Audacity Tutorial Part 3 - Learn About Sample Rates

Learn the different quality of formats to record with using Audacity - a set  of 10 free video Audacity tutorials.

During this third Audacity video tutorial, we’ll discuss Audacity’s default sample rate of 44100Hz. The important thing to remember here is, if you are mixing in other sources of audio, you’ll want to have matching sample rates. So, when you are importing audio into audacity, you have to check the sample rate to make sure it matches here. And if none of the preselected ones here, you can click on other and enter any rate you would like.

The other sampling format discussed is Bit Processing. 32-bit float is actually twice the quality of standard CDs. But, it’s a good way to work. Generally, what we can do is, work at 32-bit quality and then export in 16 bits. Again, 32 bit is going to take twice as much as storage space as 16 bit. Well, that also depends on your computer space. 32 bit is recommended for higher quality.

Audacity Tutorial - Part 3 <- Click here

Audacity Tutorial Part 2 - The Audacity Control Panel

Learn how to use the Audacity Control Panel or interface - a set  of 10 free video Audacity tutorials.

During this second Audacity video tutorial, we’ll navigate through the Audacity Control Panel. Learning the Audacity interface will make it easier to understand the various buttons and menus. I’ll show you the Audacity File Menu, View Menu, Project Menu (a great way to import media), and Generate Menu. Under the Effects Menu we have a wide range of very cool and different effects, Analyze Menu for analyzing the audio, and the Help Menu, if you have any questions about how to use Audacity.

Also shown are various Audacity interaface buttons or controls. For example, buttons are for Copy, Paste, Trimming and Silencing. The Silencing button is an often overlooked feature in Audacity and it’s very useful: if you have a pop or something, click on silencing to eliminate the pop.

Audacity Tutorial - Part 2 <- Click here

Audacity Tutorial Part 1 - An Introduction To Audacity

Learn how to download and install Audacity audio recorder and editor - a set  of 10 free video Audacity tutorials.

Welcome to the Audacity tutorial series, a 10 part Audacity tutorial guide. During this set of Audacity tutorials, we’ll commence with an introduction to Audacity, guide you through the Audacity interface, then walk you through on how to record and edit, and finish off with some cool Audacity tips and tricks including using Audacity effects.

So let’s get started! If you’re are new to Audacity, it’s a free audio recording software, often used to edit podcasts, music, and much more. During this first Audacity video tutorial, will show you were to get the software and how to install it.

Audacity Tutorial - Part 1 <- Click here

The Best Firefox Add-ons

Here is my top 10 list of the best Firefox web browser add-onsIf you are new to Firefox add-ons, are you are in for a pleasant surprise! Add-ons are free software programs that will work with Firefox.

Using add-ons allow you to customize Firefox to meet your needs or personalized style. Free feel free to browse the thousands of available free add-ons https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/. We have compiled a list of ten of our favorites (in no particular order) which was no easy task!

WebMail Notifier
WebMail Notifier checks your email when used with various webmail accounts (Gmail, Yahoo, Hotmail, etc) and notifies the number of unread emails. This can be a real time saver, especially for those of us with multiple email accounts.
https://add-ons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/add-on/4490

IE Tab
In an ideal world, websites and features would be the same in all browsers. IE Tab is useful to open the current webpage in the IE Tab, which simulates viewing a page in Internet Explorer.
https://add-ons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/add-on/1419

Tree Style Tab
Firefox popularized tab style browsing, that is, the ability to have multiple brower windows open at the same time. Having multiple tabs open can be a real time saver, and using Tree Style Tab can be surprisingly productive. Tree Style Tab allows you to use vertical tabs instead of horizontal tabs. A real time saver with some nifty features!
https://add-ons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/add-on/5890

Adblock Plus
One of the most popular Firefox add-ons and it’s easy to understand why. Adblock Plus blocks website ads and banners. This will result in faster downloads since and page refresh since those annoying ads will not appear. Nice!
https://add-ons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/add-on/1865 (more…)

Why Twitter Sucks

Twitter’s popularity has skyrocketed, but I find it useless.

Everyone is jumping on the Twitter bandwagon these days. I’m jumping off. I was late jumping on since I thought it was a passing fad with limited amount of use for my business. In the past 2 months, Twitter is in the news daily. Lots of interesting stories about how “so and so now ‘tweets’”, and how a Taco truck in Los Angeles has created a frenzy using Twitter. So, I jumped on the bandwagon to see what I was missing. Now I can say “Been there, done that”.

So why do I find Twitter of minimal value? Every day, you and I are bombarded with emails (business and personal), Facebook requests, RSS updates, podcast updates - you name it. And let’s be honest, we only have so much time in a day to dedicate to work and family. Twitter is just another piece of technology vying for our attention. It dawned on me how useless Twitter was when I was subjected to hundreds of Twitter updates offering no interesting or compelling story or value. One individual was head of social media for a large software company. Do I really care how she is spending her weekend, evening, or what she is eating for dinner. NO! Or how about a podcast directory website that constantly lists each new podcast listed! Then there is the Vegas specialty sites competing with each other to blast the world with headline news from Vegas. Useless for me, and likely for most people.

I know, I know, call me a ranter. My point here is that Twitter offers minimal value. Are there people or businesses using Twitter successfully with compelling stories. You bet. But don’t be fooled because a Taco truck in Los Angeles has 10,000 followers. Like any other marketing success, Twitter offers value to only a small niche of the population. That’s why I will discontinue using Twitter, not read new Tweets, and continue to focus my marketing efforts elsewhere.

Is Twitter a passing fad or here to stay? Let me know what you think.

-Simon