2x48, Quick-Switch normalling system by sliding the switches into the appropriate position. http://is.gd/bv7d
Power of Eventide in a guitar pedal. Creative effects. Used by Jimmy Page, Frank Zappa, Brian May, Eddie Van Halen, Steve Vai, Robert Fripp, John Petrucci, and Andrian Belew. Ends Monday. http://is.gd/bv2D
Swinging hip hop with fun lyrics. Will actually download this one. http://is.gd/buYL
Use coupon code "25OFFGC" through Sunday. Buy $100 for $75!
This is a crazier deal than Musician's Friend did a while back and shows how much businesses want your money and is a great opportunity to clean up on gear.
Buy a $200 gift certificate for $150, and then put it towards an b-stock/blemished items it purchase to save more.
BUT
Here's the fine print:
Paper gift certificates are currently redeemable on phone orders only. Gift certificates are mailed to the order billing address and are only redeemable for merchandise. Gift certificates may take up to 48 hours to process and cannot be redeemed on international or Canadian orders.
Also, gift certificates will not apply to any other promotions like coupon code Gift123.
Today only. Medium frets, Rosewood fretboard, PHATII_EDB eq, EDB4 neck http://is.gd/blma
Not a bad song on the album. Today only. http://is.gd/bll7
Call 866-926-1927 and say "Santa" for special pricing. Ends 12.15.08. Full details: http://is.gd/baKE
Until 12.31.08, you can save up to 10% off all Audix gear at Front End Audio by adding the item to the cart. We clicked around and found the highest savings was 10% off which is pretty good considering FEA's prices are already solid. We weren't able to find cheaper prices on things like drum kit mic packs. A recommended deal. http://is.gd/bahk
Pack incl picks, strap, care kit, strings. Ends 12.31.08. http://is.gd/babZ
This was the lowest price we could find on this mic. Also, B&H Photo is also having their holiday free ship event. More deals by category on the flyer: http://is.gd/ba7L
Korg MR-1 handheld recorder: $315 + Free ship @ Abe's of Maine. EM Mag rated this the best sounding recorder out there. http://is.gd/ba5G
75w, 100 24-bit fx, 5 band EQ, 2x 5" woofers, 4" ribbon tweeter, 3 yr warranty. Today only. http://is.gd/b9YN
Walk in or call 866-498-7882. $300 off Gibson, guaranteed savings on Digidesign. http://is.gd/b9V1
The Stones, John Lennon, Taj Mahal, The Who all together in this classic album. http://is.gd/b9SW
Today and tomorrow only. Use code "25pix". Classic photos. http://is.gd/b4gC
Includes Prophet V, Moog and other instrument emulators. Deal ends 12.16.08. http://is.gd/b38x
Stick on the podium, avoid mic adjustment for lecturers. 3 yr warranty. Today only. http://is.gd/aZmU
A Leatherman w/ flashlight jammed in it. Today only. http://is.gd/aZkz
Great collection indie music, including Sonic Youth, Cat Power, etc. Today only. http://is.gd/aZk5
Try http://Freesound.org. Sign up to get free ambiances, effects, samples - royalty free! Donate if u can!
Self powered, 195 watts total, 10" woofers, titanium dome tweeters. http://is.gd/aVl2
Front End Audio has a deal where you buy two A Designs P1 500 Series preamps and you can get a free rackmount power supply to power them up. Sale ends 12.31.08.
40mm drivers, 20Hz-22kHz range, 9.8'cable, rotating earpieces. Today only. http://is.gd/aR0z
>$229 elsewhere, 240 watts, 4 x 12-inch speakers. Today only. http://is.gd/aQYs
Rebate good till 12.14.08. http://is.gd/create.php
"Make My Day" is my fav jam off this one. http://is.gd/aQPt
Use coupon code "Daking". Recreates Trident "A" Range sound, 4 band EQ, made in USA. Offer from Front End Audio. Expires 12.24.08 http://is.gd/aJEL
Use coupon code "Gift123". List of brands after jump. Expires: ??? http://is.gd/aIRA
Thick padding, double stitching, 600-denier shell, soft int lining. Today only. http://is.gd/aHoK
B-Stock, 120 Watts, 2 channels, 5 yr warranty. Today only. http://is.gd/aHmp
8 percussion pads, # 2 trigger inputs, 2 footswitch inputs. http://is.gd/aHkp
Incl CD players, road case, headphones, cables, power supply. http://is.gd/aHhZ
Dance music remixes w/ a hot chick on the cover. How original. http://is.gd/aHfwThriveMix05: $1.99 @ Amazon today. Dance music remixes w/ a hot chick on the cover. How original. http://is.gd/aHfwThriveMix05: $1.99 @ Amazon today. Dance music remixes w/ a hot chick on the cover. How original. http://is.gd/aHfw
It's bad enough that music is being produced and remastered to be loud as possible, but did you know that the stuff you get from iTunes and Amazon MP3 has their files amped up as well on top of that? In fact, when I bought Amy Wino's Back to Black album, Amazon had the volume tags so loud (at 99 db!) it actually distorted my car stereo.
Sure, you can adjust the volume settings in iTunes of your whole library, album, or song by going to File -> Get Info. That's great for the ornery track - but sucks if you have thousands of songs in your library.
Well, I did some research on how to fix this and the solution was surprisingly simple and FREE: MP3 Gain. There are articles that extol the benefits of this app, but neglect some of the details and experiences that I had. So, giddyap:
- Yes'm, Mp3 Gain is free and open source.
- There are versions for Windows and Mac. The Mac version does carry a bit of risk, where the PC version does not. (More below)
- The "Sound Check" function in iTunes and your iPod sounds like total garbage. If you want to kill your high end frequencies, use it.
- MP3 Gain searches the dynamic peak of each file, looks for peaking, then adjusts the volume header data - NOT the music itself - to your predetermined volume setting. Since it only effects the volume data (like the Get Info slider in iTunes) this process is reversible (except for Macs ironically).
Now a quick run down of what Mp3 Gain will and won't do.
Will:
- Easily adjust to MP3 and ACC files to a consistent level
- Be simple to use
- Confuse you with it's crappy manual/Help file written by programmers, not regular folks like us
Won't:
- Adjust protected (DRM) files like iTunes MP4 audio
- Compress/expand your audio
- Sound like crap
- "normalize" your audio and kill dynamic range
- Cost you a dime
Now for some quick tips using MP3 Gain so you don't have to go through the hell I did:
- If you want to adjust your whole library, use the Album Analysis. This will take all your music files and determine how they relate to each other volume-wise as whole based on the Target Volume you set (default is 89 db). This is good when the volume can changes song to song in an album: an acoustic song will be quieter than the guitar rocker, BUT it's mixed so that it can compete with the rocker so it's actually louder than you think, even if it's analyzed at 2 -3 db lower. MEANING: if you use Track Analysis in MP3 Gain and then do the volume adjustment for Track Gain, that once gentle acoustic number will BLAST through your speakers at exactly 89 db instead of the -2 db difference of the rest of the album. In other words, the Target Volume per Album Analysis/Gain is a general reference of volume, where for Track Analysis/Gain is EXACTLY the volume you want EVERY track to be.
- Do some samples: Load the folder of the loudest album (the one you're always turning down) and the quietest (the one you're always turning up) and analyze them both and compare them in iTunes before you do you whole library. My library of about 30 gigs @ 256 kbps encoded files took about 5 hours to analyze and an hour to gain adjust.
- MP3 Gain isn't perfect. You'll notice that MP3 Gain does a pretty damned good job. However, if the majority of your library is from the iTunes store or other DRM format, you maybe SOL and back to tweaking albums individually. If you have a partial library of iTunes/DRM purchases, then just make adjustments from your Purchased Music folder in iTunes. Amazon files don't have this issue as they are DRM Free. There have also been issues with corruption on iTunes Plus files (iTunes' version of DRM free tracks), as an FYI.
Again, all in all MP3 Gain rocks and is highly recommended. Since it's free, open source and doesn't make your tunes sound like they went through a crappy compressor, I don't fell like a complete shill for promoting it. Enjoy!
MP3 Gain Windows
MP3 Gain Mac
Use coupon code "Heil10%" until 12.31.08. http://tinyurl.com/5kkhcd
Use coupon code Audeum10%. Tweaked audio workstations and duplicators specifically for studio use built by Microsoft certified PC builder. They also look cool. Expires 12.31.08. http://tinyurl.com/5l7brg
Today only. Allows natural cupping of harp, 1/4" & XLR out. Normally $279 elsewhere. http://tinyurl.com/55eneq
20 watt, 12AX7 vacuum tube, 2-channels, 2 band EQ, normally $80. Today Only. http://tinyurl.com/5pr5qv
Like sitting in Starbuck's but @ home and less wanna-be tortured writers laptops buzzing around. http://tinyurl.com/6q3zw2
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