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ceemageOK, I have been tasked with going away to procure some audio kit for my accountancy body's regional exec. (I am the "Website and New Media Co-ordinator," so it does fall within my remit.) However, I am a complete clueless n00b when it comes to things like microphones and audio generally.
We have evening seminars from various guest speakers about half a dozen times a year. General format is probably not that far removed from a panel session at a typical science fiction convention, but with Powerpoint as the norm rather than the exception. What we want to do is record the speakers (with their permission, of course), and then make the recording available as an MP3 on the web-site for people who couldn't make it in person to download.
Given that our guest speakers won't necessarily be paying much attention to the microphone, is there a particular type of microphone I need? Come to that, what different types of microphone are there? Will I be able to pick up audience questions as well? (Not essential, but a nice-to-have.) Will a normal-looking microphone be adequate, or do I need one of those things you sometimes see on TV that looks like a womble's todger?
I would like to record directly on to my laptop, which has both USB and a 3.5mm microphone jack. Are either of these useable? Or do I need a USB mixer of some kind? Is a hardware mixer pointless if I only have one microphone?
My initial budget is £500. Is this excessive, or not enough?
Am I basically over-egging the pudding, in that there's little point trying to maintain audio quality in the recording process, given the final format will be mono MP3 anyway?
All comments/queries/feedback welcome.
We have evening seminars from various guest speakers about half a dozen times a year. General format is probably not that far removed from a panel session at a typical science fiction convention, but with Powerpoint as the norm rather than the exception. What we want to do is record the speakers (with their permission, of course), and then make the recording available as an MP3 on the web-site for people who couldn't make it in person to download.
Given that our guest speakers won't necessarily be paying much attention to the microphone, is there a particular type of microphone I need? Come to that, what different types of microphone are there? Will I be able to pick up audience questions as well? (Not essential, but a nice-to-have.) Will a normal-looking microphone be adequate, or do I need one of those things you sometimes see on TV that looks like a womble's todger?
I would like to record directly on to my laptop, which has both USB and a 3.5mm microphone jack. Are either of these useable? Or do I need a USB mixer of some kind? Is a hardware mixer pointless if I only have one microphone?
My initial budget is £500. Is this excessive, or not enough?
Am I basically over-egging the pudding, in that there's little point trying to maintain audio quality in the recording process, given the final format will be mono MP3 anyway?
All comments/queries/feedback welcome.
