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 Forum index » electro-music.com » Streaming Radio Station
Name That Gear
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Stream Operator


Joined: Oct 13, 2007
Posts: 6221
Location: near Austin, Tx, USA
Audio files: 267

PostPosted: Fri Dec 25, 2009 10:26 pm    Post subject: Name That Gear
Subject description: Help me build my studio
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I have a bad case of GAS for my studio. I need a setup similar to that shown in the image below. It has to have microphone and mono instrument inputs as well as headphone out (not shown), stereo input for the emac, and I/O for the netbook over USB.

The tricky part is that I need to take software sources such as Winamp, iTunes, and Ventrilo, mix them together, and send them back into the computer for edcast to broadcast out to the radio server. I'm not sure what equipment can do all this.

Can you help me figure out what to get? the budget is $400 to $500 or so for microphone and unknown gear + cables, mic stand, etc.

Les


NameThatGear.jpg
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System Block Diagram
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Antimon



Joined: Jan 18, 2005
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Location: Sweden
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PostPosted: Sat Dec 26, 2009 7:55 am    Post subject: Reply with quote  Mark this post and the followings unread

It sounds like a sound interface with several outputs and several inputs fits a large part of your requirements. This will probably be attached to and managed from your netbook using some sort of GUI running on the netbook. Most of these have dedicated microphone/instrument jacks that can be used for a guitar as well. There are loads of these interfaces, each with its own set of quirks and benefits. As this kind of question is one of the most common here at electro-music.com I think searching around here would get some insight.

I'd recommend going for something that's been around a while, and asking here for specifics before purchasing. Stuff like mixing doesn't always work like I think it should (like I can't easily send audio from one program to another using my Ultralite, without resorting to Jack or similar stuff - just one example).

Also, make room in your budget for unexpected extra stuff you realise you need to buy. Those coins can start rolling pretty quickly...

You want to buy a microphone as well? Steer clear of condenser mics, unless you really feel like you want one. Though a lot of sound interfaces are able to give "phantom power" (which condenser mics need), you will probably get annoyed buy the spikes you get from pronouncing "p" and "b" into it, something that can be fixed with a pop killer. I guess for shoutcasting a basic cheapo mic will do, both others here probably have more insight. I usually run my mic through an EQ where I get rid of most of the bass, but that may just be because I don't like to hear my own voice.

You will probably have a hard time mixing each of the things you have on your emac on the new device, you'll have to use the emac's mixer. Some audio interfaces support internal mixing, otherwise you'll have to use up an output/input pair, to put the audio back in.

Just some random thoughts.

/Stefan

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Inventor
Stream Operator


Joined: Oct 13, 2007
Posts: 6221
Location: near Austin, Tx, USA
Audio files: 267

PostPosted: Sat Dec 26, 2009 8:46 am    Post subject: Reply with quote  Mark this post and the followings unread

Stefan, thank you so much for your detailed response. I knew some of that from research but not all of it, so cool. Well, I was thinking and I realized that the bulk of what I need is not so much the guitar input or other I/O but rather good software routing. This meant only Linux and Apple as options and I don't know Linux. Plus some of my software does not run under Linux. So that meant Mac. I've decided to get a Mac Mini.

Funny, I went looking for a mixer and ended up with a computer.

Les

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Antimon



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PostPosted: Sat Dec 26, 2009 2:57 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote  Mark this post and the followings unread

Glad to help, but I'm sure loads of others here that have superb additional insight into other corners of the tricky business of getting the optimal home studio. Smile

I'm curious as to how you've deduced that Mac/Linux is the only way to go if you want software routing? Also, there are audio interfaces that offer internal audio routing, I know my E-Mu whatsitcalled does it (though that's a PCI interface, but I'd guess it works the same for firewire/USB).

I've glanced at the Mac mini, it looks like a cool machine. Don't you need a monitor and mouse and stuff for it though?

This is one subject where I think you'll really benefit from brooding on it before deciding on what to buy - the market is pretty big, there are lots of options for priceworthy stuff out there. The Les Hall show deserves it. Very Happy

/Stefan

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Stream Operator


Joined: Oct 13, 2007
Posts: 6221
Location: near Austin, Tx, USA
Audio files: 267

PostPosted: Sat Dec 26, 2009 3:54 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote  Mark this post and the followings unread

Well Stefan, I've been trying to do audio routing on this PC for some time now and it just can't be done. Asio4All does not work, Reaper does not see devices, the mixer won't mix right, it's a nightmare. Name me one piece of paid or free software that does audio routing properly on a PC and I'll consider changing my mind for sure. It just doesn't exist. This leaves only Linux and Mac as possible solutions.

Les

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Antimon



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PostPosted: Sun Dec 27, 2009 2:23 am    Post subject: Reply with quote  Mark this post and the followings unread

OK, point taken.

/Stefan

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Audio files: 267

PostPosted: Sun Jan 03, 2010 7:28 am    Post subject: Reply with quote  Mark this post and the followings unread

Stefan, I now have a Mac mini all set up with software audio routing so I can do everything that I want to do on the radio! And it's all pure digital quality so no ADC/DAC conversions or mixer noise or anything, just the ADC from the mic and everything else to the listener's ear is pure digital (well, a DAC at the listener of course). Everything worked out, yay!

Les

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Antimon



Joined: Jan 18, 2005
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G2 patch files: 100

PostPosted: Sun Jan 03, 2010 8:14 am    Post subject: Reply with quote  Mark this post and the followings unread

Glad to hear you got it the way you wanted after all! Smile

/Stefan

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Stream Operator


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PostPosted: Sun Jan 03, 2010 9:12 am    Post subject: Reply with quote  Mark this post and the followings unread

Hooray Smile
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Inventor
Stream Operator


Joined: Oct 13, 2007
Posts: 6221
Location: near Austin, Tx, USA
Audio files: 267

PostPosted: Sun Jan 03, 2010 10:40 am    Post subject: Reply with quote  Mark this post and the followings unread

I just cleaned up my apartment including my messy studio and took a picture of the studio. Pardon the quality, it's a phonecam image. From left to right you can see the following:

Headphones, printer, netbook, Karplus Strong prototype, Asian bell from Shane, soldering iron, scope with monitor on top, Mac mini with kbd and mouse, eMac, parts bin, accelerometer and extension cable from destroyifier, tools and parts, Karplus Strong circuit boards, eChucK Lunetta circuit boards, and more parts.

Not shown is the guitar with Own Your Tone invention and guitar amplifier, also case with parts that Airlock gave me.

Once I'm done transferring all the data from my eMac, I'll reinstall the original software and give it to my brother for his kids to use. That will free up some space for more electronics like parts storage bins (you can see what a disorganized mess my parts bins are).

Anyway, that's my studio!

Les


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My Studio
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Stream Operator


Joined: Oct 13, 2007
Posts: 6221
Location: near Austin, Tx, USA
Audio files: 267

PostPosted: Thu Jul 22, 2010 3:19 am    Post subject: Reply with quote  Mark this post and the followings unread

I just had to dig up this old thread because this morning I finally got around to documenting my software setup as Paul told me to do a long time ago (six months? seven?).

The diagram below shows the setup including all the options like Ventrilo and Second Life. Oh, I forgot to add ChucK, oops well I haven't been using ChucK in a while. There are also optional configurations such as the Birch Transmogrifier setup where I receive wmonk's stream on iTunes and route it using soundflower to ChucK and then ChucK to Nicecast, etc.

Anyway, that's the setup and it is confusing as can be without this diagram!

Les


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My Radio Setup Diagram
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