In AudioGraphy, the term automation means the automatic change over s of the level s of the channels in the Mixers of Digital Audio Workstations.

In Home audio, automation was introduced more lately, after the development of the viewing technology from Home theater system to a theater system in your home.

Nowadays a HD TV, a DTH box, a signal converter, A 7.1 speaker systems, and DVD disk player, makes you a perfect system for your home, and the Home audio system, with a parallel amplifier, and leveler, creates a big studio effect to a home.

The advantage of setting up a Home audio system individually but parallel to your other set up, gives you no nonsense, increased user options, and also allows you to set up your own audio set up according to the situations.

Home automation, is a advanced option that makes your audio system more wonderful, the home automation option, gives you a chance to tune your audio system according to your mood, according to your time, and also to the situations, it sounds impossible, but all it needs, is your five minutes, where you have to select the automation option, and start leveling the settings accordingly, and to save it.

To go in detailed, the Home automation settings , which u say the system that u want the volume levels, and the effect levels, of the audio system according to your taste ie you start feeding them a certain set of values, accordingly, your values can be applied, to any individual effect like, your equalization (EQ), your bass boost setting, reverb, pan. Or you can just select the basic volume option.

Then u feed them the values of their levels and save it accordingly, Home audio system gives u some default space to save your setting and name it, so when ever you select a song, or automation set, as u specified, the whole music systems, start playing the song or the video, according to the setting you set, to keep it simple, the automation, increases or decreases the values, according to the time line and other markers, set by you.

There is a saying in study of AudioGraphy, that it's a dry subject, but it's a sea , where the more technically you apply your creativity, its enhances your search for hearing best sound.

Home audio is a development, which gives you that taste.

US Auctions Australian Auctions Austrian Auctions Belgian Auctions Canadian Auctions French Auctions German Auctions Irish Auctions Italian Auctions Dutch Auctions Spanish Auctions Swiss Auctions GB Auctions

New 1500W 51 8 Surround Sound Theater Speaker System $148.88 Time Remaining: 14d 7m Buy It Now for only: $148.88 Buy It Now | Add to watch list

Bose 901 pedestal speaker stands $99.95 Time Remaining: 30m Buy It Now for only: $114.95 Buy It Now | Bid now | Add to watch list

Lowell Speaker Power Tap Selector TLM 70 TLM70 $24.95 Time Remaining: 30m Bid now | Add to watch list

New 700 Watt Pair In Wall Center Channel Home Speakers $117.77 Time Remaining: 14d 6m Buy It Now for only: $117.77 Buy It Now | Add to watch list

BIC RTR RTR EV15 15 3 WAY EVICTION SERIES BI AMPABLE FLOOR SPEAKER $399.99 Time Remaining: 31m Buy It Now for only: $469.99 Buy It Now | Bid now | Add to watch list

Absolute SS511 5 1 4 2 way In Wall Home Speakers with 38mm Silk Tweeters $39.99 Time Remaining: 29d 12h 39m Buy It Now for only: $39.99 Buy It Now | Add to watch list

Paradigm Titan Monitor Bookshelf Speakers V5 V5 Very Nice Stereo $123.50 (12 Bids) Time Remaining: 31m Bid now | Add to watch list

NHT SZX SUPER ZERO XU SPEAKERS PAIR $150.00 Time Remaining: 32m Buy It Now for only: $175.00 Buy It Now | Bid now | Add to watch list

New Acoustic Audio HD 800 700W Pair 8 In Wall Speakers $88.88 Time Remaining: 10d 5h 21m Buy It Now for only: $88.88 Buy It Now | Add to watch list

8 GOLD PLATED SPADE TERMINALS black red 12 gauge us mad $9.99 Time Remaining: 35m Buy It Now for only: $19.99 Buy It Now | Bid now | Add to watch list

Niles PRO870FX Rear Surround Home Theater Wall Speakers Pro 870 FX Bipole Dipole $399.95 Time Remaining: 6d 13h 4m Buy It Now for only: $399.95 Buy It Now | Add to watch list

Definitive Technology POWERFIELD System subwoofer w 5 Speakers $200.00 (1 Bid) Time Remaining: 37m Bid now | Add to watch list

Sony SS MB100H bookshelf speakers Very nice Sound Great $59.99 (1 Bid) Time Remaining: 43m Bid now | Add to watch list

Yamaha YST SW216 Front Firing 100W Powered Subwoofer YSTSW216BL $99.95 Time Remaining: 16d 1h 45m Buy It Now for only: $99.95 Buy It Now | Add to watch list

BIC RTR RTR1530 15 TOWER SPEAKER $229.99 Time Remaining: 46m Buy It Now for only: $299.99 Buy It Now | Bid now | Add to watch list

Pair of 300 Watt Home Theater Surround Sound Speakers by Acoustic Audio $39.99 Time Remaining: 4d 6h 35m Buy It Now for only: $39.99 Buy It Now | Add to watch list

Sonos Play3black w bridge $199.99 Time Remaining: 51m Bid now | Add to watch list

Sonos Play3black w bridge $199.99 Time Remaining: 51m Bid now | Add to watch list

New Home Audio White Pair 250W Indoor Outdoor Speakers $39.99 Time Remaining: 14d 7m Buy It Now for only: $39.99 Buy It Now | Add to watch list

Frisby 51 Surround Sound Subwoofer Home Theater Speakers System w Remote Aux $69.95 (1 Bid) Time Remaining: 52m Bid now | Add to watch list

PAIR RTi4 BLACK Bookshelf Surround Speaker Polk Audio $149.99 Time Remaining: 28d 2h 17m Buy It Now for only: $149.99 Buy It Now | Add to watch list

Recoton Wireless Stereo Speaker System with all 3 transformers $40.00 (1 Bid) Time Remaining: 57m Bid now | Add to watch list

Pioneer Center Channel Speaker Csc180k $21.99 Time Remaining: 59m Buy It Now for only: $28.99 Buy It Now | Bid now | Add to watch list

New Black 10 400 Watt Powered Sub Home Audio Subwoofer $118.88 Time Remaining: 29d 7h 6m Buy It Now for only: $118.88 Buy It Now | Add to watch list

Vintage Bose 901 Series IV Speaker System $202.50 (8 Bids) Time Remaining: 59m Bid now | Add to watch list

GPX HC208B Home Music System Vertical CD Player with AM/FM Radio and Digital Clock Includes Remote Control (Black)
GPX HC208B Home Music System Vertical CD Player with AM/FM Radio and Digital Clock Includes Remote Control (Black)...

Pyle Home PD1000A 1000-Watt AM-FM Receiver with Built-in DVD/MP3/USB
This Pyle-Pro 1000-watt receiver has a built in DVD player, USB drive, and auxiliary RCA input. In other words, it can handle alm...

Practical Home Theater: A Guide to Video and Audio Systems (2011 Edition) (Practical Home Theater: A Guide to Video & Audio Systems)
How can an average person navigate the maze of audio/video technologies in a home theater system? Turn to Mark Fleischmann's Pract...

Home Theater Hacks
It might be the long lines at the theater, the $ 4.00 for a small bag of popcorn, or the cutting-edge technology that's now so read...

Pyle Home PD3000A 3000-Watt AM-FM Receiver with Built-In DVD/MP3/USB
The Pyle Home PD3000A enhances your home audio/video system with a lot of power for not a lot of money. Boasting a 3000 watts of ...

Coby DVD938 5.1-Channel DVD Home Theater System with Digital AM/FM Tuner (Black)
Coby DVD938 5.1-Channel DVD Home Theater System with Digital AM/FM Tuner, 5.1-channel progressive scan DVD player with integrated ...

M-Audio Studiophile AV30 Professional Reference Speakers
system with accurate sound. Top musicians, producers, and engineers trust M-Audio® studio speakers to create their hits - and now...

Caught on Film: How to convert old videos to digital format
While most camcorders now are digital, that definitely hasn't always been the case. If you have home movies stored on old VHS tapes, Hi8 tapes, or any other analog media, then you may want to transfer those memories into a …
Read more on Yahoo! News via Yahoo! News

A Guide For Using Your Home Automation is a post from: Frikky Sound Home Audio

MP3 PLAYER VS PORTABLE MEDIA PLAYER

A MP3 Player is a portable digital device that plays and stores music and audio books.  A Portable Media Player (PMP) plays and stores audio and video. The name MP3 Player is used as a generic term to describe all portable devices.  Although PMPs can play audio not all MP3 Players can play video.  For example, the iPod Shuffle, Creative Labs Zen Stone and SanDisk Sansa Clip are MP3 Players and do not have the capability to play video. 

BRANDS

For those of you who were not aware, Apple Ipod is not the only brand of MP3 Players on the market.  There are several other brands of MP3 Players for you to choose depending on your needs and most importantly, your budget.  They are the Archos, Coby, Cowon, Creative Labs, iRiver, Philips, Samsung, SanDisk, Sony, Toshiba and Zune (Microsoft).   

 TYPE

MP3 Players are classified according to how they store digital data.  The most common are HARD DRIVE BASED PLAYERS and FLASH MEMORY BASED PLAYERS.  The Hard Drive Based MP3 Players have the highest capacity and are larger and heavier than the Flash Memory Based MP3 Players.  An example of a HARD DRIVE BASED PLAYER would be the iPod Classic 80 GB, iPod Classic 120 GB, iPod Classic 160 GB, Zune 120 GB, the Archos 80 GB 605 Wi-Fi PMP, Archos 160 GB 605 Wi-Fi PMP and the Creative Labs Zen Vision:M 30 GB MP3 and Video Player.  A drawback to the HARD DRIVE BASED PLAYERS is that it has moving parts that can easily malfunction if it is exposed to high temperatures or dropped.

The Flash Memory Based MP3 Players are light weight and smaller than the Hard Drive Based MP3 Players.  This type of MP3 Player has no moving parts and will have longer audio playback with a storage capacity ranging from 120 to 8000 songs. An example of Flash Memory Based MP3 Players is the Apple iPod Touch, Apple iPod Nano or Creative Labs Zen PMP.  A drawback of the Flash Memory Based MP3 Player is that it is more expensive than the Hard Drive Based Players even if the storage capacity is less.

CHOOSING A MP3 PLAYER OR PMP

            Now that you’re armed with the basic information you have to determine which type is best for you.  Your personal needs and budget will help you to narrow down your choice. 

Decide the type.  – Hard Drive vs Flash Memory.  When deciding the type keep in mind what you’re using it for. For example, if you’re going to use it while jogging, then the hard drive based player will not be a good choice because of the size, weight and high chance it will malfunction if it’s dropped.

Decide the storage capacity.  – When deciding the storage capacity also keep in mind whether you also want to play video and audio (PMP) or just audio (MP3 Player).  MP3 Players can come in various storage capacities which can vary by brand.  The iRiver brands features a 20 GB MP3 Player. The Archos has a PMP that has 60 GB capacity.  Whether you’re looking for 1 GB to 160 GB there is a brand and model to suit your needs. 

Decide the features. – Determining features is based on personal preference.  Some MP3 Players/PMP have several features that may include voice recorders, calendar syncing, FM radio, wireless capability, photo storage or recording TV like a DVR player.  For these particular features you may want to consider the Archos brand of PMPs.  Another popular feature is color. If you’re into pink then you can get a pink mp3 player.  Your options are endless it just depends on your personal needs and how much you’re willing to spend.   

Decide how much you’re willing to spend. -  The more features you desire the more you’ll spend on a MP3 Player.  If you’re just looking to play music and you’re not concerned about the fancy features then you can find a MP3 player for under $50.  For example, the SanDisk Sansa m250 2GB can be purchased for less that $35.  If you’re looking for at least 4GB then iPod Nano or Creative Labs Zen Mozaic would be a good choice. Or, if price isn’t a concern and you want the “Cadillac” MP3 Player with all the bells and whistles then consider the Archos 705 Wi-Fi PMP 160 GB.  

After considering the type, capacity, features and your budget check out each of the above mentioned brands to compare features and price.  Also, if you’re on a tight budget and still want fun features consider a refurbished MP3 Player.  Now you’re informed and ready to buy and enjoy your new MP3 Player! Good Luck!

Mp3 Players for Dummies ? a Simple Buyer?s Guide for the not so Technologically Savvy is a post from: Frikky Sound Home Audio

Music is in the air!

So what is an Ipod anyway? Well, for one, it is music to our ears! Wouldn’t you agree? However, on a more serious note, the ‘ipod’ is a brand. It is a brand of portable music/ media players which are a technically advanced, compact version of our good old walkmans. The brand ipod was launched by Apple Inc on October 23, 2001, and has ever since been making waves in the music world.

This rectangular gadget with a bright and clear screen stores and plays a large number of songs and videos for you without going through the hassle of changing CDs or cassettes, unlike the earlier walkmans or disk mans.

Ipod Basics

The first striking feature about an Ipod is its storage capacity. For instance, the capacity of an iPod Classic is 120GB which holds approximately 30000 songs while of course if you do not need that kind of storage you can always opt for medium range models. The wide screen in most of the models displays your play lists, song queue and helps you select which song or video you want to play. The large dial is the manual control dial of all the functions.

The iPods  also come with iTunes, a program that will burn CDs, let you download music from Apple’s music store and convert songs into iPod format.

Which iPod to choose

Apple is the undisputed leader in the filed of ipods so largely you have to decide between its various models. However, if price is your consideration, then you might also look at the other MP3 Players produced by other companies available at very affordable prices in the market.

Apple’s current line of ipod includes the iPod classic, the video feature enabled iPod Nano, the touch screen enabled iPod Touch, the screen less iPod shuffle and the latest, iPhone.

To decide on which one is the best for you, you will first have to figure out what kind of usage are you going to have of your iPod. Whether you want to store a large number of songs or just a few favorites, do you want to use your iPod for viewing videos also or are you just happy with a basic music device. Once you’ve decided that, here’s the cheat sheet for you to select your dream music machine.

iPod Shuffle: This is a gadget for people who want music with them but don’t need to carry their entire collection around all the time. There are two sizes available in it, one is 512mb which can hold around 120 songs and the other is 1gb which will hold around 240 songs. This is a an iPod without the screen and can give you difficulty in managing your play lists.

iPod Nano: These are ipods with a display screen and a capacity of 1gb, 2gb or 4 gb. A cool feature of the ipod nano is its recent collaboration with Nike. The Nano can be used with Nike shoes as a pedometer and a media player both. You can also store and view your pictures in the iPod Nano.

iPod Touch: This one comes with a touch screen and a capacity of 8GB/16GB/32GB. It is definitely for serious music lovers and has other features like downloading movies, audio books, games, office and notes.

iPod Classic:  When it comes to storage, this is the mother of all iPods. With 120 GB of memory, it can hold up to 150 hours of video or 25000 photos.

iPhone: The latest in Apple technology, this gadget is a unique combination of Apple phone, Apple IPod and an internet device.

You can choose your iPod on the basis of what you want from it. You could be looking for a large storage space for your music collection form where you could directly listen to it or attach it to a music system to get a bigger sound affect or you could be looking for a musical device to entertain you a bit during your workouts-the perfect answer is available in one these iPods.

Ipod Basics and Buying Guide is a post from: Frikky Sound Home Audio

Read more on The Mac Observer

iOS 4 iPhone Update RELEASED TODAY: A Guide To iOS 4
Apple's iOS 4--its update for iPhone and iPod Touch operating systems--will be released today, June 21.

Read more on The Huffington Post

iOS 4 iPhone Update RELEASED TODAY: A Guide To iOS 4 is a post from: Frikky Sound Home Audio

The iPod manual which comes with your iPod should be kept safely somewhere you can lay your hands on it, because although it might be basic, it still has things in it which can help you if ever you need help dealing with a problem with your iPod. It will also have troubleshooting information which is invaluable to tell you what to do in the event that your iPod doesn’t start, or in case it freezes in the middle of doing something.

Your iPod manual will also have information on the various items that came along with your iPod, and will also most likely have the phone numbers of the Apple help centers which you can ring in an emergency. You will also find the iPod manual to contain the web address for the Apple site which you can also use to access help with your iPod, and even your iPod manual.

Beside this very helpful information your iPod manual will tell you how to load songs into your iPod. You will be given advice for the different makes of iPod. After all you want to play songs for your iPod Shuffle and not for an iPod Nano right? With the iPod manual you will get to know the different ways that you can accomplish getting all of the music that you want into your new iPod.

The iPod manual is also an excellent reference guide for how to operate the iPod for first time users of the iPod. This means that not only will you be told what the various symbols on your iPod mean but you will get to know the shortcuts. The ones like how to start your entire song list from the beginning rather than at the middle.

You will also be given instructions on how to charge your iPod battery so that you can listen to all of the lovely songs until you are near to charging the iPod. Now besides this information you will also be informed how you can place songs onto your iTunes songs library on your computer and from there onto your iPod.

It amazing what information you will find in the little booklet that is the iPod manual. As this handy little gem will contain many useful informational details do make sure that you don’t lose it or worse throw it away. You just might need it tomorrow.

An Ipod Manual is an Excellent Reference Guide on How your Ipod Operates is a post from: Frikky Sound Home Audio

Read more on The Princeton Packet

Father’s Day Gift Guide: Gadgets for Dad
From rugged outdoor radios to a digital running coach and James-Bond-worthy hard drive, we round up the gadgets Dad can’t wait to unwrap this Father’s Day.

Read more on Digital Trends

Father’s Day Gift Guide: Gadgets for Dad is a post from: Frikky Sound Home Audio

NASDrives.net Home Network Attached Storage Buyers Guide

Network attached storage (NAS) for the home is all the rage. NAS provides a way to share files, access music and movies and backup your data. To help people interested in a NAS device choose the best network attached storage for them, NASDrives.net presents this buyers guide.

What is Network Attached Storage?

Network attached storage devices are small servers dedicated to nothing but file sharing. Instead of having to physically connect a drive to your computer, you can just plug a device into your home network that provides additional storage space. Storage prices are falling and adding 250gb, 500gb or even 1 tb (terabyte) is becoming cheap and easy.

Advantages of NAS

* It's a simple way to add data storage to all your computers rather than just one.

* Multiple computers are able to access files anytime and do not rely on a host PC for file sharing.

* Savings on your electric bill because a power hungry computer or server need not be on 24 hours a day to share files.

* New media server features allow for centralization of your music and movie library so it can be shared by everyone on your network and even streamed to home audio and video devices.

* Provides a central place for backup storage.

Explanation of features

USB Print Server - A USB printer can be connected to the NAS device and it can share the printer over the network.

Media Server - The device can stream media to any device on the network capable of receiving it. MP3's or movies can stream to your PC or movies can stream to a media center connected to your TV.

UPnP - Universal Plug and Play. UPnP is a dynamic zero-configuration protocol used for device interconnection. That's quite a mouthful but what it means is that UPnP devices can talk to other UPnP devices without any intervention from you. It just works.

DLNA - Digital Living Network Alliance. DLNA is a certification built on other technologies. DLNA certification insures that certified devices will be able to talk to each other and provide a minimum level of features.

RAID - Redundant Array of Inexpensive Disks. RAID, in it's many configurations, sacrifices some disk space for a level of data redundancy. RAID 1, called mirroring, makes an exact duplicate of the primary disk. If the primary disk fails then the secondary "mirrored" disk can take it's place until you buy a replacement. RAID only helps in cases of hardware failure and is not to be mistaken for a backup strategy. If you accidentally delete a file on the primary disk the file is deleted on the mirror as well.

FTP Server - File Transfer Protocol server. Most people will not need this and will use Windows file shares instead. Some security cameras and office scanners have the ability to save to FTP servers and in those cases, and many more, this feature would come in handy.

iTunes compatible - The NAS has the ability to publish it's media files to a computer running iTunes. The computer with iTunes would then be able to play those media files.

USB Ports - External USB storage can be added on to extend the capacity of your NAS. This can insure your NAS is never obsolete! When you run out of space you can buy an inexpensive external USB disk and plug it into your NAS. A few systems will use these for USB printer sharing or as a host for your digital camera.

Gigabit Ethernet - 1 billion bits per second transfer rate. Most wiring done in homes or offices in the last 5 years was gigabit rated but the equipment is still a bit more expensive than 100 megabit so most homes and small offices do not support this. Gigabit will get cheaper home and SOHO use so it's still a good feature to have.

Backup Software Included - A major reason to add NAS to your network is backups. Quite a few drives come with Windows backup software to automate this important but often overlooked task.

Vista Support - Vista removed support for some older Windows file sharing technologies and some NAS drives still rely on it. If you use Vista in your home or office, make sure the NAS says it's Vista compatible.

Mac support - Native Mac support is spotty so make sure the device is compatible with your Mac and your version of the Mac OS. Macs are able to access Windows shares so this really isn't much of an issue.

Active Directory support - If you're running a Windows Server or Windows Small Business Server in your office then you need this. It allows your existing network users to use the file shares on the NAS without creating new usernames and passwords. Very handy.

Gigabit Jumbo Frames - Geekspeak for faster networking.

File access via web server - This allows you to browse files on the NAS via a web browser. This would be handy if you were trying to access it from a system that did not support Windows files sharing or if you just preferred to access the files that way.

DFS support - Distributed File System. This is another Windows technical term that means that a remote shared folder can be mirrored to the NAS device. This is great for a business with a Windows Server and multiple locations.

Accessible via the Internet - A few companies have setup central servers that act as a middleman between Internet connected users and your NAS. This makes your files accessible by anyone, anywhere. Of course, everything is password protected for security. The possibilities here are endless.

Copyright 2007 - NASDrives.net

Home Network Attached Storage Buyers Guide is a post from: Frikky Sound Home Audio

iPod Basics and Purchasing Guide

So, you are looking to purchase an iPod? Please take the time to read this brief article which will at best help you get the most out of your new iPod, and at the least, help you avoid mistakes and misconceptions. This article is written out of my personal experience with iPods.

1. What is an iPod?

An iPod is a MP4 player, not a MP3 player. Basically, the MP4 format is a proprietary format only recognized by Apple products, such as iPods and QuickTime™. In order for music to play on an iPod, it must be in MP4 format. Apple's music download site, iTunes™, offers music only in the MP4 format. The iTunes™ software which comes with an iPod will convert MP3 music files to MP4 format, so they will play on your iPod. An iPod will not play MP3 files, neither will Windows Media Player play MP4 files. Both the Nano and Video iPod will store and display photos, but a video iPod is needed to play video files.

2. What is iTunes?

® Apple hosts the world's largest music download site called iTunes™. As of March 2006, over 1 billion files have been downloaded for use in iPods. Pretty amazing. This site offers music files for 99 cents each, and you need not download an entire album, but can select only the music files you want and download it into your computer. The iTunes™ software in your computer is the vehicle by which files are loaded into the iPod. Simply place your iPod into its dock (which is attached via USB to your computer), start iTunes™ and your iPod is updated automatically with new music, playlists, Podcasts and so forth. I have tried other music download sites and have not found any which I like as well as iTunes™, even though they may offer music cheaper than iTunes™. A basic search will locate alternative music download sites.

There are a variety of other files available on iTunes™ called Podcasts. These are audio or video files which include news broadcasts, informational programs, comedy programs and many others. The great majority of Podcasts are free, and others are not.

3. What You Get

iPods come with the following:

iPod with battery

Earphones (called "earbuds")

A generic pouch for the earbuds

A docking station (to transfer files and charge the iPod)

iTunes™ software CD

Instruction manual

That is all.

4. What You will Need

Every iPod user will need a case, and we strongly recommend a screen protector.

Both the iPod Nano and 5th generation (5G) Video iPod are susceptible to scratching, and the black units seem to show scratches worse than the white ones. This is true of both the iPod housing AND the screen. Nothing is worse than having your iPod blemished with unsightly scratches, especially when it is easily avoidable by using a case and screen protector. Having your unprotected iPod floating around inside your purse or in your pocket will absolutely cause your iPod to quickly accumulate scratches both on the housing and on the screen. Be warned! This is not really a defect, but just the way it is.

5. Using iPods in your Car

Most people quickly realize that it would be great to be able to have their iPod play music through their car stereo. No longer would they have to mess with CDs or tapes. How many CDs would you have to carry to have your entire music library with you in the car? You can take it all in the palm of your hand with an iPod. So, how does one play music through their car stereo? There are several options.

First, there are cables available for most car stereos which plug into the iPod and the other end of the cable plugs into a port on the back of the stereo. Removal of the stereo is usually required to accomplish this task. Also, the wire used to connect your iPod is exposed. It does, however, sound great! Some car stereos have a line input on the faceplate. In this case, all one needs to do is use an adaptive cable from the headphone jack of the iPod to the input on the stereo. In both of these scenarios, the iPod will run on its internal battery unless a car charger is used as well.

Second, (and by far the most popular) method, is to use an FM transmitter to transmit a signal from your iPod to your FM radio and play it as if it were a radio station. There are a variety of FM transmitters from several manufacturers. We recommend using a unit which is a dock and not a plug into the iPod port. The plug-in units consume power from the iPod battery and seem to produce a weak signal resulting in poor audio quality. A docking unit (such as the Griffin RoadTrip™) holds your iPod in place, charges the iPod and produces a strong signal. The RoadTrip™ also features a removable FM module which allows it to plug into your computer. You can therefore listen to FM radio through your computer without having to install software.

6. Using iPods at Home

iPods can easily play through your home stereo. One can simply use an adaptive cable which plugs into the headphone jack of the iPod and into the stereo input of your stereo. In this setup, the iPod is operating on battery power unless the iPod is also plugged into a charger.

Docking your iPod is the preferred method, and there are a variety of docking solutions available. The iPod docks into a base which charges the iPod, and an output jack on the base connects the iPod to your stereo via a cable. Some units offer remote controls for your iPod and others do not, but often these remotes are weak and have very limited range and field of reception. We have found that some television or stereo programmable remote control units can be programmed to work with certain iPod docking systems, while others work partially or not at all. It is worth trying if you have a programmable remote.

Some docking units also have a video output for use with the 5G Video iPod, which allows one to watch videos or photos stored in the iPod on a television. We have found that the picture quality is poor on large screen televisions, but ok on a smaller screen. Using a dock with S-video output will provide a far superior picture than units using an RCA connector. As of now, iPods do not support high definition.

There are speaker systems which contain their own amplifier and operate as a stand-alone unit with an iPod. These are not all created equal. Our testing has found that a high price does not always equal high quality. We have found $150 systems which in our opinion sound significantly superior to $400 units. It is best to listen to the various systems before making your selection; or if buying online, follow the recommendations of the seller IF they have tested the systems and can provide you with recommendations based on testing results.

There are alarm clock radios (such as iHome™) which allow you to go to sleep listening to your iPod and wake up to it as well. We have tested the iHome™ and others, and found iHome™ to be our unit of choice.

7. Loading Movies into Your 5G Video iPod

When the Video iPod first came out, I gave it a high ranking on the "Dumb-O-Meter." Who wants to watch a movie on a 2.5 inch screen? However, after having used one, I have recanted my original opinion. It is now my iPod of choice. Unfortunately, iTunes™ and other MP4 download sites usually have little to offer in the way of legal movies which are formatted to play on an iPod. ITunes™ does have some short films, music videos and television shows, but not much else.

An easy solution for this is to convert your own DVDs into a format that the iPod can play. This can be accomplished by means of a software product called a DVD to iPod converter, such as Cucusoft, Lenogo and others. It is a simple process. Put a DVD in your computer, start the converter program and let it convert the movie to iPod format. Then, move the converted file into your iTunes™ video list. The next time you dock your iPod to your computer, it will load into your iPod. Some converter programs will also convert AVI, MPEG, MPG, WMV and other computer video formats for use on an iPod. This can allow you to convert your family videos and view them on your ipod. IPod movies are great for entertaining children on the road, for the business traveler stranded at an airport or for long airplane trips.

DVD converters we recommend are available here.

8. iPods and your PC

The music files for your iPod are stored in two places: in your PC in the iTunes™ program, and in your iPod. If your PC crashes and you loose your hard drive or have to reformat, you will loose EVERYTHING contained in your iTunes™ folder, including all of the songs you have purchased from iTunes™. Furthermore, iTunes™ does not offer the means to re-download songs you have purchased for free. You will have to buy them again. Neither does the iPod come with a means to load files into a computer. Fortunately, there are software programs which allow you to copy the contents of your iPod into a PC or from one iPod to another. These programs are usually titled "iPod to PC", or something similar. If your computer crashes, you will kick yourself for not having this program to restore your music files back into your computer.

IPod to PC programs we recommend are available here.

We hope you found this article helpful.

Ipod Basics and Purchasing Guide is a post from: Frikky Sound Home Audio

iPod Basics and Purchasing Guide

So, you are looking to purchase an iPod? Please take the time to read this brief article which will at best help you get the most out of your new iPod, and at the least, help you avoid mistakes and misconceptions. This article is written out of my personal experience with iPods.

1. What is an iPod?

An iPod is a MP4 player, not a MP3 player. Basically, the MP4 format is a proprietary format only recognized by Apple products, such as iPods and QuickTime™. In order for music to play on an iPod, it must be in MP4 format. Apple's music download site, iTunes™, offers music only in the MP4 format. The iTunes™ software which comes with an iPod will convert MP3 music files to MP4 format, so they will play on your iPod. An iPod will not play MP3 files, neither will Windows Media Player play MP4 files. Both the Nano and Video iPod will store and display photos, but a video iPod is needed to play video files.

2. What is iTunes?

® Apple hosts the world's largest music download site called iTunes™. As of March 2006, over 1 billion files have been downloaded for use in iPods. Pretty amazing. This site offers music files for 99 cents each, and you need not download an entire album, but can select only the music files you want and download it into your computer. The iTunes™ software in your computer is the vehicle by which files are loaded into the iPod. Simply place your iPod into its dock (which is attached via USB to your computer), start iTunes™ and your iPod is updated automatically with new music, playlists, Podcasts and so forth. I have tried other music download sites and have not found any which I like as well as iTunes™, even though they may offer music cheaper than iTunes™. A basic search will locate alternative music download sites.

There are a variety of other files available on iTunes™ called Podcasts. These are audio or video files which include news broadcasts, informational programs, comedy programs and many others. The great majority of Podcasts are free, and others are not.

3. What You Get

iPods come with the following:

iPod with battery

Earphones (called "earbuds")

A generic pouch for the earbuds

A docking station (to transfer files and charge the iPod)

iTunes™ software CD

Instruction manual

That is all.

4. What You will Need

Every iPod user will need a case, and we strongly recommend a screen protector.

Both the iPod Nano and 5th generation (5G) Video iPod are susceptible to scratching, and the black units seem to show scratches worse than the white ones. This is true of both the iPod housing AND the screen. Nothing is worse than having your iPod blemished with unsightly scratches, especially when it is easily avoidable by using a case and screen protector. Having your unprotected iPod floating around inside your purse or in your pocket will absolutely cause your iPod to quickly accumulate scratches both on the housing and on the screen. Be warned! This is not really a defect, but just the way it is.

5. Using iPods in your Car

Most people quickly realize that it would be great to be able to have their iPod play music through their car stereo. No longer would they have to mess with CDs or tapes. How many CDs would you have to carry to have your entire music library with you in the car? You can take it all in the palm of your hand with an iPod. So, how does one play music through their car stereo? There are several options.

First, there are cables available for most car stereos which plug into the iPod and the other end of the cable plugs into a port on the back of the stereo. Removal of the stereo is usually required to accomplish this task. Also, the wire used to connect your iPod is exposed. It does, however, sound great! Some car stereos have a line input on the faceplate. In this case, all one needs to do is use an adaptive cable from the headphone jack of the iPod to the input on the stereo. In both of these scenarios, the iPod will run on its internal battery unless a car charger is used as well.

Second, (and by far the most popular) method, is to use an FM transmitter to transmit a signal from your iPod to your FM radio and play it as if it were a radio station. There are a variety of FM transmitters from several manufacturers. We recommend using a unit which is a dock and not a plug into the iPod port. The plug-in units consume power from the iPod battery and seem to produce a weak signal resulting in poor audio quality. A docking unit (such as the Griffin RoadTrip™) holds your iPod in place, charges the iPod and produces a strong signal. The RoadTrip™ also features a removable FM module which allows it to plug into your computer. You can therefore listen to FM radio through your computer without having to install software.

6. Using iPods at Home

iPods can easily play through your home stereo. One can simply use an adaptive cable which plugs into the headphone jack of the iPod and into the stereo input of your stereo. In this setup, the iPod is operating on battery power unless the iPod is also plugged into a charger.

Docking your iPod is the preferred method, and there are a variety of docking solutions available. The iPod docks into a base which charges the iPod, and an output jack on the base connects the iPod to your stereo via a cable. Some units offer remote controls for your iPod and others do not, but often these remotes are weak and have very limited range and field of reception. We have found that some television or stereo programmable remote control units can be programmed to work with certain iPod docking systems, while others work partially or not at all. It is worth trying if you have a programmable remote.

Some docking units also have a video output for use with the 5G Video iPod, which allows one to watch videos or photos stored in the iPod on a television. We have found that the picture quality is poor on large screen televisions, but ok on a smaller screen. Using a dock with S-video output will provide a far superior picture than units using an RCA connector. As of now, iPods do not support high definition.

There are speaker systems which contain their own amplifier and operate as a stand-alone unit with an iPod. These are not all created equal. Our testing has found that a high price does not always equal high quality. We have found $150 systems which in our opinion sound significantly superior to $400 units. It is best to listen to the various systems before making your selection; or if buying online, follow the recommendations of the seller IF they have tested the systems and can provide you with recommendations based on testing results.

There are alarm clock radios (such as iHome™) which allow you to go to sleep listening to your iPod and wake up to it as well. We have tested the iHome™ and others, and found iHome™ to be our unit of choice.

7. Loading Movies into Your 5G Video iPod

When the Video iPod first came out, I gave it a high ranking on the "Dumb-O-Meter." Who wants to watch a movie on a 2.5 inch screen? However, after having used one, I have recanted my original opinion. It is now my iPod of choice. Unfortunately, iTunes™ and other MP4 download sites usually have little to offer in the way of legal movies which are formatted to play on an iPod. ITunes™ does have some short films, music videos and television shows, but not much else.

An easy solution for this is to convert your own DVDs into a format that the iPod can play. This can be accomplished by means of a software product called a DVD to iPod converter, such as Cucusoft, Lenogo and others. It is a simple process. Put a DVD in your computer, start the converter program and let it convert the movie to iPod format. Then, move the converted file into your iTunes™ video list. The next time you dock your iPod to your computer, it will load into your iPod. Some converter programs will also convert AVI, MPEG, MPG, WMV and other computer video formats for use on an iPod. This can allow you to convert your family videos and view them on your ipod. IPod movies are great for entertaining children on the road, for the business traveler stranded at an airport or for long airplane trips.

DVD converters we recommend are available here.

8. iPods and your PC

The music files for your iPod are stored in two places: in your PC in the iTunes™ program, and in your iPod. If your PC crashes and you loose your hard drive or have to reformat, you will loose EVERYTHING contained in your iTunes™ folder, including all of the songs you have purchased from iTunes™. Furthermore, iTunes™ does not offer the means to re-download songs you have purchased for free. You will have to buy them again. Neither does the iPod come with a means to load files into a computer. Fortunately, there are software programs which allow you to copy the contents of your iPod into a PC or from one iPod to another. These programs are usually titled "iPod to PC", or something similar. If your computer crashes, you will kick yourself for not having this program to restore your music files back into your computer.

IPod to PC programs we recommend are available here.

Ipod Basics & Purchasing Guide is a post from: Frikky Sound Home Audio

With so many MP3 Players available on the market, it is quite a challenge on deciding which one is right for you. Apple's iPod models are currently the most popular MP3 players today, though there are many other options that are giving the iPod fierce competition.

Below you will find a few things that our product specialists recommend our customers to consider before purchasing an MP3 Player.

Memory Capacity: It's important that you think about how many songs you plan to have on your MP3 player before making a purchasing decision. If you want to have your whole music collection with you everywhere you go, then it makes sense for you to get an MP3 Player with more than 20 gigabytes of storage space. On the other hand if you only plan to have your favorites on the player, than you should be fine with less than 10 gigabytes.

On average, you should be able to fit about 250 songs in the MP3 format for every gigabyte. So for a 10 gigabyte MP3 Player, you will be able to store about 2500 songs. This figure is just an average; actual results may be more or less depending on the length of the individual songs you store.

Size: If you plan on using your MP3 player for entertainment while you exercise, you might want to consider the much smaller MP3 player models available. The drawback is that usually the smaller the player, the less music it can hold. Though as technology has advanced, sometimes even the smallest MP3 players can hold hundreds if not thousands of songs.

Format Compatibility: The phrase MP3 Player is commonly used to describe any type of digital audio player. Though almost all of these players are compatible with the MP3 file format, they can usually play many other types of file formats as well. When it comes down to format compatibility, it truly depends on where you will be getting your music. If you plan to "rip" your music straight from your CD's then you should be fine with just about any type of MP3 player, as you will usually have the option to "rip" the files in the MP3 format. If you plan on downloading your songs from iTunes, then your files will most likely be in the AAC format. Unfortunately, this file format is usually only compatible with iPods. Be sure to check an MP3 player is compatible with the file format the site you plan to download from currently offers before you make a purchasing decision.

Photos and Videos: If you will be relying on your MP3 Player to keep you entertained while away from home consider one that can display photos and videos. Many sites on the Internet are offering movies, shows, and other videos for consumers to view on their MP3 players. If you plan on only using your MP3 Player for listening to music, for example while you worked out, then an MP3 player without the photo and video capabilities will be just fine for you. Keep in mind that watching videos on an MP3 Player drains the battery out much faster than only listening to music.

Radio Tuners: Many MP3 Players on the market have FM tuners, which allow you to listen to the radio. This is perfect when you're tired of listening to your own songs and want to hear something new. Some players even have an FM Recording function, so you can record a song you like straight off the radio.

Games: If you plan on using your MP3 Player to keep you entertained while on the go, than you might want a player that has games that you can play. This added feature can make a difference in the level of entertainment you get from your digital audio player.

Voice Recording: You can find a lot of MP3 Players that have a voice-recording function. These players have a built-in microphone, which can be perfect for students who want to record lectures in the classroom.

Battery Life: Check to see how long the battery life of a particular MP3 Player is. If the battery life isn't as long as you plan to use it on a single charge, than it is best you look for something else. There's no point to having an MP3 player that requires you to constantly charge it for it to work.

Definitions:

AAC Format: A file format developed by the MPEG group and similar in nature to mp3, though not as widely used. The AAC format is the format used by Apple's iTunes music download service.

Gigabytes: A unit of storage measurement consisting of one billion bytes (one thousand megabytes).

MP3 Player Buying Guide is a post from: Frikky Sound Home Audio