Once you have planned the outline and content of your podcast, you will need to consider how you are going to produce it. There are two main methods of producing your podcast, and they are simply using a podcasting kit or not. Each method has its own advantages and disadvantages. Choosing not to use a podcasting kit, can be a much faster way to create a podcast. Instead, you will use a headset with a microphone, but you may be limited by the sound quality. Comparably, using a podcasting kit offers more flexibility, greater quality, but podcasting kits can be expensive to buy. So, why not use the podcasting kit available for free at the Library?
The Library's emerging technology collection includes the Behringer Podcastudio Kits that you can borrow for a week. It is a full portable recording studio including microphone, headphones, mixer and USB/audio interface. The mixer allows you to take audio from multiple additional sources (other microphones, an iPad, an instrument, speakers) and balance their quality and volumes. The USB/audio interface connects the mixer to your computer.
To borrow a Podcastudio Kit, go to the Library Search Website, search for the device. Then, either collect the Kit at the specified library location, or request it to be sent your preferred location.
Using the Podcastudio Kit can significantly improve the quality of your sound, increase your flexibility of your audio, and save you tons of time in the post-production process. Furthermore, with the Podcastudio Kit you can have multiple hosts on one recording because it has three microphone ports; and you can also plug in multiple audio sources, such as an instrument, speakers or mobile device.
The Podcasting Kits includes: a microphone, a headphone, a mixer, a USB/audio interface, 2 RCA connectors and the power adaptor. The mixer, pictured below may look daunting but it is easy to assemble together and use. Before connecting the other devices to the mixer, here's a diagram explaining its basic controls and ports.
To assemble the Podcastudio Kit, please follow these steps below or watch this video tutorial.