The Sennheiser MKH 416 is my new favorite mic. I got to use one for a couple of weeks thanks to B&H Photo-Video-Audio, who sent it to me to review. I’m actually a bit sad to have to send it back. But as soon as the old budget allows, as Will Smith said in Independence Day – “I have got to get me one of these!”
The mic is well known in the Film, TV and voice-over industries. I used it on a couple of actual voice-over gigs, plus I tested it as a video mic outdoors on a windy day. For that last test I also reviewed the Rycote Softie Windshield, which looks like a cat pelt that you slip over the mic to reduce (which this thing does REALLY well) that rumbly wind noise.
There are audio samples (the MKH 416 vs my Rode NT2-A on voice-over stuff) as well as 4 video samples comparing the on-board camcorder mic to the sound of the 416 plugged into the camera both with and without the wind shield.
Check it out here: www.homebrewaudio.com/sennheiser-mkh-416-shotgun-microphone-review
Here is a post that is the first in a series explaining not only how to build a home recording studio using your computer, but also how to get the best possible audio quality from it for the least cost.
These posts will explain two types of gear configurations and offer 4 tips for creating the clearest and cleanest audio possible. You’ll also learn how to step into the “professional quality audio” level by using the 4 tips and a microphone costing less than $100.
You’ll also see how home recording studio configuration 2 is the foundation for even the highest-end professional computer-based studios, and how you can enter that world for as low as about $250.
See the part 1 of the series here: www.homebrewaudio.com/how-to-build-a-home-recording-studio-part-1
After so often giving out recommendations for what kinds of gear you might need for a home recording studio to get started recording professional audio at the lowest cost, and not finding a ready-made bundle at the on-line recording equipment stores, I finally was able to put together my own suggsted home recording equipment starter bundle – and B&H Photo-Video-Audio created for me. It’s very exciting!
It consists of a large diaphragm condenser mic, an XLR mic cable, a boom mic stand, an audio interface/preamp box (which comes with Pro Tools SE software), and a pop-screen for the mic.
Bundles like these make it much more convenient for people to just get what they need in one transaction, plus the cost is lower.
Read the full article here: www.homebrewaudio.com/home-recording-studio-starter-bundle/
What is a mixer bus? You may have seen the term “buss” or “bus” in relation to audio and mixing. But did you understand what it means? Well fear not. This, as with so many audio terms, is actually easy to understand. Why so much of the terminology is not easily descriptive is a constant source of frustration to me and lots of folks. So I try to de-mistify this stuff where I can. So what is a buss (or mixer bus)?
In a nutshell it is simply a channel on a mixer that combines signals from other channels on that same mixer.
Read the full article here: http://www.homebrewaudio.com/what-is-a-buss-in-audio-recording/
Audio Interface review – I reviewed a very cool little device yesterday that is about the size of a lipstick case, and yet it is a professional audio interface you can put in your pocket (if you need to) and take with you wherever you go. It’s called the CEntrance (no, that is not a typo) MicPort Pro.
You plug any standard microphone (by “standard” I mean witha 3-pin XLR connector) into one side of the MicPort, and plug the MicPort (via the included low-noise USB cable) into a USB port on your (or anyone’s – since it’s so mobile) computer.
The MicPort has a phantom power switch you can use for your condenser mics. It also has a headphone input that allows for zero-latency monitoring. All that stuff is on the tip of one end of the “lipstick case.” On the side are two knobs, one for controlling the input gain and the other for controlling headphone volume.
It has a high-quality A/D converter and preamp, which puts it into the category of “professional recording” in my book.
I recorded two audios, one with my usual set-up and one with the MicPort. Both used my Rode NT2-A microphone. Those two audios are on the full review, which can be found here:
www.homebrewaudio.com/review-of-the-centrance-micport-pro-audio-interface/
Microphone to camcorder – One of the biggest frustrations I have with making professional video with a camcorder (it IS possible these days) is getting the audio to sound good. All too often I see people putting out videos that look great and sound terrible. The first thing I always recommend is to try your hardest to buy a camcorder that has an external microphone input. But even then, the plug is going to be a “mini” plug that no regular microphone will fit without multiple adapters. People either end up buying special cameral mics, like shotgun mics or wireless systems that already have the mini-plug. But that can get expensive, and then you are stuck with mics that only work on your camera.
But what if you already have microphones that you use for good audio stuff? Isn’t it frustrating that you can’t (easily) hook those up to your camera? Well now you can. There’s a really cool little box that hooks up underneath your camera and then connects easily to an tripod, that you can plug XLR (standard microphone) cables directly into.
Read a review of this device here: http://www.homebrewaudio.com/pro-audio-for-your-video-review-of-the-beachtek-dxa-2t-camcorder-adapter
Line 6 POD Farm – Folks were asking how the guitars and bass were recorded for the cover of That Thing You Do that I put out last week. They wanted to know if I used amps, and if so what kind. Also folks were interested in what microphones I might have used on the amps in question. Well as it turns out, I didn’t use an amps at all.
I used fake or modeled software versions of amps. I did this with a hardware/software combo called the POD Studio GX, by Line 6. It’s a small interface box that hooks up to your computer via USB. The interface has an input (standard quarter-inch plug) for a guitar or bass. POD Studio also comes with POD Farm, which is huge collection of guitar and bass amplfier models. The Line 6 site describes the collection as an arsenal of vintage and modern amps, cabs, studio-standard effects, classic stompboxes and preamps.
Read the full article here: http://www.homebrewaudio.com/guitar-recordings-for-that-thing-you-do-cover-line-6-pod-farm
If you were wondering whether it was possible to record a song, specifically a rock song, on a (very) modest home recording studio, take a listen to this. It’s a 1-man-band cover of the song That Thing You Do, (written by Adam Schlesinger for the movie of the same name) recorded from scratch on my computer-based home recording studio set up in a spare bedroom.
Why did I do it (other than just being cool)? I wanted to demonstrate what kind of thing can be done, by just one person, with a basic home music recording studio.
Check out the full post, with a list of gear used, here: http://www.homebrewaudio.com/cover-of-that-thing-you-do-record-a-rock-song-on-your-computer
New equipment for your home audio recording studio is being unveiled every day. You can keep informed of all new arrivals for pro audio gear as it arrives at B&H Photo-Video-Pro Audio by checking in with us as often as you like. The link will take you to the B&H page for just pro audio gear, and just the absolute latest newest releases. They update it every day.
Here is the page to bookmark: http://www.homebrewaudio.com/new-arrivals-pro-audio-equipment
Also don’t forget that we have tons of tutorials and “how-to” articles at Home Brew Audio. Those we update pretty much daily as well.
See ya there!
Ken
Here is a tip that can really help you shorten the process of recording and producing long voice-over jobs, such as audio books, or any other job that requires reading and recording paragraphs of text at a time. Very few of us are perfect, and we often make little mistakes as we read. This tip will allow you to keep on going without stopping the recording process, while at the same time, giving you a quick way to delete the mistakes when you’re all done recording.
Read the full article here: http://www.homebrewaudio.com/how-to-finish-long-voice-over-jobs-faster
