Ask MetaFilter questions tagged with audio and computers

Converting vinyl records to digital files using an existing turntable...

You Should See the Other Guy — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 14:14:35 -0800

I like my vinyl records. I want to make digital files out of them. What are my options ... which don't include a new turntable and, preferably but not absolutely, don't require my computer and stereo to be in the same room? I'm on a Mac.

How to display a transcript in sync with a media file?

isnotchicago — Thu, 19 Mar 2009 16:54:42 -0800

I have a transcript with timestamps and a media file. How do I display both of them on a webpage at the same time, synchronized? Oh, and it has to work in any browser or OS. I have a transcript (foo.txt) composed of 1000 sentences. Each sentence is given its own line, and some sentences have accompanying comment lines as well. The sentence lines are formatted as "Speaker|Sentence sentence sentence.|timestamp", and the comments lines are formatted as "comment|Comment comment comment". An example could be:

*MOT|which way we're gonna go ?|01234_02234
%com|Mother is gesturing toward train set.
*CHI|backwards .|02234_02934

With this transcript is a media file (audio or video, the solution should be able to handle both). The timestamps correspond to points in the media file (in milliseconds).

I want to display the entire transcript alongside the media file, and when playing the media file, have the corresponding lines in the transcript be highlighted (1). The transcript should also automatically scroll so that the media is always in view. Finally, users should be able to begin playback either by going to a particular point in the transcript and hitting play (or some keyboard shortcut), or a particular point in the media and hitting play (or some keyboard shortcut).

An important caveat is that this must work in older browsers and both Windows/OS X (Linux support is unnecessary/probably follows from Windows/OS X support). All my research has come up with solutions using HTML5, which obviously won't work in older browsers. Staying away from Flash is also preferable, but not mandatory.

My guess is that there's some Ajax that can grab the time in the media and compare that to the timestamp for each line, and then highlight that particular line (either by encapsulating each line with a tag, or some fancy XML or JSON parsing). I don't know! Help me, hive!

(1) Particularly, I'm not looking for closed-captioning (a la Quicktime and SMIL). The transcript should be separate from the media file, and should itself be navigable.

USB 3.0 or not

echo target — Mon, 19 Jan 2009 11:42:29 -0800

Looking at getting a new computer. Is it worth waiting for USB 3.0? So the USB 3.0 spec has been released and no doubt manufacturers are working as we type to get it into new devices. I'm looking at getting a desktop machine to replace my current laptop and I'm wondering if it's worth waiting for a 3.0 socket to be available in the interest of future-proofing.

I play around with music and will be interested in adding on trigger pads, audio interfaces, etc. I'll also be using the machine for photo editing.

No one knows exactly where the 3.0 standard will end up being used, of course (fans and cup warmers were probably not expected uses of the earlier standards), but do you think it's worth waiting for?

Macbook External Speaker Buzz

benji — Wed, 09 Jan 2008 08:58:32 -0800

Why do my speakers randomly begin to hum/buzz? I have a MacBook Pro 15" 2.15 Dual Core 2. I plug in, via 3.5mm cord in the headphone port, a JBL Creature 2.0 set of speakers.

Every so often a barely audible hum/buzz (lowish frequency), begins to increase in volume. It starts off really quiet, and gets pretty loud.

The weird thing is, when I hit the volume button to make it louder or softer, the sound completely stops. It seems as if any output of noise through the speakers stops the buzz. For example, if I play a song in itunes for a second and then pause it, the hum is gone.

Please help me! What is causing this and how do I prevent it? It is really weird.

Klipsch Promedia vs Logitech z-2300

bigspoon — Thu, 13 Sep 2007 23:32:14 -0800

Logitech Z-2300 or Klipsch Promedia 2.1? I'm a freshman in college and looking for a 2.1 system for my desk that I could use n my dorm this year and hopefully in an apartment or house next year. I've essentially narrowed it down to these two choices but having trouble deciding. The Klipsch supposedly have better overall sound quality (except I've read the logitech has nicer low end) but have some problems with build quality and also in my opinion look lame. What I'm wondering is, will I even notice the difference when listening to 128-192 kbps mp3's or aac's? I know I'm not going to get a truly great system in the $100-200 price range but I at least want something that sounds reasonably full and satisfying. If anyone has any other suggestions in this price range that would also be appreciated.

What computer (not laptop) for music performance and recording?

Enron Hubbard — Tue, 07 Aug 2007 08:08:56 -0800

What new PC computer CPU (not laptop) would you recommend to record/playback audio from disk while running several heavy VSTs? It will be used for recording and live performance. I want capacity and low latency with no hiccups. I am looking at bang for the buck, but don't want to spend almost enough. AMD or Intel dual core? Intel quad core worth the extra money? 2 gig RAM enough? Dell has a q6600 quad core cheaper ($649) than I can build one, which led me to this question. I want something to last a couple years and don't mind building if that is the best option. Software will be Ableton Live and maybe Reaper with several VSTs on XP.

How does Apple TV behave?

ascullion — Mon, 14 May 2007 09:46:24 -0800

Can someone with an Apple TV tell me something? When you listen to a music track on your Apple TV, does the play count of the song in the relevant iTunes library increase?

How do I make an audio delivery system?

TurkishGolds — Wed, 11 Apr 2007 10:56:27 -0800

I need an audio delivery system. Let's say that I have one-hundred locations across the country where I want to play a 4-minute loop of audio over an in-house PA system, and change the content of that 4-minutes on a weekly basis. I don't know if it's something that I should try to build myself or if there's something commercially available that will accomplish the task. I also want to do this on the CHEAP.

I am interested in hearing about proposed solutions to this problem.

Of course, the option that immediately pops into my head is hooking up a computer with an internet connection to automatically download an mp3 once/week and then just play it on repeat. I'm computer savvy, in general, and I have some coding experience, but I'm basically a programming and networking novice. If this really is the best, cheapest option then can you please give me some very specific advice with where to start. I'm thinking cheap, bare-bones machines running linux, but I have no idea how to setup the networking, security, and automation or what language I should be learning to try to do this.

The other draw-back to the idea where a computer just sits on a network waiting for a new upload is that most of the locations don't have internet in the first place. It'd require all of the locations to pay for new internet service which seems like a waste of money in the eyes of the people that are paying for this thing. Do you think that a good work around would be doing some sort of scheduled dial-up connection once/week? If so, what, specifically should I look into to making that happen.

Thoughts on what the audio playback system looks like would also be appreciated (stereo, speakers, etc).

I really want to make this work, and I have until the fall to come up with something that works.

Extremely Menacing Vibrations

prostyle — Fri, 07 Jul 2006 10:19:21 -0800

Merging PC audio sources? I have two desktop machines in my basement that get used for gaming and media output. I am wondering if there is an easy way to route the audio from one machine to the other, creating a conjoined output? I've got the ability to run cables if need be and I have a wireless router. Most of my searching is returning results for "distributed audio" throughout your entire house or something along those lines, or chintzy "switches" that change between single audio sources. The audio will be directed from one of the machines to a receiver or a set of standard speakers, one of which will be in a remote location. All machines are running XP. Hardware or software, I'll try anything.

Mac Glitch Lab?

toastchee — Wed, 11 Jan 2006 09:16:39 -0800

New Mac glitch music making software? A short while back I came across some new Mac software (soon for the PC) for the glitch music making community...and it really was decently priced...under $100 IIRC. Does anyone remember the name? Help!

Long-distance Digital Audio

SweetJesus — Mon, 01 Aug 2005 13:31:17 -0800

Audiofilter: What is the cheapest way to get pure digital sound from a computer 10~15 feet away from a surround sound system? I'm running a 25 foot HDMI cable out of the back of my PC for video, which is snaked up around the wall to travel 15 feet into the back of my HDTV. I've just bought a new surround sound system, which works absolutely fantastic, but I'd like to get digital sound out of my computer and into the back of the receiver. The only two digital options for inputs on the back of the receiver is TOSLink and digital coxal cable. I'm looking to buy a new sound card for the PC anyway, so it will have at the very least TOSlink and digital coax. I know TOSLink doesn't like to be fooled with too much (too many strange angles will break the fibers), and they both seem to be really expensive at lengths >12 feet.

I'd rather not pay hundreds of bucks for cable. The 25 ft HDMI cable I bought cost about 40 bucks, which is around the amound I'm looking to spend on audio cable.

I was thinking ethernet cable may be an option, because it's digital, cheap and snakeable. Is this idea foolish, or are there people hacking audio adaptors for ethernet cable?

What is the best way to go about this?

Recording from Real Audio Streams

tomble — Mon, 16 May 2005 23:35:32 -0800

I believe it's been asked before, and I'm already able to do this, but I'm sure there's an easier and more efficient way of recording Real Audio and other streaming audio sources so I can listen to them on my MP3 player. I have so far tried (successfuly) the following methods.

Queue up files, set up dbpoweramp to record tracks, autodetecting silences to break up separate tracks and then either -

Cable from line out to line in, set software to record from line in.

or

Select `stereo mixer' as my recording source and record directly from the soundcard.

I have also tried downloading the .ra files themselves and converting them. This invloves opening the small files on the website and extracting the actual link to the file, downloading the file, then converting it to mp3. This is quite labour intensive.

Is there any better software for making this process more automatic? I would prefer freeware, as I'm already able to do it with free software. The direct rip from stream is best because you don't lose any quality from conversion to analog (as I understand it).

Oh yes, I'm using WinXP.

Which laptop is the best for multi-track audio editing?

punkbitch — Sun, 13 Feb 2005 13:00:10 -0800

Laptops (again). I want to buy one. Specifically, I want to know which laptop is the best for multi-track audio editing (and why). Aditionally, which software should I use if I want to create stories "pro" enough for radio journalism? Do I have to get pricey studio stuff? Finally, when people out there submit already-produced audio stories to say BBC, NPR, PRI, Pacifica . . . is there a simple way to send the files via email? What kind of file would it have to be?

Linux and Ogg compatible portable music player?

kenko — Mon, 29 Nov 2004 14:14:51 -0800

Remember when AskMe was all about product recommendations? Everything old is new again. What's a good portable music player that supports ogg files and works, officially or not, with Linux? the last timea similar question came up the Rio Karma was recommended but I read recently (lost the article) that more players with ogg support have come out.

What is the current best freeware audio editing application?

gnz2001 — Tue, 20 Jul 2004 13:17:02 -0800

What is the current best freeware audio editing application? The specific need is for ripping a cd, then playing it back slower without altering the key.

How can I rip a RealPlayer streaming video?

inksyndicate — Mon, 28 Jun 2004 15:00:11 -0800

What are some ways to turn a RealPlayer streaming video file into a ripped, usable file on your hard drive? I've seen stuff for the audio part, but not so much video.

How to play audio clip on mouseover?

troutfishing — Sat, 26 Jun 2004 06:14:54 -0800

Web tricks. This rather clever use of the "marquee" html tag made me wonder how I could code a really stupid and irritating effect : mousing over a link triggers a tiny, obnoxious audio clip.

" isn't there some way I could make a tiny little (2-3 sec) audio clip play when somebody mouses over a link?....Farts, shrieks, high pitched cartoon voices wailing "It's hopeless. I'll just crawl up my ass and die!", and so on."