Best Podcast & Livestream Mixer [2023] | Mackie DLZ Creator

In this week’s episode, we have a look at Mackie’s new DLZ Creator mixer. This competitor to the RODECaster Pros and Zoom Podtraks is made specifically for capturing great audio in podcast and livestream workflows. In this video we walk through the DLZ’s feature set, briefly compare it to the RODECaster Pro, and identify some advantage and disadvantages for each. Let’s take a closer look!

Check out our reviews of the RODE and Zoom podcast mixers here:

RODECaster Pro

RODECaster Pro II

Zoom Podtrak P4

Zoom Podtrak P8

Zoom Livetrak L8

If you’d like to learn how to make great dialogue audio for your film and video projects, please have a look at my courses including processing dialogue audio in Adobe Audition and DaVinci Resolve/Fairlight, recording sound, how to use the Zoom F4, F6, F8, and F8n, and how to get the most from the Sound Devices MixPre series of recorders. Our latest courses cover Sound for Live Streaming with the ATEM Mini and an Intro to Izotope RX.

Support my work creating videos by donating at Ko-Fi.com.

Gear used or mentioned in this episode. The links below are Amazon.com, B&H Photo, Sweetwater, DVEStore, Perfect Circuit, Trew Audio or other affiliate links. As an affiliate, I earn from qualifying purchases:

- Mackie DLZ Creator USB audio mixer/interface/recorder — B&H, Amazon

- Mackie 802 VLZ 4 8-Channel Ultra Compact Mixer — B&H, Sweetwater, Amazon

- RODECaster Pro Podcast Production Studio — B&H, Sweetwater, Amazon

- RODECaster Pro II Podcast Production Studio — B&H, Sweetwater, DVEStore, Amazon

- ZOOM Podtrak P4 Podcast Recorder — B&H, Sweetwater, Amazon

- ZOOM Podtrak P8 Podcast Recorder — B&H, Sweetwater, Amazon

- ZOOM Livetrak L8 Podcast Recorder — B&H, Sweetwater, Amazon

- Amaran 200x S LED light — B&H, Amazon, Aputure

- Aputure Light Dome II soft box — Aputure, B&H, Amazon

- Aputure Spotlight Mount — Aputure, B&H, DVE Store. Amazon

- Rosco Prismatic Glass Gobo in Cool Lavender — B&H

- Canon C70 Cinema Camera — B&H

- Panasonic GH5 camera — B&H, Amazon

- Panasonic 12-35mm f/2.8 II lens — B&H, Amazon

The intro and outro music for this episode is from Musicbed - “Dynamo” by Virgil Arles. Take your films to the next level with music from Musicbed. Sign up for a free account to listen for yourself.

Copyright 2023, Curtis Judd

Creators After Dark — Half of the Experience with Audio Expert Curtis Judd

Curtis recently made an appearance on content-creation podcast Creators After Dark. Give the episode a listen here.

“Curtis Judd came from a long line of accountants, but found himself repeatedly exploring the photography section at his college library. His passion for photography opened a rabbit hole that led him to learning lighting and eventually sound as well. Seeing that knowledge on the latter was sorely lacking, he created two YouTube channels dedicated to aiding filmmakers, podcasters, and musicians with their audio issues. On this episode, he discusses audio principles, the best gear for creators, and tips for both recording and post-production.”

Curtis's Links

YouTube: Curtis Judd

YouTube: Curtis Judd Audio

Show Links

Instagram: @creatorsafterdark

CEntrance PortCaster Podcast & Livestream Audio Recorder & Mixer

In this episode, we take a look at and a listen to the CEntrance PortCaster podcast and livestream recorder and mixer. The PortCaster is unique in that it does not have a screen or menus, just buttons, dials, and switches. Its durable build and compact form factor make it an interesting option for mobile podcasters and live streamers. The preamplifiers are top notch and the analogue limiters help prevent distortion when things get a bit louder than expected. Let’s have a closer listen!

If you’d like to learn how to make great dialogue audio for your film and video projects, please have a look at my courses including processing dialogue audio in Adobe Audition and DaVinci Resolve/Fairlight, recording sound, how to use the Zoom F4, F6, F8, and F8n, and how to get the most from the Sound Devices MixPre series of recorders. Our latest course is Sound for Live Streaming with the ATEM Mini.

Support my work creating videos by donating at Ko-Fi.com.

Gear used or mentioned in this episode. The links below are Amazon.com, B&H Photo, Sweetwater, DVEStore, Perfect Circuit, or other affiliate links. As an affiliate, I earn from qualifying purchases:

• CEntrance PortCaster podcast recorder/mixer - B&H

• Canon C200 camera - B&H

• Canon EF 24-105 f/4.0L lens - B&H, Amazon

• Sennheiser MKH8050 microphone - B&H, Amazon

• SHURE SM7B microphone - B&H, Sweetwater, Perfect Circuit, Amazon

• SHURE KSM8 microphone - Sweetwater

• RODE NT1 microphone - B&H, Sweetwater, Amazon

• Aputure C120DII LED Light - Aputure, B&H, DVE Store, Amazon

• Aputure Light Dome II soft box - Aputure, B&H, Amazon

• Aputure Amaran 100D LED light - Aputure, B&H, DVE Store, Amazon

• Aputure Spotlight Mount made the background lighting - Aputure, B&H, DVE Store, Amazon

Take your films to the next level with music from Musicbed. Sign up for a free account to listen for yourself.

Copyright 2021, Curtis Judd

Sound for Video Session: CEntrance PortCaster, RODE Thread Adapter, & Q&A

In this week's Sound for Video Session, we answer your sound for video related questions. We also have a listen to the new CEntrance PortCaster and a look at the RODE Thread Adapter.

If you’d like to learn how to make great dialogue audio for your film and video projects, please have a look at my courses including processing dialogue audio in Adobe Audition and DaVinci Resolve/Fairlight, recording sound, how to use the Zoom F4, F6, F8, and F8n, and how to get the most from the Sound Devices MixPre series of recorders. We also just added a course on sound for live-streaming with the ATEM Mini.

Gear used or mentioned in this episode. The links below are Amazon.com, B&H Photo, Sweetwater, DVE Store, or other affiliate links. As an affiliate, I earn from qualifying purchases:

- CEntrance PortCaster audio recorder, mixer - B&H

- RODE Thread Adapter - B&H, DVE Store, Sweetwater

- USB to Hirose adapter cable - Amazon

- Earthworks SR314 - B&H, Sweetwater

- Panasonic GH5 camera - B&H, Amazon

- Canon C70 Camera - B&H

- Canon RF 24-70 f/2.8L IS lens - B&H, Amazon

- TA3-M to XLR-F Adapter cable to feed microphones to C70 or Blackmagic Pocket cameras - B&H

- ATEM Mini Extreme & Extreme ISO - B&H, DVE Store, Amazon

- Allen & Heath SQ5 Digital Mixer - B&H, Sweetwater, Amazon

- Sound Devices MixPre II Series Recorders - B&H, Sweetwater, Amazon

- Rupert Neve Designs Shelford Channel, pre-amp, EQ, compressor - Sweetwater, B&H

Take your films to the next level with music from Musicbed. Sign up for a free account to listen for yourself.

Copyright 2021, Curtis Judd

Riverside.fm - Record Remote Podcasts - Video & Audio

In this episode, we take a look at Riverside.fm - an online service for recording podcasts, both in terms of video and audio. Riverside.fm is unique in that it is immune to poor internet bandwidth because it records the video and audio of each participant to their local browser in high quality formats and then uploads to the Riverside servers when bandwidth becomes available again.

If you’d like to learn how to make great dialogue audio for your film and video projects, please have a look at my courses including processing dialogue audio in Adobe Audition and DaVinci Resolve/Fairlight, recording sound, how to use the Zoom F4, F6, F8, and F8n, and how to get the most from the Sound Devices MixPre series of recorders. Our latest course is Sound for Live Streaming with the ATEM Mini.

Support my work creating videos by donating.

Gear used or mentioned in this episode. The links below are Amazon.com, B&H Photo, Sweetwater, DVEStore, or other affiliate links. As an affiliate, I earn from qualifying purchases:

- Earthworks SR314 condenser microphone - B&H, Sweetwater

- Rupert Neve Designs Shelford Channel preamp, EQ, and compressor - B&H, Sweetwater

- Canon C70 camera - B&H

- Canon RF 24-70 f2.8L lens - B&H, Amazon

- Aputure MC LED lights - Aputure, B&H, Amazon

- Lupo Superpanel 30 Soft Full Color LED Light - B&H

- Blackmagic Design ATEM Mini Extreme ISO - B&H, DVE Store, Amazon

- Blackmagic Design ATEM Mini Series - B&H, DVE Store, Amazon

Take your films to the next level with music from Musicbed. Sign up for a free account to listen for yourself.

Copyright 2021, Curtis Judd

Live Sound for Video Session: Podcasting with Ray Ortega

We have a special guest for this week's Sound for Video Session - Ray Ortega. Ray has been podcasting since 2007 when he started his first podcast and he has also done production and post work on some high profile podcasts in addition to his own.

If you’d like to learn how to make great dialogue audio for your film and video projects, please have a look at my courses including processing dialogue audio in Adobe Audition and DaVinci Resolve/Fairlight, recording sound, how to use the Zoom F4, F6, F8, and F8n, and how to get the most from the Sound Devices MixPre series of recorders.

Gear used or mentioned in this episode. The links below are Amazon.com, B&H Photo, Sweetwater, Pictureline or other affiliate links. As an affiliate, I earn from qualifying purchases:

- Earthworks SR314 - B&H, Sweetwater

- Canon C200 Camera - B&H, PictureLine

- ATEM Mini Pro - B&H, Amazon

- SoundDevices MixPre - B&H, Sweetwater, Amazon

- Zoom F6 - B&H, Sweetwater, Amazon

- Shure SM 7B - B&H, Sweetwater, Amazon

- RODECaster Pro - B&H, Sweetwater

- Zoom F8n - B&H, Sweetwater, Amazon

Copyright 2020, Curtis Judd

Location Sound Podcast with Michael Helms

It was my pleasure to be a guest on the Location Sound Podcast with my new friend Michael Helms, also known as Michael the Sound Guy. We cover a lot of production sound for video topics including recording gear, reviews, learning, and the joys of working location sound! If you haven’t heard the Location Sound Podcast before, I highly recommend you have a listen - a gold mine of information for people working in sound or people with aspirations to work in location sound. Check it out over at Apple Podcasts.

Casey Talks to People: My Interview Where we Talk YouTube, Running a Business, & Working a Full-time Job

I had a great time talking with my new friend Casey Li about YouTube, running a business, and working a full-time job at the same time. Casey runs his own little production company and knows the software world as well, so we could relate on many levels.

You can subscribe to Casey’s podcast, Casey Talks to People, in your favorite pod-catcher app.

Sound for Video Session: Troubleshoot, Mobile, Richer Sound, Noise, and ADR

In this week's Sound for Video Session we run through several questions:

- How to troubleshoot
- Does the Kaotica Eyeball really reduce room reverb for recording?
- Best gear to record podcasts on the road?
- How do I make my recordings more “full-bodied”?
- What can I do when I’m recording an interview and a snow removal blower is working outside?
- Which microphone should I use for ADR?

Gear used or mentioned in this episode:

Kaotica Eyeball

Electrovoice RE20 Dynamic Microphone (Voiceover for this session was recorded with this)

Tascam DR-60DmkII Audio Field Recorder

Antelope Orion Studio Audio Interface (Voiceover for this session was recorded with this)

Copyright 2017 by Curtis Judd