We had talked about it for some time. PodSqod, mostly in name, will change to NewMediaGear.

The NewMediaGear Forum continues to be a great resource and avenue of communication for all things broadcast.

As New Media becomes Current Media and Old Media re-invents its mode and method of delivery, we simply change site names and continue to pursue the art of broadcast in a landscape of inventive delivery mechanisms.

Rather simply said, New Media offers us more latitude to cover more gear. I can also pronounce a correctly spelled domain name!

Join us at NewMediaGear.com.

We hope you subscribe and spread the word!

Best,
MarkJensen & Laura

Well, I updated WordPress and even installed a new database, which went very smoothly, but our old version 1.5 theme simply had enough with the upgrades. That was inevitable and I’ll miss the old code. It served us well.

While this theme works; even being “color challenged” I see that it needs to be touched up here and there which is a job for Laura. For now, the basic forms do fit.

Bear with us a little bit longer as we iron things out on the site and, like it or not, adapt to widgets.

I miss the days of coding with ED or EDLIN. Back in those days, you could buy a steak dinner for a nickel! …and that was with a tip, but I digress.

In the mean time, I couldn’t leave our visitors without the BSW Discount Code above.

Talk soon.

Best,
MarkJensen

Please stay tuned for a weekend cast as we prepare Studio1A for the next step on the web and for audio/video.

Best,
MarkJensen & Laura

The MXL ’stereo’ USB microphone.

I recorded this on Friday and couldn’t decide if this cast warranted video or not. Well, I need the practice folks, so video it is …along with a sample audio file in WAV format.

MXL has worked with me for a long time. More importantly, MXL has made studio quality recording microphones cost efficient for almost any project studio.

At Studio1A, we have been inundated with USB mics. Every manufacturer is jumping on the USB bandwagon, and that’s a good thing. USB, like MXL, has made studio quality recording a reality for anyone with a equipped computer and something to say.

I have tried to feature USB mics with a little something extra and this show fits.

The MXL USB007 offers a very smooth studio sound. As I created the Vidcast, I also created a WAV file in real-time using the 007 so you can hear for yourself.

What makes the 007 different is an X-Y “stereo” pickup (2 mic elements at a 90 degree angle to each other). This creates a nice wide perception for the listener and ads spacial depth to otherwise flat, mono recordings.

Watch the video and listen to the (separate) sample file for a glimpse at this very different mic.

PS: You may notice that the ‘talent’ keeps looking towards the viewfinder instead of the lens.
Yes; it is distracting …and I’ll keep working on it ; )

Best,
MarkJensen

The BSW Podcast Starter Package.

Hard to believe we’re closing the gap on 300 shows. During that time, we have zeroed in on a lot of gear and topics.

For this show, I wanted to just step back and look at the broader picture. If I were to design a studio with gear available today, what choices would I make? What choices would you make?

USB has given us a lot of new options and configurations in the last few years.

Just how soon do we digitize audio and monitor it? How about microphone types, mixers, interfaces and monitoring. Don’t forget the life line of analog audio, cables and connectors. Software is just as important as hardware. Do we use cart machine emulation or an all-in-one cart player/editor and recorder like Podcast Station.

Drop in and have a listen as we talk about options for your studio.

Best,
MarkJensen

Photo Credit: Jason Wingrove

Best,
MarkJensen

Photo Credit: Jason Wingrove

Every once in a while, opportunity knocks right on the inbox. I was just [attempting] to refresh my knowledge of broadcast video (has it really changed all that much since the 80’s?) when a very accomplished Film Director emailed me.

After a look at Jason Wingroves demo reels, I knew that he should be a guest on the PodSqod Telos One Line.

You may notice that part 1 of this show was actually shot on video, more/less as a test. We’ll be shooting much more and we also realize that some things are best captured on audio alone.

The phone quality to Australia wasn’t very good, but I think you’ll enjoy the conversation, …because content is still King.

Best,
MarkJensen

The sE Electronics models USB1000A and USB2200A.

In my best movie-trailer voice, the script would start “…in a world of USB microphones”.

Not too long ago, USB mics were the domain of cheap “computer” type accessories that we would find on retail shelves, delegated to shrinkwrap, or the tell-tale sign of quality that we all know hangs from the dreaded pegboard hook.

Times certainly have changed and USB mics have grown up very quickly. sE Electronics is a well respected mic company. I’ve used their products in Studio1A before, but this time I had an opportunity to try their USB2200A. The mic is nicely constructed and attention to detail is obvious in the nicely polished capsule/mount and the white-finish body.

It was a bit odd seeing the familiar XLR on the bottom of the mic, while just above it lies a mini-USB connection, 1/8″ headphone jack (for real-time USB monitoring) and a loudness pot for adjusting headphone monitoring levels. In addition, there is a 10db pad, low rolloff filter and an “A/P” switch. This mic allows you to adjust output level (in USB mode) for the Apple or PC platforms.

I initially tried the mic in USB 2.0 mode. The quality was very crisp and definitely the best USB sound I had heard. The output was still just a bit low on my PC, but this is an issue common with every USB mic I’ve tested. The USB port can only supply 5 volts DC at a maximum of .5 amps. …that simply isn’t a lot of power to punch a large diaphram amplifier, analog-to-digi converter and headphone amplifier all at once.

When I plugged in my familiar XLR cable to the USB2200A, it came alive with a nice crisp high end and smooth lows. For my voice, this mic just seemed to fit nicely, even without a blast filter. I could easily put this up against any high-end studio condenser and come out smiling.

At a street price of $399 (MSRP $499), this isn’t a trivial purchase, but it does offer an excellent studio solution that is also at home when an XLR can’t be found.

Check out the USB2200A from Sonic Distribution USA.

Best,
MarkJensen

Hand-held digital audio recorders are a hot commodity. There used to be a very distinctive line drawn between professional and consumer audio recorders. Pro recorders were found only at broadcast supply houses and consumer recorders could be found at your local department store or the retail electronics store on the corner.

One of the newer contenders that blurs the line between pro and personal is Sonys PCM-D50. Offering up to 96kHz/24-bit recording resolution, 4GB of internal memory (add more using the Memory Stick port) both digital and analog in/out along with physical switches for major functions, the PCM-D50 will appeal to those looking to up the ante in prosumer recording in the under $500 (street price) category.

This recorder is physically bigger than the other hand held units in its price class. The fit and finish is excellent with buttons having a clean tactile feel. Sporting a very solid outside, nothing about the PCM-D50 feels ‘plastic’ or creaks. The nicely caged electret mics are easily adjustable from an X-Y pattern to forward facing or any combination in an arc. The expensive ($49 list) optional windsock looks quite professional in the world of quick-form foam filters. A small tray slides out of the bottom allowing convenient refilling of 4 AA batteries, then snaps nicely back in the unit. Included is an AC-DC adapter as well.

The backlight-on-demand LCD display is oversized with easy to read peak reading meters, large time elapsed/remaining and recording mode indication. You can also easily read the filename and memory remaining at a glance. Dual LEDs right below the mics light up at -12db and -1 for a quick record level indication.

Sony happily included a nice oversized recording level knob on the right and a separate physical listening (headphone) adjustment on the left. This is an important detail for adjusting levels during recording without having to stop and access menus. A dual frequency selectable low-cut filter is switchable as well as the limiter. The standard mini-USB connection allows the D50 to become a mass storage device for most Windows and Mac OS platforms. A Memory Stick Pro Duo HG slot allows you to supplement the internal 4GB of storage.

For input and output, you can select 1/8 inch stereo analog or (optical) digital. Line or mic level are hard switchable with a 20db pad available for mic input. Plug In phantom power is turned on or off via menu. You can have the D50 auto-start recording upon receiving a proper digital stream as well as mounting it on a tripod, like a camera. Plug in the (optional) wired remote for hands-off access as well. Utilizing digital inputs does sometimes encumber certain features and also allows for the all too familiar MiniDisc-like DRM copyright aware firmware to activate. Analog, of course, is wide open.

A nice touch is the included Sony Audio Studio LE software on CD, allowing basic file manipulation.

Recording either WAV or MP3 formats is a breeze thanks to the brief, but well written manual. Compress MP3’s to 320kbps, although I liked going linear WAV with the roomy 4GB at a modest 44.1kHz/16-bit rate. Recording quality is excellent as I would expect from Sony. The built-in mics will work nicely for general purpose, but an external mic or input source is needed for serious use.

Competition is fierce and there are other hand held models out there for less than half the price. The Sony does, however, rise nicely to the challenge and fills a niche in the market for those that want a bit more without entering the realm of the 4-figure (USD) market. For those with a little extra room in their budget and an appreciation for the pro touches, the PCM-D50 is a worthy contender.

Inside the box, you’ll find the recorder, analog input or output cable, AC adapter, USB cable and Sonys Audio Studio LE CD.

Best,
MarkJensen & Laura

List: $599.95
Street: $499.00

Sony and the Sony logo are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Sony Corporation Incorporated in the United States and/or other countries. All other trademarks and company references are the property of their respective owners.