Customer Reviews

M-Audio Podcast Factory Professional Podcasting Solution

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

The mic is a high quality isolation mic, so you can record in a room with a closed door and not get any background sound. Very easy to set up. Plugs right into the computer. The weakness with this product is the software that comes with the package. Audacity is a fine audio editor--but you can find it free on the web. But the biggest problem is the podcast xml feed software: it's called Podifier, and it does NOT contain iTunes ID tags. This may not sound like a big deal, but it is a significant problem when you reach the point where you want to submit your podcast to iTunes and other podcast list pages like Podcast Alley. They all use iTunes tags. You will need to purchase a better xml feed program that includes these tags, or learn how to write the code on your own. But aside from the software that comes with it, this microphone and recording unit is quite good.

The funny thing about the MIC... there's a warning in the box that says it contains lead which is *believed to* cause cancer in the State of California (I'm not making this up!) I have no idea what makes lead particularly more toxic in California than anywhere else, but my advice to anyone who buys it... do not EAT the microphone.

As for the package... I'm new to podcasting. (Actually I got it as much for the audio interface and to be able to do some voice overs for a project I'm working on as for Podcasting.) I wound up getting the "kit" because... it would have actually been more expensive to get the mic then the audio interface. (You can't just plug most mic's directly into the computer... ) So by the time you get the Mic and the Interface, you're actually spending more, even without the software.

I have had some minor configuration problems - - but all in all, everything seems pretty simple, and the instructions get to the point... hence its useful, hence the * * * * * - - as to the opinions of more experienced users... let's see what they have to say whether its a good deal of not!

I was looking for a complete podcast solution and this is really the one. Instead of worrying about what mics to buy and what interface to use, this is really podcast equipment for someone who wants to plug and play. Instead of worrying about cables, interfaces, mics, etc, it's all here.

Yes, it comes with Audacity that you can get for free, but let's face it, if you're not hooked in, searching for it on the web might not be your thing. It has podifer and Live Lite 4, and while you don't really need them, they're helpful.

One of the values of this package was that I got started podcasting the same day. The ease of set up was a bonus here.

One recommendation though. There's not much in terms of user guides, but you can get at the full user's guide for Audacity on the web. I haven't played enough with the other software yet to make recommendations there.

You're buying this for the mic. The software is fine (though you don't need to buy this to get Audacity), the bumper clips are fair and the mic stand is crap. But the mic is good if you're just starting out.

This is a good value start up product that is simple to use for the beginner, the microphone is decent and it is just a matter of connecting it all and recording .

If your just starting off in the pod cast arena, this is an excellent place to start! Value, simple to set up, and one great sounding mic. The stand leaves a bit to be desired, but over all, very happy.

The hardware in this kit is top notch; the microphone alone is worth almost as much as the entire package. The USB interface is also excellent, as it brings manual controls to you instead of having to mess around with settings on your PC.

The software is pretty basic, but most of it is already a little outdated. If you want to mess around with your first steps in podcasting, then you really can't go wrong with this setup.

A client recommended this kit so the podcasts I produced for them would match their recordings.

Sadly, installing the drivers under XP was an annoying process, and the volume of the recording was too low, requiring software amplification (not great).

It worked better under Vista, but under Linux, the volume was so faint as to be unusable.

The mic stand is awful and cheap, and while the microphone is OK, the overall impression I get from this kit is pure underwhelm. If I had it to do over, I'd get one of the USB condenser mics (for simplicity).

Pros: Good price, good quality sound, easy to set up.

Cons: Wow, HUGE con here: This device cannot record from the stereo mix. As a podcaster this is a disaster. You cannot record a Skype conversation, for example (woops, no co-hosting!). What a ridiculous feature to leave out for something called a "Podcast Factory." Save your money for something else, folks.

Pros:
Easy to install, good quality of record result.

Cons:
Can't adjust 16K bit or 24K bit from the driver. So I don't know it really does 24k or not.
Tech support has no help at all and not polite (Don't want to say rude).