Ask MetaFilter questions tagged with audio and sound

Champion Sound

murtagh — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 03:57:21 -0800

Why does music on my MP3 player sound better with small earphones than with big headphones? I have a Samsung YP-U5 MP3 player. Music on it sounds great when I listen with the earphones that came with the player, but if I connect my large Philips (SHP2000, if it matters) headphones to the player, music sounds quite poor. Why is that?

(There's nothing wrong with the Philips headphones, just to be clear.)

Adding ADDITIONAL audio to an avi file

Charlie Lesoine — Sun, 25 Oct 2009 15:23:01 -0800

How do I add an additional audio track to a .avi movie file in OSX? I downloaded a full length movie, it had stereo channel audio, but one of the audio tracks was still missing, possibly the center channel that was lost from a surround sound mix when it was bounced to standard 2 channel audio. I now have the missing audio file and need to add it to the other two. I could just remove one of the existing tracks, or turn the existing two tracks into a mono track and then add the 3rd missing track. It doesn't need to sound amazing...but I don't know what software to use to do this. Any ideas?

I love Jay-Z, but autotune is still alive and well. For now.

anildash — Thu, 13 Aug 2009 00:30:32 -0800

What's a good (and not terribly expensive) portable setup for adding AutoTune to live vocals? This would be in NYC, and the world needs to experience AutoTune karaoke. I don't have ProTools on my laptop, but I'd be open to renting some gear or buying some software if it weren't prohibitively expensive. My ideal setup would be that we could run vox through a laptop rig, and have the karaoke venue just plug in to the laptop's output. Bonus points if it can be done with the basic autotune feature built in to Garage Band, and a Mac-based solution is preferred.

EV RE50N/D-B mic + Olympus LS-10 recorder = hollow, tinny sound

BugsPotter — Sun, 26 Jul 2009 19:03:19 -0800

Recordings made using an ElectroVoice RE50N/D-B microphone with my Olympus LS-10 Linear PCM Recorder sound quiet, tinny and hollow. Why could this be? I have an Olympus LS-10 Linear PCM Recorder and a ElectroVoice RE50N/D-B microphone which I use to record interviews for a show I do that airs on a college radio station. When I transfer the audio from the recorder to my MacBook, the audio sounds hollow, tinny and very quiet. However, the strange thing is, if I shift the balance on the internal speakers to the left or right (not centered), it sounds much much better. Recordings made with the Olympus LS-10's internal microphone (without the EV mic) sound just fine. This same problem existed with another EV mic that I used, so I don't think it's the particular mic I'm using now.

For a while I thought this could be a problem with my MacBook, but then I played one of the interviews on the air and it sounded the same. The audio sounds fine on some computers though. So, basically, I'm at a total loss. Anyone have anything like this happen before or have any thoughts as to why it could be happening? Thanks!!

Low Audio on Bootcamp Windows XP

strangememes — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 10:03:06 -0800

I have a few Macbook Pro systems at work that we've installed Windows XP via Bootcamp on. We've done this with previous Macbook models in the past. This time, however, there is an audio problem: the audio on the XP side is so low it's close to non-existent. Is anyone familiar with this problem? Does anyone have any ideas on how to fix it? I've been googling this and checking the Microsoft help but have come up short.

Some pertinent information:

Macbook Pro
Windows XP
Audio Hardware: Cirrus Logic 4206
Current Audio Driver: Cirrus Logic HD Audio

Hoping to listen to the Singalong Sound of Music with audience participating.

Sully — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 09:12:39 -0800

Can anyone help me find an audio version of the Singalong Sound of Music with the audience participation included in the recording? I am not looking for a short clip (the only things I've managed to find so far) but rather, the entire show. Thanks.

Best setup for an interview-style podcast?

superbird — Tue, 19 May 2009 10:58:17 -0800

What affordable equipment could I buy to have a simple, professional-sounding conversational podcast? My podcast usual has a simple format: two people talking to each other at a table about a subject. Sometimes we bring in one or even two other guests.

So basically, it's an interview format.

I would like to invest between $100-$200 in whatever I need for 1-3 (and if possible, 4) people to sit around a table and talk. Right now, we just plug two headsets into my computer via a headphone splitter. It works fine but sounds kinda lame and feels iffy.

It seems like the Zoom H2 might be my best bet, but the concern is that it sounds too "airy" when it's set in the middle of the table with 2-4 voices around it.

Anyone have any other insight into this?

How can I make a book that sings?

gwpcasey — Fri, 15 May 2009 06:42:23 -0800

How can I make a book with sounds for a baby? I would like to make a book for a baby that plays a different sound on each page. It would have to be a sound that I can record. I have found very limited resources on the web but suspect it's because I'm not searching effectively.

What would be the best way to do this? Are they existing solutions out there already? Should I just build it myself from the ground up? I want to be able to have 8-12 sounds/clips per book (one per double-page spread) and be able to illustrate and write on the pages as well.

I have a number of different books that I want to make so I won't bore you with the details (animals, music, voices of distant family members etc) but I need to be able to record the sound and/or load it onto something.

I don't mind if we have to push something on the page to make the sound play rather than it playing automatically when we turn the page.

Thanks in advance.

Make Apple in-ear phones work better with T-Mobile G1?

Mo Nickels — Fri, 01 May 2009 09:32:14 -0800

How can I get my Apple iPhone/iPod/iTouch in-ear headphones to work easily with my T-Mobile G1 phone? The headphones are great--the best in-ear headphones I've used, except for ones I cobbled together using parts of two different models.

The problem is that when they're plugged into any of the four adapters I have for my T-Mobile G1 phone, they don't work properly. I have to pull the plug out a little bit, to just the right spot, to have full audio in both ears. This is probably due to the nonstandard, four-part nature of the plug: there are four metal places on it that probably don't line up well and my G1 doesn't/can't use the ones for the volume or the microphone.

Does anyone have an adapter that they know for certain works with these earphones? Or a simple hack or trick for making them work easily?

Make my Nokia sing like my Apple...

trinarian — Tue, 21 Apr 2009 10:31:08 -0800

Migrating from an iPod to a cellphone... was the awesome surgically removed though? I recently purchased a new Nokia 3600. There's nothing terribly different between it and other non-Symbian not-quite N-series Nokia phones. As my iPod died at the same time as me buying this phone, I've decided to buy a 16gb micro-SD card and use it as my new music player.

The only problem I've found is the headphone-jack sound quality is terrible with some music. It sounds like somebody has neutered all the bass. It sounds the opposite of what I understand the good effects of audio compression to sound like, with all the awesome and power removed. It's not just when I play it off it's tiny speakers, it's when I use the OEM headphones, or a 2.5-to-3.5mm adapter and run it to a pair of good speakers or headphones. If I play something like Neutral Milk Hotel, it sounds fine. If I play something like Tool, it sounds like a 32kbs RealAudio file played over an analog phone line. Changing the EQ doesn't help. The sound starts to bleed at the "high" volume range.

My speculation is that it's the Nokia media software being set to make things sound good on the built-in speakers, but then not adjusting for what they assume will be low-quality OEM earbuds. I haven't successfully been able to use non-OEM software and I'm very open to recommendations.

So, my question for the hive mind, is this a software problem that can be overcome or a hardware issue? Could it be related to fidelity issues of it being a 2.5mm jack instead of 3.5mm? How do I make it sing like my iPod?

Adobe Audacity vs Logic Express

treepour — Thu, 09 Apr 2009 22:04:40 -0800

Switched to Mac, looking for Adobe Audacity replacement. Should I go for Logic Express? I used Audacity primarily for two things (in order priority):

1) Splicing existing recordings together as seamlessly as possible. Here I used the "Echo Chamber" effects quite extensively. These helped create the sense that the musicians stopped playing and then started playing something else -- the ambient echo of the previous section carried on into the next.

2) Severely warping recorded sounds via a variety of filters/effects, combining them together via the multitrack interface, mixing the multiple tracks down to single tracks then continuing the process.

Can I do these kinds of things with Logic Express? Or would I be better off using Audacity via Windows vmware? Learning a new piece of software isn't a problem, I just want to make sure that the software will enable the kinds of things I want to do. Also, any other similarly-priced Mac recommendations for this sort of thing besides Logic Express would be appreciated.

I would like to follow in the loud footsteps of Jack Foley.

Tufa — Sun, 01 Mar 2009 18:07:22 -0800

What are some films with great work by a Foley artist? I am looking for films with sensitive sound design, especially with regard to small environmental sounds--the clink of a glass set on a table.

I'll be making a small film in the future, and I would like to absorb some examples of great work.

Video killed my audio stars

larsks — Mon, 16 Feb 2009 16:43:45 -0800

Plugging in an external monitor to my Macbook Pro kills the audio. What's up with that? And is there a solution that does not involve an expensive USB audio product? My Macbook Pro is attached to a stereo system, which has worked just fine and dandy...until I plugged in a DVI cable and suddenly the audio was almost overwhelmed by static and "machine noise" (e.g., there are changes in the sound when I press keys or scroll windows). I usually associate this with poor shielding on cheap sound cards...what's up with my Macbook?

More importantly, is there anything I can do to fix this? I'd really like to be able to use an external monitor. One solution is some sort of external USB-connected audio device, but I'm not entirely sure what my options are...the only things I've found are (a) headphones, when what I really want is 1/8" stereo out, or (b) audio input devices like the M-Audio FastTrack (which also support audio out). I don't want just headphones, and I don't need anything as fancy as the USB connected devices I've found.

Thanks for your suggestions!

Is there a Mac app that will let me draw (and listen to) a waveform?

itchi23 — Fri, 16 Jan 2009 16:33:16 -0800

Is there a (hopefully free) Mac app that will let me draw (and listen to) a waveform? I just switched to a Mac 4 months ago, and I remember there being all sorts of little audio tools that did stuff like this, but now I need one that will allow me to simply draw a waveform. Now, ideally I'd like to paste in graphical or vector shapes (photoshop or illustrator) and use those as the waveforms -this is really what I'm looking for - like a line to waveform ability. Would an oscilloscope-type software be more what I'm looking for, and would that allow me to "dial" between the drawn waveforms? Thanks!

Throwing a party with bands playing and a dj. Need sound advice.

senterstyle — Sat, 20 Dec 2008 15:23:43 -0800

I am throwing a party for New Years in a large space that fits about 200 people comfortably (maybe 1000 sq ft). However, this place that I've rented has no sound system, so I'm in need of advice of what kind of equipment to rent. So I'll have a couple bands playing (2 mics max, 4 instruments max), but other than that I'll just need some kind of interface to connect computers/ipods too. I just want to make sure I have the right stuff for the bands that are playing, as well as loud enough speakers to fill the room.

n00b htpc 3850 dvi to hdmi with audio

prodevel — Tue, 09 Dec 2008 00:45:20 -0800

I've got a Gigabyte HD3850 w/dual DVI outs and 1 Svid out.I went n00b and got a dvi to hdmi 30ft cable to my 42" LCD TV. Help?! E6850 duo + 2GB all overclocked and running flawlessly. Before you judge, it's only oc'd to 3.6 ghz and the gfx card was oc'd via it's auto tune....

I've got this for what it's worth: http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/toms-reference-system,1748.html

Being a replaytv/dvarchive user, I realized that after moving to a new address, I could connect my puter and 42" lcd to each other. I purchased a dvi to hdmi cable @ 35 ft.

No sound. I immediately assualted google and found avforums, et al. again... I've spent nearly 3 hours reading posts and posting 1 other myself.

I'm suspecting I need an ati dvi to hdmi adapter and a long hdmi(-to-hdmi) cable.

Otherwise I would be stuck with the svideo to svideo/component adapter included w/the product.

I would love love love to get the dvi-hdmi cable to work since it's strung. Darn bulky, some are. I'm suspecting that it just might be a one-off, though.

I'm a unix guy but I know my fair share of M$

BTW already tried realtek, ati, bios settings combos........ many, many combos...

Thanks

How to record electric guitar noiselessly with minimal computer specs?

Phire — Fri, 05 Dec 2008 10:03:06 -0800

I'm looking for a decent USB-to-audio input adapter, like the M-Audio Jam Lab So I'm looking for a 1/4" jack to USB adapter that I can use to record electric guitar playing with minimal noise, without getting a professional recording system and a $500 sound card. The two I've looked at are the Jam Lab referenced above and the Edirol UA-1EX.

What can you tell me about either of those adapters, and are there better alternatives out there?

Price range is around 50-120 CDN (so 100 USD max).

I'm trying to recreate a nuclear apocalypse

ictow — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 11:22:35 -0800

I need an audio clip of a nuclear attack warning. Double points go to 50s-style announcer versus EAS computer voice. Triple points go to clips that are free and easy to get. I've got the explosion part, I just need that foreboding warning before it happens. Thanks!

Help my MacBook make sound again!

zacharyseibert — Sat, 08 Nov 2008 20:00:50 -0800

Possible solution to getting sound back on my MacBook? I have an original white MacBook, Core Duo 2 ghz. The sound card on the logic board died awhile ago, and I have yet to get it fixed. It is out of warranty, and the people at the Apple store have informed me that it will cost $250 to get it fixed through Apple. I was hoping there was a way around spending $250 on an older laptop I might replace fairly soon.

My real question is, if I were to buy an external sound device, that would go through USB or FireWire, would that solve my problem of no audio input/output without needing to repair the internal onboard sound card? Also, if this is a plausible solution to my problem, any recommendations on an external device that works well with OSX (Leopard, if that matters) would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance!

Soundless

ihadapony — Sun, 21 Sep 2008 20:47:55 -0800

Laptop sound problems for a friend. My friend has a HP pavilion DV5000 laptop which the sound has recently stopped working. System sounds (the beep when you do something it doesn't like) still plays. Music, DVD, and everything else does not. The machine is running windows XP, which she did a complete restore. We updated it to service pack 3 and still no sound. Under sound and audio devices it says "No audio device." I have tried to reinstall the drive, but it fails when it doesn't detect a media device. Under device manager the following are listed. Audio Codecs, Legacy Audio Drivers, Legacy Video Capture Devices, Media Control Devices, and Video Codecs. Let me know if any more information would be helpful. I have also booted from a Ubuntu Live CD in hopes that that would be able to play sound, but it didn't produce anything other then a lot of crackling. I think this may be a hardware issue but i am hoping it not. Any ideas would be appreciated. Thanks!

Help me drop the bass.

Frasermoo — Sun, 31 Aug 2008 10:23:00 -0800

Looking for a more in-depth audio controller for XP. Im running box-standard XP witha pair of Altec Lansing speakers with sub. The bass is savage with no means to adjust. Is there a more sophisticated audio controller I can download which might enable me to adjust bass output? If I am checking correctly the PC sound card is Intel 82801BA/BAM AC'97.

Crank it up to 11.

backseatpilot — Fri, 22 Aug 2008 06:10:44 -0800

I have an idea for an art project involving sound but I'm stumped on the logistics. Help? In my spare time I'm an amateur photographer. Camera goes with me just about everywhere. However, oftentimes in my travels I find myself in the situation where what I am looking at is visually uninteresting to me, but the ambient sound is just awesome. I would like to capture that sound and "display" it in a similar fashion as my photography. Example - the sounds of hiking through a forest; crunching of leaves, birds chirping. People tend to ignore the ambient noise, but when I concentrate on it, it seems quite appealing and I'd like to share that somehow.

So the questions I have are many. Is there an audience for something like this? If so, how do I package a sound recording? With photography, I can frame it and hang it on the wall, and it's just *there* until someone cares to notice it. How do I do something similar with sound? Is there a venue online analogous to Flickr where I might share this sort of thing?

As you might be able to tell, this whole plan is very nebulous. So, any recommendations you have would be appreciated.

I'm not a DJ, but I'd like to play one for a little while

um_maverick — Tue, 05 Aug 2008 12:40:40 -0800

I'd like to overlay audio (spoken word) from a DVD which I own over the music of a CD, which I also own, to create a new CD. Is this doable? Is it doable for someone who has no idea how to start with a task like this? A good friend of mine is getting married and as a joke for his bachelor party, I'd like to lay commentary from the 2004 World Series over a Social Distortion concert, and create a new CD to play during the party. Yes, there's a long story behind all this, which I'll spare all of you. I want it to be a "montage", where quotes from the broadcast come in, and the music gets a little quiet at those times.

I had seen some posts about Audacity, but I'm not sure if that can retrieve audio from both of my source formats. Is there an easy way to do this? Am I best off just finding a professional? I'd like to keep costs to a minimum if possible, but I'm ok putting in some sweat equity. Thanks!

Can you hear me now, you horny bastard?

Anonymous — Sun, 20 Jul 2008 18:27:05 -0800

Good examples of heterosexual audio erotica or porn, please? Doesn't matter if it's real or faked, just as long as it's good and hot. Scorching hot. Tear the clothes off your significant other, RIGHT NOW GODDAMIT, hawt.

Audio books, podcasts, CDs, whatever, we're open to various mediums. Even if there's a particular movie that sounds hot, that'll work also, just as long as it doesn't have to be watched, merely listened to.

Help improve my sound!

aladfar — Wed, 09 Jul 2008 14:44:19 -0800

Help improve my sound! After listening to some pristine, rich & dynamic music at a friend's studio, I've decided to improve my own setup. The catch? I don't want to spend thousands and have no interest in audiophile snake oil. Recommendations? Details on my existing gear inside. Note: I should point out that I was listening to uncompressed AIFF audio at the studio. While I've no plans to get rid of my MP3 files, I want to get the most out of my vinyl and lossless digital.

My current setup:
Mac w/iTunes
Small Mackie Mixer (A glorified switcher, sometimes used for podcasting)
Pro-Ject Phono Preamp
Pro-Ject Debut III Turntable
M-Audio Stereophile Monitors

What I heard at the studio:
Mac w/iTunes
Apogee Ensemble D/A Converter
Mackie HR824 Monitors

Is there a nice spot in the middle? Should I ditch the powered monitors and pursue an amplified solution? Recommendations would be much appreciated. I'm open to anything, but would like to keep things at or below (preferably below) $1k. Thanks!