PC Mall Offers Podcasting Packages

[theFerf]

I was surprised when I found this link on the PC Mall website but delighted at the same time. They have developed kits of all levels and price ranges that will help people become podcasters.
On this website you will find a $39.99 package with a set of headphones and an ipod attachemnt for talking into [...]

Read more... (http://www.podcastalley.com/blog/?p=146)

Source: Blogging from the Alley (http://www.podcastalley.com/blog)
Dedicated to delivering the best and most entertaining news on podcasting.

[docsnavely]

Roving Reporter Basic Podcasting Kit includes:

•iRiver IFP795 MP3 Player - includes earphones & voice recorder
•Shure SM58S Dynamic Microphone
•Monster microphone cable
•audacity Free audio editor download

and all for only $299.99

it seems that many retailers are jumping on the podcasting kit bandwagon, and just putting together crap.

the mic can be froogled for $104, the iriver can be found for $100 froogled, the monster cable can be no more than $15, and well, we all know how much audacity can cost you!

what a scam.....

[theFerf]

its not completely a scam, some people dont want to froogle, google, search or do any work. it is worth spending a little bit more money to have someone tell you what you want.

chris.

[SFEley]

its not completely a scam, some people dont want to froogle, google, search or do any work. it is worth spending a little bit more money to have someone tell you what you want.

First: they're charging above retail price for the components. That makes it a ripoff by default. They're raising prices and adding no value.

Second: having looked at all those kits, their choices for "what people want" are utterly bizarre. The Shure SM58 is a fine mic (I use an SM57 myself), but I don't think it'd be my first choice to plug into an iRiver; you really need stronger preamps for it. A lavalier or small powered condenser like Sony's ECMMS907 makes a lot more sense. And they're selling Behringer's amateur DJ mixer with silly features nobody needs for recording, rather than the UB802 which would be cheaper and more useful. Whoever put these combos together didn't know what they were doing.

Third: telling people "Download Audacity!" as part of their "kit?" Come on. That's not even a feature, but they're pitching it like one. This is no different from the EBay auctions titled "Get a widescreen TV for $10!" but revealing in small type that what they're really selling is a leaflet that tells you how to save money on a TV.

If they had this stuff at a discount -- any discount -- I could see the merit of offering goofy combinations, to get rid of overstock or whatever. But at these prices? You can't possibly condone this sort of offer.

[Craig]

I'm not even sure the SM58 would work plugged directly into an iRiver, although I assume they must have tested it. At the very least you're going to have to turn the mic level up so high on the iRiver that you're going to get an unacceptable amount of preamp noise.

And while I agree that the price is definitely too high, it's not over MSRP; the iFP-795's MSRP is $129.99 and the SM58's is $188 believe it or not.

Craig

[SFEley]

And while I agree that the price is definitely too high, it's not over MSRP; the iFP-795's MSRP is $129.99 and the SM58's is $188 believe it or not.
Egad. I had no idea there was that wide a discrepancy between MSRP and street prices.

Thanks, I stand corrected. But these package offers are still ripoffs.

[jeffoest]

Sounds like there may be a nice opportunity out there for someone to sell (at a small markup) integrated packages that DO make sense. A lot of people would like to get a certain level of turnkey product and not have to worry about 1/4" vs. 1/8", impedence matching, phantom power enablement, etc....

Craig, I have hooked up an SM58 to the iRiver with a specially designed cord that apparently balances the impedences and yea, not surprisingly, it still sounds like crap.

[cybercooler]

You can use an SM58 with an iriver you just need an XLR to 8" connector (or whatever that is on the iRiver). I have a Audio Technica mic, and I've taken the chord from it and pluged in the SM58.

[Craig]

You can use an SM58 with an iriver you just need an XLR to 8" connector (or whatever that is on the iRiver). I have a Audio Technica mic, and I've taken the chord from it and pluged in the SM58.
But what did it sound like? (And, specifically, how much hiss was there from the iRiver's mic preamp? You need a high sensitivity mic with the iRiver, or a powered mic, to overcome the preamp's noise floor.)

Craig

[SFEley]

Sounds like there may be a nice opportunity out there for someone to sell (at a small markup) integrated packages that DO make sense.
BSW USA (http://www.bswusa.com/promo.asp?promo=69) offers some podcasting packages that, while not as cheap, make a lot more sense. Their $250 package is a great mic and a great mixer. The "package" savings is that they throw in a mic stand and some cables.


A lot of people would like to get a certain level of turnkey product and not have to worry about 1/4" vs. 1/8", impedence matching, phantom power enablement, etc....
True, but if somebody really doesn't want to know about that stuff, they probably won't be able to use a mixer properly. Even an iRiver's a bad choice for someone like that -- the interface on that thing is actively malicious.

For someone who really doesn't want to think about equipment, the "$15 Radio Shack mic, plug it into your sound card" advice is probably right. Beyond that... Well, it's a technical hobby. If you want quality, you have to be willing to learn.

[Big Mike]

Here's one:

M-Audio Fastrack USB (http://www.m-audio.com/products/en_us/FastTrackUSB-main.html) $99

Shure PG-58 (http://www.shure.com/microphones/models/pg58.asp) $99 [comes with cable and clip]. The PG [Performance Gear] package is a budget pack. The mic is nearly identical to an SM-58 with exception of the housing being lighter weight.

[Craig]

A lot of people would like to get a certain level of turnkey product and not have to worry about 1/4" vs. 1/8", impedence matching, phantom power enablement, etc....
True, but if somebody really doesn't want to know about that stuff, they probably won't be able to use a mixer properly. Even an iRiver's a bad choice for someone like that -- the interface on that thing is actively malicious.
There's no way to do a podcast without having to overcome some technical audio hurdles no matter what approach you take (unless you phone it in). The advantage to podcasting over previous broadcasting technologies is that those hurdles are significantly smaller.

Craig

[cc_chapman]

I really wish someone like Musicians Friend would come up with packages like this. They could so easily put together some killer packages with all the gear they have and that way it would break out from the "must be a computer geek to do this" mentality.