I have not completely decided to do with this blog, but I have started blogging at another site and wanted to let any remnant of readers know.

Compendiums is my new site. There are a few posts up, including some on the way that I have re-worked from this site.

Thanks for reading!

Blogging Advice That is Good

If you are considering starting a blog for anything other than fun, I suggest you read this post first. Here is part of it:

At it’s simplest, I just enjoy writing. And every writer wants his work to be read. (this is where you readers come in) I enjoy blogging and I likewise enjoy reading the blogs of others. And I don’t confine myself to reading only Apple related material. I tend to read (and enjoy) any well written blog that has an interesting subject.

Another site along the same lines (but with a more direct focus on the subject) is ProBlogger.

This is only the beginning! Click through to read more.

Technorati Tags: blog, Blogging, blogs, blogTools, direct focus, problogger, tips, tools

No, I have not given up hope on this blog. I am busy trying to maintain my new English School, and have not had time to make entries here. In the future things might be a little more stable for blogging. We shall see.

The good news is that I did find something that I really wanted to post about. It is a story that puts some of my faith back in humankind... Or something like that. I don't want to steal the thunder, but it does involve robbers, cops, and expensive music gear. Anyway, its a great story, go read it.

Having a bare bones recording setup is not that expensive. Even the equipment for a mid-level studio is not out of reach for a lot of people (though, loans may be involved). Having a place to put it is the costly part. And how one does that often makes or breaks the studio's back.

The purpose of having a recording studio is to only allow the material you want in the final product into the microphones. There are a couple of things that recording studios do in order to accomplish this goal:

1. Isolate the recording from outside noise.
2. Create an ideal (silent/comforatble/stimulating/pleasing) environment in which to record.

With this in mind, I am creating a series of posts on the subject in which I will attempt to summarize, and link to various sources of free information on the web.

There is a plethora of information on the internet about designing and building a recording studio. In many cases, though, the information is provided by someone who has something to sell the end-user (you, or me).

Auralex is a good example of this. They have a PDF available for download called “Acoustics 101.” Its very good reading material, and I have nothing against their products--aside from the overuse of purple. This document covers the basics of building a studio, while promoting Auralex products. It is not “in-your-face” type advertising, but that is why they published the document.

[Note: I am merely using this company as an example, there are many others who do similar things. It is not wrong to do this, but it can lead to a one-sided assessment of one's needs. Hence the caution against it. I would encourage you to read “Acoustics 101” along with others I will suggest along the way, and weigh the advice using your own common sense.]

There are a great number of resources online, which, with the help of your favorite search engine, are only a click away. I have found a couple, however, that are particularly helpful. And, the main purpose is to help you have the best studio you can, not sell a particular product. [Click here for an example search.]

Some of the sources I will pull from are listed in links below. These are the best I have found, and will hopefully help you out as well.

• The SAE College site has some of the most comprehensive information out there. While I have never heard of the school, this site has great information on everything from building the room you are in, to setting up microphones, and tuning drums.
• I am not a fan of forums, but the Recording Studio Design Forum has excellent information, as well as free advice.
• Sound Control Room, Inc. is a studio designer and builder, but they also have some useful documents on their site. They also sell certain products.

There are other links as well, which will be included in future posts.

Violet Mics

I notice two things about this new stereo mic from Violet right off the bat:

1. It is incredibly cool looking. I want one.
2. It looks similar to the design theme found in Blue microphones.

It is possible, that the second statement should be turned around; the two companies are in a legal battle over who owns what, as far as design is concerned.

Well, I am not an attorney, nor do I wish to become one. Therefore, I will content myself at looking at a pretty picture of a microphone, and hoping that someday I can purchase one.

I have linked to the home-pages of the companies, both of which have links to documentation of the ongoing legal dialog.

I had the opportunity to go visit a recording studio here in Teresina last night. The owner/operator's name is Isaac, and he was gracious enough to power everything up and show us (me, my wife, and her father) around the place.

It was a bit surprising to me to walk in and see a Mackie 32 channel, 8 bus mixer sitting there. Not because one does not need a mixer, but because of the expense involved. Electronics here in Brazil are expensive because most of them must be imported, which at least doubles (and, as in this case, sometimes quadruples) the cost. My surprise was due to the fact that this mixer (and, arguably, a better one) is in the recording software on the computer.

At some point, though, he mentioned that the board is necessary, if only to convince musicians that this is a good studio to record in. The disclaimer here is that sometimes when dealing with technical explanations, translation gets very difficult for my wife.

He paid the equivalent of $12,000 (US) for this mixer. I looked on Musician's Friend, and the current price on this item is about US $4,000. The reason for this difference is the import fees/taxes mentioned earlier.
Here is a shot of the other gear in the studio. He is using a Motu 2048 for his A/D converter, and Nuendo for the DAW software on the computer. He mentioned that he was using Pro Tools, but found it to limiting in some way (though, I am not sure why). Above that unit is a patch-bay, and below it are two Behringer four-channel compressors, followed by a Sony Mini-Disk recorder, and two Alesis ADAT recorders. The two boxes on the floor are power inverters, as the power here is 220, and the gear likes that good old 120.

No idea on the specs of the computer, but, by US standards it seemed pretty slow (but they don't care as much here about that sort of thing). That is a Yamaha NS-10 on the wall, and in the foreground is a Korg X3 keyboard.

A couple of general observations: I have never been in a studio where the recording area was so dead. The buildings here are only made out of brick, which does not seem to do much for sound insulation, so they put foam on the inside to keep the sound levels appropriate for neighbors. The mix room was this way as well, but to a lesser extent.

The ability to make money back on your gear here is less here than in the States. As mentioned before, gear costs more here. He only charges about $1400 (US) for a 10-track CD, though. That makes for a long time before seeing a return on investment.

That is it for this “field trip,” but I know there are some other studios here in town, and I would like to visit them. Maybe I will get the chance, and if I do, you will hear about it here. In the meantime, if you have questions, I will do my best to answer them.

Yamaha Mixing Studio

Having not tried a Yamaha board for some time now, I can not give my recommendation, but this implementation looks cool.
Its a USB multi-channel mixer that comes with recording software. There are two versions available; the MSW10, and the MSW12, which have 10 and 12 channels respectively.

The included software is Cubase LE by Steinberg (which I have also not used), and will work with either Mac OSX, or Windows 2000/XP/XP Pro. The system requirements are fairly liberal, so most should not have a problem. Here is the product page.

If you have experience with this sort of thing let me know, I am considering something like this for my setup.

[via Engadget]

Pack-Man and the Nine-String Bass

Just ran across a site with some beautifully crafted basses of varying string numbers. This one caught my eye with its detailed carving of the knobs into the ghosts chasing Pac-Man.

There are many other cool basses here that are worth checking out. Also, if you are interested in seeing/hearing him play, check this out. You may also want to check out his band, which is called Nuclear Rabbit.

The Luminous Landscape has an interesting article about modifying a DSLR to only pic up the infrared portion of the light spectrum. Of course, doing this will not only cost you US $450, it renders your camera unable to do any other type of photography.

Oh, and it does not turn out quite like the picture here, either. While this is a cool effect, the end result is much more black and white.
So, don't get your hopes up to high unless you have an extra DSLR just sitting around. Here is the article.

Baffled By Bozzio

While I may have heard of the name Terry Bozzio in the past, I don't think it has ever really meant much to me. From now on it will.

I was initially drawn in by the ridiculously large drum set he has. And, admittedly, I was skeptical with regard to his musicality. All doubt was erased, however, when I saw the first of many videos of him playing on the Vic Firth website “Artist Feature.” Very cool stuff.

Evidently he is way into solo melodic drumming, which is why the huge drum set. It looks to my untrained eye that he has very good technique. Further, he has an excellent sense of musicality. Fun to listen to, and probably more fun to watch.

This will have me on the lookout for a CD.
Here is his personal site. Here is an interview with Modern Drummer.

OpenRAW Survey

If you are an avid photographer (professional or amateur) you should check out the survey at OpenRAW.org. Of course, you should take it as well.
Its all about your preferences here. They are trying to figure out what the opinions are, what is broken, and what it might take to fix it. If you have ever had to fight RAW format images, this is for you. Its not a long drawn out thing, either, so get on it!

If you have no idea what RAW images are, just move along, and don't worry about it. :D

Music Makes You Smart

Well, if you play it anyway. That is what a recent study is saying, as covered by the BBC.

Learning to play an instrument boosts intelligence and general well-being and should be a central part of the school curriculum, a study says.

So I have this question: With all of the studies out there saying that music education has such a profound and positive impact on the development of higher brain function, why are we still cutting music programs in schools, and at the same time wondering why test scores are going down?

It is interesting that even Plato knew the value of teaching music to children, and we still have to prove to ourselves that it is a worthwhile endeavor:

“I would teach children physics, and philosophy; but most importantly music, for in the patterns of music and all the arts are the keys of learning.”

Revolt Against the Big Record Labels

How do you get your music on iTunes? People have asked me this before, and I have had to say, “I have no idea.”
I found out this morning: You either have a contract with a record label that puts your music on iTunes (and/or the many other music services on the internet), or you pay an aggregator to store your works, and make it available to the various music stores.

This process will only take 9% to 50% of the profits of your music for the first few years. Which means that, after the iTunes' cut of about 20¢ on a 99¢ track you might, if you got a good deal, make 71¢ per track. Conversely, if you got the 50% contract, you might make in the neighborhood of 40¢.

Considering that it costs around $5000 to record and master a twelve track album, one would have to sell a ton of product to recoup costs. And that is a “budget” album.

If you are a musician who would like to try a different route, check out tuneCORE™. This service lets you send in your album, EP, or single for distribution on iTunes US store, Rhapsody, and any combination of four other iTunes stores around the world.

tuneCORE™ does cost something, but you don't surrender your rights and ownership of your music. It is also non-exclusive. Fees look like this: 99¢ for a one time delivery fee to iTunes US, and if you want to go to other stores, it is 99¢ per store. After that, there is a yearly $7.98 fee per album, EP, or single for maintenance.

They also handle your album artwork, and the liner notes, so that those are available to your adoring fans.

Sound cool? Check out tuneCORE™, and if you decide to try it, let me know how it works out. I don't have an album yet, but I am thinking hard about it, and this looks like a good way to distribute.

NAMM Goodies

Ever since I first heard about it, I have wanted to go to NAMM and see all the fascinating things that people/companies come up with. I get the idea that the large manufacturers are there in force, as in many other trade-shows, and there are a lot of smaller startups etc. that also show up.

I found a temporary solution this year though–NAMM Oddities. Barry Wood has done an excellent job of compiling some of the more interesting/offbeat things he ran across at the show.

Theses finds range from the absolutely fascinating, to the just plain odd. There are pictures, and videos available. He also provides links to the home pages of the respective companies. Great site.

Also of note is the O'Reilly story along the same lines (in fact, it was inspired by the page referenced above).

[via CDM]

Luthier Link Dump

I am sure there are plenty of other offbeat guitar designs around, but you will find gathered here a few that are exceptional.

First we have the Manzer Pikasso I. You may have seen this around if you are a Pat Metheny fan, as it was custom made for him. It has four necks, and a ton of stings. The string tension on this puppy is around 1000 pounds (1000 pounds!!!).

Be sure to check the link for more pictures, and many other fine instruments (including the Manzer Pikasso II).

Next up is Phil Sylvester's site. There are many one-of-a-kind guitars and amps here, and they are all playable. Some of the designs are way out there, but still very cool. It looks like they are all for sale as well, and the prices don't look very reasonable.

There is a page for his guitars, and a page for his amps; I recommend taking the tour of each.

Finally, and probably my favorite (I am biased here, and I'll tell you why in a moment) Mike Doolin is a luthier who makes very fine guitars. This guitar was custom built for Justin King, and it sounds amazing–as do all the Doolin guitars I have heard, and I own one (hence the bias).

Though the Doolin guitar you see here is highly customized, standard instruments are available. This is what I own, and I could not be happier to own it.

Have fun drooling over all this linkage!

Adobe's Lightroom Beta Progress Update

I have not had a ton of pictures to put through Lightroom Beta until my wife's birthday the other day. Here are my thoughts on how it worked for me:

The available equipment is within the guidelines set out by Adobe, however, it is at the very bottom end of things. The application runs okay with 5 megapixel .jpg files, but I shot in RAW for the birthday, and it ran a little slower with the larger file size.

I have only run into one bug so far. Some of the user interface did not collapse (it froze in the outward position) when I changed the available preferences.

Pros:

• The overall workflow seems very well thought out, and makes the development process much easier than any experience I have had in Photoshop.
• I really like the ability to customize the user interface in so many ways.
• The ability to “turn down/off the lights” is really useful as well (this basically puts a black screen around the photo workspace).

Cons:

• The in-built noise reduction does not seem to do much for me, though this could be the result of a mediocre camera sensor (i.e. so much noise in the first place that there is little the application can do).
• Hardware requirements. This probably will not be as big of a deal to most people, but this application takes a lot of system resources. It would be nice if it took less.
• Exporting photos was a bit strange. I did not see a way to batch export, and the export status is not completely obvious to find. (To be fair, though, this is one of the areas they are still working on.)
• Price? I have not seen any kind of price yet, but if you have ever looked into purchasing an Adobe application...

I like using this app. Its fun, well designed, and I don't find myself wondering where to find things. I am curious to see what improvements are made as we go along (and I will keep you updated as I find out more).

ACLU And Your Future

I usually would keep my distance from the ACLU, but this is to humorous, scary, and timely to pass up. So what will ordering a pizza be like in the future?

Find out here. (Flash movie.)

[via MTP]

Searching For Pornographers

The Bush Administration's recent subpoena of Google's search engine information (as well as the requests for data from Yahoo! and MSN) has sparked quite a debate on the internet. Debate may not be the right word, as I have found nothing supporting the Administration's position, maybe I could use the word furor here.

Below are some excerpts from articles and links I thought would be of interest, and use:

From ECT:

It is inevitable that the government will start to seek out data for other purposes if it succeeds with Google, Burke warned. “The implications of [Google's subpoena] are profound. People have got to come to realize that, eventually, everything they search for is information that may be shared with government,” he said.

In the future, a database of search terms could be combined with other databases the government maintains, Burke conjectured. “A person may find himself having to explain why he wanted to find such and such on the Web without the benefit of any context.”

Another serious potential problem could arise due to misfiling or mishandling data through error. Burke noted that he has represented children and other people who have erroneously wound up on the No-Fly list in a number of lawsuits against the government. Burke's own name appeared on it, he said.

“This is not a new phenomenon. It happens repeatedly in the private sector too,” he remarked.

Here is a good article from Google Blogoscoped, and here is a “how-to” on BoingBoing.

I am certainly reconsidering how I use the internet is light of this controversy. The problem is that it is frustratingly simple to let your personal data be shared on the internet, whether it is convenience, or lack of technical knowledge (i.e. what you don't know can hurt you).

The bottom line here is that big brother is watching you, whether it is your shopping, your searching, what you do with digital content–somone is able to follow your digital trail, and can learn an awful lot about you.

HD-DVD and Blue-Ray Disk Restriction

I am sure this is only the tip of the proverbial iceberg, but there are numerous reports on the internet saying that whichever format you choose, you may not be able to view it in its highest resolution.

The Advanced Access Content System (AACS) will be used by both formats, and will restrict the resolution to 960x540 when viewed over an analog connection. This is to prevent pirates from copying at the full resolution of 1920x1080.

Of course, never mind that the pirates (the real criminals here) will be able to find a way around it, and continue on their merry way, while the average consumer who has a HDTV with only analog inputs will be looking at substandard pictures.

What good are these advancements when, before they even come out, they are crippled by a middle-man?

In honor of this, as well as a related issue, I thought I would pass on this little treasure:







[via AT and Darkgate]

[Edit:]
Also, I forgot to mention that in another AT article they point out that Setnator Gordon Smith (R-Oregon) has drafted legislation which would, for all intents and purposes, render any type of copying illegal. Looks like he was handed a wad of cash to write it too.

In light of all these things, and since both Republican and Democrat “representatives” are complicit in this, and other privacy concerns, I find myself wondering what party I want to be associated with.

Nikon D200 Review

Imaging Resource has a review of the Nikon D200 up. They like the camera a lot, in spite of an apparent imaging problem having to do with a “banding” or “corduroy” effect from intense light glare.

The review above is detailed, but not as in-depth as this one. However, the former review is done with a full production model (models, as they had two), while the latter was done with a pre-production model (which should soon be replaced with a full review of a production model).