Giving advice on audio recording

Question

I first started using Captivate when it was Robodemo 5 and
that was not all that long ago. I remember when I first downloaded
it. I thought it was the greatest training software ever. However I
did have problems. The most long lived problems were with audio
recordings. I know that many people have. On some of the forums I
read where one person had given up on Captivate. They did not like
the inconsistent recording of the audio. Sometimes it would be deep
and resounding the next slide would sound as if you are at the end
of a tunnel,and the very next recording would sound metallic and
soft sounding.
Just like with everything else if you are persistent enough
you will find a solution. I tried various mikes some expensive
others less expensive. They all produced the same results.
Inconsistent recordings. The recordings to me were passeable but
all not that great. Then I ordered one of those newer usb condensor
podcastiing mikes.
All I can say is wow! Those new podcasting mikes they level
out the sound.You can still notice that one recording sounds a
tiny,tiny,different than the next,but barely noticeable.
Most of us are not radio announcers or professional
broadcasters however to me the mike made an incredible difference
in Captivates audio recording quality.

Answer 1

Hello Rick!
The microphone is around 80 dollars, it comes with a soft
ware preamp, and I have always recorded directly into Captivate.
Even a low bit rates and encoding frequencies it still sounds good.
All my Captivate files are produced for the web. Html and .swf
files.
It is the mike Rick that made the difference. It is a Samson
microphone. It is quite large and heavy. I found out about it
through podcasters. I wondered what podcasters were using to record
audio. Audio quality would be important to them. What I wanted was
the best mike for recording onto a computer. The podcasters are
fanatics about the mikes they use.
Here is the advert from Samson.
"The C01U USB Studio Condenser Mic is the first affordable
studio condenser mic with a USB interface.
For the first time ever, musicians who record music on
computers have a simple, affordable way to capture high-quality
vocal and acoustic instrument performances.Seamless integration was
the idea, and it was obtained by creating a studio condenser
microphone that can be plugged into any computer with no in/out
boxes, no expensive computer pre-amps, just a USB cable.
The C01U condenser microphone is based on our wildly
successful C01. It features a 19mm internal shock mounted diaphragm
with a cardioid pick up pattern ensuring pristine studio quality
recordings."
Most online music stores carry these . Find one that you can
trust. Just Google Samson microphones.
Everyone can have good quality audio recorded directly into
Captivate. For those new at audio recording listen to podcasters
and other broadcasters. Animate your voice to make it more
interesting,speak at the same volume level, get a "pop" filter or
make your own with a nylon and reformed wire coat hangar. Practice
with your voice ,adjust the settings ,test various settings out and
soon you will be saying " wow"!
http://www.samsontech.com/products/productpage.cfm?prodID=1810