Jey's Podcasting Journal

The High Pass Filter is the go to tool to get rid of or reduce low frequency noise. Listen to learn how flexible this tools is. 

PRODUCTION NOTES

Recording Mic: Samson Q2U Dynamic with pop filter and foam windshield.

Recording device : Dell G7 Windows 10 Laptop via USB

Recording location: Sitting at dining table - no pillowfort but fairly non-reverberant location with soft furnishings and bookshelves.

Recording app: Audacity for Windows

Recording format: WAV (16 bit stereo)

Sample rate: 44100Hz

Editing app: Audacity

Sound Treatment: Auphonic Productions at Auphonic.com

Auphonic.com settings [to output as a 16bit mono WAV file]: Adaptive Leveler (on), Loudness Normalization (Loudness Target -19 LUFS ), Filtering (on), Noise and Hum Reduction (Reduction Amount: Auto), Sample rate: 44.1kHz

I uploaded the resulting WAV file to Anchor.fm to host the file and added the music from their free music stock.

Anchor automatically converts the WAV file into a 128kbps .m4a file

All electronic devices generate hiss. Let's explore what to do to prevent it getting on to your recording. 

I forgot to mention that another way to reduce hiss is to use better equipment or connections. So to eliminate the hiss I get connecting my mic to my computer via USB - I can connect my mic to my digital recorder (Zoom H6) via XLR cable and then my Zoom to my computer via USB. The quality of this chain is much higher and there would not be any noise. 

Also I forgot to mention Auphonic.com as a great tool to remove noise. They will gift you two hours of free sound processing per month. 

PRODUCTION NOTES

Recording Mic: Samson Q2U Dynamic with pop filter and foam windshield. 

Recording device : Dell G7 Windows 10 Laptop via USB

Recording location: Sitting at dining table - no pillowfort but fairly non-reverberant location with soft furnishings and bookshelves.

Recording app: Audacity for Windows

Recording format: WAV (16 bit stereo)

Sample rate: 44100Hz

Editing app: Audacity

Sound Treatment: Auphonic Productions at Auphonic.com

Auphonic.com settings [to output as a 16bit mono WAV file]: Adaptive Leveler (on), Loudness Normalization (Loudness Target -19 LUFS ), Filtering (on), Noise and Hum Reduction (Reduction Amount: Auto), Sample rate: 44.1kHz

I uploaded the resulting WAV file to Anchor.fm to host the file and added the music from their free music stock.

Anchor automatically converts the WAV file into a 128kbps .m4a file

I'm going to start exploring the typical sorts of noise that might get onto your tape and how to deal with it. If you can deal with it at all!!!

Let's start with RF Noise. This is usually from mobile phones. But there are other electrical devices that can generate noise. If your mic doesn't have RF shielding then might be vulnerable. 

PRODUCTION NOTES

Recording Mic: MPOW 071 USB & 3.5mm Headset

Recording device : Dell G7 Windows 10 Laptop via USB

Recording location: Sitting at dining table - no pillowfort but fairly non-reverberant location with soft furnishings and bookshelves. 

Recording app: Audacity for Windows

Recording format: WAV (16 bit stereo)

Sample rate: 44100Hz

Editing app: Audacity

Sound Treatment: Auphonic Productions at Auphonic.com

Auphonic.com settings [to output as a 16bit mono WAV file]: Adaptive Leveler (on), Loudness Normalization (Loudness Target -19 LUFS ), Filtering (on), Noise and Hum Reduction (Reduction Amount: Auto), Sample rate: 44.1kHz

I uploaded the resulting WAV file to Anchor.fm to host the file and added the music from their free music stock.

Anchor automatically converts the WAV file into a 128kbps .m4a file

Let's explore the three main ways to power your mic. 

PRODUCTION NOTES

Recording Mic: MPOW 071 USB & 3.5mm Headset

Recording device : Samsung Galaxy Note 4 Android Phone

Recording location: Standing facing into my closet. 

Recording app: Auphonic Edit for Android

Recording format: WAV (16 bit mono)

Sample rate: 48kHz

Editing app: Auphonic Edit for Android.

Sound Treatment: Auphonic Productions at Auphonic.com

Auphonic.com settings [to output as a 16bit mono WAV file]: Adaptive Leveler (on), Loudness Normalization (Loudness Target -19 LUFS ), Filtering (on), Noise and Hum Reduction (Reduction Amount: Auto), Sample rate: 44.1kHz

I uploaded the resulting WAV file to Anchor.fm to host the file and added the music from their free music stock.

Anchor automatically converts the WAV file into a 128kbps .m4a file

Let's cut to the chase. This is the best Digital Interface for Podcasters starting out on your journey. The Zoom Podtrak P4. 

Join me to hear why.

PRODUCTION NOTES

Recording Mic: MPOW 071 USB & 3.5mm Headset

Recording device : Samsung Galaxy Note 4 Android Phone

Recording location: My bedroom, sitting on my bed facing my cloth covered headboard surrounded by my quilt and pillows.

Recording app: Auphonic Edit for Android

Recording format: WAV (16 bit mono)

Sample rate: 48kHz

Editing app: Auphonic Edit for Android.

Sound Treatment: Auphonic Productions at Auphonic.com

Auphonic.com settings [to output as a 16bit mono WAV file]: Adaptive Leveler (on), Loudness Normalization (Loudness Target -19 LUFS ), Filtering (on), Noise and Hum Reduction (Reduction Amount: Auto), Sample rate: 44.1kHz

I uploaded the resulting WAV file to Anchor.fm to host the file and added the music from their free music stock.

Anchor automatically converts the WAV file into a 128kbps .m4a file

Let's start looking at what interfaces are and what problems they solve. This could take a while!! Strap in!

PRODUCTION NOTES

Recording Mic: MPOW 071 USB & 3.5mm Headset

Recording device : Samsung Galaxy Note 4 Android Phone

Recording location: My bedroom, sitting on my bed facing my cloth covered headboard surrounded by my quilt and pillows. 

Recording app: Auphonic Edit for Android

Recording format: WAV (16 bit mono)

Sample rate: 48kHz

Editing app: Auphonic Edit for Android.

Sound Treatment: Auphonic Productions at Auphonic.com

Auphonic.com settings [to output as a 16bit mono WAV file]: Adaptive Leveler (on), Loudness Normalization (Loudness Target -19 LUFS ), Filtering (on), Noise and Hum Reduction (Reduction Amount: Auto), Sample rate: 44.1kHz

I uploaded the resulting WAV file to Anchor.fm to host the file and added the music from their free music stock.

Anchor automatically converts the WAV file into a 128kbps .m4a file

I've been recommending this headset for a while because I've heard podcaster who use them. But I thought I'd get pair to just make sure they are good. And they are!! Listen to the show to hear how they sound. 

PRODUCTION NOTES

Recording Mic: MPOW 071 USB & 3.5mm Headset

Recording location: My bedroom, facing into my closet

Recording app: Auphonic Edit for Android

Recording format: WAV (16 bit mono)

Sample rate: 48kHz

Editing app: Auphonic Edit for Android.

Sound Treatment: Auphonic Productions at Auphonic.com

Auphonic.com settings [to output as a 16bit mono WAV file]: Adaptive Leveler (on), Loudness Normalization (Loudness Target -19 LUFS ), Filtering (on), Noise and Hum Reduction (Reduction Amount: Auto), Sample rate: 44.1kHz

I uploaded the resulting WAV file to Anchor.fm to host the file and added the music from their free music stock.

Anchor automatically converts the WAV file into a 128kbps .m4a file

Understanding who your show is for is important in so many ways. Listen to find out why. 

PRODUCTION NOTES

I used a Samsung Galaxy Note 4 phone to record, edit and publish this episode.

Recording location: My bedroom, sitting on my bed facing a cloth covered head-board with my quilt and pillows around me.

My mic: I hand-head my Galaxy Note 4 on speaker mode (no headphones) I had a foam windshield covering the mic end of the phone.

Recording app: Auphonic Edit for Android

Recording format: WAV (16 bit mono)

Sample rate: 48kHz

Editing app: Auphonic Edit for Android.

Sound Treatment: Auphonic Productions at Auphonic.com

Auphonic.com settings [to output as a 16bit mono WAV file]: Adaptive Leveler (on), Loudness Normalization (Loudness Target -19 LUFS ), Filtering (on), Noise and Hum Reduction (Reduction Amount: Auto), Sample rate: 44.1kHz

I uploaded the resulting WAV file to Anchor.fm to host the file and added the music from their free music stock.

Anchor automatically converts the WAV file into a 128kbps .m4a file

I had 10 minutes to publish before my midnight deadline. So I did a test of a condenser mic I had. It's pretty awful production. 

But I had to publish. This show is my daily practice. It's the best I could do in the time. 

PRODUCTION NOTES:

Mic: Marantz MPM-1000U

Recording software: Audacity

No editing or treatment. 

Uploaded to Anchor.fm for publication and hosting. 

A modest headset can give you good sound. It's so quick and easy to plug it in and record. Let's look at my recommended headset and why they are a great choice for podcasting. 

I recommend:

1. Mpow 071 USB Headset

2. Sennheiser PC 8 USB Headset

PRODUCTION NOTES

Mic & Headphone: Microsoft Lifechat LX6000 

Recording location: Dining table. No pillow fort but I have thick curtains to the left of me and a laundry rack full of clothes in front of me. 

Recording app: Audacity

Recording format: WAV

Sample rate: 44100Hz

Editing app: Audacity

Sound Treatment: Auphonic Productions at Auphonic.com

Auphonic.com settings [to output as a 16bit mono WAV file]: Adaptive Leveler (on), Loudness Normalization (Loudness Target -19 LUFS ), Filtering (on), Noise and Hum Reduction (Reduction Amount: Auto)

I uploaded the resulting WAV file to Anchor.fm to host the file and added the music from their free music stock.

Anchor automatically converts the WAV file into a 128kbps .m4a file