How do you use a multichannel audio interface with Skype and other VOIP apps so you can include more than one microphone when many only accept a single channel of audio? Use a free app to create a mono input!
skype
What’s Wrong With the Behringer Q802USB and How to Fix It.
The Problem
The Behringer Q802USB mixer doesn’t send audio to the headphone output in both directions (in and out) when using the USB to interface with your computer. In other words, you can’t hear yourself and the audio from the computer (e.g. Skype) at the same time when using the USB connection.
When I did my initial overview video of the Q802USB I didn’t find this quirk. Mostly because I had never seen it before nor did I know that there were mixers that could not do what seemed like an obvious task. [Read more…] about What’s Wrong With the Behringer Q802USB and How to Fix It.
Webcam Lighting Setup
One of the best ways to make your webcam video look its best is to make sure you have good lighting. Really, any lighting that you put a little effort and budget into, will do wonders. The key is to get adequate amounts of light in front of your face so the audience can easily see you and the camera will look it’s best.
You can accomplish this with any lights you have in the house, office or wherever you are recording from. Often I just use a nice large window (see below) with plenty of daylight coming in. This looks wonderful but can be hard to control. When the clouds pass in front of the sun, your lighting will change dramatically and while I love the look of natural light, the best way to ensure you have consistent, great looking light is by using lights that you can control.
In the image below you’ll see a more advanced lighting setup that I recently used on my live-streamed podcast, Podcasters’ Roundtable. [Read more…] about Webcam Lighting Setup
TPS084: USB Power and When Do You Need a Mix-Minus?
You’ve decided you want to record Skype interviews or a remote co-host and you’ve heard about using a mix-minus setup. How do you know if this applies to your podcast?
On this episode I talk about how to know when you need a mix-minus as well how I’m using a new piece of gear to power my mobile podcasting rig without plugging into a wall or having to throw away batteries. 
There are really only two scenarios where you’ll need to setup a mix-minus for your podcast. The first one is if you want to record Skype and have the person on the other side hear your primary microphone; the mic you are using to record your podcast. In this setup, you need a mix-minus because you have to send the Skype audio back to the person on Skype minus their audio to prevent a feedback loop (hearing their own voice back). The second is if you want to do “live to hard-drive” podcast production. [Read more…] about TPS084: USB Power and When Do You Need a Mix-Minus?
TPS083: Setting Up a Mix-Minus and Hosting Pitfalls
If you want to record Skype using a mixer you’re going to need how to setup a mix-minus. The video below will show you how to go about setting that up and the linked post below will describe the entire process as well as show you detailed photographs of how to setup a mix-minus for recording Skype interviews.
A mix-minus allows you to send all the audio going into your mixer (voice, sound fx, music, etc) back to your caller on Skype without them getting their own voice back which would cause a feedback loop where they would hear their own voice. [Read more…] about TPS083: Setting Up a Mix-Minus and Hosting Pitfalls
How to Set up a Mix Minus for Recording Skype
If you need to setup a mix-minus to record Skype for your podcast, this tutorial will show you the gear* you’ll need and how to connect it all together.
The basic concept of a mix-minus is to input multiple sources of audio into an audio mixer (your microphone, sound cart, phone messages, Skype, etc.) then send that audio back out to Skype, minus (without) the Skype caller’s voice.
This setup is achieved by using an auxiliary output to selectively send certain audio out of the mixer. If you send all the audio that is in the mixer, back to Skype, then the person on the other side will hear a feedback loop of their own voice. So we need to exclude (minus) Skype’s audio (the person’s voice) from going back into Skype.
Depending on your mixer’s manufacture, the auxiliary output may be labeled Aux, FX or Mon Send. They’ll all work as auxiliary outputs in this setup.
[Read more…] about How to Set up a Mix Minus for Recording Skype