I'd like to know if my current setup is correct for podcasting

Audacity Help Forum Windows
1

I am trying to optimize my setup, in order to record a two-person podcast. I haven’t had any problems, exactly; I am simply inexperienced enough with podcasting that any technical advice/guidance would be greatly appreciated. I’d like to produce audio that sounds somewhat professional, if possible. Plus, I’d hate to damage my equipment by using it improperly.

I’ve got 2 dynamic microphones (1 ATR2100-USB, 1 RMC-XLR), each connected by an XLR cable to a Behringer XENYX X1204USB. I’m using the first 2 (from the left) XLR connectors on the mixer. Where it says PAN under the first XLR connector, I’ve got that dial turned all the way to the left. Under the second connector, I’ve got the PAN dial turned all the way to the right. I’m using a USB cable to connect the mixer to my TOSHIBA Satellite A665 laptop. It’s running Windows 7. I’m recording with Audacity (Version 2.1.2).

Is this an effective podcast setup? How could I improve it? Am I missing anything? Am I using my mixer properly? Basically, any assistance at all would be wonderful. Please and thank you :slight_smile:

2

This is a repost. I posted this at the beginning of the month, and have received no response. I’m not sure what to do, other than ask again. I’ve looked through the FAQ. Maybe I’m a moron but the FAQ hasn’t helped me with my questions. Perhaps, the type of question I’m asking is obnoxious. I am just trying to do things properly. I don’t want to damage any equipment. Much of it was gifts from my family. Would someone please help me out?


I am trying to optimize my setup, in order to record a two-person podcast. I haven’t had any problems, exactly; I am simply inexperienced enough with podcasting that any technical advice/guidance would be greatly appreciated. I’d like to produce audio that sounds somewhat professional, if possible. Plus, I’d hate to damage my equipment by using it improperly.

I’ve got 2 dynamic microphones (1 ATR2100-USB, 1 RMC-XLR), each connected by an XLR cable to a Behringer XENYX X1204USB. I’m using the first 2 (from the left) XLR connectors on the mixer. Where it says PAN under the first XLR connector, I’ve got that dial turned all the way to the left. Under the second connector, I’ve got the PAN dial turned all the way to the right. I’m using a USB cable to connect the mixer to my TOSHIBA Satellite A665 laptop. It’s running Windows 7. I’m recording with Audacity (Version 2.1.2).

Is this an effective podcast setup? How could I improve it? Am I missing anything? Am I using my mixer properly? Basically, any assistance at all would be wonderful. Please and thank you :slight_smile:

3

I’ve merged your two topics.

I suspect that you didn’t receive any answers because you asked such an open ended question that it’s not possible to answer without posting an entire course in sound engineering.

If it works for you, then yes, though there are a few things that I would change:

Windows 7 is now obsolete. There’s nothing to stop you from using an obsolete operating system (I’ve still got a machine with XP), but now that there are no security fixes it is very risky to use the computer on-line.
The current version of Audacity is 2.4.2 which is available via the Audacity website: Audacity ® | Download for Windows

That all sounds OK.

You will probably want the “Low Cut” enabled for speech recording.

When setting your levels, start with the “Gain” on the mixer. Press the “Solo” button on the mixer and gradually increase the gain until the “clip” light just comes on when speaking loudly, then back off the gain a little so that the clip light does not come on even when speaking very loudly.

Then adjust the EQ and the level sliders so that the master level just reaches -5 dB on the meters. The mixer manual warns:
“When recording to a digital device, the recorder’s peak meter should not exceed 0 dB. This is because, unlike analog recordings, slightly excessive levels can create unpleasant digital distortion”
so allow some headroom to ensure that the mix stays below 0 dB.

4

There’s some production considerations.

I know the goal is to completely isolate two people so to apply filters and corrections as needed, but even if you have directional microphones, which you do, and you put each person in the other person’s “shadow”, which you should, each microphone is still going to pick up the “wrong” person through room echoes and reflections.

It’s a little concerning that neither of the microphones publishes the directional pattern, but most microphones use the kidney or heart-shaped pattern.

So the goal is to put each person in the “hole” of the other—directly behind the microphone.

To get more complicated, nothing brands two beginners faster than sounding like you’re recording in a kitchen. Even if you are recording in a kitchen. Choose the largest, deadest, quietest room you can find (libraries are terrific. Stuffed garages work very well) and get close to the microphones. Choose Low Cut for each microphone and use oblique placement (B). Turn the recording volume down if you have to. Never tick the red overload/clip light.

The closer you get without sounding distorted, the quieter the room noises and echoes will be.

When you get to the end of a take, File > Export the track as WAV (Microsoft) 16-bit. That’s your safety backup if Audacity goes into the mud while you’re editing and takes the show with it. Save it on a thumb drive, external drive, or cloud storage. Edit a copy.

One super easy way to convert from two separate tracks to one show is Tracks > Mix > Mix Stereo down to Mono. Poof. One normal-sounding mono show with both performers coming out of both speakers. Export as needed. Remember, you can’t split the voices up again after you do this, so if you change your mind, you may need to go back to the safety backup you made at the beginning.

You can mark mistakes and screw-ups by clapping loudly and look for the tall blue waves while you’re editing. Nobody does a whole, clean podcast in one shot.

"Son of a !@#$^. I didn’t mean to say that. [CLAP] “Two, one … as I was saying…”

Koz