Zoom H2n
Zoom has made quite a name for itself in the portable digital audio recording market. I’ve just picked up the new H2n model (an update of the several-year-old) H2. This little device records in many different ways with up to 4 of the 5 built-in microphones and up to 24bit 96KHz. Great for recording bands in venues, or for making sample libraries of real-world sounds and hits, the device is also ideal for capturing the environment in full surround sound. My plan is to record environments in all of the places we travel. This would have been wonderful to have a month ago when we were on Grace Bay Beach; could have had the waves crashing in our livingroom year-round!
Third-party software converts the dual stereo tracks into six-channel sound in DTS format (suitable for feeding to a 5:1 surround system), or binaural sound (for use with stereo headphones).
M-Audio DSM3 Reference Monitors
I got a great deal on a $2K pair of M-Audio DSM3 reference monitors. I’ve been using Alesis Monitor One’s practically since they were released onto the market (more than a decade ago) so I was way overdue for an upgrade. Unlike the other speakers which were hooked up to an Alesis RA300 amp, the new ones have amplifiers built into them, and I’m able to feed a digital signal right into the back of them so my monitoring is kept digital all the way to just before output. The result of these changes is a profound mix clarity and precise sound positioning (imaging). The Monitor One’s are now being utilized as surround-rears – quite a step up from the Edirol MA-10A‘s I had been using, so this’ll give me a much better idea of what’s going on in my surround-sound mixes.
Elektroniqa.com back in my possession
After number of years in the hands of a cyber-squatting company, and held (basically) ransom for over $4,000, it appears the company let the domain go and I was able to snap it up. So, for the time being, www.elektroniqa.com will go to this website.
Now Tweeting
There are so many social networks and applications for same that it becomes a full-time job just to maintain a full-time presence on many of them. But the one that requires the least amount of ‘work’ is Twitter. So, should you have the urge, you can now follow my muse. I’ll have periodic updates via my cell too. Fun? We’ll see.
The Price of Losing
Around a year ago or so I purposely let my ‘elektroniqa.com’ domain lapse. I thought the word wasn’t distinct enough from the musical genre and might confuse people. It didn’t take long for a cybersquatting company to snatch it up and then attempt to auction it. No one bit though, so the company started taking offers. My $35 offer was refused outright, but several months later I received an email asking if I was still interested, and if so, to submit a significantly higher offer. Ok. $75. This was kind of fun. And, as it turned out, more than a little low. If nothing else, these people have a fairly decent sense of humour. Say, $4,500 worth. Leapfish.com, however, values it at $22. And according to dnscoop.com it’s worth $41. Estibot.com values it at $50, and Cubestat.com values it at 74.46.
Kevinburke.ca is valued at $120 (Estibot.com), and $144.54 (Cubestat.com). So I guess I won’t be changing my name anytime soon.
