Podcast kit upgrade or how to get another gadget fix

One of the reasons I originally started to podcast apart from trying to mimic Radio 4 was, and I’m not sure I should confess to this, the opportunity to get hold of some new ‘tech’.  A childhood obsession with a reel to reel tape recorder made digital if you will. 

My current podcasting ‘rig’ is the same one I used when I first started and follows the time honoured tradition of not splashing too much cash just in case we didn’t get along.  In retrospect it hasn’t been the easiest to live with, whilst all three major hardware  components, Tapco Mix 100, Griffin iMic, and Behringer B1 mic are all individually great they don’t always play well together, the iMic and Mix 100 being the main culprits.  I always spend an inordinate amount of time getting the levels right, monitoring via headphones never seems to work predictably and for some reason there is always some line noise to deal with in the edit. 

         

I’ve been pondering for sometime about swapping the mixer and iMic for a dedicated USB audio interface, something along the lines of the M-Box 2.  My hope is that it will eliminate the need for endlessly playing around

until the levels are right plus it’ll plumb directly into the PC without the need for extra cables.  It also means my current DAW Magix Music Maker might end up in retirement as most USB interfaces come with some kind of bundled software, in the case of the M-Box it’s Pro Tools LE.  The question though is do I go through this process whilst in the middle if the current BTHP series on the Royal Navy or wait until it’s finished?

Sandwiched between Jupitus and Day

The podcast has found it’s way onto the ‘Podcasts’ front page on iTunes.  I’m still stunned that so many people enjoy BTHP and my continued thanks to anyone who listens.

My history podcast gets to Number 3

The Binge Thinking History Podcast seems out of the blue to have risen up the charts on iTunes.  On the UK site under History (of course) it’s now No 3 keeping excellent with Melvyn Bragg, Matthew Parris and Neil Oliver.  Not sure how long this fame, if that what it is, will last but it’s nice to know people are listening and enjoying.

BTHP gets featured on iTunes

I’m not sure how it happened or even if it actually means anything but my modest history podcast is now a ‘Featured’ podcast on the US iTunes site.  Trying to find how how iTunes works out it’s listings is akin to unpicking the Da Vinci Code, oh hang no that’s not true as the Da Vinci Code was a doddle, anyhow Apple aren’t telling but I bet a sizeable chunk of it is good old human interaction particularly for the ‘Featured’ lists.  Someone at Apple iTunes seems to like me.  And look I’m on the same page as Melvin Bragg and Dan Carlin…I am humbled indeed.

BTHP is back

Now my case of ‘podblock’ is gone I’ve posted the latest episode of the Binge Thinking History Podcast and…it gets a great review. 

The podcast gets a review and a ‘big up’

I never thought for a moment that the Binge Thinking History Podcast would have taken off quite as well as it has.  OK…it’s not getting monster downloads like my mate Pete Cogle does with his fantastic Dub Zone, but for a history podcast it holds it’s own and bubbles under or on occasion breaks into the top 20 or 25 on iTunes both in the US and UK. 

Now it gets it’s first, or that may be second review by history blogger and podcast reviewer Anne Frid De Vries. 

And a must listen from Dan Brown.  Surely not that Dan Brown.

BTHP Episode 6

The next episode of Binge Thinking History is up and posted.  It’s the 2nd part of my look at the Battle of Britain and as I’m finding out it’s going to take a few more episodes than a thought to cover the subject as there is so much more to the story of the summer of 1940 over Southern England.  And Aldertag or Eagle Day hasn’t even happened yet.

Podcast Episode 5

The Binge Thinking History Podcast episode 5 is now up…and it’s the biggest so far at 51 mins. 

This one looks at the origins of the Battle of Britain.

Normal service resumed?

Apologies for not updating in a while but I’ve been off experimenting with podcasting and recently people have been asking what’s the situation with the blog.  Well I think it’s been long enough and I’m going to start posting again some of which, well a lot of it probably, will be about podcasting, but not all and my less than laser sharp opinion on all things will be switched on again. 

For example I hadn’t seen the latest James Bond film until a few days ago after taking advantage of a free loveFilm voucher.  It’s brilliant and in this post Jason Bourne world is at long last the direction Bond movies should move in, Die Another Day was a bit pants in comparison…OK a lot pants!

After resisting for what seems like ages, because I didn’t see the point…and I still not sure I do, I’ve joined Twitter and of course I’m bored to tears with Facebook.  Find me at http://twitter.com/bingethinking/

Oh yeah the Podcast.  It can be found on iTunes, just search for “Binge Thinking” or at http://bingethinkinghistory.libsyn.com or for the RSS types amongst you http://bingethinkinghistory.libsyn.com/rss.   I’ve now published four episodes about the history of the US Constitution and number five, hopefully out in the next week, is the first of a two parter about the Battle of Britain.

I is with Podcast

Finally I’ve got round to record and post my first ‘official’ podcast.  The details for downloading including the RSS feed are as follows:

http://bingethinkinghistory.libsyn.com/rss

http://bingethinkinghistory.libsyn.com/

The plan is to be up on iTunes as soon as I can.