For the last five years, I’ve been recording all the messages preached at my home church on audio tape, experimenting occasionally with different forms of digital audio.

At the beginning of this year, I took the plunge and started publishing the morning sermons as an audio podcast using Wordpress and Feedburner.  Here is my current (very inefficient) workflow:

1. Record the morning message  on audio  tape.
2. Create tape label in Avery Design Pro, print and paste on the master tape and 1 copy for the tape lending library.
3. Record audio from tape to digital with laptop using Goldwave Audio Editor.
4. Save as 16bit 44.1khz .wave audio and burn 1 Master Audio CD.
5. Rip MP3 version at 44.1khz 24kbps variable bit rate stereo and upload to the  website.
6. Create entry for recording in Google Spreadsheets and link to audio file (for printable database).
7. Create Wordpress blog entry at newhopemennonite.org with full link to audio file (Feedburner takes care of the rest of the podcasting goodness).

So, what I’m looking for, I think is an efficient way to incorporate live recording direct to digital.  Maybe the best way is to just use a laptop and record direct to Goldwave or Audacity, though this may present its challenges in correct line levels etc.  A standalone MP3 recorder would probably work.  Problem is, which one?  Any of you anonymous readers have ideas?

Posted on February 15th, 2008 by Josh Champagne
Filed under: Audio / Video