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Linkbox/Deskshot
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21st Mar, 2035 @ 22:35
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A Bit On Star Quad Wire
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19th Jul, 2008 @ 07:00
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An essay on wiring. Quite long, and so under the cut.
( The full essay... )
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...
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4th Jul, 2008 @ 11:50
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For any common sense, there's a common nonsense.
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Minibox-D Setup
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26th Jun, 2008 @ 05:58
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This isn't a very good photo, but here it is:
Current portable setup is...
Sony D-NE500 CD player (not that recommended, assembly's a tad shoddy and it's not very user-friendly) or Cowon T2 player (not that recommended either, no support for lossless formats except wave) -> Minibox-D amplifier with silver twisted wire cable -> AKG K-240 Studio with Sweetcome star-quad cable.
The whole setup can compete with (and trump) any regular consumer component system, or the likes of NAD gear. Clarity & liveliness, musicality of playback is up there with hi-fi component systems. Plugged into a good 96/24 soundcard, and with a proper processing chain, the Minibox-D/K-240S will sound sweeter than a regular hi-fi setup.
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Fragging Fanatical
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18th Jun, 2008 @ 02:24
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This used to be downloadable off the Fanatic's Asylum, but the site's not been updated for ages; the download links are broken.
Fragging Fanatical.
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OVC HC1000
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12th Jun, 2008 @ 20:38
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...are a set of headphones sent in for reviewing by Fang Bian of Head-Direct.
The review is out there, but the HC1000 are interesting as a design, just by themselves.
Tiny mini-headphones, the diaphragms are 30-mm., which is a smart design choice: small enough to be easily driven and have good dynamics, but still large enough to have the foam pads provide decent low-end. Dynamics and high sensitivity (113 dB/mW) give the HC1000 a good part of the depth, dimension of sound that's usually reserved to either canalphones or full-size headphones matched with a good amplifier.
Which is the most interesting bit, as the HC1000 sound is not typical of their class and price (in the West, anyway). There's a certain "technical" character to the sound that spoils it somewhat, and they lack low midrange response (there's a dip in the 250-400 range or so, maybe a bit wider), but otherwise everything's clear and it has dimension, depth, flow. Which is unlike certain hyped-up German maker's tiny headphones. OVC HC1000 have a Chinese character: detailed, clean midrange, open highs, and exciting super-treble with a bit lean, unobtrusive low end.
So in summary, clarity and depth, musicality, dimension previously reserved either to high-end earbuds (with associated pains) or canalphones (with associated pains and mess) or full-size headphones/amps (~$300 price ranges) in small portable headphones. Even the stated sensitivity - 113 dB/mw - is earbud sensitivity, not typical headphone sensitivity. Tonal balance is also similar to earbuds or canalphones, yet without the ear-canal chirpiness and unnatural soundstage of earphones. The "technical", a tad "stiff" character to the sound in the low end can interfere with music sometimes, and they tend to "shout" too much like any very sensitive headphones (or earphones), but other than that, the very notion that a cheap player can create a hi-fi-like sound with cheap headphones can be a novelty in the West. Which is likely why Sony created a portable player way back then (Walkman tape player), not a Western company.
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A Little Something...
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1st Jun, 2008 @ 13:16
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...for developers of all kind, hardware and software.
The functionality of technology depends on its complexity. In an attempt to "reduce complexity" important functions all too often get cut. Simple example: lack of numeric keyboard input on the Sony-Ericsson K-series phones unless the phone is in "telephone number input" mode. The result is three-four additional keypresses per digit in text edit mode - and more on regional keyboard layouts like Spanish, where there are additional letters per key.
So there, the temptation of reducing complexity by cutting down a feature backfires by offloading that complexity on the [cursing] user. Simplification in technology is a very delicate affair, and relies on reducing redundancy while retaining original, self-sufficient features.
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Solaris B. C. - 01/02
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17th May, 2008 @ 05:59
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Tiny Garage Sale
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9th May, 2008 @ 20:14
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There're four keyboards for sale. Layout's US English (which is a bit of a rarity around here). The keyboards are Dell-branded, probably Keytronic-made.
Two PS/2 models, two USB models. PS/2 keyboards cost Mex. $100, $125 for the USB version.
All from office surplus stock, never used, boxed.
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Just A Sketch
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2nd May, 2008 @ 14:18
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Morning Photo
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26th Apr, 2008 @ 09:00
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Поход Годзиллы
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26th Apr, 2008 @ 03:21
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Однажды Годзилла шел по мелководью близ маленького острова Япония, и думал - куда бы ему податься. Может, доплыть до какого-нибудь островка в Тихом океане, и завалиться там спать? Или поплыть на юг и заявиться к какому-нибудь племени, которое его будет почитать и приносить дары? Толстые женщины бывали особенно вкусны на закуску после глубоководной рыбалки, но всё это объедаловка... Годзилла тупел после такого, a ему уже нельзя было тупеть. Возраст не тот.
На северо-восток никак нельзя - дежурным войскам СССР было по-показному всё равно, что Годзилла творил вне границ громадной страны (хотя он был уверен, что между собой военные делали ставки), но переступи он границу, и сначала бы его обстреляли штурмовики, затем поставили синяки тяжелой самоходной артиллериeй, может быть испытали на нем какой-нибудь новый вид химического оружия, и напоследок могли бы прикончить атомным ударом.
Годзиллу начало мутить. Через какое-то время мучений он наклонился, и его вырвало. Целым кабаком со стоянкой и посетителями.
Годзилла опустился на четвереньки и медленно пополз в лес, где замаскировался во впадине, предварительно удостоверившись, что до ближайшего озера недалеко ползти.
"Ну и зачем эти люди? Существо не может пообедать в удовольствие, как они превращают всё в извращение с травлей, да ещё и пытаются потом при помощи своей примитивной магии выставить заснятое напоказ..."
Годзилла рыгнул ещё раз, выпустил зловонные пары от переваренной каши из людей, их пищи и спиртного, и задремал.
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Koziol
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20th Apr, 2008 @ 21:32
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Possible Gear Sale
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12th Apr, 2008 @ 23:16
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A set of AKG K-141 might be on sale soon.
Here's what a restored set looks like:
 
A later production model on a person:
 
Here's how the set to be restored looks right now:
 
The K-141 used to be a radio/studio standard, and will still outperform any small headphones when driven by the right amplifier. Famous for their affinity with female voice, the K-141 are perhaps the best headphones for female vocals.
These would be sold with an amplifier especially designed for the headphones (and fed with rechargeable batteries).
The full kit would include: amplifier with a matched battery pack (probably 10-12V DC), AC/DC adapter/charger, and optionally a modification with a mini-XLR socket to take Sweetcome star-quad cable (twisted-pair OFC wiring with EMI shielding).
Total cost of just the spare parts could be around $90 (~$25 for new foam pads instead of the disintegrated pads, $5-10 for acoustic foam filling to replace disintegrated foam, ~$30 for mini-XLR headphone socket and enclosure covers, some $10-15 for elastic bands, plus costs of solder and other materials).
Sweetcome cable costs ~$50, delivery included, for a 1.5 metre strand.
In summary, total cost, amplifier+Sweetcome cable+repairs+labour, would be around $250-300. Some $80 less without the Sweetcome cable. Plus shipping, which might be some $20-30 (depending on destination).
Combined with a portable player, this would make a very impressive portable hi-fi system. Far beyond anything similarly priced, except maybe high-end canalphones. But canalphones are uncomfortable and have an artificial soundstage.
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Spam
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3rd Apr, 2008 @ 06:17
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Quite the wallpaper...
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Potion
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29th Mar, 2008 @ 20:26
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And Now With Fade
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22nd Mar, 2008 @ 19:23
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It has dynamics, rather unusual for electronic music nowadays, eh?
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A Bit of Moog Mini V
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22nd Mar, 2008 @ 18:46
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Quotes
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21st Mar, 2008 @ 01:49
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[22:33] S-Priest: Canalphones are teh masochism.
[22:33] Nickelas: does that make you teh masochist?
[22:33] S-Priest: "Teh Masochist Reviewer".
[22:33] S-Priest: Hey, there's name for a column.
[...]
[00:21] S-Priest: Aha!
[00:21] S-Priest: "Teh Scientific Masochist"
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| » Bunny & The Mugbook |
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19th Mar, 2008 @ 16:26
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| » Bjorn Lynne |
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Another bit of Norwegian music, this time Bjorn Lynne.
boomp3.com
More MP3 files downloadable from his website. MIDI sources are also available for download.
15th Mar, 2008 @ 10:19
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| » A Little Something |
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Hexen II Egyp3.mid, somewhat altered...
boomp3.com
And the 96/32-sourced Ogg file.
Update: Kevin's own version off the Hexen II CD.
boomp3.com
9th Mar, 2008 @ 06:31
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| » Soundbites - Chimes |
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The second package, Chimes: 44100 Hz/16-bit/stereo and 96000 Hz/24-bit/stereo.
Demos...
29th Feb, 2008 @ 21:36
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| » More Sounds |
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Another set of soundbites, a mix of previously posted sound effects and some new short pieces.
44100 Hz/16-bit/stereo FLAC files in a RAR SFX archive.
Some demos:
29th Feb, 2008 @ 17:18
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| » Silverspring 1.6 Demo |
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Yes, it's an alpha.
Yes, it's been updated.
No, it's not ready for release yet.
Here's how it sounds anyway, this is straight MIDI playback on an Audigy-2 card with Silverspring 1.6.
And another demo...
21st Feb, 2008 @ 17:21
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| » Another Treat |
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Ingredients:
ground black pepper;
olive oil;
garlic;
wheat or rye (or mixed) flour tortillas.
1. Cover tortillas with garlic, greasing tortillas first with garlic oil.
2. Sprinkle with pepper, add enough oil to ensure garlic and pepper will be boiled in it.
3. Toast till oil boils and tortillas are lightly browned, a medium setting in a toaster oven works.
21st Jan, 2008 @ 22:27
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| » Analogue Synth Sound Scheme |
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A little set of system event sounds. Generated by the Arturia Moog Mini V soft-emulation synth.
A few samples...
"Oldie" logon/startup event sound;
"Long Way" pad printout event;
FM Bells 2 sound.
16th Jan, 2008 @ 12:10
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| » Hall Intermission |
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Kevin Schilder's Hall Intermission piece from Hexen.
7th Jan, 2008 @ 21:09
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