recording

There may be hope for those warped LPs

With luxury turntables reaching prices well into six figures, a salient question arises: What about the quality of the albums themselves? Even the most ardent vinyl collector has lost a few records to warping over the years.

That's where the "DFV-1 Record Flattener" will prove its worth as long as it stays true to its name. The device, made by Tokyo-based Furutech, claims to be a "one-stop, one-button solution" that uses a "carefully controlled heating and cooling cycle it flatten all your warped records, even those with only slight irregularities that still unsettle your … Read more

Microphone envy

Pro-audio manufacturer M-Audio has unveiled a new $99 vocal recording package called Session Music Producer. Unlike their previous podcaster-targeted product, Podcast Factory, the Session Music Producer bundle consolidates the microphone and computer audio card into a single, idiot-proof USB microphone appropriately named the Producer USB. If nothing else, the sheer magnitude of M-Audio's 16mm cardioid capsule Producer microphone (see photo) will intimidate rival podcasters into submission.

Beyond its monolithic size and inexpensive price, there are two factors to the Session Music Producer bundle that are worth noting. First off, it comes bundled with M-Audio's capable Session multitrack recording … Read more

Hands-on: Robust Camtasia Studio impresses

With five applications bundled into one, Camtasia Studio truly is a full-fledged screen recording workshop. It's what I use to record and edit screencasts for my day job, and for my needs, it far surpasses free competitors.

That's not to say it's the best toolbox for your job. For many casual users, that honor could belong to freeware like CamStudio (reviewed 9/17/07,) and Hollywood producer types may swear by Apple's Final Cut Pro. But for Windows users in need of strong capturing, editing, and production features, particularly PowerPoint crossfunctionality, Camtasia has quite a lot to offer.… Read more

CamStudio: Quick 'n' dirty (and free) screencasting

Want to save $300? I'll let you in on a little secret. For most users creating Web site demos, the powerful, professional Camtasia Studio 4 (read hands-on review) could contain more fireworks than you need (if you're not sure, try it--CNET Download.com trials are always free). The free, open source CamStudio better serves casual users requiring a quick and dirty screencast.

Developer Nick Smith has just released the long-awaited beta version of CamStudio 2.5, which includes some enhancements and bug fixes, and new effects that add captioning and watermarks. Here's what you'll find.… Read more

Study finds electronic health records vulnerable

The results of a fifteen-month study accessing the time to patch software associated with electronic health record (EHR) systems were published today by the eHealth Vulnerability Reporting Program. The program is a collaboration of health care industry organizations, technology companies and security professionals that is attempting to establish best practices within the emerging field of electronic health records in the adoption and reliance of eHealth systems, including electronic medical records (EMR), picture archiving and communication system (PACS), and medical devices. The 39-page report found much room for improvement.

It's one thing to have your credit card information compromised--that can … Read more

Led Zeppelin to play London concert on November 26

The New York Times reported today that three of the four original members of Led Zeppelin--Robert Plant, Jimmy Page and John Paul Jones--will play a charity concert in London on November 26. Jason Bonham, son of Zep's original drummer John Bonham, who died in 1980, will fill in for his father.

The show will be a tribute to Ahmet Ertegun, founder of Atlantic Records. Zeppelin sold 100,000,000 plus records on Atlantic, so it's kinda nice the guys are showing respect for the man who believed in them from the start. The single performance show also includes … Read more

Can free music downloads save newspapers?

I was just reading through my daily news feeds when I came across this interesting little nugget of information from Techdirt.

According to the site, the Vancouver Sun gave away free compilations of songs from artists on the Nettwerk record label in an attempt to appeal to readers and make the newspaper a bit more popular. So, after reading this, I can't help but wonder--can free music downloads save newspapers? I think they can.… Read more

With Starbucks deal, Apple shows up music industry again

Steve Jobs demonstrated on Wednesday why Apple is snatching away the music business out from under the record labels.

Just days after Rick Rubin, Columbia Records' co-chairman, outlined some of his ideas for saving the music business--several that are dated and ignored by the public--Apple blows in with a new distribution model.

Apple announced at the company's press event on Wednesday that it launched a new Wi-Fi store in partnership with Starbucks. Each time an owner of an iPhone, or new iPod Touch enters a Starbucks, a button will appear on their device that enables them to buy music … Read more

Music exec says business model is 'done'

Rick Rubin, the man who coaxed some of the best studio performances out of the Beastie Boys, L.L. Cool J and the Red Hot Chili Peppers, threw the curtain open on the music industry this weekend. What was exposed was perhaps more uncertainty and frustration than many may have expected.

A celebrated record producer who was recently named co-chairman of Columbia Records, Rubin made startlingly candid statements in Sunday's edition of The New York Times Magazine about the effects of the iPod, digital downloads and piracy on the music industry.

"Columbia is stuck in the dark ages,&… Read more

Daptone Records: MTV visits Brooklyn's analog oasis

If you think all new records sound sterile and cold, check out this amazing MTV video tour of Brooklyn's Daptone Records. Hunkered down in a funky townhouse in Bushwick, Brooklyn, Daptone's revivalist sound is rough, raw and supremely soulful. It doesn't hurt that the records are cut direct-to-analog tape with real, hard working musicians. Unlike poser labels that record analog as an effect and immediately transfer to digital to edit, mix and master their music, Daptone's LPs and singles are 100% analog (only converting to zeros and ones to make CDs). The MTV video takes you … Read more