((( GLENN AUDIO )))

A common problem for many new audio recordists is getting good levels from a loud speaker where you end up getting either too low a signal or the opposite, digital distortion; that nasty crackling sound.

Most audio pros will put a device known as a compressor in the audio chain between the microphone and the recording device to control volume changes; what we call dynamics or the dynamic range. However for those of you doing extremely basic, bare bones audio recording, say a “goose neck” mic straight into your laptop, M-Audio has come out with a nice solution.

The M-Audio MicroTrack 10dB pad will reduce the level of the signal coming in for loud sounds. This still doesn’t fix the problem of varrying volume levels (I’m hoping to address this in future posts) but it will help if you have a loud speaker and you want them close to the mic to avoid excess noise.
It’s input connection is 1/8th inch (like a typical headphone jack) and output connection is also 1/8th inch. If you use a very basic mic to do recordings you can place this device in between the mic and your computer’s mic input jack; I’ve included the connection diagram below. Just keep in mind that you’d replace your mic with their’s and instead of a portable recorder, you’d use your computer/laptop.

As an extra note, you may want to check out the MicroTrack 24/96 itself for professional portable podcast recording.

If you have questions, please email me

For those people who want to talk the talk but may not walk the walk, I have added a new link under Pro Audio Links to the Rane Pro Audio Reference. This site helped me many a time during school to get a second definition to tricky topics like impedance and cable architecture.

For those interested in getting started in the podcast recording, you may enjoy a lecture given by Paul Figgiani, Audio Engineer for IT Conversations, host of The Point Podcast, discussing equipment to fit your budget and goals.More to come…enjoy