The Midnight Marauder War Room Options

[Marauder Show]

I don't use a telephone to do my shows, I call in with my computer which allows tie-in with my full array of equipment all connected with a digital mixer. Only drawback is bandwidth but that's mainly inhibited by VoIP. I wish hosts had the option to direct connect without having to call in.

Anyhow here's some pictures of the Midnight Marauder studio:


The "Big Chair" where it all happens. No expense was spared on the mics. The retractable boom for the analog mic (at right) is home made.


Putting together last Saturday's show. Note the digital studio program in action, left monitor. That's Alien Love forums on right-hand monitor.


Alesis digital mixer, which is directly to my left as I sit. Has really been awesome. Only connection is between it and the computer via USB. The RCA connection you see there on top is for the power amp. I need to get a set of real studio cans. Note the USB studio condenser mic, behind the cans. That uses USB as well, to connect directly to the sound studio in the computer, which you can see there right below the cans.


This is the analog audio, the power amp top right is 700 watt 5.1 surround sound, which I am feeding from the digital mixer. I can use the RCA 5-disc CD carousel, (below the turntable) the turntable, and the 5-disc Sony CD recorder/player at any time during a recording as well. These are directly behind me as I sit facing the monitors.


Powley, associate producer of the Midnight Marauder Show, shown here making sure I'm doing everything right.


It's a tough job he's got, keeping the Marauder in line....


Another show in the can means rest up for the next one.

[BlueStar]

Nice setup there! I take it the cat is what adds to the ambiance of the room?

[Rev. RockDog]

Thanx for showing your setup! I'd like to see other setups as well if anyone wants to post them in their own thread. I'd show you my setup, but I'm sure everyone has seen a phone before. LOL

[DebNg]

Midnight Marauder, you have a great rig there! How about our other hosts, anyone else care to share their setups?

[Marauder Show]

Nice setup there! I take it the cat is what adds to the ambiance of the room?

Powley runs the joint. As associate producer of the Midnight Marauder Show, everything has to meet with his approval!

[DebNg]

I'll go next:

This video was taken a year ago, a couple of months before I began working for BlogTalkRadio but it shows where I work, if you're interested.

Oh and I'm happy to report that I replaced the old computer with the missing keys, such is the life of a professional blogger!

http://www.freelancewritinggigs.com/2009/0...cluttered-mind/

Anyone else?

[BlueStar]

Nice setup there Deb! I can relate with lost keys - i had a laptop that actually looked almost the same as yours and my keys were popping out from left to right - guess I used it too much...

I may take some pictures of my workspace - it's nothing fancy - and I share it with roommies...I'll see what I can come up with.

[Jaco]

I'll go next:

This video was taken a year ago, a couple of months before I began working for BlogTalkRadio but it shows where I work, if you're interested.

Oh and I'm happy to report that I replaced the old computer with the missing keys, such is the life of a professional blogger!

http://www.freelancewritinggigs.com/2009/0...cluttered-mind/

Anyone else?

I love the dog Deb, reminds me of my cat always sleeping. Tough life our pets have.

[JamalSilk]

Thanks for the pix. The set-up is great. Nice to see someone who basicially has the same set-up as we do almost. Thanks again. Your Associate Producer rocks.

[Truths Untold]

Looks like a great setup, and I'm thinking of putting together something similar. How do you think a setup like yours would do as far as audio quality goes during a live broadcast using Skype to phone into the BTR switchboard? Reason I ask is because I'm currently using a Logitech headset to call into Skype for my show, and the audio quality is horrible. My computer has an Asus motherboard with integrated sound. Someone has suggested that perhaps installing a dedicated soundcard could take care of alot of the issues I'm having with Skype. Any suggestions you may have would be greatly appreciated.

[Marauder Show]

Looks like a great setup, and I'm thinking of putting together something similar. How do you think a setup like yours would do as far as audio quality goes during a live broadcast using Skype to phone into the BTR switchboard? Reason I ask is because I'm currently using a Logitech headset to call into Skype for my show, and the audio quality is horrible. My computer has an Asus motherboard with integrated sound. Someone has suggested that perhaps installing a dedicated soundcard could take care of alot of the issues I'm having with Skype. Any suggestions you may have would be greatly appreciated.

I use Skype now. It's okay. I have found though that the best quality comes when you pre-record the shows and load them into the switchboard for play at show time. Skype sort of sees music when I play it live as "background noise" and tries to squelch it. It will do this whether you're using a "dedicated" sound card, or if you do like me and use no soundcard at all.

If I were going to do alot of live shows, playing music through my mixer, I would not use Skype at all.

[Truths Untold]

Thanks for the suggestions. I do a live broadcast every Friday night, so I'll probably have to come up with a different solution. Lately it seems that the audio quality of Skype has gone downhill for me. I'm not sure if anyone else is having the same issues or if it's something in my setup. I'll figure it out eventually, I'm sure.

[Russell Harrison]

Powley is certainly a handsome fellow, and seems to be quite intelligent as well—clearly an asset to your operation. Do you suppose he'd be interested in a side gig?

[MMA Gospel]

Hope this is not to personal but Midnight, what is the estimated cost of your set up. I am working with a partner site and they are looking to help me build a basic studio. They wanted me to quote them something.

I am not very technical. Currently I use my laptop along with my Plantroics headset and call in using Skype. I do have some sound issues on occasion.

We are growing very fast and I feel the sound quality needs to step up.

[Marauder Show]

Hope this is not to personal but Midnight, what is the estimated cost of your set up. I am working with a partner site and they are looking to help me build a basic studio. They wanted me to quote them something.

I am not very technical. Currently I use my laptop along with my Plantroics headset and call in using Skype. I do have some sound issues on occasion.

We are growing very fast and I feel the sound quality needs to step up.

On my set-up, the money is in the mics. Everything else was pretty cheap. The Alesis USB digital mixer was 80 bucks, the Magix digital studio program is $75.

I have around $800 invested in the five mics. Skype costs $3 a month.

Everything else is just off the shelf audio equipment I bought at various surplus outlets, repaired and put back in service.

My computer, that's another $800 which I built myself from a barebones kit. To get one comparable at retail, you're looking at $1,800-2,200.

So if you add everything up, this set-up is about a $2,000 deal but it's used for much more than BTR.

[ChristieSweetBTR...]

On my set-up, the money is in the mics. Everything else was pretty cheap. The Alesis USB digital mixer was 80 bucks, the Magix digital studio program is $75.

I have around $800 invested in the five mics. Skype costs $3 a month.

Everything else is just off the shelf audio equipment I bought at various surplus outlets, repaired and put back in service.

My computer, that's another $800 which I built myself from a barebones kit. To get one comparable at retail, you're looking at $1,800-2,200.

So if you add everything up, this set-up is about a $2,000 deal but it's used for much more than BTR.

You should start a business and monetize those building skills! For serious~

[Marauder Show]

You should start a business and monetize those building skills! For serious~

How do you think I retired at age 47, a millionaire?

[ChristieSweetBTR...]

How do you think I retired at age 47, a millionaire?

Rock on! Just don't say that too loudly