Behringer PODCASTUDIO User manual

PODCASTUDIO QUICK-START GUIDE
Version1.2
Welcome to the BEHRINGER PODCASTUDIO
ThankyouforpurchasingthissetofproductscompiledbyBEHRINGER.This
top-notch bundle of hardware and software lets you be creative by producing
professional-soundingpodcastsfortheInternet. Moveupto thenextstep inthe
evolution of broadcasting, and free yourself and others from the limitations of
conventionalmass communication.
Introduction: Podcasting and its closest friends
Thefollowing section givesyoua quick insightintothe terminology beingused.
Podcastingis a term derived from combining the twowords“iPod”and“broad-
casting” and is defined as the distribution of audio or video files, such as radio
programs or music clips, over the Internet. This is accomplished by using one
oftwo syndicationtechniqueswhich allowusersto listenand,of late, evenview
digital media on such portable media devices as iPod players and laptops.
RSS(ReallySimpleSyndication)andAtomareWebcontentsyndicationformats
written in XML which provide either podcast content or summaries that link to
contentand additional file information.
Podcastisa feedofaudio orvideofiles placedonthe Internetfor publicaccess.
Anyone can subscribe to the feed and download the media files. This allows
you to collect programs from a wide range of sources for listening or viewing
media content, either online or offline with your computer or an appropriate
portabledevice.
Podcatcher refers to a software application that enables the download of
podcasts. Usually, it launches when the computer is started and runs then in
thebackground, managingfeedsthat youaddmanually anddownloading each
ataspecified interval.

PODCASTUDIO QUICK-START GUIDE
Version1.2
Step-by-step installation
Nowthatyouknowtheterminologyand have all the gear you will ever need to
producehigh-qualityaudio podcasts, it’s about timeyousetupthe equipment,
installthesoftwareandget going.
Tobeginwith,connectyournewF-CONTROL FCA202FireWire audiointerface
toyour computer. Then,jointhe XENYX 802analogmixerwith the interfaceby
using the included jack cables. Connect the devices by joining the input of the
interfacewith theMainoutput of themixer and theLineinput ofchannels3/4 on
themixerwiththeoutputoftheinterface.Subsequently,connectyourmicrophone
tothe mixer withtheprovidedXLR cable. Remembertoswitch on the phantom
powerfor yourC-1 condensermicrophone.Hookupthe HPS3000headphones
to the mixer using the Phones connector. Should you alternatively want to
monitor your recording sessions with loudspeakers, use the mixer’s Control
Room output to connect to a pair of speakers.
After setting up the hardware, it is time to install the software applications
that are found on the included software CDs. When using the Windows
operating system, you should initially install the ASIO driver. Then, install
the digital audio workstation Ableton Live Lite 4 BEHRINGER Edition, the
HPS3000
C-1
XENYX802
Computer
FCA202

PODCASTUDIO QUICK-START GUIDE
Version1.2
CONSUMERINTERNETPRODUCER
Audacity softwareapplication, whichisan easy-to-useaudio editor,andKristal
AudioEngine,apowerfulaudiosequencerandmixer.PleasenotethatAudacityis
not ASIO capable, but can be used on PCs and Mac computers. Mac users can
use the Ableton and Audacity software and are not required to install additional
drivers.WhenusingyourFireWireinterface,remembertochoose theappropriate
FCA202driverinthe preferences of Audacity and Kristal Audio Engine.
Your first podcast
Start to produce your first podcast by recording speech. Your mixer enables
you to control the input levels, mix and equalize the material you’ve picked up
through the microphone, while you monitor with the headphones. Using the
included recording software called Audacity, you can record, edit, and save
your recording sessions to your computer’s hard drive. Simply turn up the
levels of the Microphone input and Main output of your mixer and click on the
redrecordbuttoninthe Audacity software which then creates a new track and
recordseverything you sayintothe microphone.Besure toadjustthe inputand
outputlevelsaccordingly.Afteryou have finished recording, you can edit your
recording if necessary and then export the file, which will save the recorded
materialinacommonaudioformat.

PODCASTUDIO QUICK-START GUIDE
Version1.2
Alltrademarks(except BEHRINGER, the BEHRINGERlogo,JUSTLISTEN,F-CONTROL, XENYX
and PODCASTUDIO) mentioned belong to their respective owners and are not affiliated with
BEHRINGER.LinkstoInternetsitesareprovidedforyourconvenienceonlyandthepresenceofsuchlinks
doesnotmeanthatBEHRINGER endorses, recommends or representsthem inany way.Therefore,
BEHRINGERexplicitlydistancesitself from all suchWebsites.BEHRINGERdoesnot control and is
notresponsibleforanysuchsitesortheircontent.BEHRINGERdisclaimsallwarranties,expressedor
implied,asto the accuracy,legality,reliabilityorvalidity of anycontentofsuchsites. If youchooseto
accessanyof these sites,youdosoatyourown risk. Weassumeneitherliabilityfordamageto software
orhardwarearisingoutofaccessingthoseWebsites,nor do we assume any liability for the contents or
thegoodsoffered/purchasedthroughthoseWebsites.Windowsisaregisteredtrademark of Microsoft
CorporationintheUnitedStatesandothercountries.Mac,iPodandFireWirearetrademarksof Apple
Computer,Inc.,registeredin the U.S. and othercountries.
After recording your vocal track, load the audio file into Kristal Audio Engine
whichenablesyoutoaddmusic tracks, etc. and master these to a single, final
stereotrack.SinceKristalsupportsVSTplug-ins,you can also use third-party
VST effects to process your audio material.
Now that you have a final version consisting of music and speech which you
would like to publish as a podcast, it’s time to compress your audio file to the
MP3 file format. Audacity software may be used for this purpose, however,
sinceit doesn’t include an MP3 codec to encode audiofiles, you will first need
to download and install LAME (more information and download at http://
lame.sourceforge.net),afreeMP3encoder.Afterwards,simplyopenyouraudio
file in the Audacity software and use the Export command in the File menu to
save your file as MP3.
Topublishyourpodcast,make your new MP3 file available online. Upload the
generatedMP3 file toaserver with thePodifiersoftware (moreinformationand
downloadathttp://www.podifier.com)orsimilar applications, which assist you
to create a feed for your MP3 file, enabling you to enter such information as
your podcast’s URL, title, etc. Now the feed of your podcast can finally be
made accessible to the public by posting it, for example, to an Internet portal.
To listen to and download podcasts, use jPodder podcasting software (more
informationanddownloadathttp://www.jpodder.com), whichisapodcastplayer
for your PC, or similar software applications. Congratulations, you have just
publishedyour very first podcast!
Further use
Youcan use your newgearto connect instruments toyourcomputerwhich not
only enables you to record and edit one or more instrumental tracks, but to
manipulate incoming signals instantaneously. With the Ableton software, you
canthenproduceyourveryownmusic.