This KB provides information about how to use the equipment present in the recording booth at College Library. For assistance with this article, please contact the End User Computing (EUC) team.
Table of Contents
Videos
Complete Overview
This video provides a complete overview of how to use the RODECaster Pro mixing board with either the Audacity or GarageBand applications.
Click the play button on the video below, or click here to watch it on Kaltura Mediaspace.
Get Started with the RODECaster Pro
This video provides basic use instructions for the RODECaster Pro mixing board.
Click the play button on the video below, or click here to watch it on Kaltura Mediaspace.
System Audio Preferences (Apple)
This video provides basic configuration information for both audio input and audio output on an Apple laptop running macOS Monterey or older.
Click the play button on the video below, or click here to watch it on Kaltura Mediaspace.
Get Started with GarageBand
This video provides basic configuration information to make the GarageBand laptop application work with the RODECaster Pro mixing board.
Click the play button on the video below, or click here to watch it on Kaltura Mediaspace.
Get Started with Audacity
This video provides basic configuration information to make the Audacity laptop application work with the RODECaster Pro mixing board.
Click the play button on the video below, or click here to watch it on Kaltura Mediaspace.
Process
Before You Begin
You will need a laptop with digital audio workstation (DAW) software installed or a blank, high-quality microSD card.
Laptop
- DAW Software: Audacity, Audition, GarageBand, Logic Pro, Pro Tools, REAPER, etc.
microSD Card
- High-Quality: Class 10 or better (e.g., Sandisk Ultra Plus, Sandisk Extreme, Samsung EVO Plus)
Missing any of the above? Unable to connect your laptop? USB-C adapters and laptops with Adobe Audition preinstalled can be checked out at the College Library Equipment Checkout Desk (College Library Room 2250).
Power On the Mixing Board
Press the red button along the back right-hand side of the board.
Connect Your Laptop or Insert Your microSD Card
Laptop
- Connect to the mixing board using the provided USB-C cable.
- Select “RODECaster Pro” as both the input and output device on your laptop.
microSD Card
- Insert your microSD card into the back of the mixing board.
- On the mixing board display, navigate to Settings > Advanced > microSD Card, then slide your finger along the “Slide To Format” bar to format your microSD card.
Set Up Headphones & Microphones
Headphones
- Set the fader level (i.e., the physical slider) for a given channel to “unity gain” (i.e., the fifth line from the top or the seventh line from the bottom).
- Adjust individual headphone volume levels as necessary using the controls on the top right of the mixing board.
There are four (4) headphone outputs on the back of the mixing board that use ¼ inch connectors; two (2) headphones are already connected and provided for use. There is one (1) headphone output on the front of the mixing board that uses a 3.5 mm connector.
Microphones
- Press the numbered button above a channel to edit that channel on the main menu.
- Speak into the microphone at a normal volume.
- Use the fader (i.e., the physical slider) and gain controls (i.e., the “+” and “-“ buttons on the touch screen) to adjust microphone settings until the meter stays within the green range while you are talking.
Most extraneous sounds that can be heard in the headphones will not be as loud on your recording, but make sure to limit noise as much as possible to ensure the best quality. Typing can and will be heard on your recording, although it will be quiet.
Record to a Laptop or microSD Card
The following sections provide basic instructions for how to start recording using Audacity, Audition, and GarageBand. For assistance with other digital audio workstation (DAW) software, please refer to the vendor’s support documentation.
Audacity
- Launch Audacity.
- Click Audio Setup (i.e., the speaker icon).
- Click Audio Settings.
- Select “RODECaster Pro” as the Recording Device.
- Click the “Record” button to begin your recording.
- Click the “Stop” button to end your recording.
Audition
- Launch Audition.
- Select “RODECaster Pro” for input
- Set the output to either your laptop speakers or external headphones connected to your laptop.
- Click the red button to begin your recording.
- To create a new track, click the square button with a “+” in the top left part of the window, then click “New Audio File.”
- Click the red button to end your recording.
GarageBand
- Launch GarageBand.
- Click “GarageBand” in the menu bar.
- Click “Settings.”
- Verify “RODECaster Pro” is set as the input device.
- Create a new stereo track using Input #1 and Input #2.
- Click “Record Enable” under Configure Track Header to begin your recording.
- Click the Record button to end your recording.
To hear previously-recorded audio, end recording before trying to play anything else back.
Power Off the Mixing Board
Press the red button along the back right-hand side of the board.
Assistance
For additional assistance using the recording booth, please speak with a student assistant at the Computer Lab Desk (College Library Room 2250), or check the mixing board vendor's website.
