DJ Equipment Reviews

The USB Mic podcast kit brings pro recording to the computer

Alesis has a load of DJ equipment to offer, and a lot of other products as well, but some DJ products will appeal to more than one category of people, because of their wide usage in more than the DJ area. Such is the rather unimaginatively named USB Mic Podcast Kit from Alesis, that does exactly what it says it does, and in a professional manner, might I add, using quality specific only to Alesis audio and DJ products.

The USB Mic Podcast Kit aims specifically at podcasters and working DJs looking for a professional and easy-on-the-pocket way to broadcast their mixes. The USB Mic Podcast Kit lends itself happily to other uses as well, as the included USB microphone is quite a piece of work, making recording as easy as ever and straight to your PC or Mac. The invention of USB microphones is a treat for working digital DJs mostly, but all DJs can use a microphone some way or the other, and a USB connectable and powered professional mic was the way Alesis took with their USB Mic Podcast Kit. The package does a great job in making recording and broadcasting any kind of audio easy and as professional as a digital DJ can get to the studio quality from his home computer.

With all this home use of the USB Mic Podcast Kit, it becomes obvious that it’s more than easy to use, and everything works flawlessly form the first second. All you have to do is plug in the USB high quality microphone and you’re ready to record. Everybody should like freebies and the USB Mic Podcast Kit has one too, coming with an included copy of the Audacity audio software, which is also available for download online, being an open source product. As with other open source DJ software, Audacity makes a great pair with the USB microphone, and it’s main usability is in recording and editing audio, which is handy.

Even though Audacity comes with the USB Mic Podcast Kit, it’s not made by Alesis, so it isn’t made quite for this specific package, but it comes as close as it can get. The big problem with Audacity, having given it a try myself at some point, is the steep learning curve and the unfriendly interface, which although simple to understand, can easily put a working DJ’s patience to the test.

But back at the USB Mic Podcast Kit, the working DJ with a need for an advanced but easy recording tool can expect it to include:

• the main part of it is the recording professional tool that is the USB microphone
  
• also a copy of the Audacity audio editing software (also usable in DJ applications but available freely on the internet as well)
  
• and finally, a pair of headphones, which is also kind of a treat, and although they’re not as pro featured as the USB mic, they save up some cash and sound reasonably good
  
• all the connectors you’d need, mainly the USB plugin cable for the microphone
  

The USB Mic Podcast Kit microphone is the main member of the squad here, so I’ll let loose some of the features that make it almost studio-worthy and thus, perfect for working DJs out of their homes or in any other recording situation:

• the recording is 16 bit sound at 44.1 and 48 kHz that goes straight into the computer, no middle man
  
• the USB microphone comes with a desktop stand with a rubber mount that keeps it stable and also reduces vibrations, thus helping to make a clear and precise recording
  
• a big plus is that even with the great recording it can take, the USB microphone in the USB Mic Podcast Kit is still plug and play for both Mac and Windows working DJs, so no additional drivers, no additional worries
  
• the kit also contains an easy way to upload your podcasts once they’re ready, using automatic RSS file embedding
  
• another useful feature of the USB Mic Podcast Kit is the automatic notification it sends to iTunes, Podcast Alley and many other podcast groups and search engines, which gives maximum visibility online for your podcasts
  

Made specifically for podcasting, and then recording or other needs of the working DJ, the USB Mic Podcast Kit also comes with a free podcast hosting option for 30 days by subscription to alesispodcast.com. After that, I’m sorry to say, you’re on your own. But you’ll still have the pro recording and podcasting tool that is the USB Mic Podcast Kit, so you’re always ready to have your mixes or podcasts right out there, to the world, in as close of a professional manner as possible with a home kit. The bottom line for the USB Mic Podcast Kit for working DJs is that it offers great recording capabilities and always the option of using its main podcasting features, not a bad deal for 100$…

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