Episode 11: Using Gain To Your Advantage
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 55:37 — 50.9MB)
In this episode we take a long hard look at Gain and how you can use it to your advantage. We explore why gain is important and demonstrate the use of gain for effect in your podcast. We also take a preliminary look at various microphones and how your gain and level are set differently for each to get the best sound for your podcast.
The Microphones we examined in this podcast were:
Some of the other microphones mentioned in this podcast were:
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Thanks for Listening
James Williams and Dave Gray
Thanks boys, that was very informative and gave me a bit more insight into mics. The Rodes mics are way out of my price range, but I see there’s a Canadian distributor that can sell me a Shure PG58-XLR for about 80 bucks. The Behringer did sound a bit “buzzy”…makes me wonder if I should purchase one of those Behringer Podcaster boxes or not.
by Herne
on 14. Feb, 2009
Herne, thanks for dropping by.The Shure PG58 is a very capable mic and you’ll get a good sound from it. Have a look round and see if the PG48 is about the place, it might be a bit more tolerant for spoken word.Personally I would not get a pre-packaged box. I would mix and match and put it together myself. For you Herne James and myself are happy to help you do that. You will be happier hand picking your gear.Let us know how we can help you. You might also want to keep an ear out for our round table on Skype and get some info from other podcasters :)
by Dave Gray
on 14. Feb, 2009
Hey guys,Great show – very useful. I’m coming at podcasting from the geeky side – I understand the I.T. part of it, but the whole audio thing is still way over my head. I now understand what two of the knobs on my mixer do :)The tricks about using microphones (the different angles and distances) was also really interesting. You’ve given me a bunch of stuff to think about and play with – if I ever get off of night shift :)Herne – Take Dave’s advice re: the Behrenger podcast kit. Despite the fact that I ended up with all Behringer gear, it was all hand chosen after many chat sessions with Dave and a few other friends who gave me a ton of useful advice.Catch you all on the flipside,-Chris
by Chris
on 16. Feb, 2009
Thanks for the feedback Chris and listening to the show.I totally understand your perspective. I had to learn as I went as well and made more mistakes than I care to say. The aim of the game here is to help you guys not to make the same ones!!Just don’t be too hard on yourself as the learning curve is pretty steep.Glad that you know what 2 knobs on your mixer do!! Please do as we have suggested as well and go home and do the things that we demonstrated on the show. Find out how your setup and room react to the various settings and levels of gain and level for your mic that you are using. That’s really important.Could not agree more with your comment about gear for Herne. Well said.Looking forward to your future input, comments and feedback.I would also say that if anyone has any questions what so ever – PLEASE ASK! We are really looking forward to getting your questions answered and being relevant to you and where your at.
by Dave Gray
on 16. Feb, 2009
Great show – learned heaps even if I’ll probably never use it!You talked about controlling sound levels and microphones… but no mention of your listener’s shitty listening equipment – let me tell you that it was very hard to hear the difference between all those examples you gave us when listening on a ShittyRail train through iPhone headphones that have been the beach one too many times and have a bit of sand in them! I’ll have to listen again at home to get the full effect!
by Tom125
on 16. Feb, 2009
OK, OK so I’m not even thinking of getting a Snowball, although those Shures are Shure looking good. Googled them for $69 Aussie!I found this a while back on the SM58. It is used to hammer in nails then tested! Looks perfect for me(I lost my hammer)http://createdigitalmusic.com/2007/10/24/shure-sm58-mic-torture-tested-takes-a-licking/So now you’ve got me on Mixers. How the bloody hell does it come into my computer? I’ve got SPDIF, Line-In, USB, Firewire?Do I need Mixer with a Compressor? Man you guys better keep the podcasts up as your creating more questions than answers at the moment!Oh and I GAINed a lot of knowledge from this podcast. Thanks!
by Scratchy
on 23. Feb, 2009
Thanks for the feedback Scratchy. We are getting a lot of questions about mixers and the like and we know we need to do a show about this sooner rather than later. This is why your individual feedback is so valuable in helping us chart the direction of the show. Watch our next episode #012 when we specifically talk about this topic. I know there are a few of you out there listening who are specifically keen to get the low down on mixers and other connections to podcast.
by James Williams
on 23. Feb, 2009
Thanks Scratchy!! Agree with James and was sending him an email when he replied to you that I think we need to look at covering this topic on the next show.It is awesome to have this type of feedback because then we can dish up what it relevant to listeners.Awesome feedback thank you. MORE!Keep throwing your questions here and in the email – that way we can make the show as focused and relevant as possible.
by Dave Gray
on 23. Feb, 2009
Hi,Great show, really love where you are going with the podcast since the ‘Revolution’ episode. Will have to try some of the suggestions on the distance to your microphone one of these days.Keep up the good work.Regards from Belgium,Stefaan
by Stefaan Lesage
on 03. Mar, 2009