Recording from different sources?

[The Rookie]

Hello MyBB!

I hope all is well!

My appoligies if this is in the wrong category. Please feel free to move where most appropriate.

Today, I need some advice please, from the audio guru's! It's a simple one, so do chill.

So, I'm thinking of doing a podcast, but here's where things get abit tricky.
I would like to record the following:
1. the sounds that are played from my pc, i.e. music.
2. my microphone.
3. an external audio device i.e. iPhone radio etc.

I do understand I can use stereo mix/what you hear to record these things but what would be the best in my recording a podcast situation to be able to record the microphone and external device? is there any specific equipment/cables that I would need for good quality?
Would I get away with on-board sound for the sound card?

Thanks much for advice if any!

Kind regards

 

[DJ...]

You need a mixer desk. Route all signals into the various channels of the desk and record the output. This setup will allow you to plug the mic*, external source, and the PC's output to the mixer desk at once and control the final mix. You can't do it without a mixer desk as any sound card that has multiple audio inputs will (I'm assuming) be exorbitantly expensive.

*With regards to the mic, make sure you know whether or not you need a powered connection for the mic or not, as this will determine what mixer desk you buy. Some desks do not have powered connections.

Behringer make affordable multi-channel mixers, and they're not bad quality. If you want to start upgrading to more studio-level equipment, you'll be looking in the region of tens of thousands of rands. Allen & Heath mixers for example can set you back a few hundred grand. I'd suggest starting off with the Behringers...

 

[Pada]

I don't think you'll be able to feed multiple inputs to your sound card. Most sound cards only take 1 input, so at the most you'll be able to use a microphone + sounds from your PC, by recording the Stereo Mix.

Something like the Behringer XENYX 1002 mixing desk @ ~R1000 should suffice. You'll just need to get 3.5mm to 6.3mm (1/4") cables for your phone, microphone and PC and a 6.3mm (1/4") to 3.5mm cable to feed to output to your PC's line in again.

They also have an USB mixer, but I don't know much about it: Behringer Xenyx Q505 USB Mixer @ ~ R1000.

 

[The Rookie]

Hello!

Thanks guys for the replies!
I really appreciate it and will definitely check it out!

Thanks for your time!

cheerios!
100 post :d :d

 

[InvisibleJim]

If you're really on a tight budget, try googling to see if there are any designs or projects for mixers that you can build for yourself. It may not be pro quality but you can probably knock up something adequate for not too much money to get you started.

 

[droid]

Some Creative soundblaster cards have the ability to record what you hear.
Not rerouting to external gear necessary. (Although an option like pointed out above)

To record your microphone you need to plug it into your sound cards "mic in".
Your average pc sound cards will capture in CD quality.

The only drawback here is that those cards does normally not have good quality or no mic preamps.
So the sound will probably not be so good because many dynamic mics for instance needs lot's of gain and lot's of gain on cheap mic pre's usually give's lots of hissss.

Better cards have better pre amps but cost a few bucks more.
You can also go with a dedicated mic pre.

Simplest thing for podcasts is to buy a condenser USB mic.
They are quite cheap nowadays.

Do a search on Amazon with these keywords.

Audio interface
USB audio interface
USB mic
Mic preamps
Sound cards

About the iphone sound capture.
Have you looked for a app for that?

There are some iphone specific audio gear aimed at the pro-am market as well.
You get iphone audio interfaces for instance.