Month: April 2006

Thursday, 20 April 2006

Why Haven’t I Picked up the M-Audio MicroTrack Yet?

by Garrick van Buren 1 Comment on Why Haven’t I Picked up the M-Audio MicroTrack Yet?

I’m putting together a strict list of requirements I’d like from a mobile podcast recording device:

  • 1/4″ TRS & XLR inputs
  • 1/8″ headphone out
  • Recording onto SD/MMC card
  • Big Red Record/Stop button (as the only control)
  • Rechargeable battery
  • That’s it. Nothing More.

Like my quest for a phone with a very specific and limited feature set, the key is what I’ve left out. In this case; a screen, ‘play’ button, and internal microphone are off the table.

While searching for a USB mixer with 4 XLR ins, I re-discovered the M-Audio MicroTrack. Looks like it’s the closest thing we’ve got to meeting my above requirements.

On the down side; it doesn’t have XLR input, records to CompactFlash not SD/MMC, and has more than 1 button.

On the up side; Steve Borsch gives the MicroTrack a great review

Wednesday, 19 April 2006

Amazing Race Season 9 – Episode 8

by Garrick van Buren Comments Off on Amazing Race Season 9 – Episode 8

I’ve lost my passion for the Amazing Race.

Maybe it’s the time switch – from 8pm Tuesdays to 7pm Wednesdays. Dunno. It feels like the segments between the commercial breaks are so fast cutting that nothing happens – like I don’t have time to focus on what’s going on.

On the whole, the challenges this season don’t seem very challenging or interesting. Just there. Like the producers have run out of cleverness.

Then, as I finish writing that, they show uncover the Shuwa. That sounds real tasty. Yeah, I’ll dig for steamed lamb.

It’s real tough watching BJ & Tyler rise from the last to first then fall back to last. I wish the editing gave a more accurate sense of time passing. It’s easy when night falls, less so when it’s still day.

You gotta give Fran and Berry props for coming in first on this leg. (Un)fortunately, BJ & Tyler were non-philiminated.

Garrick’s Favorites

  • BJ & Tyler – #5
  • Ray & Yolanda – #3

Gillmor Gang & WSJ vs Hugh MacLeod & Dave Winer

by Garrick van Buren Comments Off on Gillmor Gang & WSJ vs Hugh MacLeod & Dave Winer

Jason Calcanis says, “With three or four ad slots you’re gonna do a $3 to $10 RPM…So, if you can do 500,000 pages a month…you can make $1,500 to $5,000 a month.”

Gillmor Gang says Hugh MacLeod should sell his cartoons as an advertising-delivery channel.

“But journalists seem to have a problem getting their head around it. ‘Indirectly’ is too foreign to them. They’re too used to living in the “directly” universe.” – Hugh MacLeod

“A person with a blog is analogous to a source in the old publishing world. Sources don’t get paid directly, but we do get paid indirectly.” – Dave Winer

“Mark that on the calendar. I agree with Dave Winer.” – J Wynia

Tuesday, 18 April 2006

Where Are Your Customers Going To Be Tomorrow?

by Garrick van Buren Comments Off on Where Are Your Customers Going To Be Tomorrow?

Today, perhaps a small handful of people are skimming 300+ RSS feeds on their laptops, publishing podcasts and blogs, etc. Tomorrow that number will be more. Next week that number will be more. Next year, etc.

If there’s anything I took away from a childhood in rural Wisconsin, it’s when hunting, you aim for where the deer will be, not where it is.

There are 2 questions;

  1. Where will your customers be tomorrow?
  2. What do you do when the deer have guns?

Related: Stop worrying about other people copying you.

Monday, 17 April 2006

Now You Know I’m Listening To Your Podcast

by Garrick van Buren Comments Off on Now You Know I’m Listening To Your Podcast

I’m in the early stages of a couple podcast listener measurement methods. Methods that put the control in the hands of the listener – not the podcaster or a third-party – and the metrics in the hand of the podcaster, not a third-party.

I’m trying one of the methods out with a small handful of my favorite podcasts. So, if you’re one of those podcasters – you now know for sure that I’m subscribed.

Wednesday, 12 April 2006

What’s In Your Media Bag?

by Garrick van Buren 2 Comments on What’s In Your Media Bag?

In First Crack Podcast #77, Erik Dahl mentions his ‘media bag’. A bag of recording devices and gear ready to document any event.

Got me thinking about consolidating all my gear more intelligently in a single, unified, media bag.

First step – inventory:

  • iRiver IFP-790
  • M-Audio MobilePre USB Mobile Preamp
  • Powerbook (does this count?)
  • Lots of AA batteries
  • Phillips Vista Pro USB webcam
  • Mini-tripod from Office Depot
  • Blank CDs and DVDs
  • 1/8″ to 1/8″ audio cable
  • 1/8″ to XLR audio cable
  • 2 1/4″ to 1/4″ audio cables
  • 2 XLR Microphones
  • Firewire cable
  • RCA to 1/8″ cable
  • 3×5 Notecards
  • Sharpie Markers

Seems like there’s a few things missing (like the obvious digital still/video camera).

What’s in your media bag?

Amazing Race Season 9 – Episode 7

by Garrick van Buren Comments Off on Amazing Race Season 9 – Episode 7

All you need to know about tonight’s episode; BJ & Tyler weren’t eliminated, the Dentists were.

Everything else – aside from the wrestling – blah.

Garrick’s Favorites

  • BJ & Tyler – #5
  • Ray & Yolanda – #2