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
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Copyright 2021, Curtis Judd
CEntrance MicPort Pro 2 Mobile USB Audio Interface
In today’s episode, we have a look at and a listen to the CEntrance MicPort Pro 2 which is a mobile USB audio interface with a single XLR combination input. This allows you to record to your Mac, PC, iOS, android mobile devices. What makes the MicPort Pro 2 special are several high quality features including Jasmine preamps, VelvetSound converter, an analogue limiter, and an AmpExtreme headphone amplifier. So you get very high quality audio, without a bunch of extraneous features. Let’s have a listen!
00:00 Intro
00:15 Summary
00:25 Recording with This
00:50 Raw Audio Samples
01:47 USB Audio Interface
02:08 Pros
10:00 Cons
11:23 Who is this for?
12:55 Please take my courses
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:
- CEntrance MicPort Pro 2L (with limiter) - Amazon
- CEntrance MicPort Pro 2 (NO limiter) - B&H
- CEntrance Mixerface R4 2 channel interface - Amazon
- RODE NT1 large diaphragm condenser microphone - B&H, Sweetwater, Amazon
- Shure SM7B broadcast dynamic microphone - B&H, Sweetwater, Amazon
- Earthworks SR315 condenser microphone - B&H, Sweetwater
- Blackmagic Pocket Cinema Camera 6K (talking head shots) - B&H, Pictureline
- Sigma 24-70mm f/2.8 DG OS ART Lens - B&H, Pictureline, Amazon
- Panasonic GH5 camera - B&H, Pictureline, Amazon
- Panasonic 12-35mm f/2.8 OIS lens - B&H, Pictureline, Amazon
The intro and outro music for this episode is from Musicbed - “For the Kids” by Utah. Get a free trial of the best music for your videos at Musicbed.
Copyright 2020, Curtis Judd
CEntrance MixerFace R4 Mixer/Recorder For Film & Video: Tiny Pro Level Mixer/Recorder
It has been a while since we’ve seen an innovative new handheld recorder with professional level pre-amplifiers and other features. The CEntrance MixerFace R4 and R4R, however, have done just that.
These are very compact mixer (R4) and recorder (R4R) that is very small, yet very rugged and sounds really great. They include an in-built Li Polymer batter that lasts up to 8 hours (nearly 7 hours phantom powering microphones in my tests) and provide several outputs including line and mic level, unbalanced and balanced. It includes 2 XLR microphone inputs and a 3.5mm line level input. There’s no screen, which means longer battery life, and there are physical controls to do everything you need to do.
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 at https://school.learnlightandsound.com including processing dialogue audio, recording sound, how to use the Zoom F8 and F8n, and how to get the most from the Sound Devices MixPre series of recorders.
Links to gear used in this video:
CEntrance MixerFace R4 (this is JUST a mixer and audio interface to record to camera, iOS, Android, Mac, or PC)
CEntrance MixerFace R4R (this is a mixer, microSD card recorder, and audio interface to record to camera, iOS, Android, Mac, or PC)
Apple Lightning to USB 3 Adapter (Amazon) - You’ll need this if you want to record to an iOS device from the MixerFace R4 or R4R
USB C to Micro OTG Cable (Amazon) - You’ll need this if you want to record to an Android device with USB C input from the MixerFace R4 or R4R
Shure SM58 (Amazon) Dynamic Handheld Microphone - The quintessential handheld dynamic microphone
ElectroVoice RE20 Dynamic Broadcast Microphone - great for podcasts and voiceover
DPA 4017b Shotgun Microphone - This is the shotgun microphone I use for my paid production sound jobs when shooting outdoors
Blackmagic Pocket Cinema Camera 4K - I used this to record this episode
Aputure COB120dmkII (Amazon) - Key light in the talking head clips
Aputure Light Dome II (Amazon) - Newer version of the big soft box with faster setup and gel holder
Lupo Superpanel Full Color 30 - RGB 1x1 panel light
Panasonic 12-35mm F/2.8 (Amazon) OIS II Lens - Used on the BMD Pocket Cine Camera 4K
Olympus 45mm f/1.8 (Amazon) Lens - Used on the BMD Pocket Cine Camera 4K
Copyright 2018 by Curtis Judd
Music Copyright 2018 by Cary Judd. Used with permission.