Podcast Booths

The Podcast Booths are self-scheduled, sound-proofed, audio recording spaces.

• Located in ProtoSpace™ (MLIB 2750A & 2750B) on Level 2 of the Marriott Library.
• Available only to University of Utah students, staff, and faculty with a valid uNID. 
• Accessible all hours the Marriott Library is open.
• Equipped with snowball (omni-directional) and shotgun (uni-directional) microphones, and an iMac with Audacity software.
• Export audio files to a cloud-based storage system, or record directly to a personal laptop.
• Podcast Booths must be reserved to use. 

Reserve Podcast Booth 2750A 

Reserve Podcast Booth 2750B

 

How does it work?

Setup & Recording:

1. Schedule a booth via the Library Scheduling System.
2. Turn on lights using the remote on the inside wall.
3. Close door completely.
4. Make sure both green ends of the USB cables--from the computer and from the microphone--are connected.
   1. If using a personal laptop, connect USB from the microphone directly to laptop.
5. Turn on computer monitor and log in with uNID & password.
6. Double-click Audacity icon in upper-right corner to launch the application.
7. Check Audacity set-up.
   1. Microphone should be at full volume.
   2. Blue Snowball microphone listed as microphone input.
8. Position microphone close to speaker's mouth.
9. Click the recording button (red dot) and begin speaking.
   1. Blue sound waves will fill in the recording track if microphone is connected and set up correctl!
10. When finished, remain quiet and record 10 seconds of room tone.
    1. This can be used for noise reduction in the post-production process.
11. Press keyboard spacebar to stop recording.

Playback:

1. Make sure the volume is turned up on the Mac. (Use the F11 key.) Turn on the monitor speakers.
2. Click the cursor point onto the sound waveform. Drag it along the track to the spot you want to hear.
3. Press the keyboard spacebar to play the audio. Press again to stop.

Export your sound file:

1. Follow these menue options: Audacity > File > Export > Export as MP3.
2. Options:
   1. Cloud sites: Export file to Documents folder. Open a web browser and upload to sites such as Ubox, Google Drive, Dropbox, etc.
   2. External USB hard drive: Place USB cable from the iMac into the USB 4-slot drive velcroed to table.

NOTE: Do not save files to the iMac Desktop to retrieve later. Files are automatically erased within 24 hours.

Exit procedures:

1. Logout of computer.
2. Turn off monitor speakers and lights.
3. Leave door open to air-out the booth.

Podcast Kits

Do you want to record a podcast at another location? Check out a Podcast Kit from the Knowledge Commons Desk on Level 2.

Podcast help and mentorship

Immediate Help: Visit the ProtoSpace service desk or the Knowledge Commons Desk on Level 2.

Email Robert Nelson for consultations on basic and advanced podcasting and audio editing. As a music podcaster, he has accrued over 3 million minutes streamed.