To start Windows Sound Recorder Click the <Start> button Click <All Programs> Click <Accessories> Click <Entertainment> Click <Windows Sound Recorder> Recording a Sound with Windows Sound Recorder To record a sound with Windows Sound Recorder, just press the <Record> button in the lower right corner of the window with a circle icon on it. Playing a Sound with Windows Sound Recorder You can use the <Play> button to play a sound you have just recorded, or you can use <File> and <Open> to play a file stored on your hard Read More

The Need for Wireless Speakers A common complaint against home audio systems has been the cables that interconnect the speakers to the audio receiver, tuner, cd player, or stereo units. As more and more channels are added to modern home audio equipment the problem of connecting the speakers to the audio sources has exacerbated. Running cables through the house walls is messy and time consuming. Cables running over the carpet are a tripping hazard. Running cables along the ceiling or walls are just an eyesore. Modern digital surround systems can Read More

A voice changer is exactly what the name states; it changes the sound of your voice. In addition, many voice changers can go further than just changing the sound of your voice, many voice changers can change the gender of a voice (for instance, from female to male) and enhance the voice in many different ways. Types of Voice Changers There are three main types of voice changers, stand alone electronic devices that you speak into, devices that integrate with telephones and software based voice changes that can easily manipulate Read More

One of the significant developments with the widespread adoption of the personal computer for home, business, and school use is the digitalization of media and the subsequent mass adaptation by consumers and industry. While digital media is not a new concept, it has only recently made its way into the “normal” household and is commonly supported by digital audio cables. As a result, higher quality audio playback is now supported while watching movies or listening to music that can approach (or at times exceed) the experience found in a high-end Read More

MIDI keyboards are digital keyboards that are designed similar to a piano keyboard and are used to transmit Musical Instrument Digital Interface (MIDI) communications to an electronic module or computer that is capable of producing sound. Unlike older keyboards and pianos, MIDI keyboards produce no sound on their own, instead, relying on the electronic module for sound production. MIDI keyboards are also capable of producing samples that are similar other musical instruments depending on the capabilities of the device connected to the keyboard for sound reproduction. What Information Does a Read More

Most people usually look to Signal to Noise Ratio to measure the signal quality of either audio or video communications. Signal to noise ratio is usually written either S/N or SNR. Most of the time the signal to noise ratio is measured in decibels. A decibel is a measure of power or loudness. Not to get too technical, Signal to Noise Ratio is a great way to easily determine which audio or video component produces a clearer signal or can transfer a clearer signal to a speaker, TV set or Read More

Audio control software refers to software applications that can play multi-digital formats, giving the user control over the control module’s sound, features, and appearance. Some of the more popular audio control software programs available today are Nullsoft Winamp, SnackAmp, Ecasound, Supercollider, and Microsoft’s Windows Media Player. Nullsoft Winamp Winamp is an audio control software that plays a variety of formats including MP3, MP1, MP2, AAC, WAV, WMA, MIDI, MOD, OGG, Vorbis, FLAC, etc. In addition, Nullsoft’s Winamp plays AVI files including MPEG and NSV (Nullsoft Streaming Video). Besides being able Read More

Microsoft provides what is known as the Codec Installation Package. This package includes the MP4 codec for Windows Media Player along with many other commonly used codecs. Obtaining the Official Codec Package from Microsoft First, go to www.microsoft.com, Downloads & Trials, then the Download Center. In the search box where it says “Search All Download Center” type in “codec” and press Enter. This will open up approximately 17 results. Select “Codec Installation Package for Windows Media Player 7.1 or later.” This codec package supports the current Windows Media Player 10 Read More

Experts in science and technology developed a known digital audio standard, AES/EBU, to handle signals from digital audio systems. It is known officially by the name AES3 and an Audio Engineering Society and the European Broadcasting Union developed it, hence the name. It was first publicized in 1989, but was revised later in 1995, 1998, and 2003. The Standard Structure The AES/EBU or AES3 is made to match the standard maintained internationally under the name IEC 60958. It carries a variety of hardware connections that the international standard itself defines, Read More

There are many ways to measure sound quality. Many measurements have been created to specifically measure and rate the quality of sound. Here are a few of the most common types of measurements used for sound quality. THD THD stands for Total Harmonic Distortion. It is a measurement taken to view the total amount of distortion from the original audio signal at playback. Most quality components have less than 1% distortion rate, loudspeakers can have 1 to 5% distortion rate and bass subwoofers can produce the most distortion sometimes approaching Read More