Podcasting Mics: BLUE Snowball

I just love how easy this mic is to use and how good it sounds. It comes with a desk top stand and you can get the suspension mount separately or some dealers sell all three as a package. I also use a pop filter that attaches to the shock mount. Plug the USB into the computer, make sure the System Preferences and software preferences (that’s in the Sound menu for each) recognizes the mic and you are good to go. Since this mic does not have any external gain control, you’ll have to set the Input level in the System preferences. A little experimenting and you’ll get the right input for your voice or instrument. Yeah, go ahead and try this bad boy out on an acoustic guitar, piano or any other instrument. I’s really meant to be used up close so you won’t get enough sensitivity for making a good recording of your chorus or band but it might work out really nicely for practice recordings. It depends on the volume of your ensemble and the room you are in. Try it!

http://www.bluemic.com/modules.php?op=modload&name=Products&file=index&prod_id=18

Podcasting in the classroom

A little over two years ago, a friend showed me her iPod. I just couldn’t understand why she would listen to an MP3 instead of audio (more on that another time). She explained that she was listening to various NPR shows as she did on her daily bus commute to and from work. That was the first time I ever heard of a podcast.

Podcasting is hot and one of the best ways I can teach my students about the very basics of audio and audio editing. Students sit two at a time in my home made table top recording booth in an alcove in my classroom. I’ve got two AKG C3000 mics hanging from boom arms and connected to an M-Box. They record right into GarageBand and soon Logic Studio. They come up with the copy themselves and I ask them to limit their time to 12 minutes including music. They drop in their music, their friends music or the commercials they have made as a previous assignment. They then have to edit it all together and manage the volume. Forget about the ducking feature in GB! Have them use their ears and automate the tracks. I check EVERYTHING not just for volume and effects but I need to make sure it’s all rated “G”.

We got eight podcasts up and running and more to come this month. Check them out at:

http://167.206.79.135/staff/bfreedman/ghs/podcasts/Welcome.html