Are you doing a show on a site like uStream or StickAM? Wonder how people are taking calls on their shows using Skype and you are on a PC? Well following this you may understand how it can be done.

There really is two different methods you can use to get Skype going with your video broadcast. There is a hardware method and a software method. I am presenting both methods so that you yourself can weight the options and I give pro’s and con’s to them as well. Now the set up I am giving for the Hardware method disregards any extra sound equipment like compressors, effect generators or what have you, this is a basic tutorial for using a mixer as part of the equipment. A mixer allows you to have more than one person talking in the room if this is a group effort. And both methods will allow the person on the Skype call to be able to hear everyone in the room clearly (as clear as Skype can be that is).

The Hardware Method

This is not really a recommended method, however it does work and is less taxing on the machine that you are using to broadcast from in terms of processor usage.

Needed

• Skype Software (Obviously for taking or making calls)
• Web Cam (obviously for the video portion of your show)
• 2 Computers
  • Computer 1 will be the computer you are broadcasting from
  • Computer 2 will be the computer you are using Skype on
• Mixer (I am using my Alesis MultiMix8 USB for this tutorial, other models may have different settings but are similar)
• Microphone for Mixer (XLR Style connector)
• Microphone for computer 2 (cheap USB or 1/8″ jack styled mic).
• 1/8″ to 1/4″ phono plug cable or 1/8″ to RCA jacked cable

Method

1. Plug in the Mixer into Computer 1 (USB or Firewire which ever it is)
2. Plug XLR Microphone into the mixer
3. From Computer 2 you want the 1/8″ jack coming out of your headphone/speaker jack on the computer to the mixer
   • If using 1/8 to 1/4 inch you can use an open Mic channel
   • If using 1/8 to RCA you need to use a Tape Mix Input on the mixer and have the 2K To Mix pressed down the whole time
4. Plug second mic into computer 2
5. Run Skype and all should work normally if you select the mixer as your input source for the Flash Audio Microphone source.

Here’s a diagram to go by:

Pros:

• Less CPU usage on your computer
• Control over noise using volume on mixer

Cons:

• May cause hums in output
• Recording can only be done on 1 track and everything is recorded onto that track making editing a pain if you do post production
• More expensive if you factor in the need of 2 computers and cables and microphones.
• More room needed for the equipment

The Software Method

This is the other method that is actually what I am using

Needed

• Mixer and Microphone
• Skype Software
• Virtual Audio Cable Software

I am under the understanding that you know how to hook up your Mixer to the computer. But let’s assume that you are connected via USB or firewire on here.

The Virtual Audio Cable Software is not free but it is pretty inexpensive compared to the price of hardware you would need to do this as well.

First off you need to have the Virtual Audio Cable Software running two repeaters set these up as follows:

• USB Mixer -> Virtual Cable 1
• Sound Card -> Virtual Cable 1

Now that you have those going we look at Skype. Have the sound input be the USB mixer and the sound output be your soundcard (yes I know you will have to use your headphones on the computer in order to hear the caller, that is ok you could pump out all other sounds through the sound card as well with simple changes to the output of your audio application (there is settings in WinAmp for example if you want to play music using that).

On uStream or StickAM your mic input setting needs to be set to Virtual Audio Cable 1 and voila it pumps out the Skype call to the audience.

Seeing we have 2 audio sources available when we use a USB or Firewire mixer the Virtual Audio Cable software patches them together for us however recording the show is a little different.

Pros:

• Vocal Tracks are recorded on seperate tracks and you can add filters and effects in post production
• Less hum than hardware method
• Less expensive approach

Cons:

• CPU intensive because of extra software running
• Sounds from sound card can be recorded on Skype track if output is sent to the soundcard (VAC output can be used but you will not be able to hear it).

Note: In a multitrack editor (i.e. Audition in my case) you set recording on one track to use the USB mixer for the input. On another track set the SoundCard as the input. The only downside is if you play music on another track and forget to mute Skype, the person on the line will come through on the recording track. Also all music that you put onto another track will be recorded along with the music played because you will be pumping it throught the sound card. Unless you don’t really need to monitor this and you can make your output be the Virtual audio cable as well (probably the best way but being able to monitor your music is a good thing too because you will be able to hear when it’s time to talk again unless you are REALLY good at reading the waveforms)

Getting Skype To Work on Flash Based Video Sites Tutorial Version 1.0

Steve Bridges (a.k.a. VooDooStevie)

Began: 12/7/07

Finished: 12/10/07