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. [more inside]
posted on Jul 9, 2008 - 12 answers
So, I have about 1400 CDs and I'd like to be able to listen to them at any time from a server at several locations through out the house.
Whats new in the world of media servers?
[more inside]
posted on Jul 7, 2008 - 21 answers 
Help me make a play list of music that has to be listened to while watching fireworks. [more inside]
posted on Jul 4, 2008 - 17 answers
In Logic 8, when I try to import an audio (aif) file exported from Ableton Live, Logic slows down the audio file significantly. [more inside]
posted on Jun 29, 2008 - 7 answers
Where can I find a good source of audio samples from Japanese monster movies? [more inside]
posted on Jun 11, 2008 - 4 answers
I see audio players like the one on this page all over the internet. I am HTML-impaired but want to use this player on my little blog so I can post clips of music and write about them. How do I get this player, and what's the easiest way to implement?
posted on May 20, 2008 - 8 answers
Have you ever been riding on mass transit next to someone whose headphones are so loud you can hear them several feet away? If so, do you ask them to turn it down?
posted on May 9, 2008 - 50 answers
Are the Grado SR60's the best headphones that I can buy for under $100? I plan on using them, or whatever headphones I get, mainly with my iPod.
posted on Apr 21, 2008 - 28 answers
I'm looking for a free application for OS X that will let me create and export midi files. [more inside]
posted on Mar 19, 2008 - 6 answers
How big a problem is USB microphone latency for multitrack musical recording? i.e. How difficult will it be to do tight vocal overdubs with a straight-to-USB mic? What about with a mic->XLR->USB interface->Mac setup? [more inside]
posted on Feb 27, 2008 - 8 answers
I have an MP3 player that uses a standard 3.5mm wired set of headphones.
I also have a mobile phone that supports bluetooth.
Is there a headset device that would let me listen to my MP3 player as normal, but when a call was received switch to the phone/bluetooth connection? [more inside]
posted on Feb 19, 2008 - 3 answers
What's this musical style/genre called? [more inside]
posted on Feb 13, 2008 - 19 answers
What popular or well known recordings use toy drum sets for percussion? [more inside]
posted on Jan 17, 2008 - 15 answers
I have an mp3, one channel of which is way quieter than the other. How can I fix it so the two channels are the same volume? [more inside]
posted on Jan 2, 2008 - 5 answers
I'm looking for an MP3 player that you can treat like a USB drive. In other words, I want to load MP3s onto it by just plugging the device into my machine and the copying files over. I do not want to use a specialized program like Itunes, and I want to use a standard USB or Firewire cable to plug the device into my computer. [more inside]
posted on Dec 24, 2007 - 32 answers
I would like to buy an audio sampler, but am new to this. Recommendations? [more inside]
posted on Dec 18, 2007 - 5 answers
What's the best way to create an office jukebox with a web interface? [more inside]
posted on Dec 14, 2007 - 15 answers
My aunt's family has been listening to the same Christmas tape (as in, the same physical tape) repeatedly for about 25 years. The tape was originally made by dubbing from vinyl. I'd like, as a gift, to remaster the whole thing, but I need help identifying all the song versions. [more inside]
posted on Nov 20, 2007 - 25 answers
AudioH4x: How can I remotely play
posted on Nov 19, 2007 - 7 answers
Recommend this rap listener a pair of small, great-sounding speakers (that I can afford)! [more inside]
posted on Nov 16, 2007 - 12 answers
Have any MeFites used Source Audio's cool-looking Hot Hands wireless adapter, especially with other manufacturers' gear? [more inside]
posted on Nov 4, 2007 - 3 answers
I'm looking for a streaming radio station playing the latest in Arab pop music. There used to be a fantastic one called Beirut Mood Radio a number of months ago. Sadly, it disappeared without a trace. Something in the vein of Hifa Wehbe would be fantastic. A shoutcast (or icecast) stream would be preferable. Windows Media doesn't work for me. Many thanks.
posted on Oct 24, 2007 - 1 answers
How does autotune work? [more inside]
posted on Oct 22, 2007 - 7 answers
Any recommendations for a computer program that will make learning and/or transcribing complex basslines easier? I would like to find a simple way to slow down an audio track and isolate the bass guitar sound. [more inside]
posted on Aug 12, 2007 - 6 answers
Can anybody suggest some upbeat, INSTRUMENTAL bachata or merengue music? I've been searching high and low, and Dominican music sans singing seems very hard to come by. Really, any music that is Dominican, instrumental, and upbeat will do.
posted on Jul 16, 2007 - 1 answers
Is there a way in iTunes (or another application) to make all of the songs on a playlist be approximately the same volume? [more inside]
posted on Jul 11, 2007 - 9 answers
Is it possible to analyse audio files in php/flash?
More specifically bitrate, tempo and conversion between media formats. [more inside]
posted on Jun 23, 2007 - 8 answers
[Musofilter] What goes with the forgotten 1986 masterpiece : The The - Infected ? [more inside]
posted on May 17, 2007 - 34 answers
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?
posted on May 14, 2007 - 4 answers
How can I learn to mix (not DJing, Audio Engineering) my own music in my limited spare time? I've bought books and read what I can on the net, but I find that I'm more of a "hands-on" learner type. Lately I feel that this is what's holding me back with my music-making. I'm in NYC. [more inside]
posted on Feb 22, 2007 - 24 answers
I'm looking for something that will be able to play back either an uncompressed WAVE file or that will record an actual audio signal for later playback. It has to be totally shock/shake-proof, and it must be able to automatically stop after every track/file and wait for input to start again. Preservation of sound quality is absolutely essential. If any of you have experience with such a device, please share. [more inside]
posted on Feb 16, 2007 - 13 answers
Help me fill my home with music: I want to play my iTunes library over two separate home stereo systems at the same time. What's the easiest, cheapest way to do this? [more inside]
posted on Feb 4, 2007 - 12 answers
Short version: What cool musical equipment can I get for $200? [more inside]
posted on Jan 29, 2007 - 30 answers
I'm looking for recommendations for a good cheap multitrack recorder. [more inside]
posted on Jan 22, 2007 - 13 answers
I'm looking for a sample pack of all of the words/letters/numbers/phonemes from a Speak n' Spell (and/or derivatives). I'm not looking for crazy circuit bent samples... just something I can piece together words/phrases out of. Surely someone has done this. [more inside]
posted on Jan 20, 2007 - 9 answers
DAWs are cool, but I really like the feel of instruments in my hands. Where can I obtain potentially-electronic-music-producing electronic gadgets, oscillators, noise machines, etc. in Southern California?
posted on Jan 19, 2007 - 10 answers
Solutions for organizing lots of different kinds of cables (xlr, 1/8 in, 1/4 in, rca, usb, firewire, ac) for easy access where space is at a severe premium?
posted on Jan 6, 2007 - 14 answers
What gear does Fennesz use? [more inside]
posted on Dec 27, 2006 - 7 answers
Need to put together a PA for a music venue [more inside]
posted on Dec 15, 2006 - 11 answers
Recommend a good flash-based audio player. [more inside]
posted on Dec 1, 2006 - 11 answers
DIY Wedding Reception Music Sound System?!?! Frazzled bride has [more inside]
posted on Oct 31, 2006 - 19 answers
headphone choice for non symmetrical hearing: my father is mostly-deaf in one ear. He wears an in-ear hearing aid that works well. He would like to find the following... [more inside]
posted on Oct 24, 2006 - 4 answers
Audio separates. Looking for standalone hard-disk based mp3 player. [more inside]
posted on Oct 24, 2006 - 10 answers
I bought an Alesis MultiMix 8 the other day, which is an 8 input firewire interface. It works OK but the main problem I have is that the stereo out (from the computer to the mixer) cuts out very frequently. [more inside]
posted on Oct 11, 2006 - 7 answers
I'm collaborating with someone on multiple large music projects (200-500 megs each). I'm looking for a way to have the projects in a central repository and allow us to upload and download only our changes to and from the repository. [more inside]
posted on Sep 6, 2006 - 5 answers
I've lost my hair, I've lost my youth and now it's time for my hearing to follow. recommend a stereo system, please.
[more inside]
posted on Sep 4, 2006 - 14 answers
Help me play the piano like the Edge plays guitar. Or Eddie Van Halen. Or... [more inside]
posted on Aug 26, 2006 - 17 answers
Why don't more songs use total stereo seperation of different instruments? It worked for the Beatles. Why did they use it so extensively when few others seem to have?
posted on Aug 23, 2006 - 36 answers
What's the best and least expensive way to setup a zoned audio system for my house -- MUZAK for the home -- with up to five different music channels playing in different rooms of the house. Preferably without having to wire the place. So wireless. [more inside]
posted on Aug 18, 2006 - 7 answers
Help me find somewhere online to purchase a theremin, preferrably cheaply. I'd just be a beginner, so great magical quality isn't an issue. Also, I have no problem with age as long as they function. There's aslo [more inside]
posted on Aug 16, 2006 - 6 answers
So, the stereo I won on Jeopardy is about to break...what should I replace it with? [more inside]
posted on Aug 8, 2006 - 17 answers
Is there a tool I can use to convert my archive of music from AAC and MP3 to FLAC? [more inside]
posted on Jul 31, 2006 - 11 answers
Often when listening to music or a film on my in-ear (ipod) headphones I fold my ears forward and hold them. Is this damaging my hearing? [more inside]
posted on Jul 29, 2006 - 6 answers
So, what's the state of music production software in Linux? What are people using? [more inside]
posted on Jul 27, 2006 - 6 answers
MuFi has got the best of me - help me get started making electronic music, particularly drum 'n' bass/idm. [more inside]
posted on Jul 12, 2006 - 15 answers
Is there a way to play my ipod through my computer? [more inside]
posted on Jul 10, 2006 - 11 answers
How to rip audio only from a dvd. [more inside]
posted on Jul 5, 2006 - 6 answers
I want a fake drummer who doesn't sound fake, on the cheap. Drum samples and software ideas: help me out! [more inside]
posted on Jun 2, 2006 - 10 answers
I've never really bought albums/CDs and ripped them. Atleast not all of them, I probably have like 15-20 albums, but that's it.
The major part of my music collection happens to come from the Napster times. Where only tracks would be downloaded, which have little or no filename according to convention.
So, I have tracks like "12-Thievery Corp-Fedime's Flight.mp3". I'd like to see this track as "Thievery Corporation - Fedime's Flight.mp3" [more inside]
posted on Apr 15, 2006 - 13 answers
How do I get iTunes to stop reverting the music folder back to my local laptop drive every time I leave the house? How can I play music that is housed on my desktop from my laptop through my stereo receiver?! [more inside]
posted on Apr 11, 2006 - 13 answers
Audio Amplifier selection: I have an older (90s) Sony Amp driving two much older Boston acoustic 150 watt - 8 ohm rated speakers (A150s, series II, 1985). The speakers just had the woofers placed by BA, and now it's time to move the amp up into the new century. How Audiophile do I have to go to get decent sound? [more inside]
posted on Mar 28, 2006 - 11 answers
Anybody used or familiar with a music download service called emusic.com? [more inside]
posted on Mar 27, 2006 - 24 answers
Help me recover background conversation from this stereo live recording. [more inside]
posted on Mar 21, 2006 - 18 answers
Does a "remix contest" blog exist? Are there any music production type websites that keep up with this stuff? [more inside]
posted on Mar 7, 2006 - 10 answers
I've got two recorded conversations, in .wav format, that I would like remixed into a single song, preferably with a hip-hop beat. [more inside]
posted on Feb 25, 2006 - 25 answers
So, I'm gonna DJ tonight using my 12" PowerBook as the source. I know the mixer requires mono--the question is how to do it. I don't want to ignore the right stereo channel. But do I use a stereo-mono adapter? Stereo-mono cable? Software?
[more inside]
posted on Jan 18, 2006 - 7 answers
New Mac glitch music making software? [more inside]
posted on Jan 11, 2006 - 2 answers
i just bought a tivoli system (kloss model 2, extra speaker and cd) and have it on the bookshelf but some questions: [more inside]
posted on Jan 7, 2006 - 10 answers
Audio Cables 101: tell me exactly how to feed a stereo mix from my mixer to my breakout box. [more inside]
posted on Dec 20, 2005 - 11 answers
Need mp3/MIDI/any audio for an old Christian song by Jon Byron called "We Are the Family of God" [more inside]
posted on Dec 16, 2005 - 1 answers
I have thousands of songs on my laptop. Unfortunately, my laptop's speakers are terrible. My desktop, however, has a great set of speakers. I want to listen to music from my laptop on my desktop speakers, and I want to control the audio from my laptop. The desktop and laptop can connect to each other over my network. Is there anything out there that will let me do this easily and at no cost?
posted on Dec 12, 2005 - 22 answers
What DC to AC power inverter can I buy for use in a car that won't contribute hum to an audio signal from devices it powers? [more inside]
posted on Nov 15, 2005 - 11 answers
I need help identifying the notes in a snippet of Indian music. [more inside]
posted on Nov 14, 2005 - 7 answers
Seamless tracks in iTunes? [more inside]
posted on Nov 10, 2005 - 11 answers
Home Studio Recording - My friend is looking into building a home studio and basing it around the ProTools LE Digi002 control surface. Should he go PC or Mac? [more inside]
posted on Oct 25, 2005 - 13 answers
Why can't I burn a music CD? [more inside]
posted on Oct 17, 2005 - 9 answers
The factory-installed stereo in my car has stopped playing CDs, and my commute is fairly long, so this is essentially unacceptable. I've looked into getting it repaired, but the whole stereo'll have to be sent away for weeks, and it'll end up costing a bunch. But I've yet to find an add-on in-dash stereo for $200 or less that isn't terribly ugly. [more inside]
posted on Oct 17, 2005 - 15 answers
Which Apple audio format(s) should I use for the greatest flexibility? I want high quality lossless and be able to compress files as needed. [more inside]
posted on Sep 30, 2005 - 11 answers
When I'm running and listening to music through headphones, songs sound slower than normal. Why is this? [more inside]
posted on Sep 12, 2005 - 12 answers
Audio Production filter: I'm looking for background music for an audio project. The problem is, I don't know how to describe it. It's what I would call '1950's americana marketing music' or maybe 'bouncy happy super-retro cliche music'. See inside for a link to an example... [more inside]
posted on Aug 20, 2005 - 19 answers
Need suggestions for "moody" and "provocative" audio/sources for said audio to play in between songs during a live performance. [more inside]
posted on Aug 4, 2005 - 10 answers
Audiofilter: What is the cheapest way to get pure digital sound from a computer 10~15 feet away from a surround sound system? [more inside]
posted on Aug 1, 2005 - 5 answers
How does everyone keep up with new music? Over the past year, blind luck and close reading of a few blogs turned me on to some music I'm glad I didn't miss (Bloc Party, Arcade Fire, LCD Soundsystem). Work and other obligations prevent me from listening to KCRW, KEXP or some other "hip" radio stream all day, and I just don't have the time to read through x-amount of MP3 blogs a day looking for the next exciting thing. Pitchfork's 'Best New Music' feature is helpful, but I'd like something more. Ideally, I'd like a podcast of non-podsafe (i.e., whatever's new and good, signed or otherwise) music or a single blogger who posts frequently and writes well. I'm not looking for a bootlegging outlet, just a reliable source for direction on what's new and worth my time.
posted on Jul 18, 2005 - 34 answers
The volume of the songs played in WinAmp varies wildy. Is there some sort of volume equalizer for WinAmp? [more inside]
posted on Jun 23, 2005 - 11 answers
Has anyone had any experience with buying earplugs for use at concerts? [more inside]
posted on Jun 9, 2005 - 27 answers
Can anyone recommend a small, portable, battery-powered voice amplifier that would work well for a street performer? [more inside]
posted on Jun 8, 2005 - 6 answers
They're talking today about "Super CD Tuesday" on MSNBC...Why are CD/DVD releases always on Tuesday?
posted on Jun 7, 2005 - 11 answers
I'm looking for a device that processes an audio signal by sweeping the center frequency of a bandpass filter back and forth across a frequency range. What is this effect called, and what sort of effects processor might provide it? [more inside]
posted on May 2, 2005 - 8 answers
Why, in this modern age of file sharing, do some musical artists seem to openly welcome live audio recording/sharing of concerts but appear reluctant, if not actively opposed, to live video recording/sharing of the same events?
posted on Apr 29, 2005 - 6 answers
I've always played music through my PC & PC speakers, or through a cheap boombox/stereo. I get decent quality through my PC, but I'd really like to separate it out and get some good speakers for just for music. The problem is, I don't exactly know how to go about this. [more inside]
posted on Apr 25, 2005 - 7 answers
I'm looking for a decent, small travel speaker to attach to my laptop so I can listen to music in the hotel. [more inside]
posted on Apr 7, 2005 - 5 answers
Neotones: As I understand it, a note is not a pure frequency but a combination of a prominent frequency and various overtones, which are multiples of the fundamental frequency, of diminishing contribution. Is there a device, that can generate alienesque tones, where one can freely manipulate the various overtones?
posted on Mar 28, 2005 - 13 answers
ClickCutCrunchFilter. I'm an amateur musician who wants to start producing electronic music on my PC. [more inside]
posted on Mar 20, 2005 - 19 answers
I need new headphones. Which ones should I get? [more inside]
posted on Mar 16, 2005 - 17 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. [more inside]
posted on Mar 10, 2005 - 11 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 on Feb 18, 2005 - 11 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 on Feb 15, 2005 - 16 answers
I'm mixing an album and I want all tracks to have the same apparent loudness. [that noise comes from inside]
posted on Feb 14, 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].
posted on Feb 14, 2005 - 6 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 on Feb 12, 2005 - 17 answers
Any advice on inspecting audio CDs for errors? Ideally, via software.
posted on Feb 9, 2005 - 3 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 on Dec 10, 2004 - 29 answers
I don't believe in headphones. Does anyone make an mp3 player with speakers built in, like a small boombox perhaps? Seems like an obvious market (even people who DO use headphones sometimes want to share their music with others in the room), but I have yet to see one.
posted on Nov 22, 2004 - 28 answers
Home-recording question, Part Deux: What is the best way to route your headphones, soundcard and mixer? (More inside)
posted on Sep 27, 2004 - 3 answers
Home Recording: my current setup is a Mackie 1402 board direct into an Audigy Platinum card. I was thinking about getting a higher-quality card--this was recommended--though truthfully, I'm not sure what noticeable differences to expect. Also, what is the advantage to having a breakout box if I've already got a decent mixing board?
posted on Sep 25, 2004 - 8 answers
Laptop Music filter- Can you help me pick out a computer to make music on [mi]?
posted on Aug 9, 2004 - 10 answers
I watched Donnie Darko again recently and I thought it was a damn shame that Tortoise didn't do the soundtrack. I became ever-so-briefly obsessed with the idea of replacing some of the musical sequences with Tortoise music, but I wouldn't know how to do this without completely removing any sound effects and dialogue from those scenes. Is there a way for a non-audio-geek to separate these audio elements? Assume I'm starting with a DVD.
posted on Jul 17, 2004 - 17 answers
Home Studio Questions:
(1) opinions of Pro Tools vs GarageBand or other multitrack audio tools that run on a Mac (DP? Deck?)?
(2) What are the *most* useful home studio items you've ever bought, the ones you wouldn't want to do without?
(3) What are the *least* useful items you've ever bought -- stuff you got and then later thought "well, that was disappointing"?
posted on Jul 11, 2004 - 26 answers
Music playback optimization help desired. [more inside]
posted on Jun 21, 2004 - 10 answers
CD Sleeves? Who uses them? Somewhat related to this question
posted on May 11, 2004 - 12 answers
I'm after tips for processing audio to "dirty it up" - techniques and software [more inside].
posted on Apr 22, 2004 - 9 answers
A recent question regarding Record players got me thinking: Does it matter what quality record player you are using, as long as the cartridge is high quality? Can you hear a difference between a $100 and a $200 record player if the needle is the same, in regards to music playback?
posted on Apr 19, 2004 - 5 answers
I'm looking for a pair of earmuff-style headphones with a built-in radio. Any recommendations? [More Inside]
posted on Apr 5, 2004 - 2 answers
Does anybody know a fairly easy and preferably free way to convert (like the one's here) into mp3's that I could save to my hard drive?
posted on Mar 13, 2004 - 8 answers
My dance group is looking for a way to play CDs at variable speeds. There are a few variable speed CD players on the market, or, it's likely that a laptop could be used to play CDs and .mp3s at variable speed. (Variable speed is really useful for teaching dances.) We have raised $600 so far. Experiences? Recommendations?
posted on Jan 19, 2004 - 8 answers
Home recording studio questions: (1) What to do about sound source with a noise problem (sounds like a bad ground loop) and (2) building some approximation of an isolation booth. [more inside]
posted on Jan 1, 2004 - 7 answers
