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Choosing an Audio Interface & Mics

  • 30-04-2013 8:41pm
    #1
    CyanRain
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 81 ✭✭


    I don't need this for music production but podcasting, but I thought you lads would have the best knowledge of this issue.

    I need to record four separate mics at a time through a Macbook Pro and Ableton Live. I'm pretty clueless and how to go about purchasing my setup. USB vs Firewire, interface vs mixer, preamps, outputs, etc etc.

    However, the most important issue is PRICE. We don't have a huge budget, and I'm wondering what the CHEAPEST 4-person available is.

    Thanks in advance to anyone that can help,
    Matt

    PS. I own two Singstar mics. Do they work with these interfaces/mixers or do I need completely different mics altogether? As I said, I'm completely clueless and any help is much appreciated.


Comments

  • #2
    CyanRain
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 81 ✭✭CyanRain


    Thanks for the reply, much appreciated.

    Yeah what we've been doing up to this is two people on each mic, but I've come across a major problem in the audio fading in and out from people readjusting their position from the mic. I'm aware this is still a problem with one-person-mics but much easier not to move when you don't have to think about somebody else being the exact same angle and distance away from the mic as you. Obviously the easiest way to remedy this would be to purchase headset mics/lavalier mics, but I assume I'd have to dish out a lot of cash in order to get actual good-quality mics of that kind.

    I was looking at the Alesis io4 myself before I posted here, but I'm still a bit confused. Totally clueless here. There is no preamp on-board the Alesis so I'd have to purchase them separately, am I right?

    Thanks very much for the help,
    Matt


  • #3
    TroutMask
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 743 ✭✭✭TroutMask


    io4 has mic pres and phantom - all you need. Just add laptop + 4 mics & stands. If you let the client get comfy, then adjust a mic in front of 'em with a boom stand or one of those broadcast spring loaded clamp on stands - then you'll get better results. Do a run-through or rehearsal to set levels and/or clock potential problems before going to air. Record the rehearsal (in case it's better than the *real recording*)

    Sennheiser Beyer and Electro Voice come to mind as good go-to mics for speech recording. For a low budget, you don't really want to lower than Rode or its ilk - i think Rode make one that is designed for podcasting. The nice thing about, say, an RE20 is the fact that it has a lot of presence and 'grunt' for want of a better description. It really cuts through, in a good way - so you will have a compelling presence on the podwaves. To my way of thinking, that's what you should be going for.


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