MICROPHONING: Podcasting or Singing07.26.09
PODCASTING – Interviews
It all depends on the scope and range of your projects. If you are just starting out with the idea of hosting your own Podcast and have a limited or no budget, then you only need a few items to start out. This set up would be for a Podcaster who is interested in interviewing or talking to other people via telephone conferencing.
- USB microphone/headset
- Skype (if you are doing interviews)
- Free version of recording software like Pretty May (Basic).
PODCASTING –Sit Alones
If you are interested in stepping up your recording quality for a Podcast where you are speaking alone or with someone in the same room, the Snowball Microphone has been a favorite USB microphone for this purpose. The Snowball can be purchased as a set complete with a stand and shock mount.
You may want to step up the recording capabilities of your computer or introduce multitracking to add music or sound effects. The following are sound recording software ideas:
- Audacity (free/donation) Recording Software
- Garageband (for Mac Users)
- Adobe Audition (The software I use)
DRAMAS and SINGING
If you plan on doing more voice acting and/or are entertaining the idea of having people read for you or do any singing, this requires a different set-up. Singers and voice actors generally like to stand (for breath support) at a music stand to read or sing their lines with the microphone hanging over their heads ala studio style. My studio is set up for standing at a music stand to read or sing. I use a Studio Condenser Microphone in a shock mount with pop/hiss screen and use a vocal/microphone preamp to maximize volume when recording via my secondary USB recording sound card.
MUSICIANS STORE vs. COMPUTER STORE
I would offer that the musician world has a great deal more options with regard to recording than a traditional PC/MAC/Podcast store where the mark-up may be significantly more. You may want to check out a place like Musicians Friend to compare pricing.
| Suzanna Reeves www.neutrinomusic.com Suzanna has been sound recording on computers since the advent of home digital recording. She has founded her own record label, recordedand published music and produced audio dramas and podcast. Anyone with the right knowledge and tools can do it. Subscribe today! Follow me- @suzannareeves |
Neutrino Music is a fully independent record label founded in 1999. It is wholly owned and operated by its only artist, Suzanna Reeves. Neutrino Music’s head office is currently located in Inland Empire, CA.