Behringer Podcaststudio?

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Level 1

15 points

Behringer Podcaststudio?

Anyone ever hear of this or know anyone who has used it? USB or Firewire version (although, I would like to go with the Firewire version)?

Behringer PODCASTUDIO FIREWIRE - Complete Podcasting Bundle with Mixer, Microphone, FireWire Interface, Headphones and Cabling - Mac OS X and Windows XP

Here is the link at B & H:

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=cart_accessories&A=details&Q=& sku=481377&is=REG

I would like to get the right starter equipment for podcasting as per the request of my boss & co-workers, and as an aside, have the ability to digitize cassette tapes. This seems like it could do both.

Thanks, Deborah

iMac8, 1 (20") 2.66 GHz Intel Core Duo, 2 GB MHz DDR2 SDRAM, Mac OS X (10.5.4), iLife '08, Canon Vixia HV30 High Def miniDV camcorder, iPod Nano 3rd gen.

Posted on Jan 28, 2009 4:45 PM

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Answer 1

Jan 29, 2009 2:50 AM in response to Xena Deb

Hi Deborah,

We've used one in the past, for elements of our podcast, FrequencyCast.

We put together a review a while back - text and audio, which you can find at http://www.frequencycast.co.uk/podcastudio.html

Regards,

Pete

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Answer 2

Feb 3, 2009 5:48 AM in response to Xena Deb

I use a bigger but similar Behringer mixer, and it's great, no complaints there at all. A potential concern about a minimalistic one like that is that if you decide to add hosts to the podcast there's limited mic inputs, so it's not exactly future-proof in terms of where your podcast might go.

I haven't done much testing on this myself, but I've heard that a potential issue with bringing your audio in over USB (and maybe Firewire, not sure about that) is that since there's also power running along the line, it creates a bit of a buzz in your recording. I use a simple cable to go from the CD\Tape output on the mixer to the mic in on my computer; USB\Firewire is only really worthwhile I reckon if your computer doesn't actually have a mic in. A chunk of the price of that kit is that interface and it might not be necessary and may even be detrimental.

I would assume the headphones and mic are great for your purposes.

I don't think the software provides anything you don't already have or can easily download.

I have no reason not to assume it's a good kit, but you might be able to tailor things better to your needs by selecting the components you need individually. This pack is a good template to work from. Especially if you're planning on having more than one person talking, I'd recommend taking a look a few steps up in the Behringer Xenyx or similar lines, especially for a few more XLR (big mic cable) inputs.

Best of luck!

Shane

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Answer 3

Xena Deb Author

Level 1

15 points

Feb 4, 2009 9:35 AM in response to evilrobotshane

Hi, Shane,

evilrobotshane wrote:
USB\Firewire is only really worthwhile I reckon if your computer doesn't actually have a mic in. A chunk of the price of that kit is that interface and it might not be necessary and may even be detrimental.

That's part of my reason for the PodcastStudio kit. My computer has a "line-in" but not a "mic in" (which is what I assumed was true for ALL Macs? I'm a fairly recent switcher) When I've tried to plug in a mic before, the audio was so low as to be unusable. After much searching on the forums, I found out about the line-in only "feature" of my Mac. 🙂

Is this something different on your computer? Do you have both a line-in and a mic jack?

Thanks, Deborah

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Answer 4

Feb 7, 2009 5:22 AM in response to Xena Deb

I didn't mean to differentiate between mic in and line in - if there's a technical difference between those two terms I don't know about it. I'm referring to the socket that's beside the headphone socket on the MacBook Pro and is probably the same thing you have. I've never tried plugging a mic right into it, but get great results using dynamic microphones (even cheap ones) with an XLR-XLR cable running to the Behringer mixer, which is then connected using a simple phono cable like this from the CD\Tape Out on the mixer to the input on the computer. I guess all that pre-amp stuff does something that a small mic plugged straight into the line in doesn't.

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