Eurorack UB802 in the Apple podcasting world

Question

Eurorack UB802 in the Apple podcasting world

After podcasting for several months going straight from my Shure 8900 mic into an iMic and then switching to a MicPlug, I decided to switch to a Eurorack802 mixer for the better control I could get from the signal. (I record and produce in GarageBand.)

For the past few days I've been essentially playing around with it, experimenting with different setups and settings and trying to find what works best for me (the best way to learn).

But I'm no audio master and I was hoping to find, through online search, a simple explanation of a good way to set up a UB802 for basic podcasting. What I found were quite a few descriptions of setups, along with photos, and a lot of variety in how the 'casters ran their cables. Some, for instance, recorded from the Main Outs, while others recorded from the Tape Outs.

I know there's probably no real correct or incorrect procedure, so here's what I'm asking: If you use a Eurorack UB802, what's your setup? How do you have it rigged in relation to your recording device, whether its the Mac itself or an external device? At what settings do you usually keep your controls, the channel gain and level and main mix?

Also, what software do you find the best in conjunction with the UB802? I'd be hard-pressed to switch from GB, but I've seen other apps used by Mac users and I'd be interested.

And finally (forgive all the questions), if anyone knows of a good tutorial specifically for this mixer, I'd appreciate a nudge in the right direction.

Thanks very much in advance.

MacBook (Black) Mac OS X (10.4.7)

Posted on Oct 7, 2006 6:50 AM

Reply

Answer 1

Corelogik

Level 2

345 points

Oct 8, 2006 10:24 PM in response to Mike Suchcicki

I use this setup,

Shure 8900,
Eurorack UB802,
F-Control Firewire Interface,
iBook G4.

I run the mics through the Eurorack, then into the firewire intrface, then in the iBook via Firewire and recording is done in Garagband.

As for levels, we usually have 2 mics so I tend to mix on the fly, but generally I run as follows,...

Line In: centered
EQ:
Hi: +7
Mid: +15
Lo: 0 (centered)

FX & Pan: centered

Level: Centered (Unless adjustment is needed for distance of Mic or someone talking low.)

We are still refining our technique a bit. Some shows come out better than others. The only time we don't follow this equipment recipes is when we do live calls or interviews through Skype.

Samples of our show can be found on iTunes under Colonial Wireless. We are a fan club and as such some of the content may be boring to people to arent in the club, but it gives a good idea of the sound of the equipment in this instance.

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Answer 2

Oct 9, 2006 10:21 AM in response to Mike Suchcicki

I'm creating a podcast on a PC, but I record directly into a Sony MD Walkman MZ-NHF800. As of right now, I'm recording only the voice audio using a very simple method. My partner-in-crime and I have a couple of cheap Radio Shack stereo headset mics that I plug directly into the MDr using two "Y" adapters. It sounds pretty good considering what we are using. I then dump the audio into the computer via USB and then use Adobe Audition to mix the podcast together.

I have purchased a UB802, but I have yet to use it because the microphone headsets we've got won't pick up signal through the board. I bought the board because we are starting to do more interviews (which means at least 3 mics) and I thought I'd have more control over the audio signal from each input that way. However, since my mics don't work, I haven't been able to use the board at all. Are there some cheap mics that you might recommend? I'm still watching this thread and as I get mine working, I'll post what I find that works best for me.

After podcasting for several months going straight
from my Shure 8900 mic into an iMic and then
switching to a MicPlug, I decided to switch to a
Eurorack802 mixer for the better control I could get
from the signal. (I record and produce in
GarageBand.)

For the past few days I've been essentially playing
around with it, experimenting with different setups
and settings and trying to find what works best for
me (the best way to learn).

But I'm no audio master and I was hoping to find,
through online search, a simple explanation of a good
way to set up a UB802 for basic podcasting. What I
found were quite a few descriptions of setups, along
with photos, and a lot of variety in how the 'casters
ran their cables. Some, for instance, recorded from
the Main Outs, while others recorded from the Tape
Outs.

I know there's probably no real correct or incorrect
procedure, so here's what I'm asking: If you use a
Eurorack UB802, what's your setup? How do you have it
rigged in relation to your recording device, whether
its the Mac itself or an external device? At what
settings do you usually keep your controls, the
channel gain and level and main mix?

Also, what software do you find the best in
conjunction with the UB802? I'd be hard-pressed to
switch from GB, but I've seen other apps used by Mac
users and I'd be interested.

And finally (forgive all the questions), if anyone
knows of a good tutorial specifically for this mixer,
I'd appreciate a nudge in the right direction.

Thanks very much in advance.

MacBook (Black) Mac OS X
(10.4.7)

Reply

Answer 3

Oct 9, 2006 8:24 PM in response to Corelogik

Corelogik,

Thanks for the info. How is that F-Control interface working for you? I've been considering picking one up. How do you connect the UB802 to the interface? I'm assuming 1/4-inch cables through the mixer Main Outs?

Reply

Answer 4

Oct 18, 2006 10:55 AM in response to Mike Suchcicki

Okay. I've got an upcoming episode of my podcast that features the new equipment. Here's a list of the equipment we use to record and edit the podcast:

2 - Nady SP-1 microphones
1 - Eurorack UB802 mixing board
1 - MD Walkman MZ-NHF800 Minidisc Recorder

We run the two SP-1's into channels 1 & 2 on the board, and use the Tape Out to send the signal into the Line input on the MDr (RCA to 1/8" male cable). We monitor the signal through the MDr with our headphones while we record.

After we are finished recording, we use the USB interface on the MDr and Sony's SonicStage software to edit the titles of the tracks and import the files into the computer.

Finally, we edit the whole podcast together using Adobe Audition 1.0. This allows us to use one program to edit the WAV files (to get rid of the "outtakes") and to mix the tracks down to an mp3 file.

Windows XP

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Answer 5

Corelogik

Level 2

345 points

Nov 5, 2006 4:18 PM in response to Mike Suchcicki

Corelogik,

Thanks for the info. How is that F-Control interface
working for you? I've been considering picking one
up. How do you connect the UB802 to the interface?
I'm assuming 1/4-inch cables through the mixer Main
Outs?

Exactly,....

I love it, gives a nice smooth, warm tone to everything,...

Reply

Answer 6

Corelogik

Level 2

345 points

Nov 8, 2006 7:51 AM in response to shakespeareguru

Sounds good to me. I'm not a real fan of recording to external devices (i prefer to record directly to computer), but I know several people including some of the "top" podcasters do it with excellent results.

Basically my firewire interface sits between the mixer and the computer, it saves several steps for me and since I have limited room, means less equipment to clutter things.

I dont wrry about the trtack name or aything like that as I embed those directly into the RSS feed.

If it were me, I would use a little better mic,... but it sounds like your off to a great start.

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Answer 7

Nov 8, 2006 8:08 AM in response to Corelogik

Thanks! It's working out so far. I like recording to the external device because it gives me a built-in backup of my raw audio. Also, I can do remote recordings!

I agree with you about the mics, but they were cheap and they are working out fine. They are much better than the Radio Shack computer headsets that we were using!

I'd love to get your comments on the podcast. Any audio suggestions? http://dumbshow.mirroruptonature.com.

Thanks again!

Sounds good to me. I'm not a real fan of recording to
external devices (i prefer to record directly to
computer), but I know several people including some
of the "top" podcasters do it with excellent
results.

Basically my firewire interface sits between the
mixer and the computer, it saves several steps for me
and since I have limited room, means less equipment
to clutter things.

I dont wrry about the trtack name or aything like
that as I embed those directly into the RSS feed.

If it were me, I would use a little better mic,...
but it sounds like your off to a great start.

Reply