How record with 2 mics?

I want to record with built in laptop mic and using my POD hd 500 with my guitar so 2 mics. How can I do both at the same time?

Newer Macs can use the Aggregate Device feature to combine two USB microphones into one.
Everybody else buys a mixer.

http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/PV6
This is the one we use at work and I have one.

They make a USB version of this for PCs.
http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/PV6USB

http://www.shure.com/americas/products/mixers-dsp/fp33-three-channel-stereo-mixer
I have one of these. That will do three microphones.

Koz

Audacity will only recognize one sound device – not two or more – and most computers have one digitizer or sound management channel. I think the older SoundBlaster sound cards used to have the ability to fade up Mic-In and Line-In at the same time and you could fake it that way. Newer sound cards switch only.

There may be something on the Linux side that will do this.

Koz

On Linux you can use Jack audio system with one mic as the main device, then add other mics as “alsa_in clients” http://jackaudio.org/multiple_devices

On Windows you could use two conventional microphones (not the internal mic and not USB mics) if you have a 2 channel USB microphone pre-amp.
For more than 2 channels you will either need a specialist multi-channel sound card or a mixer.

I just purchased a nice Behring 802 mixer. To be used in conjunction with my PC mic input. (
That is 2 sound devices to 1 PC mic input. )

Unfortunately I have only basic PC mics. I understand why they do not work.
My question is - This Mixer has a phantom power (up to 48?) option I can turn on. ( I understand these mics need 5 volts to work)
Can I get an XLR, converter to 3.5 mm and then I can use my PC mic?

Short of me soldering and wiring a battery pack contraption (which will not happen) to use this, is my only other option to purchase a microphone?
This is for online chatting, and using a second input audio source to go through my ‘mic in’ (on computer).

I appreciate all help on this.

I’ve never come across a “XLR 48v phantom to 3.5 mm jack 5 v phantom” adaptor. Is that your question?

This mixer http://www.amazon.com/Behringer-802-Premium-8-Input-Preamps/dp/B000J5XS3C
has a phantom power button.

I have PC mics that need power to work through this mixer. Is there any way I can utilize the phantom power as a source for the PC mic?

OR A completely different question - I have a Gamecom 777 headset, works great for PC, but I want it to be used in conjunction with the mixer. What options do i have as far as making this work? Getting a PC headset mic to work through the mixer?

Yes the phantom power on that mixer is (nominal) 48 v.
No you can’t use that to power a PC microphone without some sort of modification - I’ve never seen a suitable adaptor/converter for doing that. It probably would not be too hard to make one, though it’s more common to just make a battery box.

Building a battery box for it is probably the best option.
(I know you said that is “not going to happen”, but short of buying a new microphone, that is probably your best option).

And this battery box, isn’t a common-enough task to have been put up for mass production? Its not available through radioshack? Okay, well thank you for all of your input…

I just need to find a what $70 battery desk mic? any suggestion on that one?

I don’t know anyone that manufactures them commercially, but they are very simple to make - there are only 3 components including the battery.
Instructions for how to make them are readily found on web-sites - here’s one: http://www.epanorama.net/circuits/microphone_powering.html
When using a battery box to power the microphone you would have the mixer phantom power switched OFF.

No. Nobody makes this.

http://kozco.com/tech/audacity/pix/headsetBattery.jpg

That’s the one that I made to interface with an XLR mixer. I used four 1.5v batteries for a total of just over 6 volts instead of the computer 5 volts, so it’s slightly louder. The microphone in an analog headset is a “standard” computer microphone.

The problem with this adapter is the batteries alone cost more than the microphone – unless it’s a complex headset like this. I had those parts laying around, but I wouldn’t be shocked if they totaled more than $60 USD. It does not save you any money unless you already have the parts.

Then there’s the six people world-wide that want to buy it, so it’s not like selling billions of iPhones.

Koz