Making an audio recording of your book -- hardware and software tips -- FWL Cookbook Friends

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Date Posted: 13:44:07 01/02/05 Sun
Author: Lex Edmonds
Subject: Making an audio recording of your book -- hardware and software tips

Hi Mary,

Last time I talked to you, you mentioned that you would like to make audio recordings of yourself reading your book, and asked what hardware and software I would recommend that you should use. Here are my thoughts:

HARDWARE

(1) Don't use a cheap computer microphone! The sound quality of these is dreadful!

(2) The classic "do anything" microphone is the Shure SM-48, see:
http://www.shure.com/microphones/models/sm48.asp

This microphone requires the Shure A96F transformer to connect it to your computer, see:
http://www.shure.com/accessories/a96f.asp

Here's some more information on how to connect it to your computer:
http://www.shure.com/otws/tech/tech_sm58.asp
http://www.shure.com/support/technotes/app-soundcard.html

(3) Most sound cards that are integrated into the motherboard have very poor sound quality. I recommend buying a good quality USB (external) sound card for your computer. A USB sound card can be used with a desktop PC as well as a laptop.

A versatile USB sound card that I have heard good reports about is the Edirol UA-25, see:
http://www.edirol.com/products/info/ua25.html

This is a rugged unit that can be used "on the road" as well as in your home office.

This unit, combined with the Shure SM-48, would be my recommendation (you shouldn't need the A96F transformer if you got one of these).

(4) If you are thinking of recording teleseminars as well, then you might consider some of the equipment provided by Mike Stewart the Internet Audio Guy, see:
http://tinyurl.com/3p98k

Look for "Phone Capture Package" on the left hand side of the screen.

Two of the phone capture products, the GN Netcom 2120-NC telephone headset (with noise-cancelling microphone) and GN Netcom GN 8000-MPA headset amplifier, look good:
http://www.gnnetcom.com/US/EN/MainMenu/Products/Corded+Headsets/GN+2100+Series.htm
http://www.gnnetcom.com/US/EN/MainMenu/Products/Amplifiers/GN+8000+MPA.htm

You will also need a telephone adapter to plug it in to.

Mike Stewart sells the Dynametric TLP-102, but I don't like the look of it because you have no control over the incoming and outgoing sound levels -- normally your voice will be much louder than the incoming voice from the person at the other end.

A better-looking adapter is the JK Audio Inline Patch, see:
http://www.jkaudio.com/inline-patch.htm

This one has separate level controls for the incoming and outgoing circuits.

Judging by the manual (which you can download), you should be able to record yourself without actually making a phone call! Which means you should be able to use my software to record yourself reading your book using this unit and the GN Netcom headset and amplifier. (These units are not approved for use in Australia, so unfortunately I can't try it out for myself).

The output from this unit goes to Line-In on your sound card (I would still recommend using the Edirol UA-25, rather than your integrated sound card).

SOFTWARE

Naturally I recommend my own software for this, see:
http://www.UltimateSoundRecorder.com/index16.shtml

Ultimate Sound Recorder is new software that I have just released, which makes it easier than it has ever been to record audio of any kind using your own computer.

To do that, the software does most of the work for you. It removes virtually all the decision making you normally require with traditional sound software, and it uses a wizard interface which leads you step by step through any decisions that you really must make.

For example, deciding where to store your files (and giving structure to the way the files are stored so you don't have to), what names to give them so you don't overwrite old ones, making sure they are logically named so you can tell in what order they were recorded etc. All that is done automatically. You just need to give your project a name, and estimate the total recording time (so the software can work out how much disk space you need).

Generally, where you make a decision for one project, then that decision becomes the default for the next one.

Hope that these tips have been of use to you.

Regards,
Lex Edmonds
www.UltimateSoundRecorder.com

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Replies:

Re: Making an audio recording of your book -- hardware and software tips -- Mary Cheatham, www.FWLCookbook.com, 08:59:30 01/06/05 Thu
Re: Making an audio recording of your book -- hardware and software tips -- Paul Elliott, 12:00:16 01/06/05 Thu