PowerUser.TV: Episode 6

Lazy Americans, too much singing, and more!

http://www.poweruser.tv/?page=show&show=5&c=1
from WinCustomize Forums
Kristin talks with Tom Chick (www.quartertothree.com), Derek Batting (www.neowin.net) and Brad Wardell (www.wincustomize.com) about the possibility of mining on Mars, the closing of Cyan, developer of the Myst games, and a new study that reveals how much time Americans waste while at work. Other topics include Apple's new product announcements, phone number squatters taking a number that should belong to the Red Cross, and Steve Ballmer's negative reaction to Google stealing Microsoft employees.
3,431 views 4 replies
Reply #1 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Have just started listening to these podcasts (and podcasts in general)... Nice.

Now.... is there a gadget/widget that will do the work of iPodder for me? I just need scheduled updates and downloads to a directory... preferably with notifications of new podcasts. No iPod here, they go onto the Palm (which is far from automagic unfortunately)
Reply #2 from WinCustomize Forums Top
One more thing.... is there any chance y'all could Normalize the volume levels when mixing the podcast? It's extremely annoying when I have to turn it up to hear Kristen(sp?), and then Brad's voice blows me out of my chair... Mixing problem...
Galactic Civilizations III
Reply #3 from WinCustomize Forums Top

is there any chance y'all could Normalize the volume levels when mixing the podcast

I hear you Lotherius, but the truth is I DO normalize the volume.

The way we record, my voice is on one channel (the right channel) and everyone else is on the left. During editing I bring my channel up as high as I can without distortion, and do the same to the other channel. I try and make sure they remain relatively on the same level. Once everything is edited I normalize the whole thing again.

However, normalization does not pick out the low sounds and bring them up to the level of everything else. During normalization the computer determines the loudest sound and brings that sound up to the loudest it can be without distorting. All other sound is brought up in context - if it was a low sound to begin with it will still be a low sound in comaprison to the rest of the recording.

The problem is not so much in the mixing - although I'm sure there's plenty more I could learn. The problem is in the quality of the initial recording. Since our team is spread out over the country, we rely on Skype and Hot Recorder, which admittedly is not the highest qulity recording. We're working on ways to improve it.

Thank you very much for your replies and suggestions, and thanks for listening!

Reply #4 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Cordelia - You need compression, not just normalizing.

I would be willing to help with advice or whatever ...