Articles about Audio

Not content with providing access to music on demand, it did not take long for Spotify to branch out and start hosting podcasts. More recently, audiobooks were introduced, and now the company has announced a series of new audiobook features.

Books and video may not seem like natural bedfellows, but this is one of the things that is currently being tested. Other new features include author pages which are similar to artist pages, and an interesting “follow-along” option.

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Make no mistake, the world of work is experiencing a boom in audio content. In addition to the widespread use of workplace video and audio conferencing and collaboration tools, the volume and range of audio assets that organizations now generate and distribute is expanding. As a consequence, audio is playing an increasingly central role in the business communications mix.

Today’s IT professionals now need to manage an expanding array of audio content; everything from corporate podcasts to AI-driven customer training and sales interactions that are delivered via apps or the web. To harness and gain maximum value from this increasingly valuable resource, IT leaders will need to master every aspect of the art of efficient audio data management. By optimizing the organization and storage of audio data, they’ll not only be able to boost its accessibility and discovery so that teams can quickly leverage the assets they need. They will also be able to initiate streamlined workflows that enhance productivity and uncover and unlock the inherent value contained within audio data. Let’s take a look at just some of the ways IT leaders can reinvent their audio data management capabilities.

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Nowadays, our computers often serve as our centralized media centers. We use laptops and desktops to both watch videos and listen to music. Long gone are the days of having big stereo receivers paired with independent media devices such as CD and DVD players. Streaming is superior.

Unfortunately, many consumers rely on the terrible speakers that are integrated into their laptops or the ones that came with their desktop. These people are missing out on what is truly possible from computer audio. By upgrading to higher quality speakers, a whole new world of audio can be experienced.

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If you're just recording audio at home or making video calls then a wired microphone that sits on your desk, or even the one built into your laptop, is probably quite adequate.

If you want to take your recordings and calls out and about though, or if you want to conduct interviews with another person, then wireless mics offer a more practical solution. The Maono WM820 2-person kit provides all you need to get started with wireless microphones in one box.

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If you want to be a world-famous YouTube creator, Twitch streamer, or podcaster, you must have a great personality. With so many people creating content, you should have a way to stand out from the crowd too. For most creators, it will never become more than a hobby -- earning a living from these platforms is highly unlikely.

With all of that said, you should also buy good hardware. For instance, if I discover an interesting streamer on Twitch, I won't bother subscribing if it is difficult to hear them speak -- a good microphone is absolutely essential. Thankfully, quality gear doesn't have to break the bank. For instance, today, Turtle Beach unveils the latest mic from its Neat Microphones subsidiary. Called "Bumblebee II," it is an affordable USB-C mic that comes with a USB-C to USB-A cable in the box.

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With more and more of us working from home and conducting our business and personal lives via video calls, microphone quality on our devices has become a serious issue.

The in-built mics on laptops are OK but if you want to make presentations or create podcasts, make music, or just make a good impression on Zoom, then you really need something better. Step forward the AKG Ara.

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If your stereo receiver or speaker system lacks Bluetooth connectivity, what should you do? Throw your existing stereo gear in the trash and buy something new with the wireless standard? I mean, I suppose you could, but that would be idiotic. Instead, you can simply add Bluetooth with a dongle.

Yes, such adapters exist, allowing you to add Bluetooth connectivity to wired speakers and stereos. Best of all, they are typically very simple to use. Today, StarTech.com launches a new such dongle, and it looks to be rather premium. Called "Bluetooth 5.0 Audio Receiver with NFC," not only does it offer analog connectivity, but optical output too. It even features 48KHz/24 bit sample rate support.

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If you want to be a world-famous YouTube creator or Twitch streamer, you have to have a great personality and a way to stand out in the crowd. For most people, it will never become more than a hobby -- getting rich from these platforms is rarified air.

With all of that said, and with personality and gimmick aside, you really need good hardware too. For instance, if I discover an interesting streamer on Twitch, I won't bother subscribing if it's difficult to hear them speak -- a good microphone is essential. And no, quality gear doesn't have to break the bank. For instance, today, Turtle Beach unveils the latest product from its Neat Microphones subsidiary. Called "Skyline," it is an affordable USB mic with an elegant design.

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The Nintendo Switch was released in 2017, and since then, the video game console has been a runaway success. Its ability to serve as both a portable and home game machine has contributed to its popularity, but also, the COVID-19 pandemic likely increased sales too. You see, as people were stuck in quarantine, many of them turned to the Nintendo Switch and popular games like Animal Crossing: New Horizons.

As great as the Nintendo Switch is, the system is definitely not perfect. For instance, it is underpowered compared to the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X. Not to mention, many consumers consider the controllers to be defective, as the thumb-sticks often develop "drift" and lose accuracy. One of the oddest deficiencies, however, is the lack of Bluetooth audio. This was a very curious thing, as the Switch supported the wireless standard, just not for sound.

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There are plenty of headphone-makers nowadays, with Apple probably being the most popular. Consumers seem to love that company's wireless earbuds, the AirPods and AirPods Pro. You know what? That's totally fine. Apple makes great products, although they are often overpriced. The $500 AirPods Max over-ear headphones, however, are way too expensive. You would have to be crazy to spend so much!

Thankfully, there are much more affordable wireless over-ear headphones that are also excellent. Case in point, the ATH-M50xBT by Audio-Technica. Today, that company launches the second-generation of its popular Bluetooth headphones. Called "ATH-M50xBT2," this new product offering costs less than half the price of Apple AirPods Max.

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Hardware that is designed for gamers can be expensive. This is because gaming gear is often built to higher standards. Of course, it can also be artificial price increases, as manufacturers know gamers aren't afraid of disposing of their income.

Thankfully, not all companies are intent on taking advantage of gamers. Logitech, for instance, offers quality products at various price points, allowing gamers to have good gear without breaking the bank. Today, Logitech launches its latest wired gaming headset, and it is designed to be affordable. Called "G335," it is compatible with PC, Xbox, PlayStation, Nintendo Switch, and mobile.

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Watching television is massively popular these days. Why? Well, not only are there some great shows on cable and streaming services, but because of the global pandemic, many of us have been quarantining for a very long time. And so, there isn't much to do other than consume media from home.

If you are using the speakers that are built into your TV, however, you really aren't experiencing television the proper way. These integrated speakers often sound tinny and are poor quality. You should instead be using an external speaker system, such as a soundbar. Today, Creative officially launches its latest such product. Called "SXFI CARRIER," this soundbar comes with a 10-inch wireless subwoofer and features Dolby Atmos technology.

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Although desktop PCs come with integrated sound and graphics, if you want the best audio and visual performance possible, especially for gaming, then you'll likely need to upgrade your system with new, more powerful hardware. Most gamers will splash the cash on a graphics card, but often don’t bother with a sound card, which is madness as great audio can really enhance the gaming experience.

Creative has been making sound cards for 30 years now, and its latest product, the Sound Blaster Z SE, offers a wealth of great audio features. While its appeal for gamers will be obvious, anyone currently working from home will appreciate the crystal clear sound and audio presets it brings to video conferencing calls.

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