Hi Geeks
I am looking into doing a podcast from a laptop. I will be recording on the laptop but I can post process at home. I was looking into the Asus eee PC or some other umpc and a blue snowflake mic would this be adequate for decent sound? Editing will be done with audacity (shoestring budget)
Thanks
P.S. all you audio snobs feel free to flame as long as you have some good advice : )
What about the Zoom H4?
I've read lots of positive reviews about the Zoom H4 hand held recorder and it costs less than an Eee PC. I've seen it available from a number of websites for well under $300. The built in condenser mics are supposed to provide very good quality audio and it also has two inputs that accept either 1/4" or XLR connections. It records to SD media and can act as either a microphone or a disk drive when connected to a computer via USB.
I'm sorry this doesn't exactly answer the original question, but it's the first thing that comes to mind when I think of portable podcasting on a budget.
Blue, Headset, and surrounding room
What kind of environment will you be recording in? A closed regular space? Something a bit more guerrilla?
I used the blue snowflake and it works OK. Some computers have had issues interfacing with it.
You might want to go with a headset mic. They can work if the quality is good enough.
Matt Farina
Geeks and God Co-Host
www.innovatingtomorrow.net
www.mattfarina.com
Go BLUE!
(...putting on my audio snob hat)....
BLUE ROCKS. That's all.
Ok, ok...let me tell you why :) The BLUE company was birthed out of a bunch of engineers from Neumann, the premier professional microphone manufacturer over the last 60+ years. Back in my studio days, I used to insist on Neumann mics for all high quality needs...until I used (then quickly purchased) BLUE microphones.
These BLUE mics are a very rare time when a TOP quality mic shop is producing consumer-level mics. I purchased and used the Snowball USB, and I loved it. (unfortunately, I had less use for it than I thought I would) The sound quality was far better than any other USB mic I tried (MILES ahead of any headset).
So, If you are using a BLUE USB mic and can record in a good "tight" sounding enviornment...you're miles ahead (IMO), especially on a shoestring budget.
-Rob Feature
Geeks and God Co-Host
www.mustardseedmedia.com