WCACYM – Brainstorming about Audio

Here are the results from our brainstorming session about our usage of audio.

(And it goes without saying, but we should say it anyway: without communicating with the Lord in prayer, we won’t be able to share him online.  (Can’t give what you don’t got!))

Audio (General)

  • Question to ponder: What is my primary, target audience for audio production/sharing?
  • Audio is shared in a number of ways.  Most podcast plugins for a website use all of these methods:
    • Can listen by clicking a button on a web page.  Handy for talks/music.
    • Can use something called an RSS feed.  People subscribe to this feed using something like iTunes.  When a new episode becomes available, it’s retrieved automatically, and the person can listen to it at their leisure.  They are often more like a radio show.
  • If it’s episodic in nature, consider podcasting.  (We’ll get to hosting below.)
  • For music, consider something like Soundcloud or iCompositions, which are well set up for sharing original music.  They are free, but added features/storage space can be purchased.

Production (recording/editing)

  • Check out podcastanswerman.com for more in-depth explanations about podcasting.
  • See Life is a Prayer for some good reviews on equipment.
  • Depending on what you’re going for, the iPhone’s recording app (or equivalent for any smartphone/tablet) might be good enough!
  • HOWEVER. Striving for beauty/excellence should mean that we are striving to do more than the easiest thing. People are used to listening to quality audio on the radio and in other podcasts.  We should try to reach those levels.
  • Fortunately, with audio this is actually somewhat possible on a limited budget!  Time may be a factor though when it comes to learning.

 

  • Microphones
    • Microphone types:
      • Dynamic mics use a moving coil around a magnet.  As sound waves enter the mic, they vibrate the coil.  When a coil moves next to a magnet, it creates electricity.  This electric field is then amplified and can be converted to a digital signal (for recording) or amplified (for a public address system).  Usually a bit less sensitive, but sound pleasing.
      • Condenser mics use an electrical principle called capacitance to convert the sound waves into electricity.  These are usually more sensitive than dynamic mics and sometimes emphasize the higher frequencies more.  Expensive condensers can be worth thousands of dollars.
      • Electret mics: Lots of cheaper microphones use a type of condenser mic called an “electret” which sounds ok and is cheaper to make than a true condenser.
      • Often a microphone labeled a “condenser mic” is actually an electret condenser.  C’est la vie.  Confusion is fun! :-)
      • All condenser mics (including electrets) require external power of some sort.  Some use a battery or an external power supply, but most often they use something called “phantom power.”  This is a type of power that is sent by the mixer or audio interface and is usually 48 volts.
      • Shotgun mics are the long kind of microphone used in television or movie production.  They are very directionally-focused and are excellent for rejecting sound from the sides or rear of the microphone.
      • Ribbon mics use a metal ribbon (often aluminum) between a strong magnet.  The sound causes the ribbon to vibrate between the magnet, creating electricity.  In the past they were very fragile and expensive.  They are still expensive but less fragile now.  They have a very nice, natural sound and are great for recording some instruments.
    • Microphone sensitivity patterns:
      • All of the above types of microphones may be manufactured for any sensitivity pattern.  Some may have multiple options.
      • cardioid microphones are sensitive primarily in front of the microphone. The sides and rear are less sensitive.
      • hyper-cardioid mics are like cardioid, but reject even more sound from the sides and rear.
      • omnidirectional mics hear sound from any direction.

       

    • Considerations with microphones:
      • What room will you be in?
        • If it is small and/or with hard surfaces (such as an office), then sound reflections off of the walls may be a problem. If that’s the case, check out a dynamic mic. The Shure, Heil, and Electrovoice mics listed below are dynamic.
        • Use a microphone stand and pop filter (if applicable).
        • Avoid fizzy drinks before or during recording.  (I sometimes break this rule… and I notice it when I listen to the recording!).
        • Get close to the mic and adjust the volume levels so you don’t overload the recording device.  (This overloading is called “clipping” and generally sounds very bad.
  • Recording
    • We need to find a way to get the signal from the microphone into your computer (or recording device) so it can be recorded.
    • Two main ways:
      • The microphone might have the circuitry built in, and is plugged into a USB port.
      • The microphone would need to go through an audio interface of some sort.  The audio interface would then be plugged into your computer via USB or Firewire.
    • Cheap microphones with the built-in USB interface, such as a Samson or Blue podcasting microphone should be available for under $100.
    • Headset USB mics made for gaming can sometimes work well.  But the cheaper ones don’t seem to the have the same frequency range.
    • For an iPhone/iPad: iRig makes mics designed for these. The audio is then recorded into the iDevice directly, and may be edited on the device or brought into a computer.
    • Best quality: regular microphone and audio interface (likely also need a mic stand).
      • Shure SM57 or SM58 – very popular mic.  Often called “everyone’s first mic.”  Can eBay for under $100.
      • Heil PR40 – used by many podcasters, such as the “This Week in Tech” (TWiT) network.  Approx. $320.
      • Shure SM7B – this is what I use.  It is fantastic for sounding good in a small space (rejecting reflections from the walls of the room).  Heavy, great for voice.  Also used by CBC Radio.  Approx. $350.
      • Electrovoice RE20 – used by major studios, including SiriusXM satellite radio.  Approx. $450.
      • Higher end mics can cost much more….
    • Audio interfaces:
      • M-Audio, PreSonus, Apogee, Motu, etc. etc.
      • Price generally goes up as features/quality increase.
      • Look online for reviews.
      • I use: PreSonus Firepod/FP10 at home (8 inputs). M-Audio FastTrack Pro on the road (2 inputs).
      • Can also investigate preamps, compressors, equalizers… the list is endless.  And so is the cost…!
    • For recording another source, such as a Skype interview:
      • Software can record the Skype call directly.  One program is Audio Hijack Pro, which records all sound that you’d normally hear from the computer’s speakers.  High quality.
      • Audio may be passed through an audio device and recorded by the same software that records your microphone.
      • A Google Hangout can handle the recording as well, though with less flexibility with respect to editing.
    • Software for editing/recording ranges from free to pricey.
    • Free:
      • Audacity (Windows/Mac; not great for multitrack audio but a good number of audio editing features for free)
      • Garageband (Mac; very good software that comes with the Mac)
    • Pay:
      • Logic Pro (Mac; think of it like the “pro” version of Garageband. Tons of features, plugins, and included sounds.).  It’s what I use. $199.
      • Pro Tools (Windows/Mac). Industry standard for music production. $699, or $799 with an included audio interface.
      • Ableton Live (Windows/Mac; $99-$749, depending on features purchased)
  • Biggest investment: Time!

 

Sharing (storage/podcasting)

  • Check out podcastanswerman.com for more in-depth answers.
  •  Free services:
  • Paid:
    • Personal web hosting (usually $5-10/month)
      • Cheap-ish, but this will have bandwidth limits.  If your podcast gets popular (even one episode!) you could completely overwhelm your web host.
      • WordPress has some handy podcasting plugins (e.g. podpress, blubrry).  These are good for interfacing with files that are stored either on your web server or on one of these services (below):
    • Podcasting services like Libsyn and blubrry.  With these you pay a certain amount per month for a certain amount of uploading bandwidth.  You then get (relatively) unlimited download bandwidth.
    • Both Libsyn and Blubrry can host the podcast website, though this is less flexible.
  • To promote your podcast, integrate it into iTunes.  Apple has a handy site to explain how this works: Making a podcast
  • Also make sure your web software (such as podpress, blubrry, etc.) will generate an RSS feed to help people subscribe.  Publish a link to the feed.