When we are so focused on video resolution, colour balance, framing and composition it's easy to over look the audio. But never underestimate the importance of high quality audio in your video projects. Grainy or shaky footage can be seen as a dynamic feature of your video. Distorted audio could ruin it. It's not difficult to capture crisp clear audio though. Here are a few Continue Reading
Augmenting Reality since the year 2000
The world is crazy for ‘AR’ right now. 'Augmented Reality'. The real time integration of digital information with a user's environment. Some say we're on the edge of mass adoption. The focus is on the visual. Yet audio is a key component of both augmented and virtual reality. As interested as I am by today's limited offerings, little has impressed me as much as when my own reality was Continue Reading
Shure MV88 Condenser Microphone for iOS Review
If Apple are set on removing the minijack from their phones then some folks are going to be a bit miffed. I’m hoping it’s just because the minijack is really old (circa 1878) and not just because they want to make the phone thinner. Personally I’d be happier with a fatter phone containing a bigger battery. I have around eight mics that rely on a minijack connectors. That said, I imagine Continue Reading
Røde VideoMic Me Review
The Røde VideoMic Me is a mini shotgun mic and the latest mobile friendly microphone from Røde. There are many small microphones that will plug into the TRRS jack of a mobile device. But up until I tried the VideoMicro I’d not found one I was happy to carry with me every day. The specs of the VideoMic Me are pretty much identical to the VideoMicro. They both use the same cardioid Continue Reading
People are not willing to trade privacy for security
I imagine the security agencies see PR challenges as the least of their worries. Especially after the courts ruled that GCHQ’s surveillance breached human rights laws. Recently Privacy International and Liberty made use of Edward Snowden's disclosures in a successful legal challenge. This showed that GCHQ was unlawfully obtaining data through the NSA's program PRISM. Some think the general Continue Reading
One Thousand Words on Audio
Sat in my shed, headphones on. My attention flitting between writing and podcasts. I can't do both. I find it hard enough to write as it is. Listening to podcasts or even songs with lyrics while writing triggers a tipping point where I can't do either. I considered starting a mailing list this week. Just text. This blog post may have been the first one. Not for any other reason other than to Continue Reading
Zoom H5 Handy Recorder Review
Founded in Japan in 1983, Zoom have been around for a little over 30 years now. They initially worked with manufacturers developing sound generators for musical hardware. I'm glad that in 1989 they shifted into making their own hardware as for the last 7 years I've been a fan of their audio recorders. In 2007 I shelved a naff digital dictaphone for the Zoom H2 Handy Recorder. It was my first Continue Reading