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Advice on Updating Podcast Equipment to Improve ‘Call-In’ Audio
For the last couple years I’ve been producing a podcast for our company that has become very successful (current equipment list at the bottom). I am seeking advice on what equipment I can update to improve the audio quality of people that call in to be interviewed for our Podcast.
These episodes are not aired live. These days, the audio files are sent to me after they’ve been recorded. The host is sitting at a station with all of the equipment listed below (he’s now located in a remote part of Arizona, I am now in San Diego). Each podcast episode is centered around a discussion between our host and a guest that calls into a phone line connected to the JK Audio Broadcast Host, so the Host can talk to the guest through the equipment and record the discussion. Our host sounds fantastic, and we don’t want to do anything to deteriorate his audio quality (and I believe it enhances people’s ability to ‘connect’), however the audio of the guests has always been less than ideal.
What would be the best way to improve the audio quality of our guests while still allowing our Host to have a real-time conversation using the equipment below that makes him sound so good?
Thank you!
CURRENT EQUIPMENT LIST
Mackie 1402 Mixer
Behringer HA4700 Headphone Amp
MDX 4600 compressor/limiter/gate
Heil PR-40 Microphone
JK Audio Broadcast Host
A personal audio recorder that uses SD cards, if I remember correctly, an RCA to 3.5mm cable connects it from the Mixer to a 3.5mm ‘line-in’ jack on the recorder
XLR and TPS cables to connect everything
Audio-Technica ATH-M30 headphones -
5 Replies
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I think you’re stuck with the call in quality as almost all callers are using cell phones of many different levels of quality. You’re going to need some post production gear to clean up each call and make it acceptable. Time & money for equipment and a knowledgeable post person may prevent you from doing that.
\”I push the RECORD button and hope for the best\”
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[Adrian Jans] “I am seeking advice on what equipment I can update to improve the audio quality of people that call in to be interviewed for our Podcast.”
Our own Ty Ford posted about this on his blog way back in 2014. Still relevant though.
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Hey Bruce, Thanks!
I forgot I wrote that! Ha! Not a half bad article. ☺
We also found that when communicating by remote computer, the Plantronics USB headsets mic really did a nice job for us. We bought them for every person we had an interview with. Too much for the average caller.
We recorded split track directly over SKYPE with an add on app called Call Recorder.
Regards,
Ty Ford
Cow Audio Forum leaderWant better production audio?: Ty Ford\’s Audio Bootcamp Field Guide
Ty Ford Blog: Ty Ford\’s Blog -
[Ty Ford] “I forgot I wrote that!”
But I didn’t. More people read what you write than you can imagine. You do good work Ty.
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Thanks, Bruce
And your contributions to this forum are always appreciated and well thought out.
Thanks for being you.
Regards,
Ty
Want better production audio?: Ty Ford\’s Audio Bootcamp Field Guide
Ty Ford Blog: Ty Ford\’s Blog
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