenomenal mic preamps, and switchable Hi-Z instrument inputs – ideal for the podcaster who wants a mixer but does not need any bells and whistles. No Auxialary channels here so you wont’ be doing any Mix Minus Skype recording with this baby.
Middle of my choice the new 802 VLZ3 This is an 8 channel version (3 of those channels are mics) of the 402VLZ3 US $199.00
USB Mixers:
I’m excited (but have not tried) The new Alesis iMultimix 9R US$199.00 The Alesis iMultiMix 9R gives you a rackmountable, premium-quality solution for direct playback from the iPod. In addition to turning your iPod into a full-on multimedia tool via audio and video outputs, the iMultiMix 9R gives you five mic/line inputs with inserts to process incoming channels or assign to iPod playback. This handy unit also gives you a 2-band-per-channel EQ for easy tone-shaping, and smooth faders make level adjustments a snap on the Alesis iMultiMix 9R.
Bottom line on Recording Skype from Doug Kay and Paul Figgiani
Victor really did say Bitchen' and Pain in the ass hehe.
Tom
Comment by Tom — April 14, 2008 @ 6:24 pm
Yes, I should have edited but sure I say those words and even Frack. So say we all.
Comment by typicalmacuser — April 14, 2008 @ 8:38 pm
[...] Go to Victor’s site and listen from there (while checking out all the show notes! (which I recommend you do anyway) [...]
Pingback by Being Geeky on other Podcasts! Sorry I’ve been MIA :( « Elsie’s Yoga Kula: Free Online Yoga Classes — April 15, 2008 @ 2:09 pm
Outstanding show, Victor. Just ordered the headset you recommended. http://is.gd/6r0 Love the tips and tricks, hardcore suggestions. Your guest was excellent. Not fluff. Very substantive for a Yoga person! Very helpful! Would love to hear Part 2 of the same.
My documentary project should be underway soon. Bought the Zoom H2. You will send me to the poor house!
Can you put up the links to the demonstration of how to record from Skype (I believe you said “Rob” had taped this)? And I believe there was a “how to” podcasting 101 you talked about. Might you be willing to provide the links? Thanks so much!
Comment by marieboyer — April 15, 2008 @ 6:15 pm
Marie here are the links
Skype recording
http://www.blogarithms.com/index.php/archives/2...
Podcasting tutorials from Podcast 411
http://podcast411.com/page5.html
Comment by typicalmacuser — April 15, 2008 @ 7:50 pm
Victor:
I just watched the whole skype video tutorial. Thanks for that link. I have it saved for the future in Evernote.
Three related questions, if you (or listeners) can help:
1. If I buy Wiretap Studio, do I still need the software to smooth out the audio? They talked about The Levelator? Is there separate software for this? I have heard of Soundsoap as well? I will be doing tons of audio-interviewing, mostly in-person, as opposed to Skype.
2. If I am filming with my camcorder and using Zoom H2 to record the interview, how do I get the audio and video in sync? Post-processing? In Wiretap Studio? Garageband? Final Cut Express? I have all three. No clue on this one.
3. Any other good “how to” audio sites or podcasts?
Thanks so much! You are the best. I mean THE BEST.
Comment by marieboyer — April 16, 2008 @ 5:04 pm
1. Levelator is free http://www.conversationsnetwork.org/levelator/ you will need Soundsoap only if you run into very noisy situations. lots of background noise, you are repairing old recordings that had noise. If you record in a quiet place then you should be ok.
2. I'll leave this one to others. It's very difficult. I record audio direct from a good mic into the camcorder
3. I would go back and listen to anything from Paul
http://phobos.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/...
or http://www.podsquad.com is good as well.
Comment by typicalmacuser — April 16, 2008 @ 5:18 pm
Thanks so much Victor!
I think you mean: http://podsquadhq.blogspot.com/
Comment by marieboyer — April 17, 2008 @ 3:21 am
I'll chime in on #2.
Whenever I record any video and have an external recording of the audio… it is a pain to get them in sync. Someone who is a better audiophile probably has a better solution, but here is what I do.
I have the timestamp active on the LCD of the camcorder. I then watch the timer when I press record on the audio recorder and then splice them together with Garageband and Final Cut Express. I use Garageband to do some simple Noise Reduction and editing out of any sound artifacts. And I use FCE to stick the video and audio together via the corresponding video timestamp.
The best solution, though, when you are recording video and want better audio, is to get a phantom powered dynamic mic that plugs directly into your camcorder. This will give you a perfectly synced source and you can still send the audio track to Garageband, Wiretap, or Soundsoap, if you need to.
I hope that helps.
Comment by Kennon — April 17, 2008 @ 6:23 am
Victor, don't apologize for not having your show strictly tech. The show is great, variations on the tech like this are the variety that keeps the show fresh. It is your show and you should have the content you want, that is why you do it, right? And, the title is Typical Mac User, we are all varied in our uses and interests. The show is not titled Only Mac Tech. Enjoy yourself and we'll keep listening!
Doug
Comment by ImFantastic — April 17, 2008 @ 5:54 pm
Kennon:
Thanks so much. I have a Canon Elura 100.
I just started looking on google. What do you think of this?
http://is.gd/71o
Any suggestions greatly appreciated. No clue what I am doing here.
Comment by marieboyer — April 17, 2008 @ 6:43 pm
Thanks for those words, you don't know how much they mean to me. My life is full of all kinds of things and if I do any one thing I get bored. Your words really are encouraging. You Doug ROCK!
Comment by Victor — April 17, 2008 @ 10:01 pm
That looks like a good mic. Has some good reviews. Definitely a cheaper alternative. There are some from some better known brands (I've just personally never heard of Azden) but they get pricey. That mic would at least give you a lot better audio than what you would get from the internal Canon mic on your Elura. For example, Sweetwater has this mic ( http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B0014YVA... ). Amazon link for picture, as Sweetwater didn't have one. It's a Sennheiser, which I personally love.
But ultimately it comes down to price to performance. Can you afford the Sennheiser, probably. But will it grant you that much extra clarity that it's worth it. Are you only doing a few interviews a year with video? If so, it'd probably be better to go the cheaper route. Are you doing an all video interview setup? Then I would splurge for a better mic to keep production values up.
Comment by Kennon — April 18, 2008 @ 4:41 am
Marie that mic you showed is a condenser and it would be very bad for background noise. If you are going to do interviews then you need something very directional and close up. This is a bit more money but it's a workhorse.
http://www.amazon.com/Shure-SM58LC-SM58-Vocal-M...
The SM58 has been around for years and just works.
Comment by typicalmacuser — April 18, 2008 @ 5:40 am
Yes Kennon I agree that if this is for a boom mic for a Video Camera this would work better.
I know we are going the wrong direction. But this Rode mic gets rave reviews for a camera boom mic and I wil likely get one soon.
http://www.amazon.com/RODE-VideoMic-Directional...
Comment by typicalmacuser — April 18, 2008 @ 5:43 am
Yes, Rode! I love Rode's products. I have a NT1 that I use for studio vocals/guitars, and I simply love it. Especially for the price!
Comment by Kennon — April 18, 2008 @ 6:09 am
This looks like a super nice mixer with AUX: http://tinyurl.com/5ubl4p
Comment by johngrinde — April 18, 2008 @ 2:36 pm
Yes for the price it is a good one
Comment by typicalmacuser — April 18, 2008 @ 3:24 pm