But I’m curious “What Equipment did you use when you started your podcast or are still using to do your podcast today? “
Please respond …. Could use your input Thank You All. CHEERS!



I’m new to Podcasting therefore I need to get some better Equipment getting frustrated with the quality of my podcast knowing it could sound better ,don’t have a lot of cash right now but I was looking at a starter package from
BSW ~http://www.bswusa.com/proditem.asp?item=PODCAST-STARTER
The Podcast Solutions Starter Package starts with Audio-Technical’s new AT2020 studio mic, delivering pro sound at an entry-level price. The Alexis MultiMix8 USB is a quality small mixer with built-in USB output, allowing you to connect straight into your computer. You also get an Atlas DS7 desk mic stand, ProCo 5 ft. mic cable, USB cable, and the 272-page Podcast Solutions how-to book.

Hi--

I started with a cheap Radio Shack Desktop mic plugged straight into my soundcard.

That worked, but it didn't give me the control I wanted. Sooo...I bought a used Behringer Mixer (with Phantom Power), a decent condensor mic, and a A/D USB convertor. That investment (about $250) was well worth it.

The kit you pointed to seems a great way to get everything in one go. A decent mic, decent mixer, and decent A/D convertor...what software do you plan to use for recording, editing, and mixing?

I have been using that very mixer for over 2 years now. I highly suggest it. It has been awesome.

Dan.

Right now I'm using PODCAST STATION version 2.3.03 and a built in mic on my laptop. but you know how it is " need more control over it all " thanks for the post "cheers"

When I started, I was doing audio drama and each actor sat in front of an eMachine with a $20 gamer headset plugged into the mic port on the front. They each read their lines into individual audio files and I copy/pasted them, using Audacity, into the final file. I used all of these because they were free and at the time I had no spare money.

These days, for my weekly talk show, we have 4 nice mics plugged into a mixer, which runs to a compressor, which feeds into my dual-core laptop via USB. The only thing I still use is Audacity which is still free and still my favorite audio editor.

I have just got a new Alesis MultiMix 8 FireWire mixing board everything else I have (mic,cords,effects and compressor ) I'v played in bands for 25 years still have some equipment left lots of guitars and bass's
to boot.now I just have to wait till it comes in , I,m stoked. Thanks to all posted to this post "CHEERS"

When I first started I was using a $14 Logitech gamer headset that I happened to already own in conjunction with the software Total Recorder since it was unclear whether or not podcasting would be something I'd want to keep doing or not. After about a year or so of that, I decided to buy a whole bunch of audio equipment. Not knowing anything about audio equipment in spite of podcasting for that long, I elected to more or less copy what the Podcast411 diagram said I'd need in order to record over Skype, which is how I have to record my show.

So I got an M-Audio MobilePre USB, which is extremely useful and appears to still cost $120 even today. Instead of a compressor microphone, I opted for the Shure SM57. I currently use the Shure SM58S (same as the SM58 but with an on/off switch) since my cohost has the SM57, but I really can't discern the difference. Both cost about $100 at the time, and they both cost that now. I guess audio equipment doesn't become cheaper over time like computers do. Really, that's all I needed to record just my own voice, so I just stuck with that until a few months ago.

But at the same time as I bought those, I also bought the Alesis MultiMix8 USB mixer. I then proceeded to let the mixer sit in the corner and collect dust for TWO YEARS rather than actually learn to use it. I only actually started using the mixer a few months ago and I still don't really know how to use it that well (the mixer LEDs say my levels are spot on, but the USB output seems to be awfully low..). This thing still costs about $160 even though there's Firewire versions and USB 2.0 ones for much higher prices. I honestly have never encountered any transfer rate problems with this mixer, but that might be because I'm only using the mixer to output the final mix via the USB connection. Perhaps if I was having it receive audio streams via the PC connection as well as send then I'd need for the more fancypants connection.

So nowadays my setup for "Skypecasting" is something like this:
Shure SM58S->MobilePreUSB->PC (via USB)->Mixer (one 1/4" male to XLR male from the preamp and one from the PC)->Laptop (via USB) running Audacity set to Record

Man, that's nearly $400 in audio equipment, not counting the cost of the PC, the laptop, or the iRiver IFP-899 which I bought for portable recording and now never really seem to use anymore. I thought I'd be able to connect up my SM57 or SM58S to the iRiver line-in using an XLR to 1/4" cable and a 1/4" to 1/8" adapter, but the resulting sound quality is full of static and generally inaudible. That's an awful lot for a podcast that is almost entirely voice and is released at 64 kbps/22050 Hz, but I still don't even have a hardware compressor! Those are what, $150 or something?

Finally got new equipment in I went with Alesis MultiMix 8 FireWire . was going to get The Alesis MultiMix8 USB but I seen con's about it lagging where the Firewire beat it out. Nice to have more control than before with the sad set up that I was using . Had Mic's and other processing stuff from when I was gigging in bands so now my podcast can feel like a podcast.

QUOTE

Now getting a cell phone hook foe inerviews at low cost will and is my next Question ?