I have the latest PowerBook G4 and would like to set something up in my home to record spoken word. I'm looking for recommendations on preamps, microphones and maybe software. From what I have read GarageBand can record vocals just fine. Does anyone have any experience they could share on that subject as well? Cost isn't really an issue, but I don't need anything super fancy or complicated.
posted by whatevrnvrmind
on Mar 17, 2005 -
7 answers
The MPEG website seems pretty dead. Is anyone doing anything interesting with MPEG-7? Is anyone doing anything interesting with MPEG-21?
posted by Pretty_Generic
on Mar 16, 2005 -
2 answers
How in the world can I keep Windows XP from automatically muting the speakers when headphones are plugged in?
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posted by Stunt
on Mar 16, 2005 -
9 answers
Music production software: I need a beatfixer. I've got recordings of a live percussion ensemble. I've also got electronic/sequenced music that I want to mashup with the live percussion. The live ensemble recording -- what with the humans and all -- has tempo fluctuations: that's a big problem for mashing. I want a music processing tool that will "straighten out" the live recording so that the live track will stay in sync with the electronic track.
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posted by Moistener
on Mar 10, 2005 -
11 answers
I'm need some direction with this: I've been a PC guy all my life but decided to "switch" to the Mac mini(with KVM)to see if I like it better. However, I'm about to convert all of my mom's old LP's to CD's and want to use the Mini for this. I know it doesn't have an audio in but was hoping that someone could suggest a specific USB Audio Interface and audio recording software for the mac and any any other kind of tips or tricks for this project.
posted by stevyb
on Mar 10, 2005 -
5 answers
Inspired by the thread about Audacity. I'm currently recording interviews on my computer through the modem, but the available software is shaky at best. Help me find a telephone with a line out jack!
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posted by NekulturnY
on Mar 10, 2005 -
8 answers
What are the best tricks, using an audio program like Audacity, for improving a recording of a phone interview where the other guy sounds really quiet, but your voice is loud? What compression/decibal settings are typically best, and what other effects will bring the quiet voice up -- perhaps without making the loud voice much louder?
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posted by inksyndicate
on Mar 9, 2005 -
9 answers
I've got an .avi file whose audio has come unstuck in time. Is there some easy Mac OS X solution to re-sync this audio? Basically, is there any software out there that will let me take apart the file, and then glue it back together with the audio two seconds later?
posted by hughbot
on Mar 8, 2005 -
5 answers
Does anyone know how to program the Mercedes audio (COMMAND) system so that the radio volume does not automatically adjust itself according to (the car's perceived sense of) background noise. I expect it is a series of codes that can be input through the radio.
posted by Carsey
on Mar 7, 2005 -
2 answers
So I have decided I need new headphones for use with my iPod and occasionally on my computer. I'm looking for big, art-school style headphones that are ear-enveloping and comfortable to wear, and also happen to sound
awesome. I have the
Sony MDR-V600s, but they are unsatisfactory for a variety of reasons. What I really want to know is: do any of y'all know of some big, nice headphones I can buy for less than or equal to $100?
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posted by scrim
on Mar 5, 2005 -
10 answers
ProAudio Filter: I'm looking to purchase the new portable
Marantz CF recorder. What's the best online retailer for this kind of gear? There are so many to choose from that it's hard to decide.
posted by aladfar
on Mar 4, 2005 -
6 answers
Where do you go for product reviews and comparisons? I recently bought a bunch of audio and PC hardware with mixed results.
Consumer Reports is outdated, Epinions reviews are quite thin on the ground, and Amazon is trying to sell you everything. Google? Ha! Thousands of links to people with little "stores" fronting for Amazon...
posted by rwhe
on Mar 3, 2005 -
11 answers
I've recently broken the cheapass earbuds I use at work to listen to internet radio and am trying to figure out what cheapass replacement I should go look for.
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posted by Karmakaze
on Feb 28, 2005 -
14 answers
1. I want to buy/install small satellite speakers for my TV and to play music through my computer (AirPort Express). Do I need an amplifier or a receiver? Can someone guide me through this? Please help!
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posted by scazza
on Feb 26, 2005 -
12 answers
Is there a current-gen cell phone that offers internal recording of conversations held on the phone, which can be activated and deactivated by the phone's owner mid conversation? I need to be highly available to conduct interviews over the next month and this would change 'impossible' to 'possible.' It would also sell me my first cell phone.
posted by mwhybark
on Feb 26, 2005 -
11 answers
I'm interested in acquiring a little comfort with spoken French - passively, by listening to it. I looked through a Podcast archive (and looked through some AskMe threads), and could only find French music. I'm interested in news, stories, interviews -- basically just listening to French people talking. Even stuff intended for children might be good.
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posted by amtho
on Feb 25, 2005 -
14 answers
Seeing as I managed to snap the tip of my headphone jack off inside the computer, its time to upgrade. I've been doing my research, and I've narrowed it down. My burning question now deals with open-air vs sealed headphones.
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posted by true
on Feb 20, 2005 -
7 answers
I need help figuring out how to get my Windows PC with iTunes to recognize and read an 'enhanced' music CD. The CD plays fine in a CD player and I can see the 'extra' files with one particular PC, but no song files. iTunes thinks its blank. I've updated iTunes and my CD drive drivers and I even flashed my BIOS. No help. Anyone have any ideas? I really want to listen to this new CD on my iPod...
posted by kittyoneil
on Feb 18, 2005 -
11 answers
I like to fall asleep while watching DVDs on my Windows XP PC in Windows Media Player. The problem is that on DVDs with loud menu screens after the movie is over the DVD returns to the menu and blasts loud exciting action music, waking me up. Is there a freeware program out there that will mute Media Player after the movie is over?
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posted by Servo5678
on Feb 18, 2005 -
7 answers
I want to bootleg concerts that I attend so I can listen to them later. Can anyone here recommend a good set up for recording concerts in small venues? I have an iPod, and was thinking of using the
Griffin iTalk to do the actual recording. Has anyone tried this particular setup before?
posted by anonymous
on Feb 15, 2005 -
16 answers
I badly need a recommendation for an audio-recording instrument (and directional mike) for print interviews. Many thanks beforehand. [
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posted by MiguelCardoso
on Feb 15, 2005 -
15 answers
Attention sound peoples: I work for a non-profit that runs a historic theatre that's getting set to re-open. We're looking to lease or purchase sound equipment, as the primary use for the facility will be live music [MI].
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posted by Hat Maui
on Feb 14, 2005 -
5 answers
HTPC owners: need recommendations, based on your direct experience, on a remote control for my XP-based mp3/video player. More requirements inside.
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posted by aberrant
on Feb 13, 2005 -
3 answers
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?
posted by punkbitch
on Feb 13, 2005 -
9 answers
We were rearranging the shelves in my house today, and we found a bunch of old tapes from my
Dad's friends from when he lived in Spain (he was born there, as was I). His friends mixed
a bunch of bands together to make this very cool-sounding tape, and the thought struck me: Why not
rip this? (edit: also found bunch of old tapes my brother made of a punk radio station. woot!)
Of course, I lack the knowledge required.
So my question essentially is: what sort of process, programs, and materials is one required to
go through to convert these tapes to mp3? Would the machine I'd have to buy also double as a
tape-pl-ayer itself? What about records? I've been wanting a record player for a while, and I've
been wanting to rip some records as well. Are there record-rippers which double as players? Are
there record/tape player/rippers all combined into one machine? How complicated is this process?
How expensive does it have to be? I don't want to end up with really badly ripped files, but I
don't want studio equipment, either. Basically, what do I have to go through to get good
sounding, 192-320 kbps mp3s from my tapes and records that I could then distribute via
BitTorrent? Thanks.
posted by Lockeownzj00
on Feb 12, 2005 -
17 answers
I just recently signed up for a 3 months broadband trial and was wondering what online resources I could access to get the best value out of it. I am looking forward to the great choice of Radio Stations and archived programmes, but what other value could I get from it to make it worthwhile. I dont have a television and would like to get max entertainment value from it as well as anything else you think worthwhile.
posted by kenaman
on Feb 11, 2005 -
9 answers
My laptop can't produce sound clearly, but last night it could. I know next to nothing about computers. What's with this?
posted by saysthis
on Feb 10, 2005 -
12 answers
OSXFilter. My girlfriend has a problem with playing sound in her browsers: "I just got a new G5 running Panther. I have Safari, IE, and Firefox installed, and suddenly none of them will play any sound. Flash, Java, media files, nothing makes sound when it's running through a browser. Other applications play sounds fine." [+]
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posted by kenko
on Feb 10, 2005 -
11 answers
Any advice on inspecting audio CDs for errors? Ideally, via software.
posted by romancer
on Feb 9, 2005 -
3 answers
Over the past several years, I have been burned by poor quality in home electronics from various manufacturers. I have purchased pieces by Sony (home stereo), Panasonic (theatre-in-a-box) and RCA (various pieces of junk), and all have given out in one way or another far too quickly for my liking. In a renewed attempt to build a proper home theatre system (DVD/CD, receiver, speakers, etc), and recognizing that I haven't the money for really high-end stuff but will avoid anything cheap, I seek outside opinions as to which manufacturers are making products that are of reasonable quality, and reasonably priced. Your experiences, please.
posted by danwalker
on Feb 4, 2005 -
23 answers
Is there a free VST- or AudioUnit-compatibile plugin designed to remove or reduce compression artifacts from low-quality audio being re-recorded at a higher bitrate? Or special settings for a specific filter that will do this? I need one for AudioHijack on OS X.
posted by Mo Nickels
on Jan 20, 2005 -
6 answers
SoundsLikeSomethingMomWouldAskMe: When I try to play mp3s, QuickTime, or other audio files, it sounds like they've gone through a cheese grater. I can play CDs only on the computer's CD player - not through QuickTime or Music Match. This started around the time that two other things happened - upgrade from Win98 to 2000, and a new fan installed. Anybody know what's wrong?
posted by tizzie
on Jan 20, 2005 -
8 answers
Other than the advantage of never having to adjust the source volume, what's the advantage of outputting audio through the line out vs. headphone out? [...]
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posted by sammich
on Jan 18, 2005 -
9 answers
I have some mastered audio data and a quicktime movie that I'd like to combine into a user-freindly mixed-mode master disc for duplication. More inside...
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posted by adamkempa
on Jan 16, 2005 -
4 answers
Is there an easy and free way to do text-to-mp3 conversion on a Windows system? How about the other way 'round?
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posted by monju_bosatsu
on Jan 12, 2005 -
2 answers
Around 1997 there was a website a guy made that detailed all of Led Zeppelin's recording sessions down to the most minute detail. Even pointing out that you could hear John Bonham's bass drum pedal squeaking throughout most of Physical Grafitti (like in the song Houses of the Holy)...or the sounds of tapes/edits being dubbed together, or other studio anomalies. Anyway, I can't find the site any longer and this kind of crap fascinates me. Does anybody know of other sites like this that anaylise the recordings of well known recordings??
posted by punkfloyd
on Jan 11, 2005 -
7 answers
We are looking to buy a set of 5.1 speakers for
this receiver, but we're pretty clueless. Can we get something decent for around $200?
posted by muckster
on Dec 27, 2004 -
19 answers
You want to rip a 60-second (or so) clip from a DVD, substitute the audio with an MP3 of your choosing, and save the result in a format suitable for Internet distribution. What (downloadable, easy-to-learn) software do you use?
posted by Aaorn
on Dec 24, 2004 -
3 answers
Anyone out there using the
Jaeger podcaster?
I was hoping that I could use it to listen to the
Teenage Wasteland archives from
WFMU. But I'm not sure how to set up a feed, any ideas?
posted by lilboo
on Dec 22, 2004 -
10 answers
Outputting analog audio sources to a SPDIF connection (Part 1 of 2) [MI]
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posted by ed\26h
on Dec 18, 2004 -
2 answers
How can I dump DVD audio to make it editable? I have looked everywhere for an accurate soundtrack of White Christmas however the closest one I've found had the songs recorded after the movie ran - and is not the exact same dubbing as used in the movie. [+]
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posted by bkdelong
on Dec 13, 2004 -
6 answers
MP3 Filter: I've got a large MP3 collection at home that I would like to be able to access from my office. I'm too cheap for an IPod, and it's too big of a collection to be able to mirror on my office computer without taking up gigs of space. I've been looking for a program to stream my mp3's from my home computer to my office computer... [MI]
posted by SweetJesus
on Dec 10, 2004 -
29 answers
