It’s been a while since we’ve talked about how we podcast, but it’s still a question that we get now and again. So I thought that it would be a good thing to go ahead and write up another article about how we podcast now that we’ve grown a bit and we have become more accustomed to podcasting in general.
I would like to once again stress that we don’t know everything about podcasting and that we know we always have room to improve. We also understand that there is no “one way” to podcast and you can do it with just a microphone and a computer or by spending tens of thousands of dollars. This is just the way that we podcast (for right now) and we thought we’d share.
Our Current Equipment
- A 24-Input mixer (An Alesis Studio 24 which is no longer in production, but there are similar products available .)
- 2 dynamic microphones (Audio Technica ST 90 MKII and a Heil PR40)
- 2 Nady MPF-6 6-Inch Clamp On Microphone Pop Filters
- 2 RODE PSA 1 Swivel Mount Studio Microphone Boom Arms, Black
- Desktop computer to stream the live feed
- A laptop computer for Skype input into the mixer
- An Apple iPad
for sound effects, voicemails, etc.
- Adobe Audition CS5.5 for recording and editing the show
- 2 Behringer Headphones
- A Zoom H2 Portable Stereo Recorder for recording the show and for live interviews.
So as you can see we’ve changed a lot since last year. We have a larger mixer now which accommodates input from 2 microphones (one for Goldenstar and one for myself), the streaming computer (normally muted, but can be used for in-game sounds and a backup Skype/effects machine), an iPad (for the soundboard, Google Voice, etc.), and a laptop running Skype. There are two outputs, one that has the “full audio” which is split and goes out to both the Zoom recorder for later production and to the main streaming machine for the live broadcast. The second input has a mix-minus going into the Skype computer (which in the most simplest of terms makes it so that Skype doesn’t get any echoes or feedback). And then we of course monitor the whole thing through our headsets.
To get the podcast on the computer I simply take the SD Card
For live recordings you can see that we’ve changed so that we bring the sound directly into the mixer now and don’t record both tracks at once. And while this does bring in some unexpected background sounds like our phones, dogs, chair sounds, etc. during interviews, it is a lot simpler to record this way and reduces our turnaround time. I’m sure some of you remember how long it took me to edit some of the roundtables in the past. (For those who don’t, it usually took 2-3 weeks.)
Conclusion
Yes, this setup is complicated and it will probably become more so throughout the next year. I still have plans to add a Behringer Compressor/Limiter/Gate
So that’s pretty much how we podcast these days. Of course if you have any questions feel free to leave us a comment and we’ll do our best to answer them!
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November 4, 2011 at 8:18 am
that’s gonna cost a bomb! if someone plans to start their own podcast show =p
November 4, 2011 at 8:27 am
This is just our set up. Like the article states, you can start a podcast with just a mic and a computer. Ours has grown as we learn more and more. You can easily spend a ton of money on it but it’s not all necessary if you’re just starting.
November 4, 2011 at 8:33 am
Exactly what Goldenstar said. If you look at our previous post it was a lot simpler. Also, we’ve been fortunate enough be able to cut costs like having Tadgo sell us the mixer instead of purchasing a new one.
November 4, 2011 at 9:12 am
That’s great insight to what equipment you guys are using, thanks for the post =) And I know starting out a podcast with a mic and computer can be simple enough, but I think to sound as good and clear as you guys do, a little money has to be spent somehow. So, kudos for sounding great!
November 4, 2011 at 9:23 am
Yes when we started we did buy a small mixer and the mics rather than using headsets trying to sound better. Our first episode we didn’t have the mics yet and I can’t listen to that one without cringing!
November 4, 2011 at 9:25 am
As an aside, if people would like and are interested I can put together another post on resources you can go to if you’re interested in starting a podcast.
November 4, 2011 at 1:00 pm
Whilst I’m not in a position to create a podcast at the moment, it is something I would like to try in the future. Any help, resources, tips and tricks would be very appreciated.
November 4, 2011 at 1:09 pm
OK, I’ll see what I can put together
November 6, 2011 at 1:01 pm
I would also like to see this, purely for curiosity’s sake. Please do post something.
November 4, 2011 at 9:27 am
Thank you for this peek behind the scenes! I am going to refer people to this blog post in the future when they ask about possible podcasting setups.
November 4, 2011 at 10:22 am
Handy dandy for a newb podcaster like me! Thanks!
November 4, 2011 at 3:49 pm
I cant believe you guys run all that stuff for the podcast and the volume on your voices still aren’t equalized . Half the time you can hardly hear goldenstar. Please boost her levels. Great show though. This is just something thats been driving me nuts when listening to ur podcast.
PS : Its not on my end. I listen to loads of podcasts and hardly have this problem.
November 4, 2011 at 4:09 pm
Thanks for your constructive feedback even if your first part was a tad snotty and not necessary.
I don’t feel that my voice is so low you can hardly hear me though. I check the show on my laptop before posting and then check again with my iphone after posted and I can hear me just fine.
Perhaps a bit of an exaggeration but we’ll keep it in consideration for the future.
November 4, 2011 at 4:37 pm
That’s a great setup and I bet it allows for ease of skype calls and cutting in live shots. For the record, my (former recording engineer’s) ears tell me you guys sound great! And I for one love all the background noises, like Baby Hobbit, etc. Just adds to the charm of the show.
April 2, 2012 at 8:54 pm
I think your setuo is very complicated, you can sustitute the skype laptop, the stream computer, the zoom recorder, and the ipad for effect, and just use an Ipad for everything, or an ipad and a smal ipod
November 4, 2011 at 6:29 pm
You two certainly have come a long way. I still remember enjoying your very first episode a very few weeks after you started, and am glad you have stayed the course. And by the way, I hear Goldenstar just fine all the way from beginning to end. Don’t worry about sounds from phones, dogs, Baby Hobbit, etc. It’s all a part of who you are.
November 5, 2011 at 6:54 am
Your podcasts add heart to our shared virtual world.
I’m more and more impressed as you give us these glimpses of what goes into making it seem like we’re all just sitting around the kitchen table talking about last week in LOTRO.
Thanks for letting us be part of your family. We are lucky to have you both!
November 5, 2011 at 9:12 am
Compared to some other podcasts I’ve been listening to, you’re definitely on the “Pro” end of the spectrum when it comes to audio quality.
Out of the ones I’m currently listening to, you easily sound as good as the Stack Exchange podcast, and they have quite an impressive setup:
http://blog.stackoverflow.com/2011/08/the-se-podcast-setup/
And I also have no problems hearing Goldenstar.
November 6, 2011 at 5:09 pm
Luckily for me if I ever want to start doing a podcast, I’m a musician and have decent mics and everything already!
PS – Just discovered you guys and am enjoying listening to your podcasts while in-game 
Eboe of Meneldor
November 9, 2011 at 8:07 am
Don’t forget to add a HUGE sign over the record button.
There maybe the very odd occasion when voices come and go but only slightly and to be expected when broadcasting from a family home not a soundproofed booth in a radio station.
Some accents can be tiring, or downright painful, to listen to but thankfully you and your guests spare the ears from aural destruction whether listening live at 3am or so or later on in the week.
November 9, 2011 at 3:38 pm
Your podcast is one of the few I listen to where the sibilants don’t hurt my ears if I have to crank up the volume to hear over traffic noise. (Only one earbud is in, I promise.) Whatever you do to equalize, it sure works for me.
January 11, 2012 at 10:33 am
If you plan to have 2-5 people recording does each need a mic? And can a small mixer like the Behringer support more than one mic? Thanks, I appreciate any help
January 11, 2012 at 11:18 am
I would highly recommend that everyone has their own mics if you’re all recording in the same room. You certainly can share, but it becomes akward at times and can detract from your sound quality. If cost is an issue though, I would say go ahead and give sharing a try and see how it works out and sounds. There is certainly no need to spend a ton of money on podcasting from the start.
And yes, the small Behringer mixer we were using could support up to 10 microphones I believe. Only 2 of those would be XLR inputs though and the other 8 would “share” channels. It’s not a big deal, though.