INOCULATION FROM INDOCTRINATION
00:13
Stay in touch with the conversation, subscribe to the RSS feed for comments on this post.
[...] Freedom Feens podcast with my friend Neema Vedadi. We live in different states, so we record as a double-ender podcast to keep the audio quality extraordinarily high. That is, we talk over the phone, but don’t [...]
[...] and radio. However, if you really want to get fancy and spend a lot of time getting things perfect, Neema and I did a post on how we record. If you DO want to use large condesnors AND do a lot of overkill, check it out (I use the Zoom H2, [...]
[...] HOW WE RECORD [...]
[...] More on how we record Freedom Feens is here. [...]
[...] and the benefits of using a Zoom H2 to properly record Eddie’s voice. Very similar to how the Freedom Feens record. They go over a story from the Guardian on Bradley Manning’s torture, living situation and [...]
[...] also see my related post, Mumble for encrypted Skype-like conversations. Also, read this article on how we do our uber-high-fidelity Wednesday non-live double-ender [...]
[...] Michael W. Dean and Neema Vedadi take live calls and discuss with the Feens how it’s a false dilemma that you HAVE to “vote for the lesser of two evils”, partially because they’re both SO DAMN EVIL and want cancer patients to be thrown in prison for seeking relief. They talk about Hippie Valium, the poor man’s speedball, statists, liberty, Larry Flint, what a homophobe Rand Paul is, and moving beyond just bitching about the state. Then tell all the secrets of how they record. [...]
[...] Freedom Feens podcast with my friend Neema Vedadi. We live in different states, so we record as a double-ender podcast to keep the audio quality extraordinarily high. That is, we talk over the phone, but don’t [...]
[...] GEAR [...]
[...] professional-sounding radio show and for not having a signal that will splatter on other stations. Here’s more on recording. It’s a very detailed post, but also has some good info for the beginner. Read the whole thing. And here’s a post on how [...]
[...] professional-sounding radio show and for not having a signal that will splatter on other stations. Here’s more on recording. It’s a very detailed post, but also has some good info for the beginner. Read the whole thing. And here’s a post on how [...]
[...] professional-sounding radio show and for not having a signal that will splatter on other stations. Here’s more on recording. It’s a very detailed post, but also has some good info for the beginner. Read the whole thing. And here’s a post on how [...]
[...] and radio. However, if you really want to get fancy and spend a lot of time getting things perfect, Neema and I did a post on how we record. If you DO want to use large condensers AND do a lot of overkill, check it out (I use the Zoom H2, [...]
[...] also see my related post, Mumble for encrypted Skype-like conversations. Also, read this article on how we do our uber-high-fidelity Wednesday non-live double-ender podcasts. –Michael W. [...]
Michael W. Dean and Neema Vedadi’s fun ‘n’ feisty thrice-weekly chat syndicated on radio by Genesis Communications Network. All about true free markets, the digital police state, self-defense, real money, activism, DIY media, pets, rock ‘n’ roll, and finding your place in the world.
YOU LIKE TORRENTS?
Shop Amazon through the Freedom Feens link. Bookmark and use whenever you shop Amazon. The Feens get a little money each time and it costs you nothing extra!: 
BUY OUR DVD "Guns and Weed: The Road to Freedom"
Globe counter added 10/1/2012.
Check out Michael W. Dean's Libertarian Punk blog
Check out MichaelWDean.com blog
Creamy Radio Audio - audio tips from the Feens.
Neema Vedadi on Facebook
Freedom Feens on Facebook
We earn referral fees if you use the below services, but we wouldn't recommend a service unless we like them and would use them regardless:
We use and love HostGator 
We use and love
Boleh VPN virtual private network
Turn your cash into liberty!
Yeah, the batteries last well more than one cast. I charge ‘em every three or four casts.
Thanks for the kudos, Harald!
MWD
Hey guys,
I like your attitude. You really seem to enjoy what you’re doing and sharing all about it you learn along the way. True open source.
Now, as a fellow occasional user of the H2 I have a little battery tip for Michael. The H2 can actually run several hours on a battery set if you know how. The device itself uses about 220 to 300 mA, depending on whether you leave the backlight on. Let’s say your rechargeables have a rating of 2000 mAh. Well conditioned and fully charged, this should be good for up to 9 hours without backlight in theory. In reality it’s usually less, but still more than sufficient for one recording session.
NiCd and NiMH batteries like it when you fully discharge them after a couple of cycles, otherwise they will develop something called the memory effect, which temporarily decreases their capacity (it’s reversible).
But perhaps it’s not such a bad idea after all to have a little break every now and then. Good work and keep them coming!
Yeah. It’s worth not having the hum.
I’ve been charging the batteries more now.
MWD
Harald. I actually do use a big Condenser mic on my end but It wasn’t expensive — only about $100 bucks.
and sometimes I wish Michael could power his H2 with an adapter! We’ve had to pause recording cause of low batteries before! But I guess I’d rather deal with that every now and then if it means no hum on the audio.
Hi Chris!
Thank you for the kind words.
Yeah, my H2 came with an adapter, I have it in a drawer somewhere. I always find that AC adapters add a tiny bit of 60 hz hum to audio. Also never use ‘em on video cameras, they do the same to the audio track of the video.
I do have rechargeable batteries and a charger though.
MWD
Hey Michael, great article. One small suggestion– have you ever thought about getting an adapter for the H2? When I bought mine, it came with one as well as a bunch of other accessories. A bit convenient for recording long podcasts… no batteries to worry about (sure, it’s another cord in the way, but hell)… just a thought.
-Chris
Harald,
I still use the expensive big mikes with a tube pre-amp for “ultimate fidelity” when recording DJ for voiceover for the intro and outro, and used the for her narration on the movie, and for our short parody radio ads. (I added in more photos and info after I first posted this, explaining my “second studio” in the basement.)
But that’s all permanently set up down in my basement in a vocal booth I built. I discovered that takes away from the spontaneity we look for in a podcast. Also, I actually like a little room tone of the living room for the podcast, makes it more natural for conversation. Vocal booth, tube pre-amps and expensive condenser mikes are better for voiceover. “Natural” is more important than “ultimate fidelity” with a podcast. “Ultimate fidelity” actually sounds too “dead” for two guys having a conversation.
I use VBR when encoding video, but it never seemed to make speech-oly audio any better, and it takes longer. But I’ll give that utility you mentioned a try. Hell, always willing to make things better. The thing I like about AudioCatalyst is that MP3s made from it will play on ANY MP3 player, I’ve had problems with MP3s encoded on other systems crashing on some non-iPod players, and we’re trying to reach the largest number of people possible.
MWD
Thanks for laying it out so clearly. So, you’ve given up on these expensive big mikes? I agree that the H2 is really good for a self containing device and on location recording, yet aren’t there any noise level concerns if you seek ultimate fidelity?
Also, is there a specific reason why you prefer constant over variable bitrate when encoding mp3 or is it just a matter of what you’re being used to? Variable bitrate is more adaptive. Instead of setting a bitrate and having variable quality, it’s the other way around. There are newer tools that may do a better job, like LameDropXPd, which is a simple and easy to use yet free tool that can give excellent results. The xing encoder did not have the best reputation, but at or above above 128 kbps there’s probably little difference.
Excellent sir, glad we could help. Cool. I worked pretty hard on it, but this type of writing is basically what I do for a living. I could do it in my sleep. In fact, I have before.
My $30 Film School, $30 Music School and $30 Writing School books are full of 100s of pages of tutorials with photos and screen shots done in exactly this style. As is the YouTube book I co-wrote with Alan Lastufka, the video books I co-wrote and edited for O’Reilly, and the web column I used to do for O’Reilly.
I also recommend the book “Podcasting for Dummies” by my friend Evo Terra for everything not covered here. Some of it’s no longer current (like some of the podcasting listing sites), but a lot of it is solid still.
http://www.amazon.com/Podcasting-Dummies-Tee-Morris/dp/047027557X/www30dollarfi-20
MWD
Thanks so much for sharing that. I too dream of podcasting someday, and you guys just answered a ton of question and gave me new avenues to explore and a grocery list to boot. You guys are the best. I’d live in your idealistic LibPar in a heartbeat! Please keep this stuff coming. You do more good than you might think. Even in this “spin-off” type of stuff.
Yours,
~David J. Crowe,
Priest of Loki
Lord of The House of Madness
Chronicler of The Revelation of the Ways of WIZ-SHAM!
Keeper of the Secret Whisky
(40 inputs to mix??). Doing that is how I keep coieopssmrn out of the monitors on the LS9, I just put copies of the vocal channels on the second layer and send the monitors from their. If not, how can I keep coieopssmrn out of my monitors? Can I change the signal chain to EQ > sends > dynamics?This is my only reservation about the console. I don’t mind the layering, I’ve spent tons of time on an LS9 so I’m going to feel free as a bird no matter what on this board. I don’t use expansion cards so I don’t need to wait for anything. If I can wrap my head around how I’m going to deal with coieopssmrn and monitors then I might be ready to pull the trigger. Thanks for doing these reviews, really helpful to those of us without access to these new consoles.