Category: Audio

Audio production has been revolutionized by new digital audio recording tools that were unimaginable only decades ago. This revolution has made the business of sound much less mechanical and much more sophisticated, changing the dynamic of the industry. Consequently, study at an audio engineering school is more important than ever for those interested in a career in audio production.

The ears hear by picking up sound waves from the air, and because we have two years positioned on opposite sides of our head we process sound in stereo. We compare the information from each ear and refine out errors in sensing to purify sound. We sense subtle differences in the relative volume between the ears to derive directionality.

Early on, both recording and playback were mechanical processes. The first recording technologies used physical changes in the grooves of a recording medium to capture sound waves. Playback systems then used those physical changes to determine which frequency to replicate and the volume to play it at.

Whether it was a recording of a sporting event, legal testimony, or a meeting, audio recordings created an absolute record of the event. That record had widespread value, perhaps nowhere more than in the entertainment industry. Music was among the first sound recorded, and the value of those recordings were quickly recognized and exploited, creating what has become a multi-billion dollar industry.

Because audio recording has historically had such value, the development of new audio recording methods has been a profitable undertaking. Consequently, audio recording media and methods have progressed rapidly, becoming more dynamic, more robust, more precise, and more sophisticated. And as new technologies have proliferated, they have also become more accessible to the masses.

With the advent of digital recording, sound moved from physical media and to the inside of a computer. By applying computer technology to sound processing, sound editing tools advanced rapidly. Now audio engineers can manipulate sound frequencies in the same way that graphic designers photoshop pictures. They can change relative volume, pitch, even smooth out a warbling tone. Whereas recording was once the theater of audio recording, now that theater has moved to the editing suite.

The final product may be demonstrably different from the original because the quality of an original recording can now be manipulated and processed. And where once technical recording skills were the most valued and critical part of creating a finished audio record, now engineering the sound has stepped into the foreground.

It is possible for anybody to create an audio record because the tools to record and edit sound are widely available. As a result, high level knowledge of the techniques and technologies that are used in the workplace today is essential for those who want to pursue a career in audio recording. A good audio engineering school provides the best way to gain that critical knowledge.

Back in the earlier days of personal computers, there were very few different audio formats. This made it easier to play your music files in your favorite media player without any annoying compatibility issues arising. Now things are a bit different. With dozens of media players and new formats, compatibility problems frequently appear. Different devices favor different formats as do media players. For example, many of the audio formats that you obtain from the Internet will not work on most portable devices such as Smartphones. When you want to move your audio collection around and find yourself constantly hindered by compatibility problems, it can quickly get frustrating to say the least. Fortunately, there’s a program called Hamster Free Audio Converter which can help you to overcome almost any compatibility problem that you’re ever likely to encounter.

Hamster Free Audio Converter supports almost every audio format that you’re ever likely to have heard of and are ever likely to encounter. Fortunately, however, you don’t actually need to know too much about the intricacies of different audio file formats and extensions. The program provides a wide variety of presets which explain in detail every step of the process. For extra convenience, you can also convert files simply by dragging and dropping them into the program. You can drop multiple files into the program at the same time and use the batch conversion feature when you want to leave the program to convert large numbers of files. You’ll then be able to choose the output format for your audio and, for more advanced users, specify some additional parameters to further customize your results. Hamster Free Audio Converter works on any edition of Windows from Windows XP to Windows 7, including 64-bit editions. It’s performance is exceptionally high and converting a regular audio file typically only takes a matter of seconds.

As with all of HamsterSoft’s free software, Hamster Free Audio Converter provides an exceptionally easy and user-friendly solution. The presets allow you to quickly choose your format with a single click of the mouse, without having to know anything about the file extensions and formats themselves. For example, if you want to make an audio file playable on a Nokia Smartphone, all you need to do is select “Nokia” as the output format. There are presets for many different devices including phones, other portable devices and standalone media players. Below the list of devices, you’ll see a list of specific audio formats. Hamster Free Audio Converter also supports lossless audio formats such as FLAC.

Hamster Free Audio Converter also provides the ability to edit audio information, such as track name and number and artist and genre details. You can also add album covers, making it easier to find an album you’re looking for in the library of your favorite media player.

Hamster Free Audio Converter is available in many different languages. Find out more and download the program at the official HamsterSoft website at audioconverter.hamstersoft.com. You’ll find a list of supported formats as well.

You may have noticed that most cars now a days come with a pre-fitted car audio system and you will also know that the majority of these systems are really very mediocre as far as performance is concerned. This is one of the primary reasons why people now choose to upgrade their systems after purchasing their cars.

There are many important points to consider when you are choosing the correct audio system for your car. The make of the car will be the crucial factor to help you decide which system is suited to your car. The perfect system may vary form car to car and will be different for a two door car or a four door sedan. In a similar way, a good system for a hatchback will not be good enough for a large car.

In general smaller cars do not need to have a powerful audio system owing to the small size of their cabin. If such small cars are fitted with a high end system then there is a possibility of interference of sound leading to unwanted effects. As a result all that you would have spent in setting up your car audio system will be just a waste of time and money.

Small cars always come with only four speakers and a head unit. For a start, you can upgrade these speakers to give yourself a better quality of sound. But if your focus is on improving the overall sound quality, then a few more things are needed. The default CD player of a small car may not have the capacity to offer the best sound output. Manufacturers concentrate only on the vehicle’s performance rather than on the performance of the audio system. The best thing to do is to replace the existing CD system with a new 50 watt CD player.

Your small car may have been fitted out with a CD player but it is not likely to give maximum sound quality. This is because e the average car maker will concentrate more on the vehicle’s performance in terms of road handling and fuel efficiency rather than on the way the sound system performs. You can therefore get yourself a CD changer that will deliver at least 50 watts per channel.

A large car offers better scope for the changes you would like to make to its sound system. .You can easily have six to eight speakers fitted inside a large car. It is however not really necessary to change or replace all the existing speakers in the car. You can just add a couple or four more in addition to the ones that have already been fitted.

An amplifier is another audio device which magnifies the sound that comes out of the sub-woofer. If you go in for a sub-woofer then it is mandatory that you also have an amplifier fitted along with it. The Amplifier – Sub woofer combination will offer the best sound quality that is required to make your drive enjoyable.

You don’t have to sacrifice on the quality of sound that you desire just because you don’t have a powerful audio system. Instead you can get all the additional accessories that you require to improve the sound quality of your car’s sound system so that it gives you the best listening experience while you take to the road.

Forensic audio deals in the scientific and professional investigation (including the technology and tools used) to determine the authenticity of sound where it pertains to criminal cases, as well civil court cases. Based on audio forensics, the results turned up during investigation can be used as evidence in criminal and civil cases that deal with anything from family and neighbor disputes, divorce, extortion and even industrial espionage.

Audio forensics have been used in virtually every case involving a wiretap or recorded conversation that was used in a trial and that includes the common analysis of surveillance tapes in work environments, particular with disputes between employers and employees.

The Roots of Forensic audio

Before audio forensics was widely used in the professional world and by law enforcement agencies, the practice was focused mainly among the United States government. Linguistics experts and those versed in studying audio would utilize technology during World War II to dissect and analyze the voice patterns of enemies via radio and telephone.

During World War II, specialists utilized a spectrograph to plot the frequencies and amplitudes of voice patterns. This practice made it easier to identify individuals of interest and monitor frequencies for important broadcasts or intelligence.

Now, these same practices are used with more advanced technology to identify terrorist subjects, reveal their location and discern when the audio was created along with other pertinent factors.

Digging into Audio Forensics

Those analyzing audio dont just listen to speech. Every noise must be carefully considered with audio files because it could be relevant to the overall recording, encounter, etc. Some of the factors that are commonly evaluated by audio forensic specialists include

-Changes in voice frequency
-Noises emanating from recording devices or other machines
-Background noise and natural artifacts
-Unnatural artifacts
-Pause signatures as well as start and stop points

These are all important points because unnatural noises or an inconsistency in noise patterns could mean the audio was compromised, or that its not authentic. There are also factors considered when audio forensics specialists have to identify multiple speakers in meetings where voices carry over one another. Some of the factors they analyze include

-Pitch
-Breath patterns
-Nasal Resonance
-Vowel formation

Audio Forensics and Law Enforcement Transcription

In many cases, law enforcement agencies call upon audio forensic specialists not only to study and dissect recorded audio, but also to provide transcription services. Simply providing a report of the data is not enough in all cases. To be admissible as evidence, a certified transcript of the entire audio recording is required for review.

This can be an exceptional amount of work. Unlike other forms of transcription where only the voice is recorded, law enforcement transcription sometimes requires every sound and artifact to be documented and transcribed. This includes voices, doors opening and closing, chairs scraping across floor, rustling, sighing, lip smacking, papers being shuffled, etc.

Each one of these noises could provide insight into an interrogation, meeting, or encounter that may not typically be picked up by the untrained ear. Detection of these noises, as well as discontinuities in other types of recordings can be difficult, but certainly not impossible for those who specialize in audio forensics.

The JL Audio 8W7 is the 8-inch version of JL Audio’s W7 line. The W7 series is JL Audio’s most recent car subwoofer release and is known as the most technologically advanced out of any of the JL Audio products. The entire line features six new, patented technologies never before seen in the lineup, mostly because none of the previous products, remade in a second version or not, can even relate; JL Audio built the W7 series from scratch and not from a previous model. The W7 series focuses on sound quality and volume at the same time; that is, JL Audio wants to see how loud they can turn the party up without having to sacrifice the sound.

The 8-inch version has drawn numerous positive reviews from car audio experts and leading organizations. Car Sound and Performance calls it the “best damn 8-inch subwoofer ever made”. It’s small, yet powerful, and the 8-inch subwoofer has never been made so well in so long. It’s really no wonder that it’s getting rave reviews. JL Audio has certainly taken advantage of the situation and brought the little ones to own the bigger ones.

It is reported that this 8-inch version almost didn’t make it to the final lineup. The 21st century is thinking that bigger is definitely better, but that’s not the case here. The smallest version, a size rarely seen in the lines of other companies, has proven to be just as powerful as the other, more popular sizes. While the competition is racing to see how big it can make subwoofers without losing power and quality, JL Audio suddenly dropped a smaller size, which broke the stereotype that smaller subwoofers won’t do much good at all.

A feature that seems insignificant at first, the owner’s manual is actually quite important when it comes down to the actual installation and optimization of the JL Audio 8W7. Many consider it’s owner’s manual one of the best, because it not only includes the standard enclosure recommendations and specifications, but also includes recommended amplifiers to pair up with the 8W7 and tips to get the best out of the system through tweaking without busting it.

Overall, if you want to downsize from a 10-inch or 12-inch subwoofer, or want to try something different that’s hard to find on the market, the JL Audio 8W7 is a nice place to start. It takes everything people love about the 10 and 12 inch pieces, upgrades it, and repackages it as an 8 inch. Seriously, if you want something that’s even more powerful than many other subwoofers on the market, you’ll want to choose the W7 line. But if you want something that’s compact and does the same, you’ll want to choose the 8W7.