To record in-person interviews using the Studio, you need XLR microphones as well as a device like an audio interface or digital recorder to connect them to your computer.
Alitu does not support using multiple USB microphones plugged directly into your computer.
If you already have your XLR microphones and Audio Interface, here’s our guide to recording in the Studio. If not, you can skip this part for now and continue reading for our equipment advice.
Setting up your Interface to record in the Studio:
You can use any device that connects to your computer via USB and accepts two or more XLR microphones plugged into it.
In the below image, we are using the Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 audio interface, but you might be using something like a Zoom H5 or Zoom PodTrak P4.
Plug both XLR mics into your audio interface, then connect the interface to your computer with its USB cable.
Next, in Alitu, go to the ‘Record’ tab and select your interface as the “Microphone”.
Then, plug your headphones into the audio interface (not into your computer).. Click ‘Show More Settings’, then select your interface as the ‘Listen via’ option.
That’s it! You’re now ready to hit record.
Equipment you need to record multiple mics in the Studio
Top Option - A USB Audio Interface
To record in-person interviews with multiple microphones using Alitu, the simplest way is to use a USB audio interface. You connect your XLR microphones to the interface, then plug the interface into your computer via USB. This works because Alitu Studio only accepts one audio input device.
A key point is that you must use XLR microphones, not USB ones. You can’t connect multiple USB mics to an audio interface. But if you want the simplicity of a USB microphone with the option to use XLR too, some microphones work both ways for example the Samson Q2U or AudioTechnica ATR2100.
For the audio interface we recommend the Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 because of its quality-to-affordability ratio.
Alternative Option - Digital Voice Recorder
If you want to use three or more microphones, a digital recorder might be the best choice. Zoom’s H5 and H6 are traditionally seen as the best voice recorders on the market. For podcasters though, we recommend the Zoom PodTrak P4. This was designed specifically for podcasters, and it has a lot of features and flexibility. It’s cheaper than the H5 and H6, too.
Using a digital recorder, you can record your podcast in two main ways:
1. Record directly into the recorder
Recorders let you plug in multiple microphones and record high-quality audio without needing a computer, internet, or even a power outlet -just a few batteries.
Recorders typically record each person on separate audio channels. After recording, you’d just transfer the audio onto your computer via SD card or USB, upload it to Alitu. If the recorder did record everyone on individual channels (multi-track) then you can merge the files when you upload them to Alitu.
2. Use the Digital Recorder as a USB Audio Interface
Recorders are flexible and can also connect to your computer via USB cable. Just set it up the same way as described above for an audio interface - selecting the recorder as your input in Alitu before you start recording.
This lets you record multiple mics directly into Alitu, and if you also press record on the recorder, it will save a backup copy to the SD card at the same time.
Please reach out using the chat box at the bottom of this page if you have any questions about using Alitu. We're happy to help!
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