Category Archives: Audio

Audio, Technology

4 Yamaha Tech Devices You Might Not Realize Exist

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In 1900, Torakusu Yamaha constructed the primary Japanese piano, and the corporate hasn’t stopped since. Yamaha grew to become a staple for pianists worldwide, who loved its merchandise, from the comforts of their houses to the grand live performance halls the place they play professionally. Among its improvements that also affect the music trade at this time is a line of high-tech pianos.

One distinctive technology-powered piano is Yamaha’s TransAcoustic Piano, providing a built-in transducer system that may let pianists create digital results, like electrical pianos, strings, and even a choir. In addition, the TransAcoustic Piano lets pianists document music by way of USB or Bluetooth-enabled gadgets simply. However, this is not even its top-of-the-line mannequin.

Yahama refers back to the Yamaha Disklavier as “the world’s most advanced piano.” The Disklavier is available in 4 variations: Enspire Pro, Enspire ST, Enspire CL, and DKC-900. In addition to a high-quality recording and playback system that may work in a wide range of codecs, the Disklavier collection additionally presents streaming companies, auto-calibration, motorized muting methods, built-in audio system, app integration, and extra.

In current years, Yamaha has continued to push the boundaries of what it might probably do with musical devices. In 2018, working with Tokyo arts universities Yamaha used AI to turn a dancer’s movements into piano sounds. Titled “Mai Hi Ten Yu,” the efficiency was carried out in tandem with dancer Kaiji Moriyama and the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra Scharoun Ensemble.

Audio

Closed Back Vs. Open Back Headphones: What’s The Difference?

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How have you learnt which headphones are best for you? It boils right down to the place you will use them, what you will take heed to, and the way lengthy you will put on them.

Open-back headphones create a sense that the music is throughout you, so that they’re typically an ideal alternative for audiophiles and music professionals trying to get crisp, pure sound high quality. They’re additionally preferrred for mixing and mastering. However, if you wish to get pleasure from your playlist or podcast on a crowded practice or block out your colleagues in a loud workplace, they won’t be your finest wager. A pair of closed-back headphones will probably be a better option for you whereas working, finding out, and even as a DJ in the midst of a session.

Now, in the event you’ll be carrying the headphones for lengthy hours, you also needs to take into account consolation. Open-backs have a slight edge. They do not get as heat and heavy in your ears, making you much less prone to expertise listening fatigue. Open-back headphones usually have a better price ticket, whereas closed-back headphones are typically extra reasonably priced and customary.

This makes them notably interesting to a wider viewers, whether or not you are on a tight budget, prioritize privateness, or get pleasure from a extra pronounced bass response when listening to music. So, earlier than selecting one, know it is not nearly the way it sounds. Ask your self: How does this match into my every day life?

Audio

AirPods Max Vs AirPods Pro 2: Which Is Best For You?

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When selecting sound gear, what issues most is how nicely it delivers sound, the readability of its microphone, and extra options. In phrases of audio efficiency, the second-gen AirPods Pro options Apple’s highly effective H2 chip, whereas the AirPods Max is provided with its predecessor. This implies that whereas each headsets provide unimaginable noise cancellation and audio high quality, the AirPods Pro 2 takes it up a notch. This choice cancels twice as a lot noise because the first-gen AirPods Pro, which options the H1 chip.

The AirPods Max has Active Noise Cancellation, Transparency mode, and Personalized Spatial Audio. On the opposite hand, along with these three options, the AirPods Pro 2 additionally has Adaptive Audio, which incorporates options like Adaptive Noise Control, Personalized Volume, and Conversation Awareness. The AirPods Max has an Apple Watch-like Digital Crown on the facet that you should use to change tracks, pause or play audio, reply telephone calls, and so forth. The AirPods Pro 2 makes use of Force Sensors, which suggests you should use a single-click, double-click, triple-click, or swipe gestures to carry out completely different actions.

While each the AirPods Max and AirPods Pro 2 are nice in terms of audio high quality and options, all of it comes all the way down to your private preferences. Looking for a extra discrete and transportable choice, do not assume twice earlier than going with the AirPods Pro 2. However, should you’re somebody who travels lots and desires headphones with dependable battery life, the AirPods Max is an apparent selection.

Accessories and Peripherals, Audio

How To Set Up Spotify With Sonos Voice Control

The very first thing you need to do to make use of your Sonos speaker to play music from Spotify is about up its voice management performance. This will permit you to give vocal instructions to the system so you do not have to interrupt out your telephone each time you wish to hear a bit of music. It’s a comparatively easy course of, although you will want an Android or iOS system with the intention to do it.

The first step is to obtain the Sonos S2 app to your cellular system. This will permit you to make all the mandatory adjustments to the Sonos system’s settings with the intention to use voice controls to play music from Spotify. Before that although, you will wish to be sure that your Sonos system is up to date to the newest software program model. Open the app after which navigate to Settings > System Updates > Check for Updates. This might take a number of moments, however it’s an vital step for ensuring that the speaker has all the newest functionalities.

Once that is carried out, go into Settings as soon as once more — solely this time, you are going to navigate to Services & Voice. Press the Add a Voice Assistant button after which choose Sonos Voice Control. You will then have to observe the directions within the app to finish the setup. You can now use these voice controls to play music through Sonos Radio, Apple Music, Amazon Music, Deezer, Pandora, and Spotify.

Audio

How To Stream Music To Your Apple Watch Using Spotify

apple watch ultra 2 Bloomberg/Getty Images

Being capable of take heed to your favourite songs when you’re out and about is a superb perk. In most instances, you must have the ability to do that by way of your cell phone, supplied you’ve got the mandatory audio-streaming apps put in. However, in case your smartphone runs out of battery and you do not have a power bank helpful, the much less cumbersome possibility is to stream music by way of your smartwatch. One of the choices that gives this functionality is the Apple Watch.

Provided that you simply personal Bluetooth headphones or audio system and have an Apple Watch Series 3 or newer, you must have the ability to stream songs with or without your iPhone. Just just be sure you correctly pair your listening machine to your timepiece. Follow your earphones’ or audio system’ directions on coming into pairing mode after which go to Settings in your Apple Watch to search out your output gadget from the listing of detected Bluetooth gadgets. In addition, ensure that all of your devices are totally charged to make sure a profitable connection course of.

Once your listening machine has been paired, the subsequent step is to make sure that you’ve got your most popular music service put in in your Apple Watch. You can use Apple’s personal Music app or attempt different fashionable third-party audio-streaming providers like Spotify.

How to put in Spotify on the Apple Watch

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To achieve entry to Spotify in your Apple Watch, the simplest approach to set up the app is thru an iPhone, when you have one. Here’s how:

  1. On your iPhone, launch the Watch app. If you have by no means paired an Apple Watch to your cell phone earlier than, chances are you’ll be prompted to take action.
  2. From the underside navigation bar, choose the My Watch tab.
  3. Go to the Available Apps part.
  4. Look for the Spotify app and faucet the Install button subsequent to it.

If you do not have an iPhone, you may set up Spotify by way of the App Store in your Apple Watch:

  1. Press the Digital Crown, then faucet the App Store app that seems on the house display.
  2. Hit Search to search out the Spotify app, both by utilizing the watch’s Scribble or Dictation function. Alternatively, you can too attempt scrolling down the app listing to see if it seems straight off.
  3. Tap the Spotify app and hit the Get button to put in.
  4. When prompted, double-click the aspect button beneath the digital Crown to substantiate the app set up.

You’ll know if the Spotify app is efficiently put in in your Apple Watch when it seems along with your different apps after you press the Digital Crown.

How to start out taking part in Spotify songs on the Apple Watch

try spotify premium screen Tada Images/Shutterstock

Once you’ve got the Spotify app put in in your Apple Watch, you must have the ability to management Spotify on different gadgets — like your cell phone, TV, or pill — out of your timepiece. You must also have the ability to use Siri to and management music and podcast playback utilizing voice instructions.

However, with a view to truly stream music, podcasts, and audiobooks from the Spotify platform instantly by way of your Apple Watch, you may should be a Spotify Premium subscriber. If you occur to have a free account, take into account upgrading to one of many available Spotify Premium plans.

In addition, as beforehand talked about, you additionally should personal an Apple Watch Series 3 or newer that’s operating on a minimum of watchOS 7.0 in addition to Bluetooth headphones which were paired to the watch. If you plan to play Spotify content material instantly out of your watch with out your telephone, you may additionally require secure WiFi, or a mobile connection in case your Apple Watch comes with a knowledge plan.

How to manage Spotify playback on the Apple Watch

If you’re an skilled Spotify person, among the symbols that seem on the Apple Watch app ought to be acquainted to you, such because the play, pause, and skip to earlier or subsequent observe icons. There’s additionally a coronary heart icon you may faucet (or untap) so as to add (or take away) the at present taking part in observe to your library — and into the Liked Songs playlist — and a telephone icon to alter the output machine to your playback.

Below is an inventory of different gestures you are able to do on the Spotify App for the Apple Watch:

  • Turn the Digital Crown to switch quantity ranges.
  • From the primary playback display, swipe from the left towards the appropriate to get to the Home display. Here, you must see all of your playlists, together with the one at present taking part in. When you open a playlist, there ought to be further shuffle and repeat buttons you may faucet to manage how the playlist’s songs are performed.
  • From the primary display, swipe from the appropriate towards the left to entry your Spotify library and just lately performed tracks. If you’ve got any downloaded content material, they may also be discovered on this web page.

How to obtain Spotify music and podcasts to the Apple Watch

woman using iphone sergey causelove/Shutterstock

An necessary Spotify Premium perk that extends to the Apple Watch is the flexibility to obtain content material for offline listening. Depending in your watch mannequin, you could possibly obtain round ten hours of songs and podcasts when you nonetheless have a dependable web connection after which take heed to them later no matter connectivity.

To switch Spotify music to your Apple Watch, you may have to create a brand new playlist and put all of the tracks you need into it since you will not have the ability to obtain particular songs or albums or any playlist curated by Spotify. Podcast episodes will be downloaded individually, however for those who do not personal an iPhone, inserting these audio tracks into a brand new playlist as properly is advisable.

To obtain Spotify content material to your Apple Watch by way of an iPhone:

  1. Launch the Spotify cellular app and go to a playlist or podcast you’d prefer to port over to your Apple Watch.
  2. Tap the three-dot icon.
  3. Select Download to Apple Watch.
  4. To hasten the switch course of, preserve Spotify open on the watch and obtain by way of WiFi as a substitute of Bluetooth. To guarantee this, quickly flip off Bluetooth from the Settings app, not the Control Center.

You also can obtain Spotify music or podcast playlists instantly by way of your watch:

  1. Launch Spotify in your Apple Watch.
  2. Swipe from the left towards the appropriate to entry Spotify’s Home display.
  3. Tap a playlist you need to make accessible offline.
  4. Hit the obtain (downward arrow) button.

All Spotify tracks downloaded to the watch ought to seem within the Downloads folder, which you’ll be able to entry by navigating to the Home display. Do observe that there is a restrict of 100 downloads per playlist. Furthermore, downloading Spotify audiobooks for offline listening is at present not doable on the Apple Watch.

Audio

How To Fine Tune Your Home Surround Sound Set Up For The Best Experience

When we consider getting the very best audio expertise out of a house encompass system, the audio system are the primary issues to come back to thoughts. While audio system are vital, your room’s acoustics could make or break your audio expertise. This is as a result of after sound leaves a speaker, a lot of the audio we hear in a room is mirrored — sound bouncing off partitions, ceilings, and flooring. Standing waves, bass buildup, and flutter echo are the most typical acoustic points that may distort sound high quality. 

Getting mirrored sound beneath management can hold it from muddying the readability and element of what we’re listening to. That’s the place acoustic therapies like diffusion panels, bass traps, and acoustic panels are available in. These therapies may help handle reflections, permitting the audio out of your encompass sound system to achieve your ears as supposed, making a extra immersive and true-to-life listening expertise. They additionally block exterior noises, making certain you’ll be able to hear each whisper and sound impact with out exterior interference.

Accessories and Peripherals, Audio

Will Cleaning Apple AirPods With Alcohol Damage Them?

Apple’s official directions for cleansing your AirPods spotlight the truth that you possibly can certainly use a gentle rag dampened with isopropyl alcohol to wash the instances for AirPods or AirPods Pro devices. The directions additionally advocate being extraordinarily cautious to not get any type of liquid within the charging port of the case. Additionally, customers ought to enable their instances to dry totally earlier than trying to plug in and cost them as soon as once more. If the precise cost port wants a cleansing, Apple suggests gently scrubbing the lightning connector with a clear, dry, soft-bristled brush. Dry being the essential time period there. However, don’t put something within the ports — particularly liquid — as it could injury the metallic contacts.

What in regards to the AirPods themselves? Apple’s suggestion is to make use of a dry, clear material to wash your AirPods and really explicitly highlights that customers mustn’t get any liquid in any of the openings. Effectively, in case you’re questioning if cleansing your AirPods with alcohol can injury them, the easy reply is sure. Any liquid launched into the openings on the AirPods could cause severe injury to the electronics inside.

Apple largely advises solely cleansing the AirPods with a dry material and cleansing the speaker mesh and openings with a dry cotton swab. However, the directions emphasize that, within the case of the presence of issues like sunscreen, lotion, conditioner, or hair dye, customers can select a really barely dampened material, but it surely should be with recent water, not rubbing alcohol. Overall, it appears fairly clear that Apple would not advocate utilizing alcohol to wash AirPods.

Audio, Technology

Logic Pro Vs Ableton Live: Which DAW Is Best For You?

One of the first benefits of Logic Pro in comparison with different digital audio workstations is its in depth free library. Anything from guitar riffs and percussive sounds to quirky sound results and ear candies, the Apple Loops library in Logic Pro affords a plethora of supplies for musicians to work with.

Moreover, Logic Pro offers you entry to many highly effective digital devices, such because the Alchemy, that you should utilize to create MIDI tracks. The digital devices in Logic Pro sound considerably higher than these in Ableton and have rather more selection. You can use Logic’s basic piano and string sounds for pop and people music or use a wide range of synthesizers for EDM and hip hop. On the opposite hand, Ableton’s VSTs predominantly revolve round digital music.

Another space wherein Logic Pro takes the highlight is entry to high-quality inventory impact plugins. Logic Pro’s ChromaVerb, Stereo Delay, multi-band Compressors, and Channel EQ are solely a number of the plugins praised by many professionals.

However, that isn’t to say Ableton’s VSTs and plugins sound horrible. Since Ableton’s vary of inventory instruments is narrower, you will most likely be extra depending on third-party plugins and VSTs down the road. Bear in thoughts that premium third-party plugins can value many occasions greater than what you initially pay for a DAW.

Audio, Wearables

HapiFit Terra Is A Game Changer For Sports Training Devices

While the {hardware} perks of HaptiFit Terra are in a league of their very own, it is the software program ecosystem that really units them aside and earns them a SlashGear CES Innovation award. The companion cellular app brings AI Sports Trainer to life. It not solely logs your exercise particulars and presents the wellness progress, but additionally makes use of that knowledge to create customized health regimes to maintain you on monitor for the classes forward. Called Thrive, the cellular app curates an in depth evaluation of the exercises and is accessible for each Android and iOS gadgets.

There’s additionally a voice assistant that may be instantly accessed on the machine. It might be pulled as much as get an replace on the continuing exercise’s progress at any given level in the course of the exercise session. Another neat comfort is put on detection, which suggests the HaptiFit Terra mechanically prompts when placed on and resumes the playback session, whereas taking them off shuts them down. It’s a neat method to preserve some juice. But the machine itself is not any laggard within the vitality effectivity division. 

Mojawa HaptiFit Terra headphonesMojawa

The audio health gear is claimed to last as long as 8 hours on a single cost, and due to the quick magnetic charging facility, a mere 5 minutes of charging can be adequate for 2 hours of listening time. Another profit that must be skilled on the HaptiFit Terra to appreciate its significance is that the 3D pressure-sensitive controls with haptic suggestions are way more dependable in comparison with contact and swipe-based inputs on a standard pair of earbuds. Down the street, Mojawa plans to incorporate social and aggressive components into the Thrive app, which suggests you’ll be able to add a little bit of aptitude and motivation to your exercise classes.

Audio

Why Analog Guitar Amplifiers May Soon Be A Thing Of The Past

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Guitar amplifiers are an enormous a part of fashionable music for each professionals and amateurs alike, nonetheless lately now we have greater than producer names and mannequin specs to consider. Or quite, there are different choices to contemplate outdoors of the ever-present analog (bodily) amp.

Analog amps are nonetheless fairly widespread — extraordinarily unlikely to vanish anytime quickly — however plenty of musicians have been turning to amp simulators and guitar plugins. These digital instruments can, in some ways, act as a extra streamlined stand-in for a extra commonplace bodily setup, with out an excessive amount of compromise (relying on who you ask and what qualities you are on the lookout for).

Simulators, plugins, and other digital tools have their strengths and weaknesses similar to analog amps. And as with most circumstances of analog versus digital dialogue, there are many vital causes one may argue for one over the opposite. Or argue in opposition to them.

Matters of comfort

digital wave form buuzzaa/Shutterstock

There are an a variety of benefits to utilizing a simulated amp as an alternative of a bodily one, however they primarily boil down to creating your life a bit simpler.

  1. Due to the character of digital, you’ve gotten extra alternatives to experiment with numerous setups and sorts of sound. Rather than switching round your complete setup you possibly can simply mess around with program settings and plugins.
  2. Similarly, many packages provide or are appropriate with further digital gear — similar to new sorts of simulated pedals, amps, and many others. And you possibly can stockpile a complete library of various sounds and results.
  3. Repairs are easier, as a result of you do not have to do them on a digital amp. Though you could want to repair or exchange different elements of your digital setup like your pc or cables.
  4. You will want top quality {hardware} to correctly assist a digital setup, however even that’s typically comparably cheap subsequent to a bodily rig.
  5. Instead of devoting a set quantity of house to your setup, spending a bunch of time hooking every little thing collectively, or renting a studio you possibly can merely plug your guitar into your pc and begin enjoying.
  6. Everything is way simpler to journey with and arrange.

Though regardless of having so many upsides, there are nonetheless some downsides to contemplate with regards to utilizing a digital amplifier.

Some compromise

concert mixer console Tsuguliev/Shutterstock

While there are quite a few tangible advantages to favoring digital plugins over bodily amps, there are some causes you could need to persist with the basic setup (outdoors of normal traditionalism).

  1. Latency is usually a big downside should you aren’t utilizing top quality gear. Without a quick pc, excessive pace cables, and interface there might be a big delay between what you play and what you hear.
  2. Not all amps can be found in digital type, so should you depend on a really specific setup that does not at the moment exist, you are both out of luck or need to attempt to make your personal.
  3. The sound nonetheless is not good. Depending on the composition it might be troublesome for many to inform the distinction, however discrepancies between digital and analog amps do nonetheless exist and might impact how reasonable every little thing comes out.

Ultimately it comes right down to your personal preferences and state of affairs. What’s your price range? Do you’ve gotten the house for a bodily amp? What type of sound would you like and might you get it (or a detailed approximation) digitally? Will that you must purchase a bunch of recent gear (pc, cables, and many others)? The selection is yours, and neither possibility is inherently proper or incorrect.