Lori Spencer is a Contributing Editor at Yahoo! News and This Can't Be Happening! Her work can also be seen regularly on Counterpunch, Truth Out, and OpEdNews, among others.
By Lori Spencer
If your treasured vinyl records are skipping, there could be several reasons why. Dirt, dust or other debris in the grooves of the record are the most common cause of record skips. Your turntable’s arm may need balancing, or the stylus could be worn out. The good news is that all of these problems can be fixed with a minimum of cost and effort. The bad news is, if the skipping is being caused by…
Continued at: http://www.ehow.com/how_8209913_fix-record-skips.html
By Lori Spencer
Audio engineering careers require versatility and the ability to adapt to working in a variety of sound formats and applications. One day, an engineer might be making an album for a major rock artist; the next day, he or she might be editing a film soundtrack or mixing a classical 120-piece orchestra‘s recording of Beethoven‘s Ninth Symphony. Jobs in sound engineering range include things such as running live sound at concerts, producing radio and television shows, creating sound for video games, performing audio post production or even designing entire public address (PA) systems and recording studios.
Continued at http://www.wisegeek.com/what-are-the-different-types-of-jobs-in-sound-engineering.htm
By Lori Spencer
If you love music, are fascinated by technology and are lucky enough to have very precise hearing, you may have what it takes to become an audio engineer. Producing or engineering an album for one of the world’s top artists is certainly a desirable goal for many, but competition for jobs in the recording industry is fierce. If you want to rise to the top of the heap, you’ll need more than just training or technical expertise. Being a successful audio engineer also requires determination, persistence, patience, industry connections, people skills, and of course, talent.
Continued at http://www.wisegeek.com/how-do-i-become-an-audio-engineer.htm
See also related story “How Do I Become a Broadcast Engineer” by Lori Spencer for radio, tv and film career-specific advice:
http://www.wisegeek.com/how-do-i-become-a-broadcast-engineer.htm
By Lori Spencer
The crystal and ceramic pickups of yesteryear’s record players have been replaced by the magnetic cartridge — now the standard for modern turntables. Although they lack the amplification of the old crystal or ceramic pickups, magnetic turntable cartridges track much lighter across the record, thus causing less wear in the groove. There are two basic types of magnetic turntable cartridges: moving magnet (also known as MM) and moving coil (MC).
Continued at http://www.wisegeek.com/what-are-the-different-types-of-turntable-cartridges.htm
By Lori Spencer
A record player preamp is a necessary piece of gear for increasing the signal of a turntable. While CD players, cassette decks, and other stereo components have plenty of gain, turntables produce much lower output and require additional amplification. That’s where the record player preamp comes in, giving turntables the extra boost they need. Phono preamps were commonly built in to older stereo receivers and power amps so that the turntable could be directly connected. Due to the consumer migration from LPs to CDs in the 1980s and 90s, most newer stereo systems don’t even have a phono input at all, much less a preamp built in.
Continued at http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-a-record-player-preamp.htm
By Lori Spencer
Turntable speakers are available in a variety of styles and sizes, each manufactured to suit specific consumer needs. Popular designs include large floor speakers, small bookshelf speakers, surround sound, in-wall, in-ceiling, wireless, and satellite/subwoofer speakers. As sound quality is a very subjective and personal choice, consumers generally select turntable speakers based upon listening preferences, not the actual source of the audio. There are some special considerations when it comes to turntables, however.
Continued at http://www.wisegeek.com/what-are-the-different-types-of-turntable-speakers.htm
By Lori Spencer
Choosing the best professional microphone is a matter of both personal preference and matching the mic’s characteristics to the type of sound you want to capture. Certain types of microphones are better suited for recording vocals than instruments, for example. Others are more appropriate for live sound than studio recording. Regardless of the frequency response or cartridge type you choose, selecting the right microphone ultimately means finding whichever is the best microphone for you.
Continued at http://www.wisegeek.com/how-do-i-choose-the-best-professional-microphone.htm
By Lori Spencer
If your primary need for a record player revolves around transferring stacks of vinyl albums to your computer, a USB turntable may be just the right solution. While most audiophiles and critics agree that USB turntables still cannot deliver the fidelity of a traditional stereo component turntable, a USB turntable works fine for the average consumer’s needs.
Ion Audio makes a popular line of plug-and-play USB turntables at affordable prices. In addition to USB, Ion Turntables also have RCA output jacks — quite handy for connecting the turntable to your stereo system…
Continued at http://www.ehow.com/how_8408233_ion-turntable-spin-records.html
By Lori Spencer
Starting your own independent record label is the dream of many musicians, songwriters and music business entrepreneurs. Being the boss puts you in control of how the music is recorded, packaged and marketed.
The task may seem daunting at first, but creating your own label isn’t as difficult as you might think. As with starting any small business, however, there are some important steps you must take to ensure your company is set up properly and legally.
