Posts Tagged radio
Looking For Good Sound For Your Videos What You Must Do to Get the Best Audio Quality
You’ve probably noticed that “tinny” sound most home movies have, and the way the background sounds overwhelm the main subject. That happens when you rely solely on the built-in microphone of your video camera. It isn’t picky about what it hears, and the louder the source, whatever that is, the more it will be the main thing you hear. Plus your hands handling the camera, or the wind outside can create a lot of noise. Try taping a speaker on stage while diners around you are clinking forks and knives on dinner plates and you’ll know what I mean.
You’ve seen many videos out there that have sound issues and you may have clicked off because of that. To make sure your audio won’t turn a viewer off and leave your video you need better audio.
For better sound you need to add external microphones. The two types of microphones you need to consider purchasing are lavalier and shotgun microphones. They each have their purposes.
Lavalier microphones are placed on the “talent” and give a sense of presence. They will make a 200% improvement in the sound of the person speaking over a built-in mic. They can be wired or wireless. These are the mics you see clipped to the shirts of people being interviewed on television. These mics don’t have to be expensive: you can buy a simple lavalier mic at Radio Shack for $26.49 online. Even at this price, it is much better than your built-in mic.
Shotgun microphones can be used on the camera, on a boom pole or a mic stand. Contrary to what many people think, a shotgun mic does not amplify or reach out to get the sound in front of it. It works by ignoring the sounds to the side and behind it, to varying degrees depending on the design. These work great when you need to isolate a speaker or actor but cannot use a lavalier mic. You can spend thousands of dollars on a top end pro model, but good quality can be had in the $200 – $500 range.
To set yourself above the pack in your online videos, you need to have great audio. As any videographer will tell you, sound is half the picture and it is not that hard to get good sound quality.
Tags: camera, radio, sound quality, television, videoRelated posts
Why Use Wireless Speaker Systems
As little as twenty years ago, music lovers did not have many options when it came to listening to music outdoors. The only choice was to purchase an expensive set of speakers and wire them to an equally expensive audio system. If they wanted to listen to music while working in the garden, they had to bring the whole system outside and wire it all over again–unless they wanted to risk leaving their kitchen door open so they could hear music inside the house. Fortunately, modern technology has made the whole process obsolete; wireless speaker systems allow people to listen to music wherever they want. Below, we are going to tell you why you would use a wireless speaker system…
Of course, wireless speakers can also be used inside the house. They are extremely convenient for outdoor use, however. In addition to not requiring wires, they do not use batteries that wear down easily. These speakers are also infinitely more portable than their wired counterparts.
Wireless speakers work just as well as traditional speakers do; music fans will not lose much in the way of sound quality.
Most speaker sets use an FM radio transmitter, which can transmit sound from up to 300 feet away. The signal goes through walls, furniture, and other obstacles. The music fan needs only to connect the transmitter to the audio device in order to be able to use the speaker.
Some wireless speakers, such as those used in home theatre systems, use infrared technology to deliver signal. These speakers are far less common, and with good reason: infrared signals cannot navigate walls or other obstacles. The music lover must therefore move the stereo system to ensure that no such obstacles exist when using these speakers.
Wireless speakers can be used in all sorts of weather, as they are extremely durable. It is not advisable to leave them outdoors during blizzards or other unusually severe weather, but they can be left on a porch or lawn overnight without ill effects. The durability does slightly affect the sound quality; protective materials can muffle sounds if the signal is coming from too far away.
When using wireless speaker systems, just make sure you use common sense. Do not leave too large of a gap between the signal and the speaker, and do not leave the speakers outside in poor weather. The speakers will be sure to deliver years of quality music if their owners simply follow these guidelines.
Tags: batteries, home theatre systems, kitchen, radio, sound quality, speakers, wireless speaker, wireless speaker system, wireless speakersRelated posts
Power Up! How to Extend the Life of Your Batteries
“Batteries not included” – the nightmare with new toys and gadgets. Batteries are used for just about everything, from our children’s noisy toys, to our cell phones and laptops. Finding the right battery for the job is only the first step. Once you have the battery, you will want to extend the battery life as long as possible.
What can you do to help save some run time on your batteries?
The most important step is to buy fresh batteries. Like other items with a shelf-life, batteries will keep longer if they are newer. The easiest way to find new batteries is to shop a store that sells a lot of batteries – this means the turnover will be high, and new items will be on the shelf constantly.
Keep the “FIFO” method of stocking shelves in mind also; first in, first out. Look for packages on the back of the display and see if it is newer by checking the dates. Stores try to sell the oldest merchandise first, so ideally the new merchandise should be the least convenient – depending on the associates of course.
Once you have the batteries at home, put them in a sealed plastic bag, and store them in the refrigerator. This will extend the life of your batteries, just make sure to let them sit out to room temperature before using.
Purchasing zinc-carbon batteries for items that have a low draw (think clocks/calculators) to make them last, and alkaline batteries for high draw items (radios/cameras) will give you more bang for the buck. The appropriate battery for the task will ensure it will last as long as possible.
Never mix old batteries with new batteries. The new ones may actually cause the older batteries to leak battery acid in the competition to keep up. This can potentially cause burns, as well as destroying the equipment it is in.
When using rechargeable batteries, make sure to charge them the entire length of time recommended before using the item. It may be tempting to turn your cell phone on before the time is up, but holding off for those few hours can extend the life of the battery – and it is an expensive item to replace later on.
For items that are turned on almost constantly, such as your laptop, there are simple things you can do to reduce the pull on your computer’s battery. Keep your computer defragged so it runs quicker (and easier on your battery), keep your screen dim, and turn off programs when you are finished running them.
Keep your work on a laptop to a streamlined minimum to finish tasks at hand. By leaving email open, with a spread sheet, while listening to music, you are draining the battery quickly.
It is recommended that if you have a rechargeable battery (such as a cell phone or laptop) that you let it run itself down at least once a month. This allows the battery to go through a complete charge cycle. Once you have allowed it to charge fully, then you can keep it maintained.
With so many expenses related to owning electronics, maintaining your batteries is a sure-fire way to save money. This is one of the best ways to keep your electronics running smoothly and preventing headaches for you!
Tags: batteries, battery, battery life, camera, clock, gadget, n batteries, radio, radios, rechargeable batteriesRelated posts