Recording Skype Calls

[Cliff Ravenscraft]

I'm not aware of a way to do this without mixminus or each person recording just their own audio on their side.

[WayneHenderson]

Quick question about the Mix-Minus method; does it require the JK Audio Boadcast Host piece of equipment? 

[mcnationpodcast (Steve McQueen)]

I will be doing the mix minus later down the road as the funds are available but for now, I use Call Recorder from ECamm Networks. It costs $14.95 and can be downloaded from the net. It woks very well for what it is. I used it on my first ever interview a few weeks ago and was happy with it. I know that doing it all through a mixer and my Heil PR-40 (that Cliff will sell me later) will sound like a Porsche compared to my current Briggs & Stratton but we all have to start somewhere. Just my suggestion for a Briggs budget like mine.

[Cliff Ravenscraft]

Quick question about the Mix-Minus method; does it require the JK Audio Boadcast Host piece of equipment? 

No, the broadcast host is not needed to do a mixminus with Skype.

[Cliff Ravenscraft]

I will be doing the mix minus later down the road as the funds are available but for now, I use Call Recorder from ECamm Networks. It costs $14.95 and can be downloaded from the net. It woks very well for what it is. I used it on my first ever interview a few weeks ago and was happy with it. I know that doing it all through a mixer and my Heil PR-40 (that Cliff will sell me later) will sound like a Porsche compared to my current Briggs & Stratton but we all have to start somewhere. Just my suggestion for a Briggs budget like mine.

I totally agree with you what you are saying.  However, in my original post, I'm not talking about "quality" of the sound but "RELIABILITY" of the recording.  These software packages are known to crash and loose recordings "randomly" for no reason at all.


So just wanted to point out, my suggestion for mix minus is not a suggestion for better sound but for the reliability of getting the recording of the interview that you work so hard to set up.

[WayneHenderson]

 
Thanks for the clarification Cliff.  Do you have a post explaining Mix-Minus, where the Broadcast Host isn't used?

By the way, you were exactly right on software recording programs.  Not long ago, my software skype recorder lost my LOST podcast I had just spent an hour recording!  I don't know if I closed the program too quickly after recording, but it didn't give any warnings.  Argh.  Had to re-record two days later.   Since that day, I am even more careful, and I record a back-up into my Zoom H-4 portable digital recorder. 

The only problem I'm still having, is I've tried various methods and plug-ins in the attempt of making my cohost on Skype able to hear my feedback calls and theme music while we record.  Nothing's worked yet, so I just edit them in later.  Wasted time, but it works for now.

[Jeff aka Chargers Fan]

Hi.  First post.  Bought a few things from Cliff and have had good success following his advice.  I've been using the Mix Minus set up and recording into the Edirol.  But I am getting computer noise coming in from the Mac that I use (running Parallels) to run PodProducer.  How does one overcome this?  It sounds like an electrical hum. 

Secondly,  when I record both ends of the skype call, my voice will sometimes cause the caller's voice to sound digitized or almost silent?  I usually would have them upload their end, but because I will often pause the recording during the call and they don't pause at the exact same instant, I'm back to editing for hours again, and I'd like to avoid that.  Suggestions. 

Love the show and appreciate the advice. 

[Cliff Ravenscraft]

Hi.  First post.  Bought a few things from Cliff and have had good success following his advice.  I've been using the Mix Minus set up and recording into the Edirol.  But I am getting computer noise coming in from the Mac that I use (running Parallels) to run PodProducer.  How does one overcome this?  It sounds like an electrical hum. 

Ground loop noise is a huge issue for so many people

The first thing to try is getting an adapter that you can plug your three prong plug into... The one where the plug that goes into the wall does not have the ground plug.  This works for some folks.

Other folks reported trying to plug into a completely different power outlet in the house. 

I know that in many situations, if it's a laptop, pulling the plug altogether and running on battery power works.

Anyone else have any suggestions?

Secondly,  when I record both ends of the skype call, my voice will sometimes cause the caller's voice to sound digitized or almost silent?  I usually would have them upload their end, but because I will often pause the recording during the call and they don't pause at the exact same instant, I'm back to editing for hours again, and I'd like to avoid that.  Suggestions. 

Love the show and appreciate the advice. 

The digitized voice is something that just happens with Skype.  The higher the bandwidth you both have the better.  Also the better the performance of the machine on each end the better as well.

However, as for recording a double ender....  The best solution there is to NEVER HIT PAUSE ON EITHER END... Once you start... you let it roll..... This way when you put them together at the beginning, you are set...

As for those spots where you would pause... just be SILENT FOR 10 Seconds before you go on to do what you would do while paused and BE SILENT for 10 seconds before you start up again.  This gives you clear edit points.

[Jeff aka Chargers Fan]

The digitized voice is something that just happens with Skype.  The higher the bandwidth you both have the better.  Also the better the performance of the machine on each end the better as well.

Thanks for the ultra fast response   Actually, I may have described it incorrectly.  It's not the "usual" Skype digitized sound.  I am familiar with that.  It seems that when my audio is louder or more powerful than my guest's, their audio "cuts out" due to my levels, if that makes more sense. 

Again,  thanks for everything you've done for podcasting.

Jeff

[ronknights]

I hope you don't mind my jumping in here.

I first saw Cliff's "Mix-Minus" Podcast (Episode 039) some time last year... and have thought about it ever since.

My needs are a bit different.

I do live internet shows, using Justin.tv.

http://live.ronknights.com

I use Wirecast to broadcast my shows.

I want to have several Skype callers, with audio and video on each show.

I will accomplish this goal by using several computers, bringing the audio into a mixer.

I'm really trying to understand how to make all this work properly.

I am living on a fixed, limited income.

I recently bought a Behringer Xenyx 1004 FX mixer...

Would this mixer work, and how would I configure it?!

I would love any detailed instructions as to how to accomplish my goal.

[the Ramen Noodle]

Maybe you should look at a non-Skype option such as the new Ustream Producer.

[ronknights]

Ustream Producer is pretty much a limited version of Wirecast... a broadcasting program.

I already own Wirecast..

Skype & Ustream Producer are not similar programs.

Skype is for online chat with audio/video.

Wirecast and Ustream Producer allow you to broadcast live.

Unfortunately, I'm still struggling to find answers.

[the Ramen Noodle]

Oh. I guess I misunderstood. I thought you were trying to figure out how to broadcast multiple Skype video calls without a Tricaster or TWiT's complicated (AKA "expensive") setup.

[ronknights]

I am already able to broadcast the multiple Skype callers.

I need help to get the mixer working properly.

Right now the Skype callers cannot hear each other.

I can handle audio just fine with only one Skype caller.

However, the Skype caller only hears my voice coming through the web camera... not the mixer.

[the Ramen Noodle]

OH! Go into your Skype Options > Audio Settings. And then make sure your input and output are set to how you need them for your callers to hear you and end up in the recording through the mixer. And then as long as you follow Cliff's video, you should be good.