Podcasts at Penn State
Educational podcasting at the Pennsylvania State University
Choosing the Right Hardware (mics, etc.)
Published Mon, 2006-09-25 10:37 printer-friendly version | login or register to post comments
Category: Resources.
Before you get started podcasting, you'll want to select the recording hardware that is appropriate for your needs. You may be doing all your recording from an office, or studio, or you may need to be more mobile. Consider what type of podcasting you'd like to do as you read through our list of recommended audio hardware.
Complete Studio
For those that want high production value, stereo recordings. If you plan to have two or more people participating in your podcast, ex. an interview or round-table discussion, this bundle is for you. You get two studio-quality microphones, USB computer audio interface/preamp, mic cables, and powerful recording software. Don't forget the desktop mic stands.
M-Audio Classroom Studio Bundle (w/ bonus mic stand) ($266)
Desktop Microphone Stand ($10)
Total Approximate Price: $276
Personal Studio
This setup offers studeo-quality recording with a minimum of equipment. The single microphone plugs directly into your computer's USB port, and the spider mount will reduce any noise caused by vibrations.
Key features:
•The USB connection provides direct connection to computers without any additional hardware or preamplifier devices.
•The software driver provides control over input gain.
•The hyper-cardioid polar pattern is most effective in minimizing noise and off-axis audio signal.
Personal Basic
This microphone/stereo headset is a very affordable solution for situations where pro-quality isn't a necessity, and you just need something basic for your personal podcasting needs. This is also useful if you're conducting interviews via online audio chat or using Macromedia Breeze.
Precision PC Microphone/Stereo Headset ($19)
Wireless
If you need to move around while you're recording, i.e. lecturing or giving a presentation, this solution provides quality, mobility, and hands-free operation. Just plug the base into your computer, clip the microphone on your shirt, drop the transmitter in your pocket, and you're ready to go.
Gemini UX16L Wireless Lavalier System ($88)
Mobile "Field" Recording
The following options are small and computer-free, perfect for working in the field, whether you want to capture a conversation on-the-fly or a thought you had.
1) Inexpensive:Olympus WS-300M Digital Voice Recorder ($149)
2) iPod Accessory: MicroMemo ($41) MicroMemo for iPod Nanos ($40)
3) High-quality: Zoom H4 ($299)
4) Top-of-the-line: Marantz PMD660 ($519)
Navigation
Syndicate
I recently followed the advice of this and many other Web resources to purchase and try the Samson Audio USB studio condenser mic (specifically, the newest model, being the C03U), and I ultimately sent it back.
One of the technical details that is not adequately discussed on these Penn State Podcasting pages is the ultimate necessity to monitor what you are recording with zero latency. Monitoring in this sense refers to the ability to hear your own voice through monitoring headphones (which are not noise-canceling) while you are talking into the mic. Latency refers to the lag time that could produce an echo between when the sounds leave your mouth, and when they are replayed in your headphones. As you can imagine, if latency exists, you would not be able to talk for very long because the words you speak would then be played back into your headphones on a half-second delay—enough to trip up even the most practiced broadcaster.
Why do you want to monitor your own voice? For starters, to ensure that the volume is set to record as loudly as is possible for your voice with that mic setup without "clipping". Clipping occurs when your voice "maxes out" the recording capability of your computer or audio setup. Sometimes preamps contain a condenser and/or limiter to minimize the effects of clipping, but it is always best practice to attempt to set your recording volume to a proper level so that your booming does not turn into unintelligible static and crackling on the recording.
If you use an XLR microphone (for simplicity, lets just say a mic that doesn't have an 1/8" headphone jack on the end, or a USB connection), you would require a preamp that could somehow take in the signal from the microphones, and feed that signal into your computer via USB or 1/8" stereo jack connection. However, this is ultimately unnecessary hardware.
The best product I've found is the Samson G-Track USB condenser microphone. It provides a USB connection, eliminates the need for purchasing and managing a separate preamp, and allows for zero-latency monitoring all in the same unit.
http://www.samsontech.com/products/productpage.cfm?prodID=1917&brandID=2
You can shop around, but the price is usually US$129.00.
For office or studio-based based work, why bother with the extra hardware? This mic does the job much more simply, and your performance can be improved with the addition of a pop-filter, and depending on the type of ambient noise you deal with, the Samson Shockmount may also be useful. The G-Track comes with a 6-inch-tall basic desktop mic stand in the same package as the mic, useful right out of the box if you are just getting started.
Other all-in-one podcasting mics are emerging on the market (Rode Podcaster, for example), but the G-Track gets the job done for basic podcasting.
No matter what type of microphone you use, I personally loathe headset-based boom microphones. I don't like wearing them and using them, and I especially dislike listening to podcasts created with them. As the novelty of podcasting (and with your particular podcast) wears off, the audience will become more discriminating, so it is good to stay ahead of the curve. Make yourself and your audience more comfortable by using a high quality desktop microphone, and put the effort to eliminate ambient noise in your recordings (everything from your own breathing and saliva crackling to the sounds of the air conditioner or fan in the background).