Audio: Hardware
Hardware for recording, transferring, or playing back sound
Shocking Truth about Thin-skinned CDs (or why you should never write on a CD with a Sharpie)
I’d heard the adage that the top surface of a CD or DVD is thinner and more fragile than the bottom surface, but until I went on a cleaning bender, I didn’t get it. I reallly didn’t get it. It’s true, it’s true— the top layer of CDs and DVDs are thin. Shockingly thin. Here is a photo gallery of the CD that taught me just how fragile a writeable CD is.
After the holidays, I went on a desk and home office cleaning frenzy. Under a pile of papers, I discovered a disk that failed when I’d burned it. (also known as a “coaster!”)
“Oh bummer,” I said. “A Bad CD. What’s it doing here? I should toss it out.” Then I remembered that I’ve wanted to destroy a disk just to see how it was put together. “Allrightie, then! I’m going to break this lil’ puppy!” I began to bend the CD. I figured that it would soon snap, but it bent and kept bending. At the crease, I noticed that a ripple appeared. It looked like a buckle or oblong bubble in the rainbow foil.
Strange! What is that? I bent the CD some more, then dug at the bubbly area with my fingernail. The top surface peeled away, exposing the clear plastic disk beneath.
No. No! Is that... Read More
Posted by Susan A. Kitchens on February 22, 2011 in
• Audio
• Audio: Hardware
• Digitality
• Longevity
(4) Comments •
Permalink
Unboxing My Zoom Handy H1 Portable Recorder
When my Zoom Handy H1 arrived, we took photos of the unboxing and first use. Now (finally — this unboxing took place before I left for the 10-10-10 family reunion), I’m annotating the process, so you get a sense of what the Zoom Handy H1 is like. I’m very excited about this recorder, because it meets the essential requirements — a digital recorder with built-in stereo microphones and removable memory that’s capable of recording audio CD (and broadcast)-quality uncompressed WAV files. All for $99!
So, here we go with the unboxing of the Zoom Handy H1…
The front and back of the product box. No shrink wrap, just a little plastic seal sticker on it.
By the way, we ordered the Zoom H1 Handy Portable Digital Recorder
Aaaand, now that the box is open, the first glimpse of the goodies inside.
The Zoom Handy H1 comes with the essentials, so you’re not lacking for a memory card or battery, and you can get started right away.
Here is the Zoom Handy H1 portable recorder, the included AA battery and the case with micro-SD card (and adapter), along with a shiny quarter, for size comparison.
One thing that is not included is a pair of earbud headphones... Read More
Posted by Susan A. Kitchens on October 24, 2010 in
• Audio
• Audio: Hardware
(6) Comments •
Permalink
Preparing Mama to be an Interviewer
What happens the person who’s usually the interviewee borrows your fancy digital recorder and becomes the interviewer? What happens when your Mom goes across the country and will see someone you’ve been wanting to interview for, like forever? Do you say, Okay Mom, please ask these questions. Oh, and would you record it? How do you make using the recorder as simple as possible? Will it work out?
The other week, my Mom went from West Coast to East Coast to attend her 60th high school reunion. I loaned her my easiest-to-use recorder with some very basic instruction. And hoped for the best.
Background: The stories I want to hear
My gradmother worked for the General Electric Company twice—in the 1920s before her children were born, and again from 1941 until she retired in 1966. The person I’ve wanted to interview—a woman whose initials are NF—was mentored by my grandmother. They both worked in an industry where women professionals were A Rare Thing.
Here’s something else that’s important: Grandma lived on the other side of the country.
I only have a few memory snapshots of her, from a visit East when I was a pre-schooler, and from a visit Grandma took west when my younger brother was born (I was 5?).
Grandma died a few months before I turned 8. Other than those few mental snapshots, everything I know about her is second-hand.
I want to hear stories of that time. I want to know a bit more what my grandmother... Read More
Posted by Susan A. Kitchens on September 29, 2010 in
• Audio
• Audio: Hardware
• How-To
• Personal
(3) Comments •
Permalink
Zoom’s latest recorder the Zoom H1 Handy costs $99; it’s now shipping!
Samson said they were going to ship the Zoom Handy H1 July 30, but they’re shipping the product as of today. the Zoom H1 Handy is available at Amazon
I got off the fone a little while ago with a spokesperson for Samson’s Zoom line of products, confirming very important items about this recorder. The news is good, people. True one touch recording (press the button and the recording begins). And a zippier start-up time to power the unit on.
Why is this good news? A little background…..
That was then, this is now
Last month, when people would ask me, “What recorder should I buy?” I’d tell them about the Samson Zoom H2 Handy—Samson’s previous lowest-cost portable digital audio recorder.
But I’d also tell them about two of the most significant downsides to the Zoom H2—it takes 30 seconds for the unit to power on, and it has press-twice-to-start-recording. 30 seconds is an eternity, if you’re trying to quickly grab a recording of a conversation in progress. What’s so bad about press twice to start the recording? You press... Read More
Posted by Susan A. Kitchens on July 20, 2010 in
• Audio
• Audio: Hardware
(4) Comments •
Permalink
Not your father’s iPod… well, actually it is (a Walkman)
For Sony Walkman’s 30th anniversary, 13-year old Scott Campbell tries it for a week. Hilarious for us oldsters to see our old fave equipment through a young-person’s eyes.
My dad had told me it was the iPod of its day.
He had told me it was big, but I hadn’t realised he meant THAT big. It was the size of a small book.
Size? cumbersome. Handy belt-clip, but with that weight? (you hafta read the article to find out its effect for current 13 year olds).
When I wore it walking down the street or going into shops, I got strange looks, a mixture of surprise and curiosity, that made me a little embarrassed.
Though one teacher got nostalgic. Two tantalizing questions:
How long did it take for Campbell to figure out that there was a side B to this tape?
And how did he create his own impromptu “Shuffle” effect?
You hafta read the article to find out the answers.
A couple of pluses: two output jacks for sharing music with friends, and a power port to plug... Read More
Posted by Susan A. Kitchens on June 29, 2009 in
• Audio
• Audio: Hardware
• Digitality
• Longevity
• Memorabilia
(0) Comments •
Permalink
Countown to my Digital Audio Workshop
Am currently working hard to prepare for Friday’s “Birthing Digital” workshop at USC for the Southwest Oral History Association conference. What equipment am I bringing? Here’s a list.
YES, you can still sign up! (late fee waived!)
- Two Mac Laptops to demo and test all the direct-to-computer tools
- USB mic
- 2 USB Audio Interfaces: Edirol’s and M-Audio’s
- No wait, make that three. Creative Lab’s EEMU USB Audio Interface
- iPod Nano and Belkin TuneTalk, plus Belkin GoStudio. Or, everything you wanted to know about turning your iPod into an audio studio (or quick, stealthy recorder)
- M-Audio Microtrack II Portable Digital Recorder
- Samson’s Zoom Handy H2 Portable Digital Recorder*
- Marantz PMD 620 Portable Digital Recorder*
- LiveScribe Pulse Pen
- Possibly a Tascam portable recorder
- My own portable recording kit, as written about here
*A couple of these will be for sale, (very) gently used, in about 3 weeks’ time, once I’m finished with all my equipment tests
I expect to post lots of good info on audio recorders to this site in the weeks following this presentation.
Kevin Roderick at LA Observed mentioned the conference in this morning’s link roundup.
Posted by Susan A. Kitchens on March 24, 2009 in
• Audio
• Audio: Hardware
• Audio: Software
(0) Comments •
Permalink
Workshop in March on Portable Audio Recorders
In L.A. Friday, March 27, I’ll be presenting a workshop called for “Birthing Digital: Portable Digital Audio Recorders” for the Southwest Oral History Association’s Conference that afternoon. Location: USC. Register: Cost: SOHA members $35, Non-Members $50, Students $20. (+online registration fees). Short description: When an audio recording is initially stored as bits, bytes, ones and zeroes, it’s called “born digital.” The birthing begins with two people having a conversation. It ends with a digital audio file. This 3-hour workshop focuses on what happens in between. It’s part theory, part show and tell, and part practice using a glorious array of portable audio recorders.
Long Description:
The Theory:
An overview of the most common routes to go from spoken word to audio file. It will provide a framework to understand the myriad portable audio recorders available on the market. There will also be an introduction to some basics of audio, digital sampling, file formats, and concepts that underlie best recording practices.
The Show and Tell:
A look at many of the common portable audio recorders. Recorder types will include portable flash memory, portable internal micro-drives, direct-to-CD, recording pens, components that connect microphone directly to computer, and add-on components that extend functionality of common audio devices such as certain iPods. Attendees will be able to handle the recorders and compare them by size, weight, and inspect their controls.
Attendees who have worked with a given recorder will be encouraged to describe their experience using that recorder, including their learning curve, workflow, and any technical “gotchas.”
The... Read More
Posted by Susan A. Kitchens on March 02, 2009 in
• Audio
• Audio: Hardware
(0) Comments •
Permalink
Restored Reel-to-Reel Tape Decks as Art.
A Gallery of Custom Tape Decks, wherein Jeff Jacobs restores old audio technology as art, via BoingBoing Gadgets. I love the meta-line here. Jacobs restores tape decks, which I think of as tools for restoring (and digitizing) audio. If tape decks are art, then there’s a ton of art at Richard Hess’s audio tape restoration studio! In decades to come, when those machines grow ever scarcer, the BoingBoing post points to another source to find those long-obsolete tape decks of the world: the personal collections of geeks.
Posted by Susan A. Kitchens on February 12, 2009 in
• Audio
• Audio: Hardware
• Longevity
• Memorabilia
• Restoration
(0) Comments •
Permalink
Who invented the electret (condenser) microphone?
Dr West, I presume. How do I know it? Kareem told me. That Kareem. The Basketball Kareem. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. In his blog. No kidding. Quoth Kareem: “In 1962, Dr. [James] West and his partner Gerhard Sessler invented the electret microphone used in almost 90% of all microphones built today — over 1 billion a year.”
Electret (also called “condenser”) microphones are the type generally used in lavalier (or lapel) microphones. (Hello every TV anchor and guest in recent history. How do we hear you? It’s electret!) Electret mics are used in all mini-sized microphones.
I love how I came to learn of Dr. West, electret mic’s co-inventor. Though I have passing awareness (heh. pun unintended) of Pro Basketball, and have heard the name of Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, and I read a local (L.A.) blog by Tony Pierce, who became the blog editor at the L.A. Times, and though I saw an announcement that he got Kareem to start blogging, I had no idea. I yawned, oh, it’s a sports blog. Whatever. Didn’t even click through. I had no idea that Mr. Abdul-Jabbar loves history, and has written history books. His blog bio states that he has authored “four bestselling history books intended to popularize the contributions of... Read More
Posted by Susan A. Kitchens on February 25, 2008 in
• Audio
• Audio: Hardware
(6) Comments •
Permalink
Marantz PMD620 Review
Oryoki’s First Impressions of the Marantz PMD620 (plus responses). It seems as though the preamps are better than expected.
The preamp specifications Marantz publishes for the PMD620 are similar to the specs of the PMD660 recorder. This is not a good sign, because the PMD660 is (correctly) criticized as having relatively high self-noise and poor performance when recording loud material.
However, in my brief tests the PMD620 sounded better than the specs might suggest.
The built-in mics are adequate. They have a somewhat better sound when you point the top of the mic at the subject, holding the recorder as if it were a TV remote control. The sound is thinner and brighter when you point the front or back of the recorder at the subject (this points the top of the recorder and the mics at the ceiling).
[...] Compared to my Oade-modified PMD660, the PMD620 was a bit noisier, but sounded very good as long as the preamp gain was held a little below maximum. Overall, I’d say... Read More
Posted by Susan A. Kitchens on December 20, 2007 in
• Audio
• Audio: Hardware
(1) Comments •
Permalink
Marantz introduces new portable digital recorder: PMD620
Ontario, CA — Marantz unveiled its PMD620, a new handheld solid state SD-Flash memory recorder, due to ship in November for a street price of $399. [Click image to enlarge] UPDATE: It’s Shipping!!!
The Marantz PMD620 will record in WAV or MP3 file formats (16 or 24 bit resolution) from its two built-in omnidirectional mics or a plug-in external microphone. It can record in mono or stereo. It stores recordings on SD memory.
It is powered by two AA batteries (recorders that take standard batteries make better field recorders, since you can buy fresh batteries anywhere; custom batteries present more of a problem). The Marantz representative plugged something into its side which I assumed to be AC power, but I didn’t ask.
I did plug in my own headphones and external microphone to try it out. Alas for the noisy trade show room; I couldn’t really hear the sound quality (this was true for other “let me try it out” show floor tests).
One thing the PMD620 offers that none of the competing hand-held recorders do is built-in speakers.
At first glance, the PMD620... Read More
Posted by Susan A. Kitchens on September 30, 2007 in
• Audio
• Audio: Hardware
(6) Comments •
Permalink
A PodCamp SoCal report
Audio gadgets, workflows, meeting people, and stories. PodcampSoCal was a good day yesterday. I was expecting to have different breakout regions in the room, but we all followed a single track together as one room. I saw several Zoom Handy H2s set up on small tripods, recording the proceedings. And one or two Zoom H4, too. Looks like I’ll be turning from The War and what’s your story to an audio geek gadget maven for the next day or so. The agenda was full and continuous I didn’t get a chance to ask people what their experience was like using their various recorders. But I’ll be at the show Friday and Saturday, so I hope to do that then.
Oh, and family stories did come up; I managed to get myself on the agenda at day’s end and spoke of the Veterans History Project. One guy, Dan Bach (he produces a math show and wore a tee shirt filled with lovely graphic symbolic goodness related to prime numbers), mentioned his dad during the Q & A: A WWII vet, a prisoner of war who received his purple heart 60-some years later. Perhaps I heard about him in the news? Just looked it up, and here’s the story of Leo Bach. He was at Pearl Harbor the day it was bombed, and he was shot down over Germany. I told him, you gotta interview your dad; this field kit has your name on it (I only had a handful of Veteran History Project field kits).
Some other good questions that came in… do you stop the recording if the interviewee gets... Read More
Posted by Susan A. Kitchens on September 28, 2007 in
• Audio
• Audio: Hardware
• Interviewing
• Veterans History Project
(0) Comments •
Permalink
The Samson Zoom Handy 2 is shipping
The Samson Zoom Handy H2, the new portable digital recorder, is finally shipping. Street price just under $200. This is a combination of low-cost and high-quality (recording uncompressed audio in WAV files). I just heard from someone who ordered it —the person sounded very happy thus far. I’ll see if I can get more of a report.
You can use the Zoom Handy H2 as a standalone recorder, or else use it as a USB microphone and plug it straight into your computer to record onto your hard disk drive. The portable method will allow you to record for a good while; The Zoom H2 Handy will take the newer type of 4GB SD flash memory cards (its older sibling, the H4, takes only 2 GB)
Check out the equipment store for with other equipment and supplies for recording and preserving spoken word stories.
Related: Earlier post about Zoom Handy H2 with description
Posted by Susan A. Kitchens on September 05, 2007 in
• Audio
• Audio: Hardware
(0) Comments •
Permalink
Compact Disc celebrates 25th birthday
First discs rolled off presses August 17, 1982. So, if digital lasts forever.. or 5 years, whichever comes first, CDs may (may!) last forever.
The news story follows the way that CDs changed the music industry.. the rise.. and, with other digital formats, the fall. But the part that interests me the most are the techno-geeky deets about how the CD came to be, well, the CD:
Yet it had been a risky technical endeavor to attempt to bring digital audio to the masses, said Pieter Kramer, the head of the optical research group at Philips’ labs in the Netherlands in the 1970s.
“When we started there was nothing in place,” he told The Associated Press at Philips’ corporate museum in Eindhoven.
The proposed semiconductor chips needed for CD players were to be the most advanced ever used in a consumer product. And the lasers were still on the drawing board when the companies teamed up in 1979.
In 1980, researchers published what became known as the “Red Book” containing the original CD standards, as... Read More
Posted by Susan A. Kitchens on August 16, 2007 in
• Audio
• Audio: Hardware
• Digitality
(0) Comments •
Permalink
New Digital Audio Recorder: Samson’s Handy H2
Now shipping! Coming out Real Soon Now, The Samson Handy H2 audio recorder looks oh so sweet. Smaller, less expensive version of Zoom Handy H4, the Handy H2 looks to be an improvement on the H4. Details from manufacturer. Street Price, when it goes on sale is $198.
Built in microphones designed to pick up a good stereo image (designed for musicians, but hey, interviews will do just fine that way). The combinations of mics allow for different pick-up patterns. Or plug in your own mic to the mini-jack microphone port.
Record Audio CD-quality stereo WAV files. Either to flash memory card, ro use the recorder like a USB mic and record directly to your computer.
If I were in the market for a recorder and I didn’t have any interviews to conduct over the summer, I’d seriously consider waiting to get this. Lots of bang for the buck for just under $200. (SoundProfessioanls says “August” others say “coming soon”)
| Batteries | AA |
| Flash Memory | SD, up to 4GB |
| Extra Mic port | minijack |
UPDATE, September 2007: It’s in stock and shipping!
Posted by Susan A. Kitchens on June 20, 2007 in
• Audio
• Audio: Hardware
(0) Comments •
Permalink