Though the players are well adapted to regular use they are remarkably resistant to casual scratches. The player itself can deal with them. Usually it may cause a CD player to skip. While players are remarkably durable it is impossible to prevent them from producing scratches and scuffs from time to time. So there must be adequate measures too to control it to some extent.
There are various processes to repair scratched DVD. It may be a temporary or permanent damage. If it is a permanent damage it may be not remediable. It all depends on the amount of damage caused to the disc.
To repair the DVD first of all we need to thoroughly check it by ourselves. We need to see if the scratch is beyond repairing by holding the disc up to light. The light should not be very bright as it would spoil the disc. If the light can be seen passing through the scratch then the disc is permanently destroyed and cannot be fixed.
If the scratches are not very deep we can try to fix it temporarily. Scratches on the upper label surface are impossible to repair but those on the shiny playing side of the disc are curable.
We should clean the disc with thin linen only. Water can also be used. If the process produces no results we have a secondary option of polishing the disc with toothpaste which should be paste and not gel. Then cleaning with a wet and clean linen cloth will do. The thing worth remembering is that we must not try cleaning by rubbing in circles but from the inside ring of the disc towards the outer edge.
The repairing of the disc also depends on the amount of damage caused to it. The scratches on the label side can prove a death sentence for them because most discs do not have an additional protective coating on the label side.
Applying a layer of thin wax used in automobiles can also prove helpful in polishing the disc and can smoothen the scratches to make it visible. We can give it to a music shop to repair it. Sometimes they remove the upper coating of the disc removing the light scratches. This helps us restore our discs.
But if these methods are not effective then one may use repair kits and polishes or disc refinishing machines available at game shops. They can repair the disc in a mechanical way. It has also been seen that there are differences between one disc player and another. They can handle scratches better than others. Computer CD drives best do this.
If all these methods prove ineffective then the disc is not worth a repair and must be permanently damaged. It cannot be used any longer if it is not repaired by any of these methods.
Author: Victor Epand
Saturday, December 15, 2007
Wednesday, December 5, 2007
How to Buy Discount Car Audio Subwoofers
They are the source of low frequencies of sound and also bass, they make the music worthwhile with beats full of depth and character. I'm talking about subwoofers and they are widely available to cater for your car audio needs. You do not have to worry about high prices because you can get discount car audio subwoofers. They will save you money as well as bring another level of entertainment to your car. There are very many categories of subwoofers and they include component subwoofers. They range from 8 inches to 15 inches in diameter. There are also many brands available and they include Alpine audio, Crunch audio, Clarion audio, Ample audio, Kenwood audio, Kicker audio, Orion audio and so many other famous and less famous brands.
You need to know how each subwoofer functions before you buy it on discount. You can read about all the details of products on the internet and on other resources in a car audio stores. The features should be clear for you to see and when you feel you love the item, go ahead and make a purchase. Never make a purchase without knowing about the product. If you find that stores are offering different margins of discounts, it is up to you to decide whether or not you want to go for the cheapest price. Anyone will go for the cheaper product. All this keeping in mind the quality aspect. Some people are known to purchase unknown brands and they enjoy the services of the subwoofer perfectly. The truth is that you can get quality from any brand which has been tested by consumers and reviewed that it is indeed good.
Searching through the internet will enable you view all the kinds of subwoofers, you will learn about their specifications and get some expert advice on the sizes to get for your car and above all that you will find a suitable discount that can go a long way in ensuring that you get the right deal. Read about the stores you desire to purchase from and know for how long they have been in business. This will assist you to know authorized dealers and those who are illegally in business. Another thing that will help you know whether they deal with real products is the way they do their business. If they do not display a high degree of professionalism, their products might not be worth getting.
Discount car audio subwoofers need enclosure boxes and it is worth finding out whether they come with the package and if not, find discount boxes. The internet is full of selections of enclosures which are affordable. When you get the discount car audio subwoofers, make sure you install them properly in your car space. They normally occupy below seats and a bit of the storage area. Be careful about the kind of box you enclose them in because the boxes will determine the quality of your sound. It is really up to you to search for the best deal when it comes to discount car audio subwoofers. It is fun having subwoofers in your car audio system because they produce very rich entertainment for you to enjoy.
Author: Muna wa Wanjiru
You need to know how each subwoofer functions before you buy it on discount. You can read about all the details of products on the internet and on other resources in a car audio stores. The features should be clear for you to see and when you feel you love the item, go ahead and make a purchase. Never make a purchase without knowing about the product. If you find that stores are offering different margins of discounts, it is up to you to decide whether or not you want to go for the cheapest price. Anyone will go for the cheaper product. All this keeping in mind the quality aspect. Some people are known to purchase unknown brands and they enjoy the services of the subwoofer perfectly. The truth is that you can get quality from any brand which has been tested by consumers and reviewed that it is indeed good.
Searching through the internet will enable you view all the kinds of subwoofers, you will learn about their specifications and get some expert advice on the sizes to get for your car and above all that you will find a suitable discount that can go a long way in ensuring that you get the right deal. Read about the stores you desire to purchase from and know for how long they have been in business. This will assist you to know authorized dealers and those who are illegally in business. Another thing that will help you know whether they deal with real products is the way they do their business. If they do not display a high degree of professionalism, their products might not be worth getting.
Discount car audio subwoofers need enclosure boxes and it is worth finding out whether they come with the package and if not, find discount boxes. The internet is full of selections of enclosures which are affordable. When you get the discount car audio subwoofers, make sure you install them properly in your car space. They normally occupy below seats and a bit of the storage area. Be careful about the kind of box you enclose them in because the boxes will determine the quality of your sound. It is really up to you to search for the best deal when it comes to discount car audio subwoofers. It is fun having subwoofers in your car audio system because they produce very rich entertainment for you to enjoy.
Author: Muna wa Wanjiru
Friday, November 30, 2007
Home Audio Speakers
Sound, also perceived as the sense of hearing, is an integral part of our lives. Without the ability to hear or reproduce sound we are not complete. Sound is the vibrations that travel through air and can be sensed by our ears. Thus it is a medium of communication. It is used to gather information and knowledge about properties of the environment surrounding us. Sound can travel through air, water, and solids. These help sound waves travel and are known as medium. In normal conditions, human can hear a varied frequency range. But, sometimes we need to amplify the sound output for better quality of hearing. This requires the help of speakers.
Speakers are devices, which convert electromagnetic signals into sound vibrations. Thus speakers are machines that enable us to hear sounds, which have their origin somewhere else. Speakers, also termed as loudspeakers are attached to an audio system, which provides the electromagnetic signals that are then reproduced in the wavelength, which humans can decipher. The loudspeaker is the most variable element in an audio system, and is responsible for marked audible differences between systems.
Home audio systems have come a long way since their inception as just another loudspeaker system. They have become a part and parcel of our every day lives. Today, many versions of home audio systems have evolved into our homes. Technological enhancements have made sure that we can take our audio or sound system wherever we go. As speaker systems are the most important part in the output of sound, they have evolved greatly. Many versions of speaker systems are available in the market today. Depending upon your choice of price and your perception of quality, you can opt for the one that best caters to your requirements.
Speakers are an integral part of any audio system, be it a simple radio or a home theatre system. Home audio speakers are generally multi-drive systems, i.e. they contain two or more drive units. These include woofers, midranges, tweeters, and sometimes horns or super tweeters. A home theatre system is complete only if all the above mentioned add-ons are attached with it to give a theatre-like sound experience. In home audio speaker specifications, the speakers are classified as "N-way" speakers. It indicates the number of bands of different frequency into which the system divides the sound. A 2-way system consists of woofers and tweeters, a 3-way system consists of mid-range speakers with a combination of woofers and tweeters. It depends upon person to person; rather there exists different perceptions towards the quality of sound and thus the drives in a speaker.
If and when you decide upon purchasing a home audio speaker system, you will be spoilt for choice. They come in various ranges of quality and pricing, thus you need to decide carefully what caters to your specific set of requirements. Good audio companies make available a host of choices for speaker systems that can gel with your audio systems. They also provide different designs and creations of speakers that fit into your décor. You can place your systems in such a way that it gives you the optimum output.
Author: Jeff Hyndman
Sunday, November 25, 2007
Which Is Best - Audio Tape, CD or Audio Download?
Despite how great CDs are, many people still prefer audiocassettes to them, especially when it comes to listening to audio books.
Below are some of the reasons why:
One, Audio books in a CD format cannot contain more than 75 minutes of content but audiocassettes can hold as much as 90 whole minutes (and, in many cases much more) of narration.
I agree you can have the entire audio book spread out in several CDs, but not many people like to carry around too many CDs.
So, while you might need just a few audiocassettes for a particular audio book, you will probably need many more CDs for that same audio book.
Two, most people don't like to spend extra cash buying CD audio books when they can get the same audio book cheaper in audiocassettes.
For example, while an unabridged version of "Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire" on 12 audiotapes can be bought for just $31.96 on the Barnes & Noble website, the CD format from Barnes & Noble costs almost double that amount - exactly $55.96 for 17 sets of CDs!
Of course, its not that they want to rip you off - it's simply because it costs much more to produce CDs than it does to produce audiocassettes.
Three, when you turn off your CD player while listening to an audio book, you won't be able to resume from the particular spot you left off. With a cassette, you can begin from the exact same spot you left off.
With CDs it can be frustrating when driving because each time you turn off your car, it would mean restarting the audio book or trying to locate exactly where you stopped.
Of course there are modern and more advanced CD players that can now save your location when you turn off your car, thereby allowing you to resume at the exact same spot you left off.
This won't work when you turn off the car AND take out the CD. But it will work with an audiocassette!
Four, because audio books are mainly just narration, many users don't see why they should spend the extra money to buy CDs because of issues of recording quality when they can get near enough the same quality with audiocassettes.
Their argument is that if it was sound 'quality' they wanted, they would go for audio books in CD formats, but sound quality is the same with audiocassettes and CDs when it comes to audio books.
In more succinct terms - the voice of humans (without drums and other musical paraphernalia) has very little to gain from the depth and clarity that comes with digital recordings in CD format!
Things are changing though. With the development of compact playes such as iPods and MP3 players, it's little wonder that downloadable audio books are fast outpacing the traditional audio tape or CD as the preferred medium. After all, one can always make a 'hard' (CD copy) of a digitally downloaded audio book if one so wished thereby having the best of both worlds.
Author: Eddie Lamb
Below are some of the reasons why:
One, Audio books in a CD format cannot contain more than 75 minutes of content but audiocassettes can hold as much as 90 whole minutes (and, in many cases much more) of narration.
I agree you can have the entire audio book spread out in several CDs, but not many people like to carry around too many CDs.
So, while you might need just a few audiocassettes for a particular audio book, you will probably need many more CDs for that same audio book.
Two, most people don't like to spend extra cash buying CD audio books when they can get the same audio book cheaper in audiocassettes.
For example, while an unabridged version of "Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire" on 12 audiotapes can be bought for just $31.96 on the Barnes & Noble website, the CD format from Barnes & Noble costs almost double that amount - exactly $55.96 for 17 sets of CDs!
Of course, its not that they want to rip you off - it's simply because it costs much more to produce CDs than it does to produce audiocassettes.
Three, when you turn off your CD player while listening to an audio book, you won't be able to resume from the particular spot you left off. With a cassette, you can begin from the exact same spot you left off.
With CDs it can be frustrating when driving because each time you turn off your car, it would mean restarting the audio book or trying to locate exactly where you stopped.
Of course there are modern and more advanced CD players that can now save your location when you turn off your car, thereby allowing you to resume at the exact same spot you left off.
This won't work when you turn off the car AND take out the CD. But it will work with an audiocassette!
Four, because audio books are mainly just narration, many users don't see why they should spend the extra money to buy CDs because of issues of recording quality when they can get near enough the same quality with audiocassettes.
Their argument is that if it was sound 'quality' they wanted, they would go for audio books in CD formats, but sound quality is the same with audiocassettes and CDs when it comes to audio books.
In more succinct terms - the voice of humans (without drums and other musical paraphernalia) has very little to gain from the depth and clarity that comes with digital recordings in CD format!
Things are changing though. With the development of compact playes such as iPods and MP3 players, it's little wonder that downloadable audio books are fast outpacing the traditional audio tape or CD as the preferred medium. After all, one can always make a 'hard' (CD copy) of a digitally downloaded audio book if one so wished thereby having the best of both worlds.
Author: Eddie Lamb
Thursday, November 15, 2007
Audio Books - from LP to MP3
Audio books are a great way to use 'empty' time. Load an audio book into your MP3 player or iPod - you can find audio books for just about any interest, from novels to business books and audio books about self-improvement to even the bible or the coran. You can find them 24 hours a day, just by clicking a few buttons on your computer and an internet shop delivers the contents for your iPod or MP3 player conveniently to you.
Even if they have only become very popular again recently, the concept of audio books goes back about eighty years! Initially books on tape or on LP's were produced for the blind. Here's a short look back in history:
Already in the 1920's, the Royal National Institute for the Blind in England (RNIB) initiate research to find the best way to produce audio books for blind soldiers that were the result of the World War I battles. They finally decide to produce audio books on LP's and the first ones were made in 1926. To play them they were put on the old fashioned LP players that had to be cranked by hand and delivered the sound through the big horn. This was a great development for the blind, but was hardly used by normal consumers. So these audio books from RNIB remained a niche product and never reached the masses.
The concept was successful and in 1936 the Royal National Institute for the Blind launched the 'Talking Book Service'. The first two books they produced were:'The murder of Roger Ackroyd' (Agatha Christie) and 'Thyphoon' (Joseph Conrad). Because the records could only hold 25 minutes of spoken text, an average audio book had to be recorded on an average of ten records.
During WWII, the studio used by the RNIB was bombed, and one month later a replacement studio was bombed as well, destroying much needed equipment to continue the production. The American Foundation for the Blind (AFB), who had started to produce audio books in the USA sent replacement parts and equipment to London so that the production could be taken up again.
The old fashioned LP's were replaced by modern LP's and finally cassettes, making listening to audio books more convenient. Sony's Walkman made it possible to take your audio book with you and listen on the go. This is when audio books started to be bought by the general consumers. The next step was to produce these listening books on CD, making them even more convenient.
Over the last few years the audio book technology has made a quantum leap: Digital MP3 files can be packed onto a player that weighs only a few grams and runs on a set of batteries for many hours. The most popular player is without doubt the Apple iPod, but there are many other MP3 players on the market that have helped to make listening to content on the go very popular.
Finding an audio book is as easy as typing an address into your internet browser, consulting the catalog of the audio book shop and then downloading your audio book within minutes. No more need to visit your local library or book shop. If you want to shop at 3 am - no problem, the shop is open 24 hours!
One shop that offers a wide variety of audio books is the AudioBooksCorner Store. High quality audio books from publishers like BBC, Hachette and many others cover a wide variety of topics. Best selling authors offer their books as audio books and the well known foreign language courses by Pimsleur are available for download too.
Author: Rolf Zimmerli
Even if they have only become very popular again recently, the concept of audio books goes back about eighty years! Initially books on tape or on LP's were produced for the blind. Here's a short look back in history:
Already in the 1920's, the Royal National Institute for the Blind in England (RNIB) initiate research to find the best way to produce audio books for blind soldiers that were the result of the World War I battles. They finally decide to produce audio books on LP's and the first ones were made in 1926. To play them they were put on the old fashioned LP players that had to be cranked by hand and delivered the sound through the big horn. This was a great development for the blind, but was hardly used by normal consumers. So these audio books from RNIB remained a niche product and never reached the masses.
The concept was successful and in 1936 the Royal National Institute for the Blind launched the 'Talking Book Service'. The first two books they produced were:'The murder of Roger Ackroyd' (Agatha Christie) and 'Thyphoon' (Joseph Conrad). Because the records could only hold 25 minutes of spoken text, an average audio book had to be recorded on an average of ten records.
During WWII, the studio used by the RNIB was bombed, and one month later a replacement studio was bombed as well, destroying much needed equipment to continue the production. The American Foundation for the Blind (AFB), who had started to produce audio books in the USA sent replacement parts and equipment to London so that the production could be taken up again.
The old fashioned LP's were replaced by modern LP's and finally cassettes, making listening to audio books more convenient. Sony's Walkman made it possible to take your audio book with you and listen on the go. This is when audio books started to be bought by the general consumers. The next step was to produce these listening books on CD, making them even more convenient.
Over the last few years the audio book technology has made a quantum leap: Digital MP3 files can be packed onto a player that weighs only a few grams and runs on a set of batteries for many hours. The most popular player is without doubt the Apple iPod, but there are many other MP3 players on the market that have helped to make listening to content on the go very popular.
Finding an audio book is as easy as typing an address into your internet browser, consulting the catalog of the audio book shop and then downloading your audio book within minutes. No more need to visit your local library or book shop. If you want to shop at 3 am - no problem, the shop is open 24 hours!
One shop that offers a wide variety of audio books is the AudioBooksCorner Store. High quality audio books from publishers like BBC, Hachette and many others cover a wide variety of topics. Best selling authors offer their books as audio books and the well known foreign language courses by Pimsleur are available for download too.
Author: Rolf Zimmerli
Saturday, November 10, 2007
Audio Converter Software - Edit your Audio Dvds - Top Software Programs
Today there are many low priced easy software editing programs available.A high quality program will allow you to create a mix of music for a power point presentation, an internet radio program or a website.With the right program you can record internet radio programs, podcasts or different types of streaming audio. These types of software programs allow you to take your favorite songs or any audio clips from CD’s, DVD’s, audio files, or from video so you can listen to them on your computer or portable players.Audio editing programs allow you to change file formats as an example from MIDI to MP3, WAV, WMA, or OGG file.If you have damaged audio recordings or LP’s you can restore these with the type of audio editing program that will filter out background or static noises.These types of software programs contain many diverse editing tools such as the ability to edit tag or media information as well as cut and paste options.Features to Consider:All editing software programs support different, editing tools, burning capabilities and formats. Therefore there are several features and options to consider when shopping for a audio editing software program.First you must determine exactly what it is you want to do with an audio editing software program. Do your interests range in restoring sound to a file, audio for a website, making a CD of your band’s music editing sound for your MP3 or ipod or perhaps you want to steam audio.The program you choose should be very user friendly. Check for whether the program has the preset effects and filters in drop down menus, mouse zooms or icons, right click edits etc. You will want fast recorders so they can search for streaming audio and sound cards automatically.Research the type of technical support that is provided by the software manufacturer. Audio editing can be difficult for the beginner so make sure that FAQ’s, help pages, direct contact with a technical support individual, email address for customer service, user forums etc. are available.There are many filters, effects and tools available on the market today. Beginners will want to look for programs that provide a large range of preseteffects along with filters. The person with experience will want to shop for an audio editing software program that supports a high level of manipulation by going through a mixer or different types of processors or a 10 band equalizer.A good program will provide copy, paste record, play etc. But there are several programs that go beyond the normal essential editing tools taking you to next level of providing processors, equalizers, mixers, filters, preset effects, and analyzing capabilities such as spectrogram and waveform.A high quality program will record audio from a sound card, a downloaded CD or from files.It can be very useful to have a program with burning software this way you can use your DVD or CD burner to save the edited files.Shop for a program that is compatible in the fact that it can convert several different kinds of file formats such as WMA, AIFF (Apple), WAV, and of course MP3 files.One does not need to be a sound technician or professional mixer to learn how to develop good quality audio editing or how to restore sound tasks. All it takes is a wise decision on the purchase of an audio editing software program.Top Audio Converter Software Imtoo Audio Maker - found at AVS Audio Tools - found at
Author: Richard Seng
Author: Richard Seng
Monday, November 5, 2007
Choosing the Best Audio Book Player
One of the things that will help you enjoy your audio book to its fullest potential is to invest in a good audio book player. Portable media devices are good tools for listening to your audio books, but audio book players are specifically designed for listening to audio books. An audio book player typically includes features that make listening to your book just as enjoyable as reading your favorite book.
Many people still enjoy the original format of audio books on tape. Even with modern technology, audio books on tape provide conveniences that other players do not provide. Listening to an audio book on cassette eliminates the problems of skipping and losing your place, so people can enjoy listening to their favourite book while jogging or exercising. Others may listen to books on tape in their cars because they are the most convenient option for enjoying a book during those long daily commutes.
Compact discs have also had an impact on the audio book industry. For people who do not have an MP3 player that they can use to take their files with them, CD audio books are the next option. This format allows listeners to easily skip and repeat certain sections of the book. Unlike cassette tapes, you cannot simply stop a CD and resume listening from the place it was stopped. Listeners have the option of "pausing" the book, but if the CD player is running on batteries this will quickly drain its power.
With the innovations of internet technology, the ideal audio book player is an MP3 player or any other portable media device with large memory capabilities. Downloads of audio books in digital format are often large, so it takes a large memory to store even a few of your favorite books. The most popular MP3 players are iPods. Audio book players, specifically made for enjoying audio books, are quickly becoming popular as well. With these devices, you can bookmark particular pages or sections so that you can resume listening at the last place you left off. An audio book player is also compatible with a greater number of the audio books available for download. iPods are typically only compatible with audio books downloaded from the iTunes service.
Audio books are a convenient and popular way to enjoy your favorite books. Their growing popularity has added demand for new advances in technology to appreciate them. While audio books on tape are considered old-fashioned, some people still prefer this method for playing their audio books. Downloads, however, have surpassed both cassettes and CD audio books because of the ease of accessibility. Digital formats are also more cost-effective and space-efficient, which is an important thing to keep in mind. Before investing in a new audio book player, evaluate your specific needs in order to choose the best player for your lifestyle.
Author: MIKE SELVON
Many people still enjoy the original format of audio books on tape. Even with modern technology, audio books on tape provide conveniences that other players do not provide. Listening to an audio book on cassette eliminates the problems of skipping and losing your place, so people can enjoy listening to their favourite book while jogging or exercising. Others may listen to books on tape in their cars because they are the most convenient option for enjoying a book during those long daily commutes.
Compact discs have also had an impact on the audio book industry. For people who do not have an MP3 player that they can use to take their files with them, CD audio books are the next option. This format allows listeners to easily skip and repeat certain sections of the book. Unlike cassette tapes, you cannot simply stop a CD and resume listening from the place it was stopped. Listeners have the option of "pausing" the book, but if the CD player is running on batteries this will quickly drain its power.
With the innovations of internet technology, the ideal audio book player is an MP3 player or any other portable media device with large memory capabilities. Downloads of audio books in digital format are often large, so it takes a large memory to store even a few of your favorite books. The most popular MP3 players are iPods. Audio book players, specifically made for enjoying audio books, are quickly becoming popular as well. With these devices, you can bookmark particular pages or sections so that you can resume listening at the last place you left off. An audio book player is also compatible with a greater number of the audio books available for download. iPods are typically only compatible with audio books downloaded from the iTunes service.
Audio books are a convenient and popular way to enjoy your favorite books. Their growing popularity has added demand for new advances in technology to appreciate them. While audio books on tape are considered old-fashioned, some people still prefer this method for playing their audio books. Downloads, however, have surpassed both cassettes and CD audio books because of the ease of accessibility. Digital formats are also more cost-effective and space-efficient, which is an important thing to keep in mind. Before investing in a new audio book player, evaluate your specific needs in order to choose the best player for your lifestyle.
Author: MIKE SELVON
About the Author:
Mike Selvon is the owner of various niche portals. Our audio books portal is a great resource for more information on audio book player.
Tuesday, October 30, 2007
The Ideal Audio Book Player - Individual Suitability
So you have got the bug and have fallen in love with listening to audio books. Aren't they just brilliant as you can listen to them absolutely anywhere, at home, while doing your gym workout and on the way to and from work. Anyway now that you have become an audio book disciple the main problem you have to address is what type and style of player suits your particular lifestyle and budget.
If you intend to spend most of your listening time in the comfort of your own home then you could quite easily use the CD player in your sound system. If you want to listen to audio books while you are driving in your car then you would be best off using the in-car CD player.
Some audio book devotees still hold on to old technology and prefer to listen to their chosen books on the old fashioned cassette player although these days getting quality audio book recordings on this medium is becoming much harder.
There is much debate about which is the "best" medium for listening to your audio books, however, I believe the practical approach is to look for a player that suits your own individual requirements and budgets.
An old friend of mine who is one of the earliest devotees to audio books has a very extensive collection of "vintage" audio book cassettes and plays them on an equally old cassette audio book player. Even though there has been many technical advancements like digital playing devices as well as the newer audio book formats that can be downloaded online, this friend much prefers to listen to his audio book recordings in a cassette format. I suppose that for him its just like people who still cling to their LP records and resist buying cassettes and now CD's - as the saying goes 'each to their own' as everyone has their own preferences.
If you are just starting out on your audio book experiences (or if it is an important part of your education) then working with just any player is not going to give you the level of listening pleasure you are looking for.
Since the introduction of such devices as MP3 players, these have become the preferred option for the vast majority of audio book listeners. There is a wide selection of MP3 players to suit every level of budget. You can choose many different brands, sizes and styles to fit with your individual requirements. It is important to note, however, that not all MP3 players can play audio books to the required optimal specifications of that book.
Some important facts to consider when determining if your MP3 player is suitable to take on the role as your audio book player include the following:
The MP3's conversion rate: The ideal rate for your MP3 player should be above 16KB so as to deliver the right clarity of sound.
The MP3's memory capacity: Here it is crucial that your chosen player has an adequate amount of Gigabytes. As many audio books can run for quite a long time, often up to 10 hours, the complete recording will not fit onto a player with a capacity of less than 1 Gigabyte.
The MP3's maximum volume: Whilst the level of loudness you intend to play your audio books at is generally a matter of preference or tolerance, most MP3 players are unable to play an audio book at a sound level that is able to compete with outside noise. MP3 players are great for playing with music where the nuances are not as delicate as the spoken word. If this is a problem with your Mp3 audio book player then you should opt to wearing a covered headphone rather than the ear-plug style.
The MP3's software: When choosing a suitable player you should consider whether the player's software allows you to go back to a particular chapter if you suddenly run out of batteries and the player stops. Also does your player have an organized system of sorting through an audio book's different chapters.
These are all very important features that your audio book player should have. A word of warning - ask for a 'test listen' before buying an audio player and don't forget take an example audio book with you to test it with rather than a music disk.
Author: Madonna Jeffries
bout the Author:
If you would like more information on Audio Book Players then go to Audio Books Retreat
If you intend to spend most of your listening time in the comfort of your own home then you could quite easily use the CD player in your sound system. If you want to listen to audio books while you are driving in your car then you would be best off using the in-car CD player.
Some audio book devotees still hold on to old technology and prefer to listen to their chosen books on the old fashioned cassette player although these days getting quality audio book recordings on this medium is becoming much harder.
There is much debate about which is the "best" medium for listening to your audio books, however, I believe the practical approach is to look for a player that suits your own individual requirements and budgets.
An old friend of mine who is one of the earliest devotees to audio books has a very extensive collection of "vintage" audio book cassettes and plays them on an equally old cassette audio book player. Even though there has been many technical advancements like digital playing devices as well as the newer audio book formats that can be downloaded online, this friend much prefers to listen to his audio book recordings in a cassette format. I suppose that for him its just like people who still cling to their LP records and resist buying cassettes and now CD's - as the saying goes 'each to their own' as everyone has their own preferences.
If you are just starting out on your audio book experiences (or if it is an important part of your education) then working with just any player is not going to give you the level of listening pleasure you are looking for.
Since the introduction of such devices as MP3 players, these have become the preferred option for the vast majority of audio book listeners. There is a wide selection of MP3 players to suit every level of budget. You can choose many different brands, sizes and styles to fit with your individual requirements. It is important to note, however, that not all MP3 players can play audio books to the required optimal specifications of that book.
Some important facts to consider when determining if your MP3 player is suitable to take on the role as your audio book player include the following:
The MP3's conversion rate: The ideal rate for your MP3 player should be above 16KB so as to deliver the right clarity of sound.
The MP3's memory capacity: Here it is crucial that your chosen player has an adequate amount of Gigabytes. As many audio books can run for quite a long time, often up to 10 hours, the complete recording will not fit onto a player with a capacity of less than 1 Gigabyte.
The MP3's maximum volume: Whilst the level of loudness you intend to play your audio books at is generally a matter of preference or tolerance, most MP3 players are unable to play an audio book at a sound level that is able to compete with outside noise. MP3 players are great for playing with music where the nuances are not as delicate as the spoken word. If this is a problem with your Mp3 audio book player then you should opt to wearing a covered headphone rather than the ear-plug style.
The MP3's software: When choosing a suitable player you should consider whether the player's software allows you to go back to a particular chapter if you suddenly run out of batteries and the player stops. Also does your player have an organized system of sorting through an audio book's different chapters.
These are all very important features that your audio book player should have. A word of warning - ask for a 'test listen' before buying an audio player and don't forget take an example audio book with you to test it with rather than a music disk.
Author: Madonna Jeffries
bout the Author:
If you would like more information on Audio Book Players then go to Audio Books Retreat
Thursday, October 25, 2007
9 Mp3 Audio Book Facts for Newbies
Although the online audiobook revolution has been with us some time, a lot of people are still unsure or unaware of what it's all about or what audio books actually are especially online audio books. I must admit I myself wasn't sure at all.
When I first came across audio books online, I found myself asking a number of questions; now today as an audio book site owner I hear a lot of people asking these very same questions so I decided to publish some of the most common audiobook question and answers.
You may very well have these same questions in your mind, wondering how you can find the answers to them. If so, then here some of them along with the answers:
1. What is an online audio book? It is simply a book in audio format. Instead of receiving a physical book that you have to read with yiur eyes, you get a book in sound/audio. Traditionally they came on cassette and then CD. Now the Internet has taken over as the biggest distribution channel so most of them are bought and downloaded online hence the term online audio book.
2. What formats do audio books come in? Way way back they came on vinyl records, followed by cassette formats, CD format and now in mp3 format or Windows Media Audio (WMA) format. Both types will play on computers as well as mp3 players and iPods. You can also burn them onto recordable CDs for use in for example, car CD stereo or home players.
3. So what exactly is an MP3 audio book? MP3 is simply a compression technique that reduces the size, so that your audio book occupies less space (sometimes as little as 80%) compared to that of a cassette or CD. In this way a modern MP3 player that has maybe a 1 gigabyte memory can carry a small library of books!
4. How can MP3 audio books be played? Naturally on any MP3 player as well as Apple iPods. MP3 audio books can also be played on any new version of CD player that supports the MP3 technology. They an also be played on any PC that has Microsoft's Windows Media Player or other related software.
5. What is an unabridged audio book? This is one that was narrated word for word identically with the original version. In other words nothing was removed from the printed book. It has the exact same content as the printed book, albeit in audio format. These can be very long, ideal for audiophiles!
6. What is an abridged audio book? This type is shorter. It doesn't contain the exact word for word narration as the printed book. Imagine it as a film version of a book. It's been edited and cut some for time and practicality. Ideal if you're short on time or don't want or need the whole rambling tale.
7. What is a dramatized audio book? As the name implies, this is a dramatised theatrical "play" version of the printed book, with full acting cast, music and sound effects.
8. What is the best MP3 player for audio books? There are loads of models out there but a few pointers are: a) At least 1 gigabyte (GB) memory as some audio books can be big. b) Make sure it has mid track resume so that you pick up where you left off when you have to turn off and on again or your power runs out. c) Fast rewind and forward - Like an old cassette player. Especially important if you're doing things like learning a language. It's really important to be able to go back and forth over words and phrases. d) Make sure it supports Windows Media Audio (WMA) format as well as MP3 as many audio books only come in this format. If you have a player that does not (called a passive mp3) then there are workarounds but they are time consuming.
9. Where are audio books available online? There are many stores on the Internet selling audio books. Just type online audio book or mp3 audio book into Google and see what comes up. If you have a specific title or genre in mind type that in followed by the phrase mp3 audiobook.
When I first came across audio books online, I found myself asking a number of questions; now today as an audio book site owner I hear a lot of people asking these very same questions so I decided to publish some of the most common audiobook question and answers.
You may very well have these same questions in your mind, wondering how you can find the answers to them. If so, then here some of them along with the answers:
1. What is an online audio book? It is simply a book in audio format. Instead of receiving a physical book that you have to read with yiur eyes, you get a book in sound/audio. Traditionally they came on cassette and then CD. Now the Internet has taken over as the biggest distribution channel so most of them are bought and downloaded online hence the term online audio book.
2. What formats do audio books come in? Way way back they came on vinyl records, followed by cassette formats, CD format and now in mp3 format or Windows Media Audio (WMA) format. Both types will play on computers as well as mp3 players and iPods. You can also burn them onto recordable CDs for use in for example, car CD stereo or home players.
3. So what exactly is an MP3 audio book? MP3 is simply a compression technique that reduces the size, so that your audio book occupies less space (sometimes as little as 80%) compared to that of a cassette or CD. In this way a modern MP3 player that has maybe a 1 gigabyte memory can carry a small library of books!
4. How can MP3 audio books be played? Naturally on any MP3 player as well as Apple iPods. MP3 audio books can also be played on any new version of CD player that supports the MP3 technology. They an also be played on any PC that has Microsoft's Windows Media Player or other related software.
5. What is an unabridged audio book? This is one that was narrated word for word identically with the original version. In other words nothing was removed from the printed book. It has the exact same content as the printed book, albeit in audio format. These can be very long, ideal for audiophiles!
6. What is an abridged audio book? This type is shorter. It doesn't contain the exact word for word narration as the printed book. Imagine it as a film version of a book. It's been edited and cut some for time and practicality. Ideal if you're short on time or don't want or need the whole rambling tale.
7. What is a dramatized audio book? As the name implies, this is a dramatised theatrical "play" version of the printed book, with full acting cast, music and sound effects.
8. What is the best MP3 player for audio books? There are loads of models out there but a few pointers are: a) At least 1 gigabyte (GB) memory as some audio books can be big. b) Make sure it has mid track resume so that you pick up where you left off when you have to turn off and on again or your power runs out. c) Fast rewind and forward - Like an old cassette player. Especially important if you're doing things like learning a language. It's really important to be able to go back and forth over words and phrases. d) Make sure it supports Windows Media Audio (WMA) format as well as MP3 as many audio books only come in this format. If you have a player that does not (called a passive mp3) then there are workarounds but they are time consuming.
9. Where are audio books available online? There are many stores on the Internet selling audio books. Just type online audio book or mp3 audio book into Google and see what comes up. If you have a specific title or genre in mind type that in followed by the phrase mp3 audiobook.
About the Author:
From London, Nick now lives in Stockholm with wife Lena and Gunnar a Border Terrier. He likes to forest walk and is learning Swedish (from an audio book) He runs Myaudiobookshelf.com where you'll find 8000+ audio books to download and links to a vast but little known network of free audio book websites.Sign up to his email list or download an audio book and you'll get the full list.
Sunday, October 14, 2007
Everyone might know what the Apple TV is but it isn't exactly the best model on the block. In fact when it comes to dragging photos, videos and other files off your computer and displaying it on your home theater system they're downright lack luster. That's why I have fallen in love with my UPnP high-definition media server and I'm pretty sure you'll be a fan too.
1) You can easily watch YouTube videos and other streaming media
It is actually possible to play YouTube videos on your TV now, provided your willing to download them, convert them into a DVD friendly format (XVID or DIVX usually works) then slap them on a disk however who has that much free time.
We're found the process to be 10 times easier with the UPnP high-definition media server. Just type the YouTube URL into the computer software and with a little bit of wireless streaming technology it's there on your home theater system.
2) You can connect whichever system you want
If you're a home theater fan and you're running a television which isn't HD you're not going to be able to use the Apple TV as it only accepts HDMI chords. That's not the case with the UPnP media server. Whether you're got a home theater system that uses a RCA connection, a composite connection a SCART card, or a HDMI plug the media server has the connection you need.
3) It looks good
It's black, it's shiny and it has nice smooth edges, what more do you need in a gadget?
4) It'll play pretty much anything
The last thing you want is for your media server to only play certain files, especially if you're using it to open up a whole new world of media to your home theater. The UPnP media server will play pretty much any digital movie format, as well as most music and picture codecs.
5) You're getting more for less
The UPnP high-definition server is well priced and doesn't come with any exclusive partnerships with video rental companies meaning that you can shop around for the best deal before renting a video.
6) Ease of use
Setting up this system was easier than easy. All we needed to do was put the CD into our computer, click a few buttons and then our computer was ready to go?hooking the box to the home theater system was easier than easy. It was relatively painless to set the connection details and because we could choose between a WiFi receiver or LAN input it meant even if the WiFi reception was bad we could connect the computer to the home theater system.
7) We can plug media directly into the server
There was no need to put the USB/SD card into the computer when we wanted to show off photos. We just plugged it into the server itself and we were showing off photos on the TV within seconds.
There you have it, seven reasons why we, and now perhaps you, love the UPnP high definition media server too.
Want to discover how to bring your home theater(http://www.chinavasion.com/index.php/cName/home-audio-video-projectors-home-theater ) into the 21st century without spending money visit http://www.chinavasion.com
About the Author
Rose Li is the PR Manager for Chinavasion, China's premier dropshipper of wholesale electronics. For western quality consumer electronics at China prices.
Wednesday, October 10, 2007
Mp3 Speakers: Designed For Beautiful Audible Experience
Different kinds of speakers are available in the market which is compatible with any mp3 players. Most listeners use their headphones to listen to their mp3 players.
Almost all the big brands make mp3 speakers. Brand names like Philips, Logitech, Creative, Bose and many others make superior quality speakers which have a great sound quality and convenient designs. Listeners may choose from a wide range of speakers which is best suitable as well as cost effective.
Many companies make mp3 speakers which are solely meant for using with iPods. Companies like Bose and Creative are two of the best brands who make speakers which can only be played with iPods. These speakers compatible with iPods are quite expensive and have fantastic sound quality with great features.
The mp3 speakers are built from the finest mechanism and engineered to endow with excellent acoustic presentation regardless of their small size. These speakers can be attached to iPods, regular mp3 players, and even mobile phones.
The Logitech mm32 Portable speakers are easy to pair with any mp3 player. It is small, smart looking and has a cylindrical design and comes with a carrying pouch. These speakers are great for frequent travelers, since it is easy to carry.
There are different types of speakers available in the market which is compatible with any mp3 player. Tripod style speakers are ideal for use with iPod Nano. These speakers are compatible with other players too.
Foldable portable speakers are mini hi-fi speaker set. These speaker sets are handy and has a detachable holder on the front. There are built in volume controls and produces a fantastic sound quality.
Creative has an exclusive range of small mono speakers called Zen stone and Zen stone plus. These speakers have quite loud sound. Creative have designed these speakers slightly chubbier but they fit in perfectly in the pocket of jeans.
Bose sound dock is supposed to the best mp3 speakers available though it is only compatible with iPods and has got a high price tag. There are different models available in Bose Sound dock.
Mp3 speakers are a great way of listening to your favourite music without plugging your ears with headphones. The speakers are portable and are quite useful for frequent travellers and youngsters. The speakers can be placed anywhere in the room for easy listening. With world-class performances, the mp3 speakers have been able to win the hearts of all the music lovers.
Author: Theodore Cartman
Almost all the big brands make mp3 speakers. Brand names like Philips, Logitech, Creative, Bose and many others make superior quality speakers which have a great sound quality and convenient designs. Listeners may choose from a wide range of speakers which is best suitable as well as cost effective.
Many companies make mp3 speakers which are solely meant for using with iPods. Companies like Bose and Creative are two of the best brands who make speakers which can only be played with iPods. These speakers compatible with iPods are quite expensive and have fantastic sound quality with great features.
The mp3 speakers are built from the finest mechanism and engineered to endow with excellent acoustic presentation regardless of their small size. These speakers can be attached to iPods, regular mp3 players, and even mobile phones.
The Logitech mm32 Portable speakers are easy to pair with any mp3 player. It is small, smart looking and has a cylindrical design and comes with a carrying pouch. These speakers are great for frequent travelers, since it is easy to carry.
There are different types of speakers available in the market which is compatible with any mp3 player. Tripod style speakers are ideal for use with iPod Nano. These speakers are compatible with other players too.
Foldable portable speakers are mini hi-fi speaker set. These speaker sets are handy and has a detachable holder on the front. There are built in volume controls and produces a fantastic sound quality.
Creative has an exclusive range of small mono speakers called Zen stone and Zen stone plus. These speakers have quite loud sound. Creative have designed these speakers slightly chubbier but they fit in perfectly in the pocket of jeans.
Bose sound dock is supposed to the best mp3 speakers available though it is only compatible with iPods and has got a high price tag. There are different models available in Bose Sound dock.
Mp3 speakers are a great way of listening to your favourite music without plugging your ears with headphones. The speakers are portable and are quite useful for frequent travellers and youngsters. The speakers can be placed anywhere in the room for easy listening. With world-class performances, the mp3 speakers have been able to win the hearts of all the music lovers.
Author: Theodore Cartman
About the Author:Theodore provides information about mp3 speakers and talk about mp3 speakers brands on his site.
Sunday, September 30, 2007
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
 | |
 | |
| Media type: | Optical disc |
|---|---|
| Encoding: | Digital (DSD) |
| Capacity: | up to 7.95 GiB |
| Read mechanism: | 650 nm laser |
| Developed by: | Sony & Philips |
| Usage: | Audio storage |
Super Audio CD (SACD) is a read-only optical audio disc format aimed at providing much higher fidelity digital audio reproduction than the compact disc. Introduced in 2000, it was developed by Sony and Philips Electronics, the same companies that created the CD. SACD is currently in a format war with DVD-Audio. Although neither side has made significant progress toward acquiring consumer acceptance, SACD has an advantage over DVD-Audio in that most discs are hybrids compatible with existing CD players.
Contents[hide] |
[edit] Overview
| Optical disc authoring | |
|---|---|
| Optical media types | |
| Standards | |
SACD uses a very different technology from CD and DVD-Audio to encode its audio data, a 1-bit delta-sigma modulation process known as Direct Stream Digital at the very high sampling rate of 2.8224 MHz. This is 64 times the sampling rate used in Compact Disc Digital Audio, which specifies 44.1 kHz at a resolution of 16-bit.
SACD authoring guidelines suggest that an SACD should always contain a 2-channel stereo mix[citation needed] though not all SACD have it (for example, in 2005 Sony Music Entertainment (Germany) GmbH released Charles Rosen's performance of the Goldberg Variations as a hybrid SACD with 16-bit PCM and DSD 5.1 surround but no DSD stereo). They may optionally contain a surround mix — either 5.0 or 5.1 layout. Although the disc always stores all channels, the surround mix does not have to use them all, and some may be mute; for example the 2001 SACD release of Mike Oldfield's Tubular Bells remains in the quadraphonic 4.0 mix made in 1975, and the RCA reissue of the 1957 Chicago Symphony Orchestra recording of Mussorgsky's Pictures at an Exhibition marks the first time the original 3.0 (three track) recording is available in a consumer format. The correct designation for the surround part of a SACD is "multi-channel", and usually has either the label "SACD Surround" or its own "Multi-Ch" logo on the back cover.
There are three types of SACDs:
- Hybrid: The most popular of the three types, hybrid discs include a "Red Book" layer compatible with most legacy Compact Disc players, dubbed the "CD layer," and a 4.7 GB SACD layer, dubbed the "HD layer."
- Single-layer: Physically a DVD-5 DVD, a single-layer SACD includes a 4.7 GB HD layer with no CD layer.
- Dual-layer: Physically a DVD-9 DVD, a dual-layer SACD includes two HD layers totalling 8.5 GB, with no CD layer. This type is rarely used. It enables nearly twice as much data to be stored, but eliminates CD player compatibility.
[edit] Integration
As of April 2007, there have been over 4,500 SACD releases, a little over half of which appear to be classical. Jazz appears to have fewer releases, and popular music, mainly remastered previously released albums, appears to have even fewer releases than jazz.[1][2]. Notable artists who have released some or all of their back catalog include Aerosmith, Peter Gabriel, Genesis, Depeche Mode,Bob Dylan, Elton John, The Moody Blues, The Rolling Stones, and Nine Inch Nails. Pink Floyd's seminal album The Dark Side of the Moon (the 30th anniversary edition of 2003), The Who's seminal album Tommy (the 34th anniversary edition of 2003) and Roxy Music's Avalon (the 21st anniversary edition, 2003) were released on SACD to take advantage of the format's multi-channel capability. All three were remixed in 5.1 surround, and released as Hybrid SACDs with a stereo mix on the standard CD layer.
Because most SACDs are now issued in a hybrid format only, such as the remastered Rolling Stones and Bob Dylan albums released in 2002, many music buyers are building an SACD collection even if they have no SACD playback equipment and are not specifically inclined to purchase SACDs. This may give the SACD format an advantage over DVD-Audio because the hybrid discs are designed to play on all standard Red Book CD players.
The format continues to attract a few major artists; however, the main interest continues to be classical and older remastered albums rather than new releases. The record label Mobile Fidelity focuses on this type of remastering. SACD also continues to face sharp pressure from DVD-Audio and DualDisc releases and customer uncertainty over the competing formats. (This uncertainty may wane as players capable of both formats, such as the Denon DVD-1930CI, become affordable.)
[edit] Disc reading
How a hybrid Super Audio CD works
Objective lenses in conventional CD players have a longer working distance, or focal length, than lenses designed for SACD players. This means that when a hybrid SACD is placed into a conventional CD player, the laser beam passes the high-resolution layer and is reflected by the conventional layer at the standard 1.2 mm distance, and the high-density layer is out of focus. When the disc is placed into an SACD player, the laser is reflected by the high-resolution layer (at 600 µm distance) before it can reach the conventional layer. To the same point, if a conventional CD is placed into an SACD player, the laser will read the disc without difficulty since there is no high-resolution layer.
[edit] Playback hardware
Hybrid Super Audio CDs (which include both a Stereo CD and a Super Audio CD layer) can be played back on CD players. To hear the Super Audio CD Stereo, and on many discs the Super Audio CD Multichannel, layer requires a Super Audio CD player.
As would be expected, Sony and Philips, as designers of the CD and SACD formats, have the most players on the market in many guises such as standalone players, combined DVD/SACD players, in-car players,[1] and Sony's PlayStation 3 game console.
The Sony SCD-1 is a well-known player which was introduced concurrently with the SACD format. It weighs well over 26 kg (57 lbs) and is often "modded" by its owners to "improve" the sound. The SCD-1 was introduced before multi-channel SACDs existed and only plays two channel SACDs or red-book CDs. It is no longer sold. When introduced in 1999, it sold for US$5,000.[2]
Many other vendors offer SACD playback capabilities in their product lines, although none has offered a portable Walkman-style SACD player capable of playing the high definition layer of an SACD. Most portable CD players will play the conventional CD layer of a Hybrid SACD.
SACD players are not permitted to digitally output an unencrypted stream of DSD. Players initially supported only analog output; later some proprietary digital interfaces such as Denon Link permitted encrypted transmission of DSD. There are now two standard digital connection methods capable of carrying DSD in encrypted form: i.Link and HDMI (version 1.2 or later, standardised in August 2005).
i.Link is generally found on mid- to high-end equipment. HDMI is more common, being the standard digital connection method for high-definition video+audio, but as of December 2006, there are only a few A/V processors supporting DSD over HDMI 1.2 (such as the Marantz SR7001), but no players.
Some players, such as the PlayStation 3, don't output DSD over HDMI, but instead convert it to PCM.
[edit] DSD
SACD audio is stored in a format called Direct Stream Digital (DSD), which differs from the conventional PCM used by the compact disc or conventional computer audio systems.
DSD is 1-bit, has a sampling rate of 2.8224 MHz, and makes use of noise shaping quantization techniques in order to push 1-bit quantization noise up to inaudible ultrasonic frequencies. This gives the format a greater dynamic range and wider frequency response than the CD. Promotional materials about SACD supplied by Philips and Sony suggest that the system is capable of delivering a dynamic range of 120 dB from 20 Hz to 20 kHz and an extended frequency response up to 100 kHz, although most currently available players list an upper limit of 80–90 kHz.
The process of creating a DSD signal is conceptually similar to taking a 1-bit delta-sigma analog-to-digital (A/D) converter and removing the decimator which converts the 1-bit bitstream into multibit PCM. Instead, the 1-bit signal is recorded directly and in theory only requires a lowpass filter to reconstruct the original analog waveform. In reality it is a little more complex, and the analogy is incomplete in that 1-bit sigma-delta converters are these days rather unusual, one reason being that a 1-bit signal cannot be dithered properly: most modern sigma-delta converters are multibit.
Because of the nature of sigma-delta converters, one cannot make a direct comparison between DSD and PCM. An approximation is possible, though, and would place DSD in some aspects comparable to a PCM format that has a bit depth of 20 bits and a sampling frequency of 192 kHz. PCM sampled at 24 bits provides a (theoretical) additional 24 dB of dynamic range. Due to the effects of quantization noise, the usable bandwidth of the SACD format is approximately 100 kHz, which is similar to 192 kHz PCM.
Because it has been extremely difficult to carry out DSP operations (for example performing EQ, balance, panning and other changes in the digital domain) in a 1-bit environment, and because of the prevalence of studio equipment such as Pro Tools, which is solely PCM-based, the vast majority of SACDs — especially rock and contemporary music which relies on multitrack techniques — are in fact mixed in PCM (or mixed analog and recorded on PCM recorders) and then converted to DSD for SACD mastering.
To address some of these issues, a new studio format has been developed, usually referred to as "DSD-wide", which retains standard DSD's high sample rate but uses an 8-bit, rather than single-bit digital word length, but still relies heavily on the noise shaping principle. It becomes almost the same as PCM (it's sometimes disparagingly referred to as "PCM-narrow") but has the added benefit of making DSP operations in the studio a great deal more practical. The main difference is that "DSD-wide" still retains 2.8224 MHz (64Fs) sampling frequency while the highest frequency in which PCM is being edited is 352.8 kHz (8Fs). The "DSD-wide" signal is down-converted to regular DSD for SACD mastering. As a result of this technique and other developments there are now a few digital audio workstations (DAWs) which operate, or can operate, in the DSD domain, notably Pyramix and some SADiE systems.
Note that high-resolution PCM (DVD-Audio, HD-DVD and Blu-Ray Disc) and DSD (SACD) may still differ in terms of fidelity at high-frequencies since DSD, owing to its high sampling frequency, does not show the typical ringing effects of reconstruction filters used with PCM.[citation needed] On the other hand, DSD's dynamic range decreases quickly at frequencies over 20 kHz due to the use of strong noise shaping techniques which push the noise out of the audio band resulting in a rising noise floor just above 20 kHz. PCM's dynamic range, on the other hand, is the same at all frequencies. (Some high-end SACD players employ an optional low-pass filter set at 30 kHz for compatibility and safety reasons, suitable for situations where amplifiers or loudspeakers can't deliver an undistorted output if noise above 30 kHz is present in the signal.)
[edit] DST
To reduce the space and bandwidth requirements of DSD (2.8 Mbit/s per channel), a lossless compression scheme called Direct Stream Transfer (DST) is used — DST compression is compulsory for multi-channel regions and optional for stereo regions. This typically compresses by a factor of between two and three, allowing a disc to contain 80 minutes of both 2-channel and 5.1-channel sound.
[edit] PSP
SACD includes various copy protection measures of which the most prominent is Pit Signal Processing (PSP), a physical watermarking feature that contains a digital watermark modulated in the width of pits on the disc (data is stored in the pit length). The optical pickup must contain special circuitry to read the PSP watermark, which is then compared to information on the disc to make sure it's legitimate. Because the majority of DVD players and all DVD-ROM drives use an optical pickup that lacks this specialized watermark detection circuitry they cannot read the data on the SACD layer of a protected SACD disc.[3]
On hybrid SACD discs, PSP is only applied to the SACD layer — not to the CD layer.
[edit] Comparing SACD and CD
Many people feel that even a moderately good system should reveal a significant difference between SACD and either CD or DVD-Audio.[citation needed] The late film composer Jerry Goldsmith, for example, fiercely backed SACD and several albums of his film scores and compositions are available as Hybrid Multichannel SACDs.
Few home audio systems can accurately reproduce sounds above 20 kHz, and most recording chains are designed around this limit. Modern pop music is typically compressed to a small percentage of the maximum available dynamic range, and thus would not benefit from the extended dynamic range available in SACD. In comparison, acoustic performances of jazz, folk, classical and alternative music can definitely benefit from the lack of amplitude compression that an extended dynamic range affords.
Conversely, the properties of DSD and the authoring process tend to discourage the kind of extreme compression and unpleasant-sounding hard digital clipping often found on PCM recordings. Unlike CD, which sets the 0 dB level right at the theoretical PCM signal limit, and doesn't take into account oversampling, SACD sets the 0 dB level at 6 dB below the theoretical full-scale DSD signal, and prohibits peaks above +3 dB. DSD processing is less amenable to simple clipping to meet these limits, forcing more care to be taken during mastering. The extra headroom also eases the job of D-to-A converters in playback equipment, which often suffer overload distortion when fed the full-scale PCM common on heavily-compressed CDs.[4][5] Thus, improved quality may result from simply preventing the kinds of poor mastering often found on PCM, rather than from any fundamental audible difference between DSD and PCM; PCM mastered several dB lower would also obtain the same benefit.
Increasingly, home audio playback systems are home cinema multichannel and this single feature may prove to be the most important when considering the differences between Compact Discs and the newer distribution formats. CDs are stereo and both SACD and DVD are multichannel-capable. In addition, SACDs can be authored to be both forward and backward compatible with existing CD players.
It can be argued that SACD and DVD-Audio are merely attempts to add copy-protection features rather than actual improvements in recording and listening technology, and allowing an 80 kHz upper limit when human hearing is less than 20 kHz may be considered useless. Sony and other supporting company's response is that in the hands of a competent engineer and producer, these formats provide additional capabilities and features that can create a more engaging and compelling listening experience. Record label owner David Chesky of Chesky Records has said that "we can give you a much better ride" with Super Audio CD discs and has set August 2007 as the date when all of his company's music releases will be issued only on Hybrid Super Audio CD discs, compatible with both CD and SACD players.
[edit] Copy protection
SACD has several copy prevention features at the physical level which, for the moment, appear to make SACD discs impossible to copy without resorting to the analog hole. These include physical pit modulation and 80 bit encryption of the audio data, with a key encoded on a special area of the disk that is only readable by a licensed SACD device. The HD layer of an SACD disc cannot be played back on computer CD/DVD drives, nor can SACDs be created except by the licensed disc replication facilities in Shizuoka and Salzburg.[6]
It is possible to capture the DSD digital audio signal after the decryption stage right before the digital to analog converters of an SACD player, but since there is practically no way for the public to make their own SACD discs this does not pose a major threat.
A number of new SACD players have encrypted IEEE 1394 (also called FireWire or i. Link) digital outputs carrying DSD data, and it may be possible to get the raw DSD data from these links. The protection mechanism used is Digital Transmission Content Protection (DTCP), which can be used in "Copy Once" or "Copy Never" modes. It is unlikely, however, that the SACD license agreement rules permit anything but the "Copy Never" mode to be used.
There seems to be one solution for obtaining digital non-DRM output on SACD as well as DVD-A players. A Switzerland-based company is offering a modified output-board that taps into the digital datastream prior to D/A conversion as well as converting DSD to PCM that the S/PDIF port can transfer. [3]
[edit] See also
- Audio format
- Audio storage
- DualDisc
- DVD-Audio
- Earlier attempts at higher fidelity that stayed within the CDDA standard: XRCD and HDCD.
[edit] References
- ^ Sony Announces Three Super Audio CD Car Stereo Players. HighFidelityReview.com. Retrieved on 2007-01-18.
- ^ The Sony SCD-1 SACD Player. @udiophilia. Retrieved on 2006-05-18.
- ^ Details of DVD-Audio and SACD. DVDdemystified.com. Retrieved on 2007-07-12.
- ^ Issues with 0dBFS+ Levels On Digital Audio Playback Systems. Audioholics. Retrieved on 2007-05-10.
- ^ Overload in Signal Conversion (PDF). AES 23rd International Conference. Retrieved on 2007-05-10.
- ^ Sony Starts Hybrid Super Audio CD Production Facilities in Europe. SA-CD.net (2003-01-22). Retrieved on 2007-07-12.
[edit] External links
- Sony Music SA-CD FAQ
- SA-CD.net SA-CD Reference (Includes full list of available albums and comprehensive FAQ)
- The SA-CD explained
- "Breaking the Sound Barrier: Mastering at 96 kHz and Beyond" (PDF) Audio Engineering Society Convention Paper 4357 on "HD" audio.
- "A Native Stereo Editing System for Direct-Stream Digital" (PDF) Audio Engineering Society Convention Paper 4719 on the 1st DSD commercial editor.
- "Why 1-Bit Sigma-Delta Conversion is Unsuitable for High-Quality Applications" (PDF) Audio Engineering Society Convention Paper 5395.
Friday, September 28, 2007
1.Thou shall create audio products as the fastest way to come out with a product.
Forget about e-books. They take to long to create especially if you're a slooooow typist. You can create an audio product in a day instead of weeks or months with an e-book. If you must create an e-book, do the audio first and have someone transcribe the audio into a word file. You than clean it up and add some chapter heads and an index and Bam! You have an instant e-book
2.Thou shall use a headset microphone for your recordings.
I find that using a headset mic is a lot more versatile than a standard microphone. A headset mic gives you the freedom to move your head around and you don't feel restricted as far as being positioned in front of a table top mic.
3.Thou shall not be afraid to record your voice.
Many people hate the way they sound on tape (me included) and feel that they cannot put together a "Professional" product. The first time you hear yourself on tape you are just going to die. It takes practice to actually speak properly. You get struck by the dreaded Uh and Um syndrome and the monotone voice virus but take heart ?you can do this. Slow down and concentrate on what you're saying and interject some emphasis and pitch changes to your voice. Bottom line?add some personality.
I'll admit I'm no professional speaker myself? It takes practice and you will get better.
Here are a couple books you might want to check out: The Quick and Easy Way to Effective Speaking by Dale Carnegie Secrets of Successful Speakers: How You Can Motivate, Captivate, and Persuade by Lilly Walters
4.Thou shall add intro and outro music to your audios
If you really want to add a professional polish to your products you must add the intro and outro music. You know that cool music you hear at the beginning of the audio just before someone starts the introduction.
You could give this site a try: frontandbackmusic.com for some demos.
5.Thou shall use different formats for your audio info product
A couple of ways to create an audio product is to interview someone over the phone and record it or just do a straight forward gab session on your own. To keep it simple when I'm recording on my own, I write down some bullet points to use as memory joggers to keep me on track during the recording sessions. Also, when using the computer software it allows you to pause so you can get your thoughts together and then just restart the recording process without a skip.
6.Thou shall use different listening formats for your audio product.
When distributing your audios you have different formats to choose from. You can use .wav, .mp3, .ram files. Wave files take up the most space and are megabyte hogs. Mp3 and ram (real player files) take up the least amount of space and are good for streaming audio on the web. If you are distributing your audio on CD it is best to use wav. That way you will be able to listen to them in any CD player. Here is a little warning when recording your audio projects. Be aware of the space you have on your hard drive. A two hour recording session will take up to 1.3 gigabytes of space in wav. I like to record and edit in smaller intervals and burn them to a CD-RW just to get them off my hard drive.
7.Thou shall use cheap resources for your audio.
I get all my bubble pack shippers and CD cases off of Ebay. They have some great deals. I get my CD's duplicated at Diskfaktory.com because they can run small quantities of 50. I wouldn't get any more made until you know you have a winner.
8.Thou shall have fun when creating your audio products
I have to say I really enjoy the creation process and it's really neat when you go to record a product and can play it back and listen to it on the fly. You get a sense that this thing is really coming together. And when you add the music you really get a sense of satisfaction. Creating audio is really instant gratification when it comes to creating info products. I love it?
As of this writing, I'm working with my wife on a product and I'm interviewing her and we are having a blast. She makes mistakes and I make them and we just sit there and laugh. My wife has the UH and UM syndrome so we are trying to get cured of that? But the point is that we are having a good time.
Quick Tip: I use a splitter to add two microphones to my computer. You need to raise the volume to get it normalized.
9.Thou shall build a audio information empire
If you really want to get a jump start in the information product business this is the easiest and funniest way to do it. As fast as you can record and edit these things the faster you can crank them out and start making some money. Also audio CD and tapes have a higher perceived value and you can get more for them then by just selling an e-book.
10.Thou shall learn what software to use for your audios.
Software can be expensive. Many of the gurus recommend Sounforge but I prefer a program from Cakewalk called Plasma. This software is half the price of Soundforge and is very versatile.
Well there you have it. Some good tips to get you started on building your audio empire.
Happy Recording,
John Kiel
(c)2005 John Kiel
If you're looking to take a shortcut and you would like me to take you by the hand and show you all the tricks to record audio products, add audio to the web, and record telephone conversations then my new video and audio tutorial course is for you. I even throw in 5 software programs to launch your audio business and at a price you will not believe.Go now to http://www.audioproductsmadeeasy.com
Sunday, September 23, 2007
As use of the Internet continues to grow geometrically, we see an increased demand for information to be provided by a variety of media. Viewing options can range from simple text to PDF documents to video clips. Unfortunately, each option requires more and more resources and technological know-how. As convergence moves inexorably forward, we have to ask ourselves if there is a practical way to combine the best of this technology and still provide the user with a satisfying Internet experience.
The answer, at this stage of Internet evolution, is audio.
Voice, by itself, provides the means to enhance a user's enjoyment of the Internet. Voice conveys many of the intangibles underlying the written word. A voice can touch the human spirit and deliver a message on its' own merits. Audio can build community and maintain relationships.
Audio is the most mature of the streaming technologies and doesn't have the bandwidth requirements associated with video. Any Internet user connecting at 28.8k or better can enjoy FM quality sound without experiencing buffering and other annoyances that can affect video at lower bit rates.
It is common knowledge that people only retain 20% of what they read, but they do remember 70% of what they see and hear. That fact in itself increases the value of an audio message delivered from a website for the typical user. And, the implications of how audio can increase Internet enjoyment for the handicapped are overwhelming.
Streaming audio provides Internet businesses with unlimited opportunities to reach their audience and to simplify their interactions. Streaming audio broadens a product's appeal and helps to stimulate sales. People are comfortable with audio and have few qualms about using it in their day-to-day lives.
Retailers can integrate audio into their operations in several ways. Use it to enhance product descriptions and deliver product information in ways far more persuasive than plain text. Booksellers can have "special events" that offer audio excerpts from selected titles. Art dealers can use voice to give value added information on an artist or a period of history depicted by an artist's work. (Think of those audio tours that museums offer.)
Organizations that specialize in selling educational tools can use audio clips for potential clients to preview and evaluate the material being offered. The ability to sample the product is a potent and practical selling aid.
Business-to-Business sites and corporate Intranets can also harness the power of audio. The need to provide up-to-the-minute information for employees and customers can be well served with streaming audio and the telephone. Integrating audio into the corporate communications mix is a tool that is easy to use and addresses the need to communicate with a distributed work force.
In both the retail and business-to-business marketplace, audio can and should be used to maintain those all important customer relationships. Voice messages add a personal touch that intrigues the listener and encourages them to remain on the site.
Employee training is greatly enhanced with audio. Use it to orient new employees and keep the information archived on the site for easy reference. Sales training can also be archived and quickly retrieved when needed. The ability to offer customized audio training materials on a 24/7 basis makes streaming audio a very versatile and efficient learning tool.
Some words of caution are also necessary. Audio, just like any other value-added technology, has to be used judiciously. It should be employed for a specific purpose and to enhance the text based message being delivered. Think of your audience and how you'd like them to interact with your website. Keep in mind that your visitor may be coming to your site while they're at their place of business and plan accordingly.
The future of streaming audio is bright and filled with promise. More and more Internet users have become familiar with streaming audio and use it everyday. Internet radio broadcasts are extremely popular and are now being employed as effective advertising vehicles. Audio e-mail messaging is becoming widely available and is being positioned as a practical business tool. Consumers are attaching audio messages to greeting cards and experimenting with Internet telephony. Streaming audio will allow the average Internet user the ability to create content that conveys the power of voice and the emotions that it conveys.
So?why aren't you using audio?
Ronni Rhodes is the owner of WBC Imaging, an Internet company that specializes in web site enhancement utilizing streaming media technology. With her husband, Don, a digital media engineer, they work with companies to incorporate streaming as part of successful and meaningful sales and marketing programs.
Please direct all questions and comments to: Ronni@wbcimaging.com 520-742-5780 http://www.wbcimaging.com
Tuesday, September 18, 2007
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia 
Digital audio uses digital signals for sound reproduction. This includes analog-to-digital conversion, digital-to-analog conversion, storage, and transmission.
Digital audio has emerged because of its usefulness in the recording, manipulation, mass-production and distribution of sound. Modern distribution of music across the internet through on-line stores depends on digital recording, and digital compression algorithms. Distribution of audio as data files rather than as physical objects has significantly reduced costs of distribution. However, it has brought about a rise in music sharing through peer to peer networks, which is illegal in many countries as copyright infringement. The Recording Industry Association of America and other organizations claim that music sharing severely harms the profitability of their business.
From the wax cylinder, to the compact cassette, analogue audio music storage and reproduction have been based on the same principles upon which human hearing are based.
In an analogue audio system, sounds begin as physical waveforms in the air, are transformed into an electrical representation of the waveform, via a transducer (for example, a microphone), and are stored or transmitted. To be re-created into sound, the process is reversed, through amplification and then conversion back into physical waveforms via a loudspeaker. Although its nature may change, its fundamental wave-like characteristics remain unchanged during its storage, transformation, duplication, amplification. All analogue audio signals are susceptible to noise and distortion, due to the inherent noise present in electronic circuits.
On the other hand, the digital audio chain begins when an analogue audio signal is converted into electrical signals — ‘on/off’ pulses — rather than electro-mechanical signals. This signal is then re-encoded (rather like a spy might use a code book), in order to combat any errors that might occur in the storage or transmission of the signal. It is this "channel coding" that is essential to the ability of the digital system to recreate the analogue signal upon replay. An example of a channel code is Eight to Fourteen Bit Modulation as used in the audio Compact Disc.
Contents[hide] |
[edit] Overview of digital audio
Digital audio is the method of representing audio in digital form.
An analog signal is converted to a digital signal at a given sampling rate and bit resolution; it may contain multiple channels (2 channels for stereo or more for surround sound). Generally speaking: the higher the sampling rate and bit resolution the more fidelity. Both systems introduce noise at the capturing stage, in analogue recording this is due to the noise floor of the circuit, and in digital recording due to quantization noise.
- Quantization Noise (file info) —
play in browser (beta)
- An example of audio with progressively worsening quantization noise.
- Problems listening to the file? See media help.
Much like an analog audio system, a digital audio system strives to reproduce the audio perfectly but neither can ultimately prevail. Analog systems have inherent capacitance and inductance which limit the bandwidth of the system and resistance limits the amplitude. Digital systems' sampling rate limits the bandwidth and bit resolution limits the dynamic range (resolution of amplitude creation). Both systems require increased cost and attention to achieve higher fidelity.
A digital audio signal starts with an analog-to-digital converter (ADC) that converts an analog signal to a digital signal. The ADC runs at a sampling rate and converts at a known bit resolution. For example, CD audio has a sampling rate of 44.1 kHz (44,100 samples per second) and 16-bit resolution for each channel (stereo). If the analog signal is not already bandlimited then an anti-aliasing filter is necessary before conversion, to prevent aliasing in the digital signal. (Aliasing occurs when frequencies above the Nyquist frequency have not been band limited, and instead appear as audible artifacts in the lower frequencies).
Some audio signals such as those created by digital synthesis originate entirely in the digital domain, in which case analog to digital conversion does not take place.
After being sampled with the ADC, the digital signal may then be altered in a process which is called digital signal processing where it may be filtered or have effects applied.
The digital audio signal may then be stored or transmitted. Digital audio storage can be on a CD, an iPod, a hard drive, USB flash drive, CompactFlash, or any other digital data storage device. Audio data compression techniques — such as MP3, Ogg Vorbis, or AAC — are commonly employed to reduce the size. Digital audio can be streamed to other devices.
The last step for digital audio is to be converted back to an analog signal with a digital-to-analog converter (DAC). Like ADCs, DACs run at a specific sampling rate and bit resolution but through the processes of oversampling, upsampling, and downsampling, this sampling rate may not be the same as the initial sampling rate.
[edit] Subjective evaluation
Fidelity evaluation is a long-standing issue with audio systems in general and introduction of lossy compression algorithms and psychoacoustic models have only increased debate.
Audio can be measured and analyzed to more exacting measures than can be done by ear, but what this technical measurement and analysis lacks is the ability to determine if it sounds "good" or "bad" to any given listener.[dubious ] Like any other human opinion, there are numerous parameters that widely vary between people that affect their subjective evaluation of what is good or bad. Such things that pertain to audio include hearing capabilities, personal preferences, location with respect to the speakers, and the room's physical properties.
This is not to say that subjective evaluation is unique to digital audio, digital audio can add to the fervor of discussion because it does introduce more things (e.g., lossy compression, psychoacoustic models) that can be debated.
[edit] History of digital audio use in commercial recording
Commercial digital recording of classical and jazz music began in the early 1970s, pioneered by Japanese companies such as Denon, the BBC, and British record label Decca (who in the mid-70s developed digital audio recorders of their own design for mastering of their albums), although experimental recordings exist from the 1960s. The first 16-bit PCM recording in the United States was made by Thomas Stockham at the Santa Fe Opera in 1976 on a Soundstream recorder. In most cases there was no mixing stage involved; a stereo digital recording was made and used unaltered as the master tape for subsequent commercial release. These unmixed digital recordings are still described as DDD since the technology involved is purely digital. (Unmixed analogue recordings are likewise usually described as ADD to denote a single generation of analogue recording.)
The first entirely digitally recorded (DDD) popular music album was Ry Cooder's Bop Till You Drop, recorded in late 1978. It was unmixed, being recorded straight to a two-track 3M digital recorder in the studio. Many other top recording artists were early adherents of digital recording. Others, such as former Beatles producer George Martin, felt that the multitrack digital recording technology of the early 1980s had not reached the sophistication of analogue systems. Martin used digital mixing, however, to reduce the distortion and noise that an analogue master tape would introduce (thus ADD). An early example of an analogue recording that was digitally mixed is Fleetwood Mac's 1979 release Tusk.
[edit] Digital audio technologies
- DAB (Digital Audio Broadcasting)
- Digital audio workstation
- Digital audio player
Storage technologies:
- Digital Audio Tape (DAT)
- Compact disc (CD)
- DVD DVD-A
- MiniDisc
- Super Audio CD
- various audio file formats
[edit] Digital audio interfaces
Audio-specific interfaces include:
- AC97 (Audio Codec 1997) interface between Integrated circuits on PC motherboards
- ADAT interface
- AES/EBU interface with XLR connectors
- AES47, Professional AES3 digital audio over Asynchronous Transfer Mode networks
- I²S (Inter-IC sound) interface between Integrated circuits in consumer electronics
- MIDI low-bandwidth interconnect for carrying instrument data; cannot carry sound
- S/PDIF, either over coaxial cable or TOSLINK
- TDIF, Tascam proprietary format with D-sub cable
Naturally, any digital bus (e.g., USB, FireWire, and PCI) can carry digital audio.
[edit] References
- Borwick, John, ed., 1994: Sound Recording Practice (Oxford: Oxford University Press)
- Ifeachor, Emmanuel C., and Jervis, Barrie W., 2002: Digital Signal Processing: A Practical Approach (Harlow, England: Pearson Education Limited)
- Rabiner, Lawrence R., and Gold, Bernard, 1975: Theory and Application of Digital Signal Processing (Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey: Prentice-Hall, Inc.)
- Watkinson, John, 1994: The Art of Digital Audio (Oxford: Focal Press)
[edit] See also
- Analog sound vs. digital sound
- Audio compression
- Audio signal processing
- Digital audio editor
- Digital audio workstation (DAW)
- Digital film
- Musical Instrument Digital Interface (MIDI)
- Music sequencer
- Nyquist-Shannon sampling theorem
- Software synthesizer
- SPARS Code (re: DDD and ADD)
- Bit depth
- Pulse Code Modulation
- Continuously Variable Slope Delta modulation
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