Buying advice: Mid-range audio equipment for recording podcasts
By Allen Butler, TheRealtyButler.com
Like you, I make my living in real estate, but, as it happens, I have some experience with professional audio engineering. In addition to writing for BloodhoundBlog, I’ve scrubbed the audio for some very important podcasts: Kris Berg’s interview with Redfin.com CEO Glenn Kelman and Dustin Luther’s real estate weblogging seminar.
Audio engineering is actually rather relaxing for me. It’s a really fun hobby (although extremely expensive), and gives me a chance to exercise the other side of my brain. One of the things I would like to offer to the world at large, is just a bit of advice on how to go about setting up a very affordable and professional-sounding portable audio rig to do some recording. For the purposes of this brief treatise, I will assume an absolute ignorance of all things audio, so if you’re a know-it-all, just indulge me for a moment.
I have come up with a plan that includes 3 or 4 very small and inexpensive pieces of audio gadgetry that together would cost less than $400, and would capture audio for both interviews and seminars (or anything else, for that matter) with aplomb. Now, these items that I am about to list are readily available, and are cheap.
(Note to Audio Geeks: I know that there are much better tools for this job, and you’re foaming at the mouth to make a recommendation. Let me just preemptively state that I am aware that this job can also be done admirably for around $12,000. Just go back to your corner.)
The first scenario that I envision is that you’ll want to interview a person and record it for posterity. Maybe you’ve found a really neat person whose opinion really matters, and you want to share it with others. Maybe you would like to record your next listing presentation so that you can hear how you sound. Well, here’s what you’ll need:
There you go! Two close microphones to pick up the sound, two cables to carry the sound, and one stereo digital recorder to capture your every breath! Neat! And it all runs on batteries.
Now, the next scenario presupposes that you are at a geekinar seminar where there’s going to be a master guru sales weasel. First, you’ll want to ask him if it’s okay if you can record him giving his talk. If he says it’s a great idea and asks for a copy, you’re golden. If he looks around for his attorney, or his bodyguards, make a break for the crowd and try to blend in. Once you’ve got permission (in writing?) you just slap this puppy on the table near where he’ll be pacing and ranting, and BAM! You’ve got it.
I hope that you’ll take these little ideas and run with them. Make beautiful audio recordings. It’s fun!
March 9th, 2008 at 6:19 pm
Your digital recorder link doesn’t work anymore. What machine were you recommending?
March 9th, 2008 at 10:40 pm
Allen was linking to the Zoom H4 Audio Recorder.
March 10th, 2008 at 5:39 am
Thank you! Can you also share what plugin you’re using on this blog that allows commenters to preview their comments before publishing?
March 10th, 2008 at 7:40 am
> Can you also share what plugin you’re using on this blog that allows commenters to preview their comments before publishing?
Filosofo Comments Preview.
Note also I use an Olympus DS-2 digital recorder for podcasting. Allen is more serious about audio than most folks, so he buys higher-end stuff. You can easily do the job with a recorder you can buy off the rack at BestBuy. The ideal recorder would store in MP3 as a native format — which the DS-2 does not do.
March 10th, 2008 at 10:53 am
Thank you!!!