As I Please

I recorded a music show and while it sounded okay, I felt something was a bit off – but couldn’t put my finger on it. The music seemed to be stereo, but it wasn’t. There was something up and I had no idea what it could be. Was it just that I was listening to the output of a different mixer after all these years?… No, it was more than that. A few days ago, I had time to delve deeper into the settings of my music channel, and as I went through the processing options to turn each one off, right at the end, the final option was the stereo balance – or panning as Rode calls it.  The default setting out of the box is to send the left signal to both left and right channels – and to do the same for the right channel – leading to an output that I’d call ‘dual mono with a twist’. To achieve true stereo is an easy fix. Click the square button on the channel you want to change, go Advanced Processing > Panning Option (L-R) > turn the left channel 100% left and the right channel 100% right. I would not use this setting for the microphone, as mics are mono – one mouth, one mic, mono. UPDATE: You can also try disabling the panning option by turning it off for channels used for music. Your feedback is always welcome. All the best, Steve.

In this short-and-sweet episode I suggest two apps to record and edit your podcast. One is completely free and the other has a generous free trial period that will give you plenty of time to experiment and try it out. OcenAudio is a superb free app for any platform and Reaper provides a fully-featured and robust alternative to Audition and ProTools (at a fraction of the price). Even if you do use a mixer that has in-built recording options - such as the Rodecaster – I still recommend using an app to record a back-up - just in case the SD card in the mixer fails. Your feedback is always welcome. All the best, Steve.

Well, it's been a long time... Since my last podcast I have moved countries to live in Melbourne and while my Just Jazz radio show has been going great guns, I have missed our weekly chats about all things podcasting. This week marks my return - get the bunting out - and I'm looking at three mic ideas you might find interesting (along with a suggestion on using the mic in your pocket - give it a go). Your feedback is always welcome. All the best, Steve.

In this show, music from... Greg Manning - The One feat. Julian Vaughn Herb Alpert - Tickle Time Michael J McEvoy - Together JC Sol - Best Of Things (radio edit) Paul Taylor - And Now This Walter Duda - Got It Down feat Marion Meadows Merlon Devine - Stirred Mo Louis - Georgy Porgy - COOL CUT OF THE WEEK Jess “JT Jazz” Thompson - It doesn’t matter D.S. Wilson - Nightfall  Sir Spencer - Be About It Hart Ramsey - The Main Thing feat Rick Watford & Greg Johnson Gino Goss - I Remember Ivan

In this show, music from... Tokyo Groove - Funk Number One Michael Fields Jr. - I  like That ft. Fred Smith Ardijah - Silly Love Songs U-Nam - 2-Make a Wish Malcolm Strachan - Maybe Next Time Jeff Ryan - We Can Work It Out Willie Bradley - Groove With Me feat. James Lloyd Erisa Nicole - Fresh  Bill Colletti - Private Party Jim Adkins - Passing Through (radio edit) Azymuth - The Prisoner Paolo Rustichelli - Glitter

In this show, music from... Jason Jackson - Workin' It Out feat. Gino Rosaria Dave Koz & Friends Wrapped Up In Your Smile Carmen Jackson - Where Do We Go From Here Lars Taylor - Electric Night Will Sumner - Sun Shower Brian Fechino - Water and Sun Okonski - Song For My Sister's Son Mike Di Lorenzo, Anna Moore - What We Need feat Anna Moore Heart Just Won't Give Up - Welcome To Doc City  Ed Calle - Golden Lady Tony Kadleck Band - Use Me d'Z - ONE

In this show, music from... Jason Jackson - Workin' It Out feat. Gino Rosaria Adam Hawley - Right On, Right On Featuring Julian Vaughn Althea Rene - Pastel Leather Brian Fechino - Water and Sun Jeff Goldblum & The Mildred Snitzer Orchestra - A Baptist Beat Kool & The Gang -  Summer Madness Arthur Lipner -  Think I Played The First Part Of This Song On A Gig In Texas Last Year Eric Essix - Stride A. Ray Fuller - A Coastal Breeze Bob James - The Steamin' Feelin' Nicholas Brust -  Suspense in Blue Yuma Jazz Company - Lou's Tune

In this this show, music from... Valentino Maltos - Don't You Worry 'bout a Thing feat John Philip (radio edit) Rodney Greene  - No Stoppin' No Stoppin' Garden Party feat. Jeff Lorber & Nick Kirgo - FM (No static at all) Von Stupart - It Feels So Good  André Ward - Kiss Of Life Justin Klunk - Thunder ft. David Benoit João Donato e Donatinho - Hao Chi Mark Kelso & The Jazz Exiles - Slingshot Wayne Gutshall - Spanish Love feat Steve Oliver Ghost Jazz Trio - On the Groove Caché - Jazzin' and Cruisin'

In this this show, music from... B. Thompson - Cuban Dreams Valentino Maltos - Butter Scotch feat Mariah Jasmine, MarQell Andrew Neu - Lean Into It David Margam feat.Carlos Camilo - Immune Dee Lucas - Sir Dee Rod Best - Moving Right Along Rod Best - Pressure Point Ragan Whiteside - Full Court Press Brandon Marceal - Waay Up Danny Lerman - Berliner Bob Wayne Gutshall - Spanish Love ft Steve Oliver Malcolm Strachan - Maybe Next Time Doctor X - Train to Granada

In this this show, music from... The Pat Petrillo Big Rhythm Band - 48th Street Gino Rosaria - Take It Uptown ft. Jason Jackson Bryan Anderson - Smokin' Jim Adkins - Soul Expression Dee & d’Z - Flow WaKaNa - A Sunny Day Paolo Rustichelli - Glitter Spontaneous Groovin' Combustion - Spy vs Spy Ron Bosse - Bossman Wade C Long - Celebrate Shakatak - Down On The Street Joe Leavy - Let It Go feat Steve Hanuman (radio edit) The 3 Keys - That Beat www.JustJazz.world

In this this show, music from... Alan Levine - CozumelRon Bosse - BossmanCaché - Jazzin' and Cruisin'Nona Brown - Latter Days/Greater (vocal)Tyzik - Sweet NothingsJustin Klunk - Thunder ft. David BenoitDiane Schuur - Louisiana Sunday AfternoonGhost Jazz Trio On the Groove On the GrooveCollective Groove Band - Can't Live WithoutWalter Beasley - Montreux feat Chris WalkerMark Kelso & The Jazz Exiles - SlingshotWilbert Longmire - Ragtown

In this edition of Podcasting Made Easy I discuss the option to record a podcast without wearing headphones, and some reasons why you must use them. In addition, I look at 'imposter syndrome' – it is something plenty of novice podcasters suffer from, and I explain why you should banish these thoughts from your mind.

Okay, here's a curly one. Podcast listener Mark wants to know if he can podcast once a month instead of the recommended weekly frequency. Anything's possible, but can a monthly podcast work...

In this edition of Podcasting Made Easy I have some suggestions on obtaining better recordings – I suggest podcasters consider Squadcast and (free) Cleanfeed – I look at ways to improve the launch of your podcast, and suggest getting a dedicated app for your show.