Greg Phelps Reviews Lauten Audio Microphones

I’ve recently been on the hunt for a new microphone. The last one I had made for me hasn’t turned out to be the best choice I ever made. I started to look. Talk about choices.  There are so many new great microphones out there, where does one even begin the search?

My investigations lead me to this company; Lauten Audio. This is a company not many have heard of yet, but you will… trust me!

Now before I go any further I should mention that I have no affiliation with Lauten Audio. No one is paying me to write this. I am doing it simply to share my experience. There is an old saying I remember…goes something like this. “A job well done, though seldom complimented is never criticized.” This is one of those seldom occasions.

Some background about Lauten Audio and Brian A Loudenslager. Brian at one time worked for IBM and did a little work in the video gaming industry amongst other jobs. He also represented an Original Design Manufacturer (ODM) and Contract Manufacturer (CM) of microphones, where he worked with some of the biggest microphone brands in the world.

Brian, along with Dr. Charles Chen, Chief Engineer, and Michael Terry, Sound Designer set out on a mission to be different. They succeeded. It seems like around every corner some one is making a new clone of this or that old school microphone. Lauten Audio decided to take an approach of their own and have created their own unique sound.

I first talked to Brian a couple months ago. I wanted to demo his microphones. I chose his new Oceana, a tube mic, and the Clarion, an FET mic. Within a couple of days of talking with Brian, I had the Oceana and the Clarion on my desk. YES the service was very fast.

On with goods Greg, what do these things sound like. The first thing you will notice about these mics is that they are BIG, and I do mean big. This is a good thing. They are built like tanks and I believe they could handle just about any abuse you could give them. I have to tell you I am blown away by the sound and versatility of these microphones. The Clarion, my favorite of the Lauten mics, has several settings. First it offers a -10 pad that lets you get up nice and close with out having all the proximity problems with other mics. The sound is clear and warm and very present. On the opposite side of the switch is a +10db boost…this thing will really allow the voice to pop….it has a presence unlike anything I have heard…it’s a very in your face sound but at the same time it’s not harsh or heavy. The normal or “0” position on the switch is also great; again a nice clear warm sound that can make any voice pleasing. It seems to lack the presence the other two settings do but this is not a bad thing and I have found it also to be very useful. The Clarion also has a setting for Omni, Figure of 8 and cardioid.

The next microphone I tried was the Oceanus. For me this is more of a singers mic than a voice work microphone. Although with the right voice and the right preamp this could be a great microphone for voice over. It is extremely smooth and warm yet still has the ability to add a punch if needed and at the same time maintain that upper “airiness” sense as well. I would highly recommend it for singers to try. I really loved how smooth it is and I am told by people who sing that this microphone is one you have to hear.

The next microphone in the line is the Horizon. This is the tube microphone in the Lauten Audio line up. Again another winner! Lauten Audio has captured the essence of the “tubey” sound and feel. However the Horizon is not a one trick pony, it is also has the ability to give you that classic clear warmth that seems to be so popular today and at the same time giving you it’s own unique sonic signature. This one also has a -10 and a -20 pad should you need it.

To tell you that I have been impressed with Lauten Audio and Brian Loudenslager would be somewhat of an understatement. This company is going to go a long way. They are developing a new classic sound, and that sound works and works very well. Normally I wouldn’t mention this but it will help you understand the dedication Brian has to delivering exceptional customer service. I wrote to Brian the other day. His response (within the hour I might add) was that he was bed ridden with tonsillitis. Yet here he was taking care of his customers. It doesn’t get much better than that. Take a look at their site and demo their sound. You’ll like what you hear.

If your looking for that rich, lush sound of yesterday based on those clones of the past. These are not your microphones. If you want to stand out and differentiate yourself from the crowd Lauten Audio Microphones are the new classic sound. Visit the website, talk to Brian. www.LautenAudio.com

Source: Greg Phelps

Google Exits Radio Market Online; Seeks Streaming Audio Instead

Google has left Audio Ads behind, closing the door on their marketplace that connected buyers of remnant air-time with audio producers.

The company entered the market in 2006 with great expectations that they could transform the way audio advertisements on broadcast radio were produced and purchased, never shying away from a challenge.

Google VP Product Management, Susan Wojcicki, says, “While we’ve devoted substantial resources to developing these products and learned a lot along the way, we haven’t had the impact we hoped for. So we have decided to exit the broadcast radio business and focus our efforts in online streaming audio. We will phase out the existing Google Audio Ads and AdSense for Audio products and plan to sell the Google Radio Automation business, the software that automates broadcast radio programming. Advertisers will continue to be able to use Google Audio Ads until May 31 and broadcasters will be able to publish inventory to Google until that date as well.”

As a recap, here’s how Google Audio Ads used to work.

Google Brings Advertisers and Radio Stations Together

Google has positioned the Audio Ads system to serve both top-level advertisers, as well as the advertising agencies themselves. Although advertising agencies already have media planning and media buying personnel, you can now buy commercials direction from local, regional and national radio stations.

How Google Delivers Ads to Radio

1. Google Audio Ads is powered by a station inventory management system and studio log.

2. Google links electronically with radio stations to search for inventory that fits your advertising criteria.

3. Inventory is paired with your advertising requests, called “Google Avails”.

4. Google delivers an automated order to the radio station and reserves the ad inventory.

Source: Techmeme.com and Google Blog

apt-X® raises audio fidelity for Jaybird’s next “Made for iPod” Bluetooth stereo headphones

Belfast, Northern Ireland [Friday, January 30, 2009] – APT Licensing Ltd (Belfast, UK) [www.aptx.com], the real-time audio compression systems house, today announces further consumer electronics industry endorsement of its low-latency, high-quality apt-X® audio codec technology with news of a collaborative partnership with JayBird Gear, LLC (Salt Lake City, Utah) [www.jaybirdgear.com], maker of the critically acclaimed JB-200 Bluetooth Stereo Headset series for iPod, iPhone, MP3 players, PC/Mac, mobiles and other portable media players (PMPs).  Jaybird will incorporate the outstanding wireless sound quality of low-latency apt-X® audio codec technology into the company’s next generation of high-definition stereo Bluetooth wireless headphones for the growing active lifestyles market.  The Jaybird Freedom Wireless Headphones, successor to the award-winning Jaybird JB-200 Bluetooth Stereo Headset, becomes available from April 2009, and is again primarily targeted toward the active lifestyles sector of the consumer electronics market.  LAPTOP Magazine [www.laptopmag.com], the leading US mobile-technology magazine, conferred its Ultimate Choice 2008 “top pick” status on the Jaybird JB-200 in a comparison of stereo Bluetooth headsets from various manufacturers.

Made for iPod, made for sport

JayBird CEO and founder Judd Armstrong said: “The Freedom headset is Jaybird’s new crown jewel, the ultimate music machine for sports, and builds on the whirlwind success of the critically-acclaimed JB-200 series.  Many listeners agree that standard Bluetooth A2DP stereo sound has background static issues, but with the apt-X audio codec option, wireless sound is crystal clear. The ears of sweaty athletes are in for a treat come April.”  Like the JB-200 headset, the Freedom Wireless Headphones will be “Made for iPod” approved.

Mike Canevaro, VP Business Development, APT Licensing, added: “In less than two years, JayBird has established a strong active lifestyle-orientated audio brand in an underserved market niche: sports, athletics, and fitness. With apt-X inside, the Freedom headphones are positioned as one of Bluetooth stereo headset industry’s most complete solution for music-lovers on the move, and are compatible with the broadest possible range of PMPs, from simple MP3 players to smartphones like the iPhone 3G and Blackberry.”

Jaybird joins scores of new and existing apt-X audio codec licensee partners who design and manufacture a range of digital wireless audio products for both high-end professional and consumer audio markets.  APT Licensing provides application-specific variants of its low-latency, high-quality apt-X audio codec technology (apt-X, apt-X Live, apt-X Voice, Enhanced apt-X) for broadcast, studio, games, microphone, speaker, headphone, intercom, 2-way radio, and Bluetooth A2DP applications.  Recent apt-X licensees include Bluegiga, CREATIVE, iSkin, Luci (Technica Del Arte), Mandozzi, and Shure.  APT Licensing is partnered with leading Bluetooth chipmaker CSR, and is an associate member of the Bluetooth SIG.

In contrast to other forms of lossy and lossless audio codecs, apt-X is uniquely designed for ultra low-delay transport of broadcast-quality multi-channel audio over wireless links and digital circuits, including IP networks.  These same performance attributes make apt-X ideally suited to a multitude of wireless audio technologies in consumer electronics.

APT Licensing exhibits on Stand 1A59 at Mobile World Congress, Barcelona, February 16-19.

About JayBird Gear

JayBird Gear designs and manufactures high-performance Bluetooth stereo headsets for those who want to take high-quality audio with them through their active lives.  For more about Jaybird, JB-200 and Freedom Wireless Headphones, visit http://www.jaybirdgear.com

About APT Licensing

Trading in semiconductor intellectual property since 1989, APT Licensing provides industry-leading audio compression solutions to the broadcast, professional audio, and consumer electronics industries.  The company’s apt-X audio codec technology has earned a reputation throughout the audio industry as the ultimate high-quality, low-delay audio data compression algorithm available.  Today, apt-X technology is licensed for use in broadcast audio codec hardware, professional audio systems, and consumer electronics devices, including portable media players and mobile phones, Bluetooth stereo headsets, and wireless microphones.  Headquartered in Belfast, Northern Ireland, APT Licensing also has direct sales offices in the USA and Japan.  For more information, visit http://www.aptx.com

About Bluetooth A2DP wireless technology

Bluetooth wireless technology is the global short-range of wireless standards for personal connectivity from a wide range of electronic devices. The technology is now available in its fourth version of the core specification and continues to develop, building on its inherent strengths:-a small-form factor radio, low power, low cost, built-in security, strength, accessibility, and ad hoc networking abilities. There were more than one billion installed Bluetooth devices at the end of 2006, making it the only well-known choice for developers, product manufacturers, and consumers worldwide.

About “Made for iPod”

For more about the “Made for iPod” program, visit http://developer.apple.com/ipod/

Note: The Bluetooth word, mark, and logo are registered trademarks and are owned by The Bluetooth SIG, Inc.  iPod, iPhone, Mac and the “Made for iPod” logo are trademarks of Apple Inc.  JayBird, and the JayBird logo are trademarks of JayBird Gear LLC.  Other company and product names may be trademarks of their respective owners.

Source: APT-X

Fox Italy Uses APT Codec for Berlin Talent

Fox Italy launched an entertainment channel in Germany; it used the WorldCast Meridian IP audio codec to record the voice talent’s promo in Berlin while monitoring and coordinating from Rome.

Alessandro Travaglini is senior sound designer with Fox Italy. He told APT that the IP approach meant the company didn’t need a traditional ISDN solution that would have required a dedicated dual phone line.

The link includes two ProTools stations running the same audio/video session, delivered in advance via FTP; the audio workstation in Rome operates in Master mode and, using the Digidesign SYNC I/O Time Code Generator, controls the other in Berlin.

WorldCast Meridian is a multi-algorithm, fully duplex, stereo audio codec offering both IP and Leased Line connectivity. It provides a reliable and proven platform for studio to transmitter links and inter-studio networking applications worldwide.

Source: RWOnline.com

Voice Over There To Provide Mobile Sound Recording Studio for Emmys

Voice Over There, Inc., manufacturer of the custom mobile ADR trailer and voice over recording booth, has been selected by AEG Ehrlich Ventures, LLC to place its mobile sound stage, the VOT trailer, on location to record voice over packages for the live broadcast of the 60th Primetime Emmy Awards.

The VOT trailer, designed by veteran television Director/Technical Director, Amir Soleimani, is a completely self-contained mobile recording studio housed in a custom-made 7×14x8′8″ cargo trailer. Air conditioned and fully soundproofed up to -50dB, the VOT trailer will be parked just outside the Nokia Theater in downtown Los Angeles for the Emmys broadcast.

Over the three days of rehearsals prior to the broadcast, celebrity presenters will use the mobile sound stage to record voiceovers. The voiceovers will be combined with video packages to be rolled in during Sunday evening’s live broadcast.

“The VOT trailer will give us studio quality sound on location,” said Ron Basile, Producer of the broadcast for AEG Ehrlich Ventures, LLC. “Having the mobile sound stage next to the theater is very convenient for scheduling our celebrities during rehearsals and assures that we’ll get network quality sound for the video packages.”

The VOT trailer will be hard wired to the production suite in the Nokia Theater and the recoded voiceovers will be fed to the profiles, a series of stacked hard drives, where on-site editors will have access to all the material.

The VOT trailer is independently powered by a Honda Whisper generator and air conditioned by a dual zone Fujitsu 18,000 BTU HVAC unit. The trailer is outfitted with digital sound recording technology including Pro Tools, Telos Xstream, Verizon wireless Internet, and top-of-the-line microphones.

The VOT trailer is also currently being used on location by the television series “Starter Wife” starring Deborah Messing. Parked alongside the shooting stage at Culver Studios, actors from the series can conveniently step into the mobile studio during breaks in shooting to do additional dialog recording (ADR). The mobile ADR trailer saves the production from having to schedule actors to travel to a studio on non-shooting days to record ADR.

“The difficulty of scheduling dialog pickups inspired the creation of Voice Over There,” explains Soleimani. “I wanted to find a convenient, cost-conscious way of accommodating talent in and around Southern California, whether they are at home, on set, or on location. With the VOT trailer, recording sound bytes and making them immediately accessible to post and production companies worldwide, has become a highly-efficient, one-stop process.”

For more information see www.voiceoverthere.com

Source: Broadcastnewsroom.com

Want KITT in Your Car?

As mentioned on Wired.com, there’s a new GPS featuring the talents of voice actor William Daniels as the infamous KITT from the original Knight Rider series.

The Knight Rider GPS will soon be available on the market retailing for $270.

The GPS box, from satnav maker Mio, pictured above, asks the question “Michael, where do you want to go today?” when powered up.

Pretty cool for fans who are looking for something to take the Knight Rider experience to the next level and likely a very good gig for William Daniels.

Speed Racer Game Features Voice Acting by Original Cast

Speed Racer has been a favorite for too many years to count, and now it has returned. It is on the big screen with all the graphics and action you would expect from current electronic and computerized tools available.

If that isn’t great enough, the video game has the thrills that the movie does, and possibly more. This is, of course, a racing game, but it is also much more. It is about speed – 300 to 500 MPH, but more than that, it is a smart racing game about speed.

The game was created for WII, with a PS2 version coming out this fall. The game follows the story as you compete as Speed Racer in the World Racing League against up to 19 opponents. Of course, everyone including Speed Racer wants to win the coveted prize, but the course isn’t easy with its loops, jumps and unpredictable track. You can flip and jump your car – with the help of a “car fu” mechanic, who can keep you going even if you smash your car.

There are about 20 different car/driver combinations. Speed Racer’s Mach6 and Racer X’s Shooting Star are included in the game, as well. To top it all off, the original actors from the movie including Emile Hirsch, Matthew Fox and Christina Ricci have lent their voices to the game, as well, which always takes things to the next level.

The New Speed Racer is worth a good look, and even if you’re not a Speed Racer fan, you will certainly be excited and delighted.

Hulk is Incredible even the Second Time Around

Let’s just say that computer graphics have made a few leaps and bounds since the original HULK came out. Nonetheless, HULK is a beloved, well maybe not beloved, but at least well liked and enduring figure, even now, and though we are in the 21st century, there are still basic shades of the original HULK that are infused in both the movie and the video game. The video game comes out today.

There are some awesome features that are part of the movie and the video game. A few of those features have been preview released by SEGA in advance. For instance, players can become the HULK and create whatever powerful destruction they feel is necessary – in fact, they can demolish anything in their path and then use it as a weapon. – including demolishing buildings with their (HULK’s) bare hands.

Then there’s rage. Rage creates power, and players can create the rage that HULK needs to use his ultimate power. The scale is powerful, as well. New York is at scale and realistic with the skyscrapers allowing for exciting vertical play, while Bi-Beast and the Abomination challenge the HULK’s power.

The best features are that the world is dynamic and open, providing a next generation open representation of Manhattan – which gives the player a stunning playground on which to play the game and other mini games within the overall game. The best feature of all is that the voices of the characters from the movie are used in the video, enhancing the realistic feeling.

If you are looking for a great games and want some awesome previews, got to the SEGA site – which has gone interactive – and there are a couple of good Hulk Video Game sites on line, as well.

Two Worlds Takes a Second Try

Reality Pump put out the game Two Worlds and the reviews by most everyone was that it was pretty horrible. It had awful images and the voices – forgetaboutit!!! The first edition of Two Worlds was called a lot of things, including an utter mess that was disappointing to all.

Reality Pump’s response to this: Two Worlds: The Temptation. RP says that instead of using staff (which did the best they could on the original release); RP used professional voice actors on the sequel, The Temptation. Even RP says that they were overzealous in trying to do everything necessary put the original package together and get it out themselves. This overzealousness also extended to the plot and other ideas. It seems that RP put everything but the kitchen sink into the original and has scaled back on The Temptation.

Though the original Two Worlds was a total mess overall, it did have some good points and some great, fun ideas, but the overall difficulties made them hard to find.

Hopefully, Reality Pump has done what it says it has done by scaling back, taking its best ideas and putting them front and center – and eliminating the overkill – Two Worlds: The Temptation should be worth a try one more time.

Earprompter from Ovation a Perfect Fit for Public Speakers

In business, one of the most important skills is the ability to stand in front of a group and effectively get the message across. Unfortunately, fear of public speaking is our number one fear (most people would rather have a root canal), and most speeches and presentations are read, which seriously limits their impact.

There is a solution to this thorny problem, and it’s called the Earprompter.

The Earprompter is a system that allows speakers to deliver their presentations word-for-word, without memorizing or notes. This system combines miniaturized electronics with the latest speaking techniques, to enable people to become effective public speakers with just a half-day’s training. They can give their speeches, however long or technical, perfectly every time, with relatively little preparation… usually a matter of hours.

For the past twenty years, the Earprompter has been the best-kept secret of professional presenters and spokespeople. There were also a few businessmen and politicians who discovered that using this device gave them the edge they needed to be leaders in their fields. The Earprompter is also big in the convention and the acting worlds (Marlon Brando used it for twenty-five years), and is starting to make headway in the corporate and political worlds as well. Its uses are unlimited: making strong forceful presentations at meetings, speaking at fundraisers, delivering a consistent message on tour, speaking to stockholders, standing in for another speaker at the last minute, giving presentations in a foreign language… the list goes on.

Using this system allows the speaker to leave the lectern and notes behind, walk out into the audience, and deliver the message face-to-face, a style which is extraordinarily effective. The Earprompter allows the speaker to maintain eye contact with the audience, and really connect. It brings with it a large dose of charisma, a characteristic that is especially important when speaking to potential investors, stockholder and clients.

One very senior member of the Clinton administration had to deliver two or three speeches a day, each of them to different organizations, several times a week. He attended our training, and after giving his next speech, a member of the audience said, “Sir, I heard you speak a couple of months ago, and today you were absolutely riveting. You’re not the same speaker.” The official just smiled and said “Thank you!” And that theme has been repeated many times, both here and abroad.

So if you’re giving a presentation, and you absolutely, positively, have to get it right, the Earprompter can take a load of your shoulders, and your mind.

Source: Earprompter.com

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