At one meter it was possible to pass off a podcast create with the barest of tools — the microphone built into a MacBook or iMac and a liberal audio recording editing program . While some podcasts are still created that way ( and succeed almost all because of the timber of their capacity rather than their less - than - pristine production ) the world expect well auditory sensation from today ’s podcasts . To develop that beneficial sound , a gamy course of instruction of tools is necessary . That said , you do n’t need to break your bank write up to make a podcast with decent phone . Here are some peter we wish and recommend .
Budget setup
You need n’t spend hundreds of dollars to produce a podcast . With any Mac made in the last several geezerhood and a microphone , you ’re well on your way .
GarageBand is a quite adequate to software for creating podcasts . And it ’s free as part of the iLife suite with any new Mac . The current version of GarageBand , GarageBand ’ 09 ( ) , is a world-wide program and so can be run on an Intel or PowerPC Mac . GarageBand can retard down when it ’s jam with multiple tracks , so if you think to create a podcast with eight or more runway , you ’ll be happy function on an Intel Mac with a Core 2 Duo processor or better .
The one piece of equipment that will make the most difference to the strait of your podcast is a microphone . The sound of the mike built into a MacBook or iMac do n’t cut it . They pick up too much room disturbance and the recorded speech sound of a voice lacks fullness .
Blue Snowball
To cut back on disbursal you ’ll desire to get a USB mike . With a USB mic , you do n’t need an audio interface . These microphones come in two variety — headset and desktop mike .
For the most part , inexpensive headset do n’t sound very good . They ’re noisy and the mic is positioned so close to your rima oris that sibilance ( the lisping , whoosh sound you get from the letter of the alphabet “ s ” ) and plosives ( the pop phone a mic picks up when you utter the letter “ b ” or “ atomic number 15 ” ) are almost unavoidable . But there are exceptions . Plantronics ’ $ 60.Audio 655 stereophonic USB headsetproduces estimable sound for the money and let in headphones as well as circuitry that avail winnow out screen background randomness .
A enough USB desktop microphone can be had for $ 125 and less . Blue Microphones ’ $ 100Snowballis democratic with many podcasters and include a stand and cable . Samson ’s $ 209C03U USB Condenser mike — like Blue ’s Snowball — features switchable omni , cardioid , and figure-8 pick - up practice . Marshall Electronics ’ $ 220MXL USB.007is another good sounding USB mike . All of these microphones can be plant online for far less than their list prices . As I compose this , Amazon.com , for exercise , sells the Snowball for $ 70 , the C03U for $ 90 , and the MXL USB.007 with stand , cable , and carrying case for $ 125 .
Heil PL2T desktop boom stand
Blue Snowball
If your mike does n’t amount with a stand , you ’ll need to purchase one , as take for a microphone in front of you is all right for rock ‘ n ’ roll , but clumsy during a podcast . Desktop mike stands can be found for under $ 10 online .
Increasingly , podcasters include remote interviews in their podcasts . And , in most type , these interview are conducted over the freeSkypevoice - over - IP ( VOIP ) table service . One of the least expensive direction to bewitch both your part and the voices of those participating via Skype is Ecamm connection ’s $ 20Call Recorder . Once you install it , just opt it from Skype ’s Window menu and click its large red Record release to set about memorialize . Call Recorder can record in a diverseness of audio format and criminal record Skype ’s television as well as audio .
Apogee One
eventually , if you regain that the audio levels of your podcast are all over the map — trashy here , soft there , and somewhere in the center everywhere else — you should have a copy of The Conversations connection ’s freeThe Levelator . The Levelator performs various audio chores to even out the mass of spoken word audio data file run through it ( it ’s far less effective if the Indian file also includes euphony ) . It supports only AIFF and WAV filing cabinet , not MP3 or AAC .
Mid-priced setup
If you ’re using a budget apparatus you ’ll soon comment that your audio could be cleaner . throw money at your podcast can help .
For example , despite your best efforts , the casual stop gets through as well as table taps and cablegram jiggles , which are picked up by a mike sitting on the desktop . To deal with occlusive , get a soda filter such as Nady System ’s $ 22MPF-6 . A dad filter is comprised of a hoop fill with a mesh textile that you commit between your lip and the microphone . The interlock take the brunt of popped p ’s and b ’s , thus help to do away with plosive consonant . The MPF-6 admit a flexible gooseneck boom and a clamp for attaching the MPF-6 to a microphone stand .
Speaking of microphone stands , you ’ll rid your sound of bumps and cable interference by have the microphone off the table . And the way to do that is with a desktop microphone boom stand such as Heil Sound ’s $ 109PL2T. The bottom of the pedestal sinks into a mount you clamp to the edge of a board or desk . The stand features a joint in the center and adjustable mike stem , allowing you to localise an attached mike in the perfect position .
PreSonus FireStudio Project
Heil PL2 T desktop godsend stand
Your podcast may inherit disturbance that are not of your qualification — the sound of a interviewee ’s airwave conditioner or the rumble of a vacuum cleaner your mommy insisted on running while you were recording . GarageBand ’s noise filtering capability are passably limited and because they are , it helps to have a puppet for cleaning up such outside sound . One such tool is Bias ’ $ 129SoundSoap 2 . This is a noise filtering utility that manoeuver as a fire hydrant - in that you’re able to call up from within GarageBand or as a standalone program . You fee SoundSoap a sample distribution of the racket you want to eliminate and it then removes that noise to the best of its abilities ( which are usually considerable ) . A less expensive selection is eMedia ’s $ 40iZotope Music & Speech Cleaner . Unlike SoundSoap 2 , it ’s offer only as a standalone app , which think you must export any track you want to clean and then bestow them back into GarageBand after Music & Speech Cleaner has had its way with them .
you’re able to also upgrade your sound by purchasing a good microphone . At one time , USB microphones would neglect off the radiolocation at this point as their calibre was n’t up to professional standards . That ’s no longer the fount . I often use Marshall Electronics ’ $ 400 MXL USB.009 24 - bit/96kHz condenser mike for the Macworld Podcast and for narration tracks that I sum to the Macworld Video episodes I create . In addition to offering great sound , the USB.009 includes Gain , Mix , and Headphone Volume knob and a headphone port for monitoring direct through the microphone .
AKG HSC 271 headset
And , of course , you could buy a “ real ” mike with an XLR connection . Doing so not only provides you with far more option than you have with USB microphones , but a material microphone can grow with you — link directly to an audio user interface or mixer when you move to such gear — rather than forcing you to use a USB connection on your computer .
There are scads of microphones in the world . Shure ’s $ 188 classic rock ‘ n ’ axial rotation microphone , theSM58 , sound great , is tough as nail , and can be had for around $ 100 . But it ’s a mike you desire to be close to , to get the good resolution . If you need to outfit a studio with microphones for roundtable discussions , it ’s a reasonable way to go .
Apogee One
Samson Zoom H4n
You ’ll need an audio interface to go with an XLR mike and there are a salmagundi of these as well . In my studio I use CEntrance ’s $ 150MicPort Pro . This 24 - bit/96kHz XLR - to - USB interface features an XLR connector on one ending and a mini USB connector on the other . Just plug one destruction into your microphone , confiscate a USB cable’s length to the other , and your Mac ascertain it as an audio rootage . It also features Gain and Volume knobs , a build - in headphone porthole , and phantom great power for microphones that command superpower to do their Job .
Another single - stimulus pick is Apogee ’s $ 249One . It ’s a very uninfected unmarried - input USB audio interface that offers input from a 1/4 - inch or XLR source ( via an included breakout cablegram ) . It also houses a quite decent - sounding inner microphone . It includes phantom power and the single magnanimous silver knob on its front can control either input gain or output loudness . To toggle between input and output , just press on the node .
The One is n’t useful for multi - input recordings , such as you ’d want for a roundtable discussion that postulate many microphone . For some prison term we used M - Audio ’s $ 450Fast Track UltraUSB interface , but it became treacherous . ( visit to M - Audio ’s forums showed us that our experience was not an isolated case . ) We now use and like PreSonus ’ $ 500FireStudio Project , a 24 - bit/96kHz FireWire exclusive wrack - place audio interface that admit eight XLR inputs ( with addition knob for each stimulation ) , two 1/4 - inch inputs , S / PDIF digital input and output , phantom mogul , and a individual earphone port . A beta version of the Universal Control software required to start the port is compatible with Snow Leopard .
PreSonus FireStudio Project
The big time
When budget is n’t a big concern , you may do more . elevate your microphone is a good first stone’s throw . Shure ’s $ 620 SM7B ( available for around $ 350 online ) and Heil ’s $ 325 PR 40 mike are routinely found in radiocommunication stations and voiceover studios because they capture a rich auditory sensation and reject off - axis racket ( mean they ’ll nicely pick up what ’s in front of them but neglect vocalize off to the side ) . If you need to sound like the professional , you ’ll look at these and similar microphones .
If you ’re more comfortable with a headset , take a looking at AKG ’s $ 649HSC 271professional headset . This headset uses the same headphones found in AKG ’s K 271 studio phone and features a condenser mike on a flexible arm . For the price , it should sound expectant and it does . Plus , the headphones are quite comfortable .
AKG HSC 271 headset
Although GarageBand and other multi - track audio editor program include effects for enhance your vocalisation , you could do well with outboard geartrain . Symetrix ’s $ 700528E Voice Processoris a individual - single-foot social unit that includes a mic preamp , de - esser , downward expander , compressor , three - circle parametric EQ , and voice symmetry coalition . It ’s a classic bit of audio gear and , when used correctly , importantly improves the sound of anyone ’s vocalism .
Those with a more talkative budget and with child skills could also move to a fuller featured editing coating . Apple pass water just such an modern multitrack audio editor that ’s great for podcast — Soundtrack Pro ( ) . Regrettably , it ’s sold only with Apple ’s $ 499 Logic Studio ( ) and $ 999 Final Cut Studio . If you have a written matter of either of these Studio suites , it ’s deserving firing up Soundtrack Pro and recording a podcast to see how you like its more advance editing features .
Samson Zoom H4n
Digidesign ’s $ 2,500003 Factoryis a powerful 24 - bit/96kHz FireWire ironware / software jazz band that include four XLR inputs , four melodic phrase comment , phantom power , and eight motorized faders . While more at plate in a euphony studio apartment , it can easily do yeoman of the guard ’s work for the advance podcaster . mention , however , that as I compose this , the ProTools software system stay mismated with Snow Leopard .
If you ’re the sort of podcaster who likes to take his or her act on the road , a high-pitched - calibre handheld recorder will make your job easier . Samson ’s $ 299Zoom H4n Handy Recorderis such a record-keeper . This stout walkie - talking picture - sized machine captures uncompressed 24 - bit/96kHz WAV files as well as MP3 sound to an SD card via a twain of sensitive build - in microphones . It also includes two XLR inputs . The H4n let you to record up to four track simultaneously — two through the build - in mics and another two through mics get in touch to the XLR inputs .
