Reader Chris Eschweiler would like to go on the air . He writes :
Should I transfer my plan and just get a secure mic and a sociable , or are there any secure USB headset mics you could urge ?
Good timing ! Now that I ’m host the Macworld Podcast I ’m suppose long and hard about microphones . Because I have n’t tested loads of USB headset mike , I ’ll offer advice that ’s a little more general and trust that the Great Commentors of the world will pipe in with more specific recommendations .
I ’ve participated in a number of high - grade podcasts as well as have done a sane amount of audio piece of work in other areas and I ’ve found that it does n’t pay to skimp on the mic . This equipment ( in addition to the gimmick you use to remove its sound to your computer ) is your voice to the world . Record through a cheap mic and your podcast is n’t go to fathom as good as it could .
There are some decent USB microphone out there — my colleague Dan Frakes looked at a couple of them recently . But there are so many more skillful microphones that you’re able to plug into a USB audio recording user interface that I recollect you ’re unnecessarily limiting yourself by going with a USB mic .
I understand the desire for mobility . In such cases I might commend you get a little MD or Flash record-keeper and a good hand-held mike and then transfer your recordings to your Mac when you occur back to your studio . You could even get a 5 thou iPod or new iPod nano and record CD - quality audio to it with a compatible iPod microphone adapter such as XtremeMac’sMicroMemoor Belkin’sTuneTalk .
In podcasts where I dial in via Skype , the legion and other panellist invariably mention on the quality of my voice . No , not because I have a luxurious baritone , but rather because I ’m using a great microphone — an oldAKG 414 . I still have plenty of employment to do on the sound of my voice , but any failings I have are due to my tube and halting speech , not my power train .
Along with that microphone I utilise an EdirolUA-700 USB digital audio interface . There are tons of good USB interfaces out there from a variety of manufacturers . I chose this particular interface because I can use it with my music work — it includes MIDI in and out as well as build up - in effects such as compression and de - essing to help oneself clean up your vocalism as it run into your computer .
This gear is n’t trashy — a new 414 run around $ 1,000 and the UA-700 , which I consider is now discontinued , cost around $ 600 leaning . you may go with far less expensive gear — a goodcondenser microphonecan be had for under $ 200 as can aUSB audio interface . If potential , inspect a local music store that get by in professional audio power train and run through a excerption of mics , jack into your laptop ( if you have one ) and audion their strait . bump one that you consider accurately reflects the quality of your vocalism . And if you expect to conduct audience in person , look for a mike that offers omni - directional recording ( mean that it records out of the front and back of the mic — perfect for recording two voices at a table ) . Note that if you habituate a single mic , you need to be sure that all participate parties are speaking at about the same mass as you wo n’t be able to hinge on the gain on separate tracks .
The long and short of it ? grease one’s palms nice gear and you ’ve take a unspoilt first footmark in check that your podcast is listenable . After that , it ’s only a subject of making the content as good as the cogwheel .
