AV News 201 - August 2015
S o u n d tra c k s a n d C o m p u te rs
Howard Gregory
Believe it or not, it's over 10 years since I was asked to produce a guide to
making soundtracks on a domestic computer. The resulting CD-ROM, 'Better
Soundtracks,' proved popular. It was originally intended to stand alone, but, for
various reasons, it became one of a series of tutorial CD-ROMs. Personal AV
tuition at your own computer.
In the intervening 10 years, AV, video and computers have changed a lot, and
'Better Soundtracks' was becoming out of date. It is now discontinued (if you
really, really want a copy I have a few to sell off at £6 + p&p).
Now that I have 10 years more experience of Frequently Asked Questions,
Frequently Heard Mistakes and delving into computers in search of quality, I am
working on a new CD-ROM - 'Soundtracks & Computers'. Whilst a small part is
the same as 'Better Soundtracks,' the vast majority is completely new, reflecting
changes over the 10 years, and better fitting into the CD-ROM series.
One thing which hasn't changed is that high quality audio still isn't at the
forefront of computer designer's minds. I suspect that most of them never think
about it at all, so there are still many places where you need to configure your
computer, soundcard etc for maximum quality.
Total running time of the new CD is over 2½ hours, in 20 easily-digestible
sections. About half is concerned with all the little ways in which quality can be
degraded without you realising, and what to do to prevent that happening. Or, to
put it another way, how to get professional quality results out of consumer-priced
equipment. The other half uses worked examples to illustrate all the basic (and
several more advanced) audio & soundtrack techniques.
Those of us of a certain age will still have dozens
of 35mm film canisters in cupboards and drawers.
They're very useful for storing stuff like panel pins
and carpet tacks.
Well, I've just
invented a new
use for them.
Firstly remove
the cap, cut off
the bottom with a
hacksaw or Stanley knife, smooth off any
rough edges and hey presto, you have a free
cable tidy for your audio leads and projector
cables.
Malcom Imhoff
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