Our internet service is back up!  We recorded the first Podcheck v3.0 show Wednesday night, and hope to release it Thursday night 5/11.  We had a great time, and the shows will get even better as we get more comfortable with the tech, and learn each others’ patterns/quirks/rythyms, etc. The best shows make all of this process and technology stuff invisible to the audience.  We prefer to talk about the process/technology by choice, and not because something just blew up.  Please refrain from calling this first v3.0 show “TrainWreck Review with Scott and Jeff.”  (Gads, that is a catchy title! Awesome!)

The show requires some editing due to a couple of uninteresting technical glitches.  We’re leaving in the other stuff so that you can hear all of the natural confusion.  Jeff has the files now and hopes to get them up tonight.  Some geek notes regarding the execution/production:

• We tried half of the show as a double-ender, and half as a regular Skype setup.  (Double-ender means that both hosts record their voice separately in high-quality audio files, and then edit the two sides of the conversation together during post-production.)  We’ll see if there’s a big enough difference in quality to warrant the editing of the file each week.  (What!!?!?!?  Each week?  As in “weekly?”)
• I used a two-computer setup to separate Jeff’s Skype audio from the main program audio, but to still allow him to hear the program audio, and to allow me to hear him along with the program audio. We refer to the two computers as the “Production” computer and the “Link” computer:
• I set up the Production computer with my standard MixCast Live configuration, mixing in my voice into the program feed. I recorded the resulting mix using Goldwave rather than relying on MixCast Live.  I trust Goldwave’s stability during recording more than the current version of MixCast Live.
• I connected the audio output of the Production computer to the input of the Link computer (a laptop running Skype).  I plugged my headphones in the laptop’s headphone jack.  This allowed me to monitor my mix AND hear Jeff.  Likewise, it allowed Jeff to hear the production mix.  Again, the production mix contained my voice and the music/sfx.
• I had to run the laptop on battery while recording the show because the laptop’s AC power supply was injecting horrible noise into the audio.  The laptop battery ran out after 50 minutes, and you will hear the failure in the show.
• I had my youngest daughter on my lap for about 5 minutes towards the end of the show.  In case you’re wondering, it really is a challenge to produce the show while an 11-month old baby is sitting on your lap, grabbing the computer mouse, and banging on the keyboard, and interjecting “goo-goo” and “baa-baa” during a conversation.  She really had some good points and took Jeff to task on a couple of issues, so we’ll definitely have her back on the show again sometime.

Thanks for staying subscribed and being actively involved in Podcheck’s continuing evolution! When we nail down this whole “co-host” thing, we’ll add yet another element to the soup.

ALL feedback is welcome - both positive and critical.  We love your audio comments, so feel free to e-mail MP3 files to show - at- podcheck.com, or use the Podcheck Listener Line at (206) 424-4763  — (206) GAG-iPOD

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