Audio Advanced
Hardware
Marantz PMD661 portable professional field recorder – Don’t let the added weight and bulkiness of this machine scare you away, assuming you’re willing to spend $600 on a great piece of equipment. Marantz has long been popular among radio journalists for its rugged, intuitive and high-quality recording gear. For best results, you should pair the PMD661 with a pro-level interview microphone. Records mp3 and wav files on an SD card. (Transom review)
Sennheiser MD46 interview microphone – Rugged, high-quality (though rather large) microphone designed for recording interviews in the field. Its cardioid sensitivity pattern helps the speaker’s voice stand out clearly from any unwanted background noise.
Sony MDR-V6 headphones – We’re recommending these headphones because they’re great and because they’re popular with radio journalists, but there are many over-the-ear headphones capable of doing the job. Sure, these are bulkier, but they do wonders for blocking out unwanted noise and helping you concentrate on your interviewee’s words. Plus, they make you look like a true professional.
Software
Adobe Audition (Mac and PC) – The editor’s all-time favorite audio production software. Audition’s intuitive controls and powerful multitrack mixer make it feel like it was designed with the professional radio producer in mind. Prices start at about $350. Worth every penny.
Pro Tools (Mac) – A longtime favorite among Mac users, Pro Tools can handle the toughest editing and mixing jobs you can throw at it. Prices in the range of $300 and up.
Tutorials
Audition 3 Essential Training (Lynda) – Comprehensive, detailed video tutorials that cover the basic, intermediate and advanced features of Adobe Audition. All the essentials are addressed here, from audio theory and file management to editing single files and mixing them in the multitracker.
Pro Tools tutorial (Knight Digital Media Center) – Thorough visual guide (screenshots and text) to using this popular audio production software.
How to record a phone call (Transom) – This visual guide answers a very frequently asked question by highlighting a handful of gadgets and showing you how to set them up. You should be familiar with recording laws in your state before attempting to record a phone call.
Articles & Resources
Better Writing Through Radio, Part I and Part II (Nancy Updike) – Simply the best thing ever written about writing for the ear. Updike is a public radio reporter whose work is often heard on shows like “This American Life.” Her guide includes many audio clips to illustrate her points. You can also check out more of Updike’s work here.
Alex Blumberg’s Manifesto Part 1 and Part 2 – A public radio reporter and journalism teacher’s thoughts about when a story really isn’t a story; why eliciting anecdotes is critical to audio storytelling; and how to help people talk like real people.
How Radiolab gets made (Jad Abumrad) – An entertaining, mind-bending talk by one of the co-hosts of Radiolab about what goes on behind the scenes of one of the most creative, compelling radio programs on the dial. (Hear what Radiolab sounds like)
Laws on recording conversations in the U.S. (Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press) – Before you even think about hitting the record button, read up on the laws in your state.
