Equipment

There are several schools of thought here. Here is a list of the equipment used on the Jimmy Doane show:

HP Pavilion 6000 running the Mackie software (Final mixes done with Cool Edit Pro) Now called Adobe Audition

Mackie Onyx 1220 12 channel mixer w / Firewire interface

Alesis 3630 2 channel compressor

Behringer Compressor Pro MDX2200

ART 5 channel headphone amplifier

Rode NT1000 microphone (3)

Stageworks DM-270 microphone

Optimus Pro 135 headphone (2)

Optimus Pro 35 headphone

Sony MDR 7502 headphone

JK audio AutoHybrid phone patch

Sony MZ-R30 Minidisk recorder/player

Misc cables, stands, mic clips, chairs and desks

And, of course WHACKY personalities !

This whole podcast recording package ran less than $4,000, and that included everything. The guts which are the computer, the Onyx 1220 and the mics, ran about $2,800 of that.

If one wanted to save money, you might get a slightly lesser condenser mic for $150-200 each instead of the $300 for the NT1000’s, however the mics are the key to a good sounding show.

We overspent on Jimmy’s desk, so there’s about $400 you could shave off the grand total. And you may need don’t need the phone patch ($155), unless you are going to have callers.

One of the ways we saved some initial outlay was to get credit from Sam Ash and Best Buy. That way we don’t have to actually pay for the computer, the mics and the Onyx for 18 months (no interest, same as cash). The XLR and other cables should be gotten in bulk on Ebay saving about $100.

As a great producer once said: "Compressors make you sound like an album" and I strongly recommend one for each person. Compressing means putting a "Compressor" in line (in series or a serial connection) with an input (usually a mic) and limiting the volume levels. This process "evens" out the range from very soft to very loud signals so your volume is more or less constant. This will save the ear drums of your podcast listeners and they will appreciate it and come back.

Trust me, a show that has bad volume mixing won't make it. The music shouldn't need compressing unless it is home grown or somebody's bad mix. Again, Ebay or Sam Ash would be a good choice.

Also, the more you can isolate people, the better. The Rode NT-1000 mics are super sensitive and will pick up anything in the room. Great also for your home recordings if you are a musician. They will work for anything. I STRONGLY suggest you get some pop screens. I have been pleading with Jimmy to get some but I'm sure he's waiting to find some at a garage sale, or make one out of some panty hoes or something to save a buck.

One more thing to remember - THE LESS EQUIPMENT YOU HAVE BETWEEN YOU AND THE RECORDING DEVICE..... THE BETTER !

In other words, buy GOOD QUALITY EQUIPMENT and have less of it. This will make your life much easier when you go to set up the recording levels of your podcast as well as eliminate unwanted noise.

On a final note about equipment: I have heard GREAT sounding podcasts with just one host and one guest that are just using two condenser mikes and mixing using Cool Edit Pro. Total cost: about $450 (Not including computer) so if you want to get started and catch the bug, maybe go this route first.

Oops, I almost forgot, pending on which condenser mikes you get, you may need a mic pre-amp. From the looks of it, Jimmy probably built the one we are using but my other bud engineer said the "Rolls" pre-amps are really great for under $100. You surly don't need a "Tube" one but get something quiet. I'm not sure if running it out of your "Peavey" is going to work well but hey...try it.