Entries from Manifest Tech Blog tagged with 'Audio'
Sound Off With Sony's 1,000 Ringtones for the iPhone
If you want to customize your iPhone -- or other mobile phone -- with distinctive ringtones, then Sony Creative Software has a disc for you -- the Sony 1,000 Ringtones DVD. That's enough clips to assign a different sound...
Noise-Reduction Bluetooth Headsets: Wrap-up
The bottom line from our mini-series on Bluetooth headsets is that noise-reduction technology is the real deal, pulling your outgoing voice from the surrounding ambient noise without significant distortion. The technology has improved, typically with dual microphones, dampening of wind...
Bluetooth Headsets 4: Jabra BT530
Compared to some other sexy designs, the Jabra BT530 is a wonderfully straightforward headset, especially good for occasional use. It has dedicated single-use buttons, instead of requiring memorized multi-tap sequences. There's actually a separate power slide switch on the...
Noise-Reduction Bluetooth Headsets 3: Plantronics Discovery 975
The Plantronics Discovery 975 Bluetooth headset is another interesting design approach from Plantronics, albeit not quite as different as the Voyager PRO (see previous post). The idea is to pack the electronics in a square-ish base unit, with the...
Noise-Reduction Bluetooth Headsets 2: Plantronics Voyager PRO
Compared to the Aliph Jawbone (see previous post) and other in-ear Bluetooth headsets, the Plantronics Voyager PRO is a very different beast. It's an over-ear design, with the electronics in a pod that rests behind the ear, and a...
Noise-Reduction Bluetooth Headsets: Aliph Jawbone Prime
While some technologies may be over-hyped, the introduction of noise-reduction technology in Bluetooth headsets is the real deal. These headsets can work amazingly well with mobile phones, especially in noisy environments like on city streets or even when standing near...
Altec Lansing Orbit USB-Powered Portable Speaker
Are you a laptop person, or a smartphone kind of person? Can you keep connected well enough on the small screen, or do you tend to lug a laptop around with you for the full experience? The laptop gives you...
Napster to iTunes - Apple's Domination in Music
Companies continuously struggle to understand their customers and deliver products to the market. Marketing, according to the American Marketing Association, is the activity, set of institutions, and processes for creating, communicating, delivering, and exchanging offerings that have value for customers,...
Altec Lansing BackBeat Pro Reference Earphones
(with Brian Dixon) Altec Lansing has a long history in advanced audio and, as a division of Plantronics, has expanded its consumer electronics line to include home audio and home theatre, computer speakers, docking audio for portable devices, and a...
Ultimate Ears 700 Noise Isolating Pro Earphones
(with Brian Dixon) Ultimate Ears designs custom in-ear monitor earphones for professional musicians with wildly different styles -- and claims to be used by 75% of the world's professional touring artists for live performance (see the gallery of Ear Art...
Loud Enough Volume Limiting Earphones for Kids from Ultimate Ears
(with Brian Dixon) Crank it up! We like our music loud -- and when we use earphones out in public we need to turn it up even louder to drown out all the outside sound. But continuous exposure to loud...
Altec Lansing Orbit-MP3 Portable Speakers - Share Your Music -
You can carry your entire music collection on your iPod, or even on your mobile phone, and that's great when you want to put on earphones and enjoy by yourself. But what about letting other listen so you can share...
John Dougherty Turn C.S. into "Computational Singing"
Our Princeton N.J. Chapters of the ACM and the IEEE Computer Society has sponsored a lot of interesting and fun meetings over the past 28 years, but last week's event was the first time our meeting turned into a group...
LaCie USB (and FireWire) Speakers
My final example of LaCie's fun designs for accessories (see previous posts) are the LaCie Bus Powered USB Speakers, recently reduced to $29.99. These are stylish speakers for PC or Mac that conveniently plug in to your computer's USB port...
Monster Turbine Earphones -- First Bass
The Monster Turbine Earphones, introduced earlier this year, are designed as "high-performance in-ear headphones," featuring "specially engineered drivers that deliver impeccable audiophile-quality sound." And priced at $149, they had better deliver, since they cost half again as much as...
Audio Bone - Bone Conduction Earphones
Today's earphones are all about isolating you from the outside world so you can enjoy your music. They nest in your ear canal to block the sound, and some even have active noise cancellation technology. But sometimes it's important to...
New Fit Earbuds for the Aliph Jawbone
The Aliph New Jawbone Bluetooth headset continues to set the standard in noise reduction with its adaptive "Noise Shield" technology (see previous post). However, the trick to the Jawbone design is the Voice Activity Sensor -- a small nub...
Joby Zivio Boom Wireless Headset
Joby -- the people behind the clever Gorillapod line of flexible tripods (see previous post) have come up with another inventive design. The Joby Zivio Boom Wireless Headset features a telescoping boom that extends the microphone much closer to your...
AcoustiBuds - iPod Earbud Adapters
How comfortable are your earphones? The Apple iPod (and iPhone) earbuds are designed to hook just inside the ear. Other earphones use a design with a soft earpiece that fits into the ear canal. You may find one design to...
Innovelis BudFits - No More Ear Wedgies with iPod Earbuds
Sometimes it's just simple things that make sense, like the Innovelis BudFits -- over-the-ear adapters for Apple iPod and iPhone earbuds, available in several colors for around $9. Yes, the Apple earbuds work fine for casual listening. But, like...
Logitech Squeezebox Boom -- Internet Radio
Internet radio and music services are a great way to enjoy your types of music, discover new music related to your favorites, and even customize your own stations with specific styles and performers (see previous post). And you can listen...
Internet Radio and Music Services
On of the less flashy pleasures brought by our connectivity to the Web is Internet Radio and music services -- that can deliver our favorite music anytime and anywhere, to a PC, portable player, or cell phone. Internet Radio stations...
Sleek Audio SA6 Modular Earphones
Some like it hot. Some like it cool. We all have our own individual preferences on how we listen to music -- which also depends on the type of music, from cool jazz to hot rock, vocal to orchestral, simple...
V-MODA Vibe Duo Noise-Isolating Earphones / Headset
Combining "fashion-conscious style and audio-enthusiast sound," the V-MODA Vibe Duo is a noise-isolating dual-use headphone that's also a headset with the integrated hands-free microphone. It's lightweight, with a solid alloy composition and 32-inch black fabric cable. The subtle design...
Npower Gadgets for Kids from Memorex and Nickelodian
The Npower consumer electronics line is designed for 5 to 12 year-old kids, and includes digital cameras, digital photo frames, music players, and audio accessories. The line was introduced last September 2007, distributed by Memorex, and featuring familiar Nickelodian personalities...
Bluetooth Accessories for Hands-Free and Sharing
Cell phones have become our ever-present comfort, not only carrying our contact list to stay in touch, but also storing our favorite music to soothe the journey. And with Bluetooth wireless communications, it's really easy to connect to useful accessories...
Aliph New Jawbone Bluetooth Headset
The Aliph Jawbone Bluetooth headset, introduced way back in December 2006, set a new standard in noise reduction with its adaptive "Noise Shield" technology (see previous post). For example, I tested the Jawbone while standing between cars on a train...
JVC Gumy Air Earbuds
JVC has updated its line of popular and inexpensive Gumy earbuds. The original Gumy (HA-F130) is available in fun colors for only $9.95 -- a tasty snack impulse buy to pick up at the checkout counter. The new JVC Gumy...
Samsung Pebble - Mini MP3 Player
MP3 players have expanded way beyond music -- with photos and video, FM radio and voice recording, plus huge capacity to store your entire music library, podcasts, and videos. But there's still a place for simple music players -- small...
Plantronics Discovery 925 - Designer Bluetooth Headset
Plantronics may not have a particularly sexy company name, but it has been producing innovative headsets for mobile phones, cordless phones, and computer audio. And its acquisition of Altec Lansing in 2005 added strength in portable and powered audio systems....
Adobe Soundbooth CS4 Beta -- Transcripts & Metadata
You can try out the beta of Adobe Soundbooth CS4, to clean and sweeten audio clips, and to automatically generate music soundtracks (see previous post). But there's another less-obvious addition beyond editing individual clips -- a focus on collecting...
Adobe Soundbooth CS4 Beta -- Environment Scores
Adobe is providing a sneak peek of some of the elements of the next major release of its Create Suite collection of design and development tools for print, video, and web. The Adobe Labs site has beta versions of Dreamweaver...
Adobe Betas for New Soundbooth, Dreamweaver, Flash
Adobe has really opened up its development process by releasing public prereleases of its applications -- beta versions posted as free downloads for you to try out. The Adobe Labs site provides early access to evaluate new and emerging Adobe...
Creating Music and Editing Audio
Even non-musicians and beginning enthusiasts can collect, organize, mix and mash up, and create new music using today's inexpensive and accessible software tools, such as the Sony Creative Software tools -- ACID Music Studio for music creation and mixing, and...
Audio-Technica ATH-ANC7 Noise-Cancelling Headphones
(with Brian Dixon) Coming from a name like Audio-Technica, with its background in high-performance audio for home and professional use, we had high expectations for the Audio-Technica ATH-ANC7 QuietPoint Active Noise-Cancelling Headphones. And we were not disappointed; With a list...
Altec Lansing SoundBlade Bluetooth Speakers
Wired speakers like the Altec Lansing Orbit-MP3 (see previous post) work great for plugging in to MP3 players and music phones to share the fun. But these devices are going wireless with Bluetooth, so why bother with plugging in? I've...
Altec Lansing Orbit-MP3 Portable Speakers
With today's portable media players, you can store and organize all your favorite music and videos in a handheld device. And while headphones and earphones are great for enjoying your music collection on the go, sometimes also you want to...
Maxell NC-IV Noise Cancellation Headphones
Tired of the background noise in your life -- the whine of computer fans, the hum of the air conditioning, the roar of the train or plane, or just the clatter of all the people around you? Today's noise reduction...
Ultimate Ears Triple.fi 10 Pro Headphones
(with Brian Dixon) Earphones are convenient and easy to carry, but you still give up a lot of performance compared to higher-quality headphones. Or maybe not ... Ultimate Ears develops custom molded professional ear monitors for professional / touring musicians...
Apple iPod shuffle Drops Price, Adds Capacity
Apple has followed up on adding more storage for the high-end iPhone and iPod touch by also updating the small end of the iPod line. The iPod shuffle with 1 GB is now $49 (down from $79) , and there's...
Gibson Robot Guitar
I don't play the guitar, but I have to say that one of the coolest things at the recent CES conference was the Gibson Robot Guitar, which was demoed in a big tent out in front of the Convention Center....
SoundTech LightSnake Audio Cables
The SoundTech LightSnake audio cables are cool, and sensible. If you need to capture analog audio -- for example from a microphone, or a guitar or other instrument -- these are a "soundcard in a cable." Just plug one...
SanDisk Sansa Clip MP3 Player -- Now 4 GB
If you like the idea of a tiny music player that's easy to carry, then check out the SanDisk Sansa Clip. It's not quite as tiny as the Apple iPod shuffle (0.9 ounces vs. 0.55 ounces for the shuffle),...
Tiny MP3 Player - iriver Mplayer
"MP3 players" are growing into "portable media players" -- with products like the Apple iPod nano growing larger screens for showing photos and playing video. But what's the minimum you need for a basic MP3 music player? As the iPod...
Sony Music Studio 7 / Audio Studio 9
Whether you already are working with music and audio, or are interested in getting creative and learning more, the Sony Music Studio and Sony Audio Studio software products from Sony Creative Software are a great way to get started. These...
JVC Bi-Metal and Air-Cushion Headphones
(with Brian Dixon) Headphones are a great luxury when you travel -- They deliver better sound, provide over-ear coverage for sound isolation from your fellow passengers, and even can add active noise cancellation technology to reduce the hiss of air...
Adobe Audition 3
Adobe has released the new version of Adobe Audition 3, its flagship stand-alone tool for professional audio production -- recording, mixing, editing, and mastering. Adobe replaced Audition in the Adobe Creative Suite 3 collection last year with the new...
JVC HA-NC250 Noise Canceling Headphones
(with Brian Dixon) The JVC HA-NC250 Noise Canceling Headphones are JVC's new top-of-the-line model ($199 list, $139 street price) -- both with better performance and better comfort than the earlier HA-NC80 model. The soft earpieces provide good sound isolation, the...
AirDrives: Outer-Ear Stereo Earphones
And now for something different in earphones -- the AirDrives "Outer-Ear" Stereo Earphones. These don't insert into your ear like earbuds, or cover your ear like headphones -- instead they hook over your ear, with the speaker hanging outside...
Digital Holiday Trends 2007: Portable Media and Accessories
It's holiday shopping season again, and time to explore the trends and new possibilities in portable electronics and associated accessories. This first installment focuses on portable media and accessories, looking at trends in these areas, and some sample products that...
Noise Reduction -- Aliph Jawbone Bluetooth Headset
I've just blogged about a couple of Bluetooth headsets with noise reduction technology -- along with other interesting features: - Plantronics Voyager 855 Bluetooth Headset - BlueAnt Z9 Bluetooth Headset Both do a nice job of noise reduction,...
Stereo Headsets -- Plantronics Voyager 855 Bluetooth Headset
Wireless headsets for mobile phones are so mono -- designed for only voice calls. But mobile phones are becoming music players -- to sync, download, and stream music in full-up stereo -- which demands that your second ear come into...
Noise Reduction -- BlueAnt Z9 Voice Isolation Bluetooth Headset
Bluetooth headsets for mobile phones were originally about getting rid of wires, but now they have become our lifelines, as we go though our day's activities chatting away. But it's noisy out there in the world, especially when trying to...
Parrot PARTY - Stereo Portable Bluetooth Speakers
The Samsung BS300 Bluetooth Portable Speakers (see previous post) are wonderfully small and portable for trips (the same size as portable media players), and put out a respectible 2W of output -- good enough to be heard across a quiet...
Samsung BS300 Bluetooth Portable Stereo Speakers
MP3 players and even mobile phones are great for enjoying personal music through earphones, but sometimes it would be nice to share the music with others, or just enjoy our collection playing in our own room. You can use a...
Audio Accessories Trends
We're entranced by video -- sucked in to TV shows and movies and now short clips on YouTube -- but we're also seeing a flowing of music and audio -- with MP3 players and mobile phones and libraries of albums...
Sony Bluetooth Wireless Transmitter / Receivers
Bluetooth is not just for wireless audio between your mobile phone and in-ear headset. It is being built in more and different kinds of devices, and you also can use standard peripherals to add wireless capability to existing components. There's...
Plantronics .Audio 480 Virtual Phone Booth Headset
With its acquisition of Altec Lansing, Plantronics has developed some interesting new devices combining its expertise in lightweight communications headset products with enhanced sound and music capabilities. The Plantronics .Audio digital computer headset line ranges from lightweight stereo voice headsets...
Sennheiser CX 400 Earphones
Sennheiser continues to introduce interesting new earphone designs, in its CX series of in-ear headphones, in Classic, Street, and Style lines, and in an array of fun colors. You can pick the style and features that you prefer: - The...
Adobe CS3 -- Soundbooth and Audition
The new Adobe Creative Suite 3, now available on Windows and Macintosh, includes the CS3 Production Premium suite of video tools -- with After Effects, Premiere Pro, Encore for DVD, plus the new Soundbooth for audio (replacing Audition in...
Sony Travel / Wireless Speakers
Continuing with Sony audio accessories ... Portable music players are great for personal use, wired to a headset or wireless to a Bluetooth headphone. But sometimes you want to share the music, or just listen without having to wear earphones....
Sony Wireless Bluetooth Headsets
It's the best of both worlds for mobile music fans -- A multi-use stereo headset to listen to your music, that also has an integrated microphone for hands-free mobile phone use. These take advantage of two upgraded Bluetooth specs: A2DP...
Summary: Sony Sound Forge 9
While video editing tools like Sony Vegas+DVD Production Suite and Adobe Premiere Pro have strong support for audio, dedicated audio editing tools like Sony Sound Forge and Adobe Audition can do much more for cleaning and enhancing existing tracks,...
Adobe Soundbooth: Audio for Video (Updated)
Adobe has just shipped the last part of its Adobe Creative Suite 3 -- the CS3 Production Premium suite of video tools -- including the new Adobe Soundbooth for audio editing Adobe Soundbooth is targeted for creative professionals without the...
Turtle Beach Ear Force AK-R8 Surround Headphones
(with Brian Dixon) Whether you're a dedicated gamer who loves the excitement of chasing through virtual worlds, or a movie fan who enjoys playing DVDs on your widescreen PC, it's the power of 5.1 surround sound audio that gives the...
Convenient Audio Books: Playaway Ready-to-go Audio
Audio books are a great idea for making productive use of your traveling or exercise time -- or just for escapist entertainment. But buying books on tape or CD gets expensive, borrowing from the library may restrict your choices (or...
JVC In-Ear Noise Canceling Headphones
Following up on my earlier post on the JVC Noise Canceling Headphones with folding over-ear design (model HA-NC80), JVC has released its first In-Ear Noise Canceling Headphones (model HA-NCX77, $79.95). These are rated to cancel up to 80% of the...
Audio Editing for Video: Adobe Soundbooth
Video editors are focused on video, and yet we all realize the importance of audio in setting the emotional tone of a production. But what's the best way to work with audio within a video production environment? You can capture,...
Aliph Jawbone Noise-Canceling Bluetooth Headset
Bluetooth headsets for mobile phones let you talk without wires, but at the cost of a possibly noisy connection for the person listening to you -- After all, you're talking out the side of your mouth to a tiny microphone...
SmartSound Quicktracks for Adobe Premiere -- free!
SmartSound Software announced that it is giving away its Quicktracks for Adobe Premiere software as a free download for users of Adobe Premiere Pro and Premiere Elements (on Windows). Quicktracks is a plug-in that works within the Premiere timeline to...
JVC Noise Canceling Headphones
Earbuds and headsets, earphones and headphones -- listening has moved beyond delivering sound to also cutting out unwanted noise. You can block some sound with in-ear buds or over-ear pads, and then go further to add in active noise cancellation...
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