OT (?) - Inexpensive audio mixing for podcasting...

[Taoism]

Hi all,

I am a real neophyte when it comes to A/V stuff, but here is what I am basically trying to figure out how to do (cheaply):

I want to do a weekly "talk radio" podcast with some friends here in Winnipeg, Canada. To that end I need to be able to plug up to say, 4 headsets into a mixer of sorts and then have out talks recorded onto a PC for futher editing.

Now, I say headsets because I think it would be best (tell me if I am wrong) if everyone had their own earphones on while we talk - to minimize distractions, etc. I assume the audio out feed everone will be listening to will be the output mix feed so we can hear each other talk. Do any of you know of an inexpensive PC-card (preferred), or (small) external hardware mixer that would be good for this purpose. I think a PC card would be the best solution, so that I can play audio clips from other sources, etc during the talks and then have people comment on them - or am I complicating things too much?

Any advice is appreciated!

Cheers,
Keith.

[Snap]

Hey Keith,
I am not aware of any PC card that is going to do what you need. That does not mean that they do not exist. I would think for what you are wanting to do you are going to need to go a little more High Tech.
Try looking at some inexpensive A/D converters, and some Audio Recording software. Like Cake Walk. I use Pro Tools, but that will probably be WAY more than you are wanting to spend.
If you get a good little digital mixer (D/A Converter) it should have head phone outs. You can get you a cheap head phone amp/splitter and run all 4 sends off of that! Then just use a cheap mic for every one to talk into. Record each person to a seperate track and then you can mix it all down to a post production track after that.

This is the only way that I know how to do what you are talking about and do it right. There might be other ways to do it, but this way would work. Still looking at some loot though.

Hope that helps.
SNAP

[Chris D]

No idea, but I just want to say that's a great little idea you've got! Would this end up being a webcast thing? (I don't know what "podcast" refers to)