Hi all!

I'm getting started on the whole podcasting thing, and I'm stuck on something. I understand the basic ideas behind mics, mixers, etc, but I'm unclear how to connect the mixer to the computer. In my situation, I'll be using either a laptop or portable MP3 device, so high-end audio cards and such are not an option. So what's the best route to go?

I considered a straight USB or Firewire mixer -- like the Alesis ones -- but those all seem to get mixed reviews about their features and plenty of complaints about background hissing. I considered getting a normal mixer (Behringer or Mackie), but I'm not entirely clear how I connect the silly thing to a computer. Do I just convert a 1/4" stereo cable to 1/8" and run it into the laptop's mic jack? Or will that screw up the sound quality somehow? Do I need some sort of an intermediary device like an iMic?

FYI, the person I'm working with has a fair amount of money to spend on this, so I would prefer a good quality solution to a cheap one. I've been doing a lot of research and reading as I try to solve this myself, but I think the more I read, the more confused I get about this one step. Any help you experienced folks can offer is greatly appreciated!

Thanks!

Dan

Hiya Dan,

I'm afraid I'm not much more seasoned than yourself on this stuff, but I'm sure someone who has The Answer will respond to you sooner or later. One of the things I remember reading, however, is that the LINE IN jack is much preferable to the MIC IN jack on any computer.

Hope this helps (at least a little)!

i purchased an M-Audio Mobile Pre input USB box - it is great, it has 2 inputs (either XLR or 1/4"), to USB. i can plug just Mics in, a mixer, pretty much ANYthing! i've used it to record live concerts and just run digital copies off of tape decks, it's very versatile. also has Phantom Power, which came in handy since i bought it in a package with 2 condenser mics for around $300. i did some poking around on M-Audio's site trying to find a link to it, and found something similar that might actually work better for you: M-Audio Podcast Factory

this looks exactly like what I bought, but is somehow "podcast-oriented." i didn't read all the specs, but if it's anything like the one i bought, it'll do the trick. you really want to stay away from the onboard audio inputs on laptops, most of them add ridiculous hiss and most only have mic in, no line-level in.

I have a behringer 1002 and for my output I use the "Tape Out" left and right (white and red) RCA output. I bought a red/white to 1/8" cable. I just run that to my mic input on my laptop and have no problem.

(for more info) I then run another 1/8" to red/white cable from my headphone output on the laptop to the "Tape In" on the mixer. Tht way when I record, I hear everything through my headphones that are plugged into the mixer. When I want to edit, I don't have to keep switching my headphones from teh mixer to the computer. I just hit the "Send Tape Out" button on the mixer. It takes my mic out of the loop and puts the computer in it's place. That way I can edit on the laptop, and the audio out from the laptop gets sent to the mixer, then to my headphones.

I hope that wasn't too complicated. I know it seemed complicated me for a couple days until i figured out how it worked.

Josh speaks da truth. Though I would go from the Tape Out to a Line In, not Mic In if you have one. Mic In tends to be mono only, so if stereo is important, go Line In.

Oblivion also speaks the truth

sorry I should have mentioned that. my line in on the computer is shite....

P. Dilly ALWAYS speaks the truth.

Thank you guys very much for your help! I just noted down what you guys said and I'll take it with me tonight when we go shopping for the parts. I hope I can handle it from here, but somehow I think I'll be back asking for more advice again soon

Well, hopefully if I can stick with this long enough, I'll be on here dispensing advice someday instead of just asking for it.

Thanks again!

Dan

I haven't had any problem with hiss with the USB connection on my Multimix8... alot less than through the mic or line-in jacks.