Record Skype Using Hardware – Mixer Mix Minus

by Ben Straw on September 7, 2009

Record Skype Using Hardware - Mixer Mix Minus
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Record Skype Using Hardware – Mixer Mix Minus

A Mix Minus is one of the best sounding and I think the easiest way to record Skype, Most software available cuts the guest off when the host starts talking, this can make for a bad mix within the recording, especially if you argue a lot with your co host.  I’ve listened to a lot of podcasts and believe me its bad.
Setting up a mix minus is fairly easy, I’m going to start with what you will need to start off with

  1. 1: Computer able to run Skype and record using the mic and line-in
  2. Opt; External Recorder such as the Edirol R-09HR WAVE/MP3 Recorder.
  3. Opr; Griffin iMic 2 USB Sound Card.
  4. 1: Mixer with at least 1 AUX Send
  5. XLR Microphone W/ XLR to XLR Cable
  6. 2: Phone(has two mono 1/4 cables at one end) to 3.5mm Cables
  7. 1: 1/4 to 3.5mm Cable

Take a look at this image below of the mixer I own a Yamaha MG102C Stereo Mixer (10 Inputs) and you will see the highlighted parts you will want to plug into on the mixer.

yammg102c

First take your Phones to 3.5mm cable and connect the 3.5mm end the speaker output and connect the Phone end to Line of Mic 5/6 (This could be any line input, To find out what inputs you can use by reading the manual that came with your mixer)

sound_sound_cardscarddetail

 
 
 
 
 
 
Turn the AUX nob up for the Mic channel you choose for your XLR Microphone (half should suffice, Skype will adjust the volume as needed )

If you want to record multi track you can by using the Pan nob to do this. (have you on the right and the guest on the left) This makes it a lot easier to edit out a cough, dog barking, or a plane flying over head (all of which I have problems with, mainly air planes. I think they know when I’m going to record a podcast and do it to piss me off).

Next take the other Phone to 3.5mm cable and connect the 3.5mm end to the Mic port of your computer, or if you are using an external recorder such as a Edirol R-09HR WAVE/MP3 Recorder, Plug the 3.5mm end into it. Then connect the Phone ends to the stereo out (also called speaker out) on your mixer

Once done with that all you have next is one more cable Connect the 3.5mm end to the Line-in port on your soundcard and connect the 1/4 to the AUX port on your mixer.
If you dont have a line-in jack on your computer, than you must be using a laptop, If you are you will need to purchase a USB Sound card. I recommend buying a Griffin iMic 2 USB Sound Card. they are the most reliable and the smallest USB sound card out their.

Next I will tell you How to set up Skype to use the newly configured Mix Minus Setup

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    { 2 comments… read them below or add one }

    BuyerBrown December 22, 2009 at 1:09 pm

    LOL that’s the exact mix board I have
    Had for a few years now used for my stereo equipment
    Hooked it up to my computer to record my voice for podcasting of BBTAS
    I’m happy to find out it’s on this list I was just thinking about buying a new one
    And here I don’t need to that’s great!
    podcast BBTAS on Itunes
    http://buyerbrowntechandstuff.wordpress.com/bbtas-podcast/
    Twitter – BuyerBrownpro
    Facebook – BuyerBrown

    Ben Straw December 22, 2009 at 3:54 pm

    Thats good to hear, I love my Yamaha MG102C, the only thing I wish it had was more AUX

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