Show 313 – Mic Boosters Everywhere

When we first started this podcast, inline preamp mic boosters were not well known or widely available until the Cloudlifter. Now, there are countless varieties in wide ranging prices. Jon just built the MB-2 kit from DIY Recording Equipment so we thought this would be a good time to revisit the mic booster topic.

Download Episode 313

Spotify Link https://open.spotify.com/show/6ffP9OPt8SjMwXCman1ckV

00:00 - Intro
00:17 - Today's topic is mic boosters
02:50 - What is a cloud lifter / mic booster
03:32 - How Ryan uses a cloudlifter
04:16 - Impedance
05:53 - There are so many of these now!
07:40 - if you want to build it yourself…
08:20 - speaking of flavors
09:49 - Another use of a colored mic booster
11:35 - can be useful even with condenser mics
12:19 - I forgot about phantom power boxes

Support the show and get your name at the end of the video

https://www.buymeacoffee.com/hrspodcast

This episode is supported by:
Brian Olsen, Doug Darrell, Stephan Gaugh, musicforgeeks, someone, John Stranovsky, Jonathan R, Michael Sedelmaier, and yinghuochong.

LINKS

HRS Episode 77 – Triton Audio BigAmp and FetHead review

HRS Episode 112 – Cloudlifter CL-1 review

HRS Episode 217 – Cloudlifter CL-Z review

DIY Recording Equipement MB-2 Mic Booster Kit

Amazon Affiliate Link – Triton FetHead

Amazon Affiliate Link – sE Electronics Dynamite

Amazon Affiliate Link – Coda Stealth

Amazon Affiliate Link – Cloud Microphones Cloudlifter CL-1

Tierra Audio Flavours Preamp

Show 312 – Actually, compact mixers aren’t as bad as I thought

In this episode Jon and Ryan discuss the usefulness and potential pitfalls of compact mixers in the home studio.
Where they’re helpful
Why you might want to have one
Why you might want to avoid buying one
How to gain stage for best results

Download Episode 312


Spotify Link https://open.spotify.com/show/6ffP9OPt8SjMwXCman1ckV

00:00 - Intro
00:17 - Today's topic is compact mixers
01:00 - Don't get a compact mixer IF
02:55 - Why did Jon buy a compact mixer?
05:50 - The main reason to get a mixer
12:09 - gain staging can be tricky
13:53 - test clips
16:35 - can you trust Behringer
17:45 - How do you set the right levels ?
21:23 - in summary - pleasantly neutral

Download the mixer test files in 24-bit wav

Support the show and get your name at the end of the video
https://www.buymeacoffee.com/hrspodcast

This episode is supported by:
Brian Olsen, Doug Darrell, Stephan Gaugh, musicforgeeks, someone, John Stranovsky, Jonathan R, Michael Sedelmaier, and yinghuochong.

Show 311 – Mac Studio, tube scarcity, & pro vs prosumer wireless audio

We have 3 kind of ‘current events’ topics for this episode:
Jon got the new Mac Studio desktop computer;
Vacuum Tube shortages and the impact this will have on the industry;
and the difference between cheap wireless systems that Jon uses and the professional level systems that Ryan uses.

Download episode 311

00:00 - Intro
00:17 - Today's topics are:
01:56 - The Mac Studio is amazeballs
14:12 - vacuum tube shortages affecting musicians
20:25 - Prosumer vs Pro wireless gear

Support The Show

Support the show and get your name at the end of the video
https://www.buymeacoffee.com/hrspodcast

This episode is supported by:
Brian Olsen, Doug Darrell, Stephan Gaugh, musicforgeeks, someone, John Stranovsky, Jonathan R, Michael Sedelmaier, and yinghuochong.

Links

Mac Studio

Tube Shortages

Jon’s review of Godox MoveLink M2

Show 310 – Theatre Production and More with Ben Peilow

Ben Peilow is an audio engineer from Kent and longtime HRS listener. Ben joins us this episode to discuss creative live and recording techniques, theatre production, Dante technology, and starting a podcast in a pandemic.

Download Episode 310

Spotify Link https://open.spotify.com/show/6ffP9OPt8SjMwXCman1ckV

00:00 - Intro
00:36 - welcome Ben
04:19 - challenges and mistakes getting started
10:06 - As a freelance live engineer do you just show up or do you bring all your own gear?
11:56 - creative recording techniques
16:05 - creative live sound technique
19:53 - Ben is also a podcaster
29:29 - How Ben uses Dante for theatre production
37:36 - Should we be using Dante tech in the home studio?
42:04 - Dante in film production sound

Support the show and get your name at the end of the video
https://www.buymeacoffee.com/hrspodcast

This episode is supported by:
Brian Olsen, Doug Darrell, Stephan Gaugh, musicforgeeks, someone, John Stranovsky, Jonathan R, Michael Sedelmaier, and yinghuochong.

Links

Ben’s Website
https://benpeilowaudio.com/

Ben’s Twitter
https://twitter.com/benpeilow

Ben’s Instagram
https://Instagram.com/benpeilowaudio

Ben’s Podcast
https://www.buzzsprout.com/983914

Show 309 – What’s the Floating Point of 32 Bit Recording ?

Ryan and Jon discuss 32-bit recording, which is now possible on some devices. Never worrying about clipping seems nice but is this something you actually need?
We talk about how it works, the tradeoffs, and when it might actually make sense to do it.

Download Episode 309

Chapters

00:00 – Intro
00:42 – today’s topic: 32-bit audio recording
01:50 – 16-bit audio
02:49 – 24-bit audio
03:20 – more bits is not louder
03:44 – managing a high dynamic range situation
05:01 – 32-bit float audio
06:43 – more dynamic range than anything that could happen on earth
06:55 – its still possible to overload the mic
09:12 – also consider the monitoring side
09:25 – Kai Paquin’s Summary of how these systems work
11:27 – The 32-bit recording may look clipped but it is not
12:04 – The preamps work differently and optimized for the format
13:33 – The FILE cannot clip, but your mic still can
14:47 – Post workflow difference
16:05 – 32-bit wireless systems
17:03 – You don’t need this if you can set levels, but sometimes you can’t
18:45 – In the studio
21:07 – 32-bit and beyond with plugins

Links

https://www.sounddevices.com/32-bit-float-files-explained/

https://paquinsound.blogspot.com/2021/12/the-problem-with-19232bit-recordings.html

https://acousticnature.com/journal/best-32-bit-float-audio-recorders

Support the show

Support the show and get your name at the end of the video

https://www.buymeacoffee.com/hrspodcast

This episode is supported by:
Brian Olsen, Doug Darrell, Stephan Gaugh, musicforgeeks, someone, John Stranovsky, Jonathan R, and Michael Sedelmaier.

Show 307 – The Myk Robinson Interview

In this episode we chat with Myk Robinson (Let’s Talk About REAPER on YouTube) about home recording, DAWs, beginner struggles and more

Download Episode 307

00:00 - Intro
00:26 - Meet Myk Robinson
01:38 - Find Myk online
02:02 - Myk's Musical background
08:45 - Musical tastes
10:27 - Music skills and training
12:22 - How Myk met Jon
13:34 - DAW talk
19:12 - home recording beginner struggles
20:55 - Enjoy the process
25:24 - remote collaboration
26:57 - advice for newcomers
28:29 - you just have to start
33:46 - go to work from home lunch
34:29 - pickles
35:21 - peanut butter and __ sandwich
37:29 - Support the show

You can find Myk’s YouTube channel at http://www.letstalkaboutreaper.com

Support the show and get your name at the end of the video
https://www.buymeacoffee.com/hrspodcast

This episode is supported by:
Brian Olsen, Doug Darrell, Stephan Gaugh, musicforgeeks, someone, John Stranovsky, Jonathan R, and Michael Sedelmaier.