Where to buy Headset Systems

If you are in the market for a headset or microphone for your computer, finding out where to buy can be problematic. Shop hard! Here's why:

Logitech Premium USB Headset 350-
- Logitech Price $49.99
- Skype Price $39.99







Plantronics .Audio™ 500 USB Multimedia Multi-Tasker's Headset
- Plantronics Price $59.95
- Skype Price $89.95

Tags: podcasting, tools, skype, plantronics, logitech, headset

Episode 6- What Equipment Do I Need?

Click the microphone to play the file

Show notes:

What kind of equipment do I need for podcasting? It turns out your most important piece of equipment is your microphone. You already have the rest. What will it cost? As little as $5. In this episode, hear samples of the:

• Skype Microphone (direct to computer) $10 online/ $5 locally
  
• Logitech Gaming Headset (direct to computer) $30
  
• Audio Technica Headset Microphone (recorded to Zoom H4 recorder)
• MCA SP1 Large Diaphragm Microphone (recorded to Zoom H4 recorder)

All music courtesy of The Podsafe Music Network
Visit payforthepodcast.com- check out the bargains and support the podcast
Call the voice comment line at (206) 350-POD 1
email me at vinny (AT) podcastforeducators (dot) net
Shownotes are always available at podcastforeducators.

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Tags: podcast, microphone, logitech, audiotechnica, headset, skype

Web 2.0 Links

These links are prepared for a presentation to be given on March 29, 2007.

Who You Are

• MySpace/ Facebook/Ning /Virb - Are you protecting your profile?
• Amazon Wishlist To share your shopping list makes it public

What You Say:

• Blogger What you say lives on forever
• Tumblr You are where you visit
• Flickr Anyone can repurpose your photos
• YouTube/ Google Video Are these the most flattering pictures of who you are?
• Digg When you Digg or Bury a site, SOMEONE will respond.
• Skype If it's on, someone knows you're online
• Google Notebook Notebooks were not secure when it started
• Google Docs Great for sharing, but make sure it's secure

What You Know

• Wikipedia Not a primary source, but can tell you what happened yesterday
• Citation Machine Only here because it's a great resource...
• Google Notebook
• Google Docs

Where You Are

• Twitter and Twittervision Tells the world what you're doing and WHERE YOU ARE!
• IP Addresses You leave a trail wherever you go!

How You Unwind

• YouTube/ Google Video Sometimes what you get is not what you wanted
• Napster/ BitTorrent Sharing is illegal, to the tune of $30,000 each
• Second Life/ World of Warcraft "On the internet, no one knows you're a dog."

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Tags: web2.0, presentation, school, education, safety

Content and Comment Policies

Since Creative Commons has published a new license (3.0), I decided it might be a good idea to create some policies here, just for the sake of having them. I don't expect I'll need them, but one never knows.

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Creating content is a complicated process. While there are some great copyright and comment policies on the 'net, I like to adhere to a few simple ideas.

• When I Build on The Works of Others: To bring you news, I must occasionally refer to other blogs, podcasts, and online resources. As I would expect others to respect my work, I attempt to respect yours as well. As such, if you believe I have not properly attributed works to you, please feel contact me using the information below. I will do my best to comply with your requests in a timely manner. There is no need for C letters, angry posts, or flaming comments.
• When You Use My Works: The original works I create here are mine to share, and I give you license to borrow. This blog, podcast and other original content are protected under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 License. You are free under that license to Share and/or Remix the work, provided that you attribute the original work to me. Please do not imply that I endorse your work unless I have specifically done so. You may request my endorsement by contacting me using the information below.
• My Authority: I'm a smart guy, but not that smart. You should neither accept my word as gospel nor dismiss it as hogwash. Please use it as one of a variety of sources, most of which are readily accessible on the internet. Isn't that how you got here in the first place?
• Comments: Blogs and podcasts are meant to be interactive. You are welcome to participate by adding written comments to the blog/shownotes, emailing me, or calling and leaving voice comments. I welcome discourse of all types. However, I do reserve the right to delete comments that are inappropriate or offensive. I shall be the sole arbiter of comments, but as a rule, those comments that will be deleted would be discriminatory, racist, sexist, or clearly spam. I do not delete comments solely because they offer contrary points of view. In fact, I welcome them.
• Tone: Blogs and podcasts can easily be misconstrued because they lack facial expression, body language, and sometimes context. If you find yourself on the uncomfortable end of the tone of any content here, please feel free to say so. I will try to be considerate of such concerns in future posts.
• Affiliations: I love blogging and podcasting. I do it for my own enjoyment and the enjoyment and information of others. You should know these things about my works:
• What I write is not sanctioned by my employer, nor should any content be considered the opinion or policy of my employer.
• I do not receive direct compensation from any vendor whose products I review or endorse.
• I could be convinced to write on your behalf. However, if I do I will disclose such affiliation clearly within the content.
  
• Affiliate and Associate Fees: I do have Affiliate and Associate accounts. Occasionally the links on the site will send you to a sales site from which I receive a fee if you complete a purchase. Under no circumstances are you charged a premium by using these links. In fact, you may receive a discount. However, you are under no obligation to make purchases for content, nor do I require recompense for content.

Original Content on this site copyright 2007 by Vincent Green

email bernie AT worldofbernie.com

(206) 350-5631

Tech Expo 2007

Thanks to all of you who have come from the Tech Expo at the Macy Center. I will be adding a new podcast, aimed at Windows-based users, about "What Equipment You Need." It will focus on recorders, interfaces, and other hardware you might wish to use. Don't be afraid, though. It's relatively cheap to get into podcasting.

Hope you enjoyed the conference. Add me to your Bloglines for further updates.

New Audio Interfaces

Of course, the moment I purchase a recorder/interface, they come out with a new one.

The TuneStudio actually records to an iPod. This is very cool, and a great way to get into recording using your existing equipment, if you have a microphone.

E-Mu has come out with a USB-MIDI interface called the 0404. It's about $50 cheaper than the closest competitor, and looks pretty slick.

Both should offer very effective ways to get audio into your computer. The E-Mu requires you to be at the computer, but can take MIDI input. The Tunestudio will be fine on it's own, will take more audio inputs, but not MIDI.

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Podcast Resolutions for 2007

I've made a conscious decision not to make any new podcasts here for a while, but I will continue to post information. Today we start the New Year with some podcasting resolutions you should make if you are podcasting now. Even if you are new, Jason Van Orden's list of podcast success tips is worth a look. It's a good read for the soon-to-podcast, the new-to-podcasts, and the old-hat-at podcasting.



update: Check out these resolutions at podcastingtricks.com to add even more fuel to your podcasting fires.







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Blogger now allows Private Blogs

This is not so much about podcasting, but it could be. Just let me explain.

Blogger is now allowing private blogs. The folks reading and participating need Google accounts, but they are free and no one ever need use the other aspects of the account. This is a great improvement on the service for educators, because it means classroom blogs can be set up and limited to only pre-approved users.

This can allow a similar limit for podcasts. You can create audio files, post them to a web server, and place links in your private blog. Now, unless someone is particularly tenacious, the traffic will be limited to only the folks you want to hear.

I still like Wordpress, and that is another option, but the prevalence of Google means that many of your students may already have Google accounts, eliminating some of the initial startup issues.

Happy Holidays

Happy Holidays
Originally uploaded by capn madd matt.

I'll be away from my computer for the holidays, so I wanted to take a moment to wish all of my listeners and readers the happiest of holiday seasons, no matter which holiday you celebrate.

Peace to all!

Podcasting Folks You Should Look For

While you are home celebrating whichever holiday you choose, you should take a little time to check out the 10 Podcasting Movers and Shakers listed at Podcast Free America.

If you haven't heard of all of these people (or companies, as a few are not individuals) you are not deep enough in the podosphere. Since the best way to learn about podcasting is to listen to podcasts, get to it!

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The One Thing I Wish I Had Known Early On- Imaging

When I started as a podcaster so very long ago (less than 1 year), I started with a portable voice recorder, a patch cable, and a hosting service. As Bernies World grew and changed, I went through a variety of formats and iterations before finding my 'comfort zone'. I'm still growing and changing, but the change is coming much more deliberately and slowly.

You see, I've learned that my listeners have come to expect certain aspects of the show, and I want to give them what they expect, with just a little bit of surprise at a sitting. Why? Because for me, it's not about the shock. I don't know all of my audience, but I believe it's the same for them. And if it's not, it doesn't matter. There are a lot of podcasts out there to fill that niche. I have my niche to consider.

The changes between episode 1 and episode 10 are dramatic. The length increased from less than 10 to an average of 30 minutes. The sound quality changed for the better. The format evolved into a 5 segment show interspersed around 4 songs. The content improved- greatly. The production value overall is better. It makes me look back... and wish I hadn't published some of those first shows.

If I had been smart, I would have made a few shows, shared them with friends, and asked them to be brutally honest. My wife would have been a great critic. She would never let me do something half-baked. I didn't, and now principle makes me leave them up there, for you and all to see. The newest, episode 28, is the last with my current recording setup, since I asked Santa for a new recorder. Another change for the audience, but hopefully one to enhance their experience.

All of this leads up to an important aspect of podcasting- Imaging. I'll not steal someone else's ideas, but send you to Podcasting News to hear it straight from them. They do a great job of imaging, and you should heed their advice. I didn't in the beginning, and I may have lost listeners that I'll never regain. It's like having a bad meal at a restaurant. No matter how much they tell you they've changed, you never really want to go back.

graphic courtesy of clipartheaven

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USB In Your Face? Ohhhhhhh... USB interface!

I have agonized over the past few months on the next big purchase for my podcast studio. O.K., it's not really a studio, but in broader terms, isn't the whole world our studio?

I've decided that I need the best way possible to get the audio into the computer. I've been weighing a number of factors as I compared, namely:

• Stand alone recorder, interface, or a hybrid of the two?
• If a stand alone, how much and what type of memory?
• What type of file output? wav, mp3, or some other arcane compression?
  
• How many channels?
• What types of inputs?
  
• Built-in effects, or ports for outboard effects?
• USB or Firewire interface?
  

I have considered, looked at, and dismissed a wide variety of gadgets, including:

• M-Audio Mobile PreUSB- Portable Interface, with 3 inputs (2 microphone inputs and 1 instrument input). No onboard effects or recording capabilities.
• M-Audio Audiophile USB- 2 Microphone inputs, as well as a MIDI In and a MIDI Out. Not really what I was looking for, but I did buy 2 for my High School Music Lab.
• M-Audio Fast Track 4 x 4- 2 hybrid inputs (for mics or instruments), onboard effects, and phantom power. Very attractive, and at an attractive price too. Hmmmm...
• All of the above, in their Firewire Versions. All too expensive. Worth it, but not on my budget.
• Logitech AHS302USB Microphone- Not an interface so to speak, but with a USB audio card, which would allow for direct USB audio, eliminating the need for a microphone interface. Not really enough for me. It would help, but only in the short-term.
• Logitech Premium Notebook headset- Again, not an interface, but a cool little headset with it's own case.
• UA25 Audio Interface- Another Audio/MIDI interface. No on-board effects, but it does have Phantom Power.
• Zoom MicroBR- Not really for the voice, but a cool guitar recorder. Records to an SD card, and has a great suite of on-board features. If you are a guitarist, you need this thing. I'm a singer and a podcaster. Wrong feature set.
• Roland UA101 Audio Interface- Another awesome interface. 10 inputs. Big budget required.
• Roland UA1EX- A very portable interface, but no mic jacks.
  
• Roland UA4FX- A real multi-purpose interface, with MIDI/ Mic/ Instrument inputs. Only one mic input, and it doesn't look too sturdy.
• Tascam US122- A combination audio/MIDI interface. I didn't love the look or reviews.
• iKey Plus Audio- A portable recorder, using a flash drive for storage. A cool idea, but no XLR mic inputs, and no real display.
• Fostex MR8 mkII 8 track Digital Recorder- Not an interface, but it records to CompactFlash, which could be connected to a laptop.
• Alesis MultiMix8 USB- An 8 channel mixer with USB connections. A great idea, but the reviews rated it as somewhat noisy and unreliable. I have a mixer, so I really just need the interface.
• Yamaha MW10 with USB- Similar to the above, with the same types of reservations and reviews.
  
• Open Labs Miko- A pipe-dream, but fun to look at. $3000 is way out of my budget now, but I will get there someday...

In the end, I ordered the Zoom H-4 Handy Recorder. It appears to be palm sized (hence the 'handy' name) and got some solid, albeit quick reviews. Since it's new on the market, I may be adopting too early, but the feature set appears to be just right. It has 2 hybrid inputs, built0in effects, stereo or 4-track mode, and can function as either a portable recorder or a USB interface. It also takes up to 2BG SD cards, and runs on 2AA batteries.

I'll let you know what I think, but it will have to wait until after Christmas. You see, it's a combination 40th birthday (2005) leftover money/ Christmas gift from wife/ Christmas gift from Dad. Will I be able to leave it in the box when it arrives? I don't know...