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Recording multichannel audio is the best way to take total control over your audio.

However, it can be difficult and/or pricey to achieve. Technically you can do multichannel with any mixer, even the cheapest ones. How many separate channels you'll get is a different story.

On this episode I talk about how to use an analog mixer to output multichannel audio via Insert channels. Other topics include an update about the construction of my podcast studio, confirming that the 2i4 is indeed multichannel and a brief PSA about making sure your website is podcast ready.

State of the Studio
I'm in the process of converting my garage into a home office/studio. This space is just under 250 sq. ft. and as seen here, renovation has just begun. 

It's important to note what this space will be and what it won't. This is not a recording studio in the sense that it will be completely isolated from sound and/or perfectly treated to prevent reverb etc.

In addition to function, I'm also a big fan of form (design). Because this space will be the place I work everyday, I want it to be a comfortable spot with plenty of natural daylight and some other features that you would not choose if you were trying to build a sound proof studio. This space will also be a sort of oasis for me in that I was the kid whose favorite place was being in his room. So comfort, look, feel, all that stuff is as important to me as how it will function as a podcast studio. You could argue that part of being great on the microphone is making your recording environment as pleasing and comfortable as possible. And yes, I am super grateful to even have the opportunity to build this space.

That said, I will be taking steps to attenuate outside noise as much as possible and I'll likely acoustically treat the space to help minimize any potential audio issues.

One way to follow the progress of the studio is to go to patreon.com/ray and click the "Follow" button. I'll be posting periodical updates including video, audio and images as the renovation progresses. All the updates related to the studio build will be put into the "public" feed which means you don't have to be a Patron to see them. They're free;) You will need to create a Patreon account however and if you're a podcaster and you've heard my show, you'll know that I think you should be using Patreon anyways, this is a great chance to start;)
There's still a long way to go but the (concrete) floor has been poured, a couple ceiling joists that were not needed and were making the ceiling too low were removed and collar ties were added. The new wood you see (light colored) is furring to make an even surface for the drywall which will be a special type called Quietrock which is eight times the density of normal sheetrock including an acoustic gel layer in the middle. 
When you stand in the garage in its current state and speak, the bass build up is like nothing I've heard before. Yikes;) Throw in a lot of nasty reverb to go along with and well, let's just hope that gets better. Once the space is finished it's likely that I'll have plenty of reverb issues to deal with considering it's basically a small, less than 250 square foot, box with hard surfaces. Getting furniture and some kind of carpeting will help but I also plan to add some acoustic tiles and may have to use bass traps as well. 
Some additional mods will likely include a ceiling cloud that is either an acoustic panel or a diffuser. This will hang above my desk, likely along the back wall that you see here with new wood framing.
On the right-hand wall I will likely build some kind of facade that will serve to hang a TV and allow me to put all the cabling behind so it's unseen. That wall will likely be designed to also serve as sound diffusion.
Tasks left to do: double panel, out-swing door on the left wall, center. Replace current crumbling, carriage door with insulated, double panel, carriage doors with insulated windows. Electrical,