5 Easy Tips for Better Multi-Person Podcast and Livestream Audio

In this episode we teach you some easy ways to improve you podcast and livestream sound. These include recording techniques such as close-micing, post-production skills like railroading, and a quick demo of how an automixing system works. Implementing even just one of these tips can elevate your sound from mediocre to amazing! Let’s take a closer look.

If you’d like to learn how to make great dialogue audio for your film and video projects, please have a look at my courses including processing dialogue audio in Adobe Audition and DaVinci Resolve/Fairlight, recording sound, how to use the Zoom F4, F6, F8, and F8n, and how to get the most from the Sound Devices MixPre series of recorders. Our latest courses cover Sound for Live Streaming with the ATEM Mini and an Intro to Izotope RX.

Support my work creating videos by donating at Ko-Fi.com.

Gear used or mentioned in this episode. The links below are Amazon.com, B&H Photo, Sweetwater, DVEStore, Perfect Circuit, Trew Audio or other affiliate links. As an affiliate, I earn from qualifying purchases:

- SoundDevices MixPre Series Recorders — B&H, Sweetwater, Amazon

- ZOOM F6 audio recorder — B&H, Sweetwater, Amazon

- ZOOM F8n Pro audio recorder — B&H, Sweetwater, Amazon

- Mackie DLZ Adaptive Digital Mixer — B&H, Sweetwater, Amazon

- SoundDevices 888 Audio Recorder/Mixer — B&H, Sweetwater

- RODE Podmic Dynamic Podcasting Microphone — B&H, Sweetwater

- ElectroVoice RE20 Dynamic Cardioid Microphone — B&H, Sweetwater, Amazon

- ElectroVoice RE27 Broadcast Announcer Microphone — B&H, Sweetwater

- SHURE SM58 Cardioid Dynamic Vocal Mic — B&H, Sweetwater, Amazon

- SHURE SM57 Cardioid Dynamic Instrument Mic — B&H, Sweetwater, Amazon

- SHURE SM7B Cardioid Dynamic Microphone — B&H, Sweetwater, Amazon

- SHURE KSM8 Dualdyne Vocal Mic — B&H, Sweetwater, Amazon

- sE Electronics V7 Handheld Supercardioid Dynamic Microphone — B&H, Sweetwater

- Impact Turtle-Base C-Stands — B&H, Amazon

- Amaran 200x S LED light — B&H, Amazon, Aputure

- Aputure Light Dome II soft box — Aputure, B&H, Amazon

- Aputure Spotlight Mount — Aputure, B&H, DVE Store, Amazon

- Rosco Prismatic Glass Gobo in Cool Lavender — B&H

- Canon C70 Cinema Camera — B&H

- Canon RF 24-70 f/2.8 lens — B&H, Amazon

- Panasonic GH5 camera — B&H, Amazon

- Panasonic 12-35mm f/2.8 II lens — B&H, Amazon

The intro and outro music for this episode is from Musicbed - “Dynamo” by Virgil Arles. Take your films to the next level with music from Musicbed. Sign up for a free account to listen for yourself.

Copyright 2023, Curtis Judd

Sound for Video Session: Producing a Live Keynote & Q&A

In this week's session, I just returned from working with the team at Webflow to produce our biggest event of the year: the Webflow Conf Keynote. I'll tell you about my experience along with my team on all that goes into a production like this — a live-to-disk and post edit production. If you want to have a peek at the presentation we edited, you'll find that here. After that, we answer your sound for video questions.

If you’d like to learn how to make great dialogue audio for your film and video projects, please have a look at my courses including processing dialogue audio in Adobe Audition and DaVinci Resolve/Fairlight, recording sound, how to use the Zoom F4, F6, F8, and F8n, and how to get the most from the Sound Devices MixPre series of recorders. We have a course on sound for live-streaming with the ATEM Mini and just added Introduction to Izotope RX for Dialogue Audio.

Gear I often use or that we mentioned in this episode. The links below are Amazon.com, B&H Photo, Sweetwater, DVE Store, Waves, or other affiliate links. As an affiliate, I earn from qualifying purchases:

- Mackie DLZ Creator — B&H, Amazon

- Earthworks ETHOS microphone — B&H, Sweetwater, Amazon

- Sound Devies 888 field recorder/mixer — Trew, B&H, Sweetwater

- Sound Devices MixPre II Series Recorders - B&H, Sweetwater, Amazon

- Panasonic GH5 camera - B&H, Amazon

- Teleprompter Ikan 17" high bright — B&H

- Canon C200 Camera - B&H

- Canon EF 24-105mm f/4 lens — B&H, Amazon

- ATEM Mini Extreme & Extreme ISO - B&H, DVE Store, Amazon

- Allen & Heath SQ5 Digital Mixer - B&H, Sweetwater, Amazon

- Rupert Neve Designs Shelford Channel, pre-amp, EQ, compressor - Sweetwater, B&H

- Universal Audio 6176 channel strip pre-amp, EQ, compressor — B&H, Sweetwater, Amazon

The intro and outro music for this episode is from Musicbed. Take your films to the next level with music from Musicbed. Sign up for a free account to listen for yourself.

Copyright 2023, Curtis Judd

Sound for Video Session: Livestream studio tour & Q&A

In this week's session, we take you behind-the-scenes to have a look at the "studio" we use each week for our livestreams. I put "studio" in quotes because it is essentailly just a spare bedroom in the basement that I use as an office, an edit bay, and as my second set for livestreams. My hope is that this won't just be a self-indulgent naval gazing session, but an opportunity to spark a discussion here in the community about ways to make tight spaces like this work for livestreams or any other sort of video. Then we answer your sound for video questions.

If you’d like to learn how to make great dialogue audio for your film and video projects, please have a look at my courses including processing dialogue audio in Adobe Audition and DaVinci Resolve/Fairlight, recording sound, how to use the Zoom F4, F6, F8, and F8n, and how to get the most from the Sound Devices MixPre series of recorders. We have a course on sound for live-streaming with the ATEM Mini and just added Introduction to Izotope RX for Dialogue Audio.

Gear I often use or that we mentioned in this episode. The links below are Amazon.com, B&H Photo, Sweetwater, DVE Store, Waves, or other affiliate links. As an affiliate, I earn from qualifying purchases:

- SONY UWP-D27 digital dual channel wireless microphone kit — B&H

- Mackie DLZ Creator — B&H, Amazon

- Earthworks ETHOS microphone — B&H, Sweetwater, Amazon

- Sound Devies 888 field recorder/mixer — Trew, B&H, Sweetwater

- Sound Devices MixPre II Series Recorders - B&H, Sweetwater, Amazon

- Panasonic GH5 camera - B&H, Amazon

- Teleprompter Ikan 17" high bright — B&H

- Canon C200 Camera - B&H

- Canon EF 24-105mm f/4 lens — B&H, Amazon

- ATEM Mini Extreme & Extreme ISO - B&H, DVE Store, Amazon

- Allen & Heath SQ5 Digital Mixer - B&H, Sweetwater, Amazon

- Rupert Neve Designs Shelford Channel, pre-amp, EQ, compressor - Sweetwater, B&H

- Universal Audio 6176 channel strip pre-amp, EQ, compressor — B&H, Sweetwater, Amazon

The intro and outro music for this episode is from Musicbed. Take your films to the next level with music from Musicbed. Sign up for a free account to listen for yourself.

Copyright 2023, Curtis Judd

Getting Audio from your mixer to your Livestream — RODECaster Pro, Mackie DLZ and any other mixer

In this week’s episode we show 3 main ways to get audio from your mixer — such as a RODECaster Pro, a Mackie DLZ, a ZOOM Podtrak, or any other mixer — into your livestream. We cover sending audio via USB, to your camera, or to a hardware switcher like an ATEM.

If you’d like to learn how to make great dialogue audio for your film and video projects, please have a look at my courses including processing dialogue audio in Adobe Audition and DaVinci Resolve/Fairlight, recording sound, how to use the Zoom F4, F6, F8, and F8n, and how to get the most from the Sound Devices MixPre series of recorders. Our latest courses cover Sound for Live Streaming with the ATEM Mini and an Intro to Izotope RX.

Support my work creating videos by donating at Ko-Fi.com.

Gear used or mentioned in this episode. The links below are Amazon.com, B&H Photo, Sweetwater, DVEStore, Perfect Circuit, Trew Audio or other affiliate links. As an affiliate, I earn from qualifying purchases:

- RODECaster Pro II podcast mixer — B&H, Sweetwater, Amazon

- Mackie DLZ Creator podcast mixer — B&H, Sweetwater, Amazon

- ART Cleanbox Pro (convert balanced to unbalanced audio and vice versa) — Amazon, Sweetwater

- Blackmagic Design ATEM switchers — B&H, Amazon

- Amaran 200x S LED light — B&H, Amazon, Aputure

- Aputure Light Dome II soft box — Aputure, B&H, Amazon

- Aputure Spotlight Mount — Aputure, B&H, DVE Store. Amazon

- Rosco Prismatic Glass Gobo in Cool Lavender — B&H

- Canon C70 Cinema Camera — B&H

- Canon RF 24-70 f/2.8 lens — B&H, Amazon

- Panasonic GH5 camera — B&H, Amazon

- Panasonic 12-35mm f/2.8 II lens — B&H, Amazon

The intro and outro music for this episode is from Musicbed - “Dynamo” by Virgil Arles. Take your films to the next level with music from Musicbed. Sign up for a free account to listen for yourself.

Copyright 2023, Curtis Judd

Best Podcast & Livestream Mixer [2023] | Mackie DLZ Creator

In this week’s episode, we have a look at Mackie’s new DLZ Creator mixer. This competitor to the RODECaster Pros and Zoom Podtraks is made specifically for capturing great audio in podcast and livestream workflows. In this video we walk through the DLZ’s feature set, briefly compare it to the RODECaster Pro, and identify some advantage and disadvantages for each. Let’s take a closer look!

Check out our reviews of the RODE and Zoom podcast mixers here:

RODECaster Pro

RODECaster Pro II

Zoom Podtrak P4

Zoom Podtrak P8

Zoom Livetrak L8

If you’d like to learn how to make great dialogue audio for your film and video projects, please have a look at my courses including processing dialogue audio in Adobe Audition and DaVinci Resolve/Fairlight, recording sound, how to use the Zoom F4, F6, F8, and F8n, and how to get the most from the Sound Devices MixPre series of recorders. Our latest courses cover Sound for Live Streaming with the ATEM Mini and an Intro to Izotope RX.

Support my work creating videos by donating at Ko-Fi.com.

Gear used or mentioned in this episode. The links below are Amazon.com, B&H Photo, Sweetwater, DVEStore, Perfect Circuit, Trew Audio or other affiliate links. As an affiliate, I earn from qualifying purchases:

- Mackie DLZ Creator USB audio mixer/interface/recorder — B&H, Amazon

- Mackie 802 VLZ 4 8-Channel Ultra Compact Mixer — B&H, Sweetwater, Amazon

- RODECaster Pro Podcast Production Studio — B&H, Sweetwater, Amazon

- RODECaster Pro II Podcast Production Studio — B&H, Sweetwater, DVEStore, Amazon

- ZOOM Podtrak P4 Podcast Recorder — B&H, Sweetwater, Amazon

- ZOOM Podtrak P8 Podcast Recorder — B&H, Sweetwater, Amazon

- ZOOM Livetrak L8 Podcast Recorder — B&H, Sweetwater, Amazon

- Amaran 200x S LED light — B&H, Amazon, Aputure

- Aputure Light Dome II soft box — Aputure, B&H, Amazon

- Aputure Spotlight Mount — Aputure, B&H, DVE Store. Amazon

- Rosco Prismatic Glass Gobo in Cool Lavender — B&H

- Canon C70 Cinema Camera — B&H

- Panasonic GH5 camera — B&H, Amazon

- Panasonic 12-35mm f/2.8 II lens — B&H, Amazon

The intro and outro music for this episode is from Musicbed - “Dynamo” by Virgil Arles. Take your films to the next level with music from Musicbed. Sign up for a free account to listen for yourself.

Copyright 2023, Curtis Judd

Sound for Video Session — Sound for Livestreams & Q&A

In this week's session, we run through some of the most common questions I hear regarding sound for livestreams. Then we answer your questions.

Recommended videos on sound for livestreams:

Find out how to set audio levels for livestreams here.

Discover microphones and positions for livestreams here.

Learn how to manage reflections and reverb with sound blankets here.

See behind the scenes of a livestream audio setup here.

Learn how to connect balanced and unbalanced devices here.

If you’d like to learn how to make great dialogue audio for your film and video projects, please have a look at my courses including processing dialogue audio in Adobe Audition and DaVinci Resolve/Fairlight, recording sound, how to use the Zoom F4, F6, F8, and F8n, and how to get the most from the Sound Devices MixPre series of recorders. We have a course on sound for live-streaming with the ATEM Mini and just added Introduction to Izotope RX for Dialogue Audio.

Gear I often use or that we mentioned in this episode. The links below are Amazon.com, B&H Photo, Sweetwater, DVE Store, Waves, or other affiliate links. As an affiliate, I earn from qualifying purchases:

- Earthworks ETHOS microphone — B&H, Sweetwater, Amazon

- AEA KU5A ribbon microphone — B&H, Sweetwater, Amazon

- Sound Devices MixPre II Series Recorders - B&H, Sweetwater, Amazon

- Panasonic GH5 camera - B&H, Amazon

- Canon C200 Camera - B&H

- Canon EF 24-105mm f/4 lens — B&H, Amazon

- ATEM Mini Extreme & Extreme ISO - B&H, DVE Store, Amazon

- Allen & Heath SQ5 Digital Mixer - B&H, Sweetwater, Amazon

- Rupert Neve Designs Shelford Channel, pre-amp, EQ, compressor - Sweetwater, B&H

- Universal Audio 6176 channel strip pre-amp, EQ, compressor — B&H, Sweetwater, Amazon

The intro and outro music for this episode is from Musicbed. Take your films to the next level with music from Musicbed. Sign up for a free account to listen for yourself.

Copyright 2023, Curtis Judd

Live With Viewers on Sound Speeds

Curtis recently made another of many appearances on friend Allen Williams’ YouTube channel, Sound Speeds. Scrub to 1:06:16 to catch his appearance.

“Welcome to the first ever Sound Speeds livestream where channel viewers are featured guests. I have three guests joining us tonight: Colin is an indie sound mixer looking to transition into the camera department as a Steadicam operator. Adam is a sound mixer that works on a lot of reality TV and documentaries. Richard is an audio/video enthusiast that loves talking into and testing microphones and playing around in sound.”

The stream also features several more of your favorite YouTube audio and video personalities.

Epiphan Video Pearl 2 Live Stream Switcher, Encoder, Recorder...Appliance

In this week’s episode, we explain when a high-end livestream device like the Epiphan Video Pearl 2 makes sense. Many of you are familiar with the Blackmagic Design ATEM and ATEM Mini switchers. The Pearl 2 has several important features that make the Pearl 2 indispensable for productions where you need remote control or to add remote contributors to your stream with Secure Reliable Transport (SRT). It also has several small, but important features like the ability to stream to multiple platforms at the same time or to be controlled remotely from anywhere in the world. Let’s take a closer look!

If you’d like to learn how to make great dialogue audio for your film and video projects, please have a look at my courses including processing dialogue audio in Adobe Audition and DaVinci Resolve/Fairlight, recording sound, how to use the Zoom F4, F6, F8, and F8n, and how to get the most from the Sound Devices MixPre series of recorders. Our latest courses cover Sound for Live Streaming with the ATEM Mini and an Intro to Izotope RX.

Support my work creating videos by donating at Ko-Fi.com.

Gear used or mentioned in this episode. The links below are Amazon.com, B&H Photo, Sweetwater, DVEStore, Perfect Circuit, or other affiliate links. As an affiliate, I earn from qualifying purchases:

- Epiphan Video Pearl 2 — B&H, DVE Store, Amazon

- Epiphan Video Pearl Nano — B&H, DVE Store, Amazon

- Epiphan Video Pearl Mini — B&H, Amazon

- Blackmagic Design ATEM Mini switchers — https://geni.us/b8my

- Earthworks Ethos microphone — B&H, Sweetwater, Amazon

- Rupert Neve Design Shelford Channel — B&H, Sweetwater

- Canon C70 camera — B&H

- Canon RF 24-70mm f/2.8L lens — B&H, Amazon

- Aputure 600D PRO LED Light — Aputure, B&H, DVE Store

- Impact Luxbank softbox - B&H

- Aputure Amaran 100D - Aputure, B&H, DVE Store, Amazon

- Aputure Spotlight Mount - Aputure, B&H, DVE Store. Amazon

- Rosco Prismatic Glass Gobo Cool Lavender creates the color pattern on the back wall - B&H https://geni.us/GWKt

- Blackmagic Design Pocket Cinema Camera 6K — B&H, DVE Store, Amazon

Take your films to the next level with music from Musicbed. Sign up for a free account to listen for yourself.

Copyright 2022, Curtis Judd

Sound for Video Session: Setting Gain Across Devices for Live & Q&A

In this week's Sound for Video Session, we demonstrate how to ensure the gain staging of your audio is consistent through the entire signal chain when interconnecting multiple audio devices for live streams. Then we cover your sound for video questions.

If you’d like to learn how to make great dialogue audio for your film and video projects, please have a look at my courses including processing dialogue audio in Adobe Audition and DaVinci Resolve/Fairlight, recording sound, how to use the Zoom F4, F6, F8, and F8n, and how to get the most from the Sound Devices MixPre series of recorders. We also just added a course on sound for live-streaming with the ATEM Mini.

Gear used or mentioned in this episode. The links below are Amazon.com, B&H Photo, Sweetwater, DVE Store, or other affiliate links. As an affiliate, I earn from qualifying purchases:

- Earthworks SR314 - B&H, Sweetwater

- Panasonic GH5 camera - B&H, Amazon

- Canon C70 Camera - B&H

- Canon RF 24-70 f/2.8L IS lens - B&H, Amazon

- TA3-M to XLR-F Adapter cable to feed microphones to C70 or Blackmagic Pocket cameras - B&H

- ATEM Mini Extreme & Extreme ISO - B&H, DVE Store, Amazon

- Allen & Heath SQ5 Digital Mixer - B&H, Sweetwater, Amazon

- Sound Devices MixPre II Series Recorders - B&H, Sweetwater, Amazon

- Rupert Neve Designs Shelford Channel, pre-amp, EQ, compressor - Sweetwater, B&H

Take your films to the next level with music from Musicbed. Sign up for a free account to listen for yourself.

Copyright 2021, Curtis Judd

Sound for Video Session: Livestream Audio BTS & Q&A

In this week's Sound for Video Session, we take you behind the scenes to have a look at our livestream setup with particular focus on our audio signal chain. Then we answer your sound for video related questions.

If you’d like to learn how to make great dialogue audio for your film and video projects, please have a look at my courses including processing dialogue audio in Adobe Audition and DaVinci Resolve/Fairlight, recording sound, how to use the Zoom F4, F6, F8, and F8n, and how to get the most from the Sound Devices MixPre series of recorders. We also just added a course on sound for live-streaming with the ATEM Mini.

Gear used or mentioned in this episode. The links below are Amazon.com, B&H Photo, Sweetwater, DVE Store, or other affiliate links. As an affiliate, I earn from qualifying purchases:

- Earthworks SR314 - B&H, Sweetwater

- Panasonic GH5 camera - B&H, Amazon

- Canon C70 Camera - B&H

- Canon RF 24-70 f/2.8L IS lens - B&H, Amazon

- TA3-M to XLR-F Adapter cable to feed microphones to C70 or Blackmagic Pocket cameras - B&H

- ATEM Mini Extreme & Extreme ISO - B&H, DVE Store, Amazon

- Allen & Heath SQ5 Digital Mixer - B&H, Sweetwater, Amazon

- Sound Devices MixPre II Series Recorders - B&H, Sweetwater, Amazon

- Rupert Neve Designs Shelford Channel, pre-amp, EQ, compressor - Sweetwater, B&H

Take your films to the next level with music from Musicbed. Sign up for a free account to listen for yourself.

Copyright 2021, Curtis Judd