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View Full Version : Making the jump from USB mics to full on mixing desk


MidLife Gamer Podcast
Jun 10th, 2009, 03:24 AM
Hello there.
I've been podcasting with my co-host now for almost a year now.
We've been doing this using Garageband along with 2 high quality USB headsets (with integrated compressors). The sound quality has been find to a point and generally better quality than most of our peers, however I really want to make a move to more advanced hardware.

For anyone who has used GB for recording more than 1 input at a time will know GB's limitation and the need to aggregate the 2 inputs together. I'd like to get around this entirely by investing in a mixing desk and some nice compressor mics.

The end result would be to have 2 mics (with pop shields) for myself and the co-host. Both with headphones so we can hear each other (and a tiny bit of ourselves to ensure we're recording), run these all through a mixing desk and into my Mac.
I don't want to record straight into GB as I've had some issues with the audio being corrupt (only once every 20 shows or so, but nothing worse than loosing an hours of podcasting gold). I'd like to record the audio in something else, then perhaps do all of my editing in GB as I do like its editing functionality.
One thing which is important though is that I want to try and record this as live as possible. For example we have the usual jingles and audio which make up the show which I insert during editing. It would be nice to have all of these queued up on my Mac and be able to fire them off when needed. These would play through our headphones, but more importantly become part of the raw recording. Is this possible, or would I have to get another bit of hardware which would also be attached to the mixing desk as a 3rd input?

As for hardware, I've come across this - http://www.getinthemix.co.uk/Behringer-Podcastudio-FireWire-Bundle-Fire-Wire.htm
This has 2 XLR inputs for our mics and the outputs for the headphones (would naturally need to buy additional mic and headphones). But is this generally what I'm looking for would you suggest? Also is the audio interface required as a bridge between the audio capability of the desk and the computing capability of the PC/Mac?

Sorry if this is quite long, but I really want to get this right before I go off buying things.
Thanks
Matt

sohel001
Jul 4th, 2009, 04:41 AM
Audio pros may scoff at USB microphones, preferring their expensive XLR mics and breakout boxes or mixing boards ... I don't want my desk covered up with more junk than needed. ... Let's jump into the nitty gritty of each, shall we? ... MXL claims the USB.009 is the first plug-and-play USB mic to ...

BrianGentry
Jul 9th, 2009, 05:55 PM
Sounds like you need a few things.

1. First a mixing board with at least two mic preamps, and another few line level inputs.

2. A headphone amplifier designed for multiple headphones. I've seen ones for 4 or more pairs, each with individual level controls. Each person may not want to listen at the same volume. You'd run the headphone output (or maybe even the main?) of the mixer into the headphone amp and plug both sets of headphones into it.

For inserting your audio effects, it's as simple as running the line out of your mac into a line in on the mixing board and then dialing the level of that channel on the mixer to where ever you want it. The only potential problem is feedback. Since you are sending the Mac's audio output to the mixer and the mixer's audio output to the Mac's input, you might get a feedback loop. On a PC you fix this by disabling "monitor audio" on the line input. Macs may be smart enough to fix this by default.

For mixing boards (desks), I don't like Behringer. Just my personal bias. For smallish boards, I think Yamaha is very hard to beat. Something like the MG102C is nearly perfect. I've got the earlier version and have been very happy with it.

http://pro-audio.musiciansfriend.com/product/Yamaha-10INPUT-STEREO-MIXER?sku=630138&src=3WWRWXGB&ZYXSEM=0

Audio interfaces: Macs usually have clean audio inputs which should give you a nice clean recording. Some PCs have really awful sound cards (inputs) that make noisy recordings. You'll have to test it to be sure. If the line in audio is bad quality, you'll want to buy a small (2 channel if possible) USB or Firewire audio interface. You probably won't need it, I'm just covering bases.

I hope I've covered all of your questions.

Brian.

luizeba
Jul 10th, 2009, 04:23 PM
Hello mates!

Really liked this advice of you guys, expert in Podcasting!
Will look in EBay for buy these things...

Valikie22
Sep 6th, 2009, 08:36 PM
Glad to hear you're using this: I plan to keep it much more aggressively up-to-date than has been the case in the past, but don't hesitate to let me know if you find errors or need clarifications.

Cheers!
Valikie
property asset project | document internet management software (http://internetmanagementsoftware.org)Utilizing your internet resources effectively through internet management software. property asset project | document internet management software (http://internetmanagementsoftware.org)

greenyi
Nov 30th, 2009, 02:31 AM
i also use Garageband! i think it's very great! why you have to upgrade?

ecollazo
Mar 18th, 2010, 09:56 PM
I'm not sure what kind of a budget your'e looking at, but I'll list my rig below. I've been using it for recording music, voice-overs and podcasts. It handles them all very well. I spent around $2k for it all (not counting laptop) which I'm sure would be a bit excessive for just podcasting, but not bad for recording music.

Microphones:
BLUE - Bluebird (large diaphram condenser)
MXL - V69ME (tube, large diaphram condenser)

The Bluebird is crisp and has a flat response, the V69ME is warm and full. They suit each of our very different voices nicely.

Both mics are run through individual Presonus Studio Channel tube mic pre-amps. They have built in VCA compression and parametric EQ as well as 48v phantom power.

From there the signal passes through a Presonus FireStudio Project interface connected through FireWire to my MacBook Pro laptop. We use Sony MDR-7509 headphones during recording. The headphones are routed through a Presonus HP60 headphone amplifier/splitter. I also have a pair of Samson Resolv A5 studio monitors for editing and mixing.

oozye2010
Mar 19th, 2010, 05:54 AM
Im currently looking at terratec units and wonder what people think of thier prices ?

Charlote
Mar 14th, 2011, 03:38 AM
How do you make each channel on a behringer xenyx 1622fx mixing desk appears as a searate you at least need an usb interface with enough inputs for each mic you want to. Classic analog mixers --page 4 from single players to full in a set of decent mics, a half-decent mixing desk by quality issues in the usb-122 itself, so it's probably not a big concern making.

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