Common Recording Problems

If you're having trouble with the sound over-peaking on a recording, it is usually caused by one of three main things:

1. Poor quality microphone, or possible just working too close to it without a windshield.
- wind blasts from the mouth can cause a low-frequency pop or rumble, and often sound distorted as the mics innards are working too hard!

2. Overloading the input amplifier (often called "preamp" - a preamplifier that brings up the level on the input to the main mixer).
- many basic systems have no adjustment for the preamp, but it's obviously worth experimenting with levels if you have the chance....

3. Overloading the digital recorder - if you over-peak when recording digitally, then you will get a nasty crackling sound. On old analogue machines you would have got a bit of distortion and the recording might still be usable, but you have to be more careful with high levels in digital systems.
- the best way to get around this is with a software plugin such as a compressor or limiter. Either (or both!) of these will help to reduce the peaks while not producing any distortion (providing they are set up correctly...).

The white light technology that could finally make 3D awesome - without glasses

The white light technology that could finally make 3D awesome - without glasses: "The current generation of holograms are generally monotone creations, requiring a single color laser to construct. However, Japanese researchers have devised a new type of hologram technology that could be just around the corner."

How physics simulations and GNU emacs found their way into Tron Legacy

How physics simulations and GNU emacs found their way into Tron Legacy

Software developer JT Nimoy has an amazing collection of images from Tron Legacy on his site, where he explains all the math, physics, and old-school computer geekery that he put into making Flynn's digital world.

"I started with a regular physics simulation where a particle has an upward force applied at birth, sending it upward while gravity pulls it back down resulting in a parabola. I then added particle-children, followed by various artistic styles, including what our team has called "egyptian" across several jobs — which is a side-stepping behavior. We were trying to create fireworks that looked enough like real fireworks but had interesting techno-aesthetic. As a homage to the original Tron character Bit, we used icosahedrons, dodecahedrons, and similar. I was disappointed that Bit isn't in this one. After doing this simulation, I've grown more aware of how often fireworks are used in movies."

Apple granted patent for holographic technology

Apple granted patent for holographic technology

Start saving up your money, and get ready to throw those shiny new iPhones and iPads in the garbage, because they could soon be obsolete. The iMblinded (probably not it's actual name) is Apple's next all-consuming piece of personal technology. It will allow its users to see actual 3D holograms on their palm-top computers.

How does it work? The images will be displayed through a screen that consists of many tiny little plastic domes. As anyone who has played with glass bowls or prisms knows, when light hits the edge of a surface, it is deflected a little from its course. The screen underneath the domes will send out certain images. If they hit one section of the domes, they'll be deflected one way. If they another section, they'll be deflected another way. The technology would work by using the domes to deflect one image to your left eye, and a slightly different one to your right eye. Your brain will then integrate those two different views to form a 3D image.

Many will be excited at the prospect of this new technology. Others — for example people who don't want to have to engineer 3D websites, have light deflected into their eyes at movie theaters, or listen to their friends obsessing about their new toy — won't be as eager.