Using the Podcasting Kit

This guide will walk you through how to get started with the Podcasting Kit you received from Kitchener Public Library.

Items in the kit:

1 Yeti Stereo USB Microphone
2 Pairs of AKG Headphones
1 USB Cable
1 Headphone Splitter

Items provided by you:

Desktop or Laptop Computer (with USB-A port)

Step 1

Install the software

Download and install Audacity. Audacity is free software that is available on Mac and PC - you will use it to record and edit your audio.

Step 2

Plug everything in

Use the provided USB cable to connect the Yeti USB microphone to your computer or laptop's USB port.
Plug your headphones into the port located on the bottom of the microphone. (If you're recording two people at once, first plug in the provided headphone splitter and then connect both sets of headphones to the splitter.)

Step 3

Open Audacity

Open the Audacity software and choose Yeti Stereo Microphone and 2 (Stereo) Recording Channels in the drop down menus. It should look like this:

Click the little box at the top of the screen where it says "Click to Start Monitoring".

You will begin to see green bars appear that indicate how loud the audio from the microphone is arriving in Audacity.

Step 4

Microphone settings

Use the Pattern knob to set the direction that the mic will pick up sound.
- One presenter: Cardioid (heart shape). Records from the front.
- Two presenters: Bidirectional (8 shape). Records from the front and back.
- 3+ group: Omnidirectional (circle shape). Records on all sides.

Cardioid

Bidirectional

Omnidirectional

The Yeti USB mic's volume knob will control the volume in your headphones.
The gain knob on the opposite side will control the level that goes into Audacity. As a general rule, the gain knob should be as high as you can get it without the green bars in Audacity ever going into the red (clipping).

Step 5

Record your podcast

The Yeti USB microphone records audio from the sides, so make sure the microphone is facing upwards. If you are only recording one person, the side with the volume knob and mute button should be facing them.
Click the red record button to begin recording.

Step 6

Edit your audio

Pressing the play button in Audacity will allow you to hear back what you recorded through your headphones.
To edit your audio, simply highlight an area of your recorded track and press delete on your keyboard.

Step 7

Export your podcast

In the menu bar, select File > Export > Export as WAV (or MP3 for a lower quality version).
Indicate where you'd like the file to be saved.
Click Save.

Other Tips:

For the best results, a distance of 6-10 inches from the microphone is recommended. Try to have every presenter sit an equal distance from the microphone.
The room you record in has a big impact on audio quality. If you can, record in a space that has a lot of soft surfaces (like curtains, carpet, books, etc.). This will cut down on unwanted reflections.
If you're not getting any audio from the microphone, make sure the mute button is not engaged on the microphone. If the mute button has a constant red light that means the microphone isn't muted.

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