djByron [Dan Byron]husband, father, christian, musician & technophile ( but not a dj )

This morning around 10 AM Apple released version 2.0 firmware for the iPhone.  So far, amazing!  Here’s what I’ve installed so far… Read the rest of this entry »

John posted an entry today regarding his current desktop and I thought I’d respond here.  As you can see, there’s nothing really on it now… Primarily due to two great OS X utilities.

1. Quicksilver - With as little as two key strokes I can pretty much access any app, folder or file on my system.
2. Dashboard - I have a few widgets running within the dashboard that allow me to access a calculator, see the weather, get movie times etc

A month ago I made the official switch from PC to Mac and in doing so I had to find a new audio editor for posting various church service elements (preaching, teaching, music etc).  When I was on a PC, Sony’s Sound Forge was an easy choice but moving to Apple I had to do some research.

Initially I tried to do it in Garage Band.  I was successful, but it was really cumbersome when compared to other audio editors and DAWs I’ve used (SoundForge, ProTools & Sonar) .  Since that point I’ve managed to grasp the basics of GB but it is still not the most efficient tool when editing a stereo file.

After that, I tried Amadeus Pro for a week or two. I downloaded the trial seeing that it was a $40 piece of software that did everthing I wanted it to do. But after using it for a couple weeks found the UI somewhat awkward.  Nice, full featured software, just awkward compared to what I’d been using for years (Sound Forge). That’s when another Google search turned up Peak LE 6 by Bias.

Peak LE 6 is more like to Sound Forge and it’s interface is awesome.  It has all the features I need and plays nice with the Waves Gold Native plugin bundle that I own (I should mention that Amadeus Pro worked with the AU version of Waves plugins too).  So now, my process for posting audio is something like this.

1. Launch Peak 6 LE and open audio file(s) directly from CD
2. If this is a lengthy spoken word file convert from stereo to mono
3. Apply Waves L1 Ultramazimizer to get levels consistent. Note that this could also be done with an included compressor or the Apple AU compressor that is a part of OS X Leopard / Garage Band.  I just own the Waves plugin so I use it.
4. Trim, cut and fade where appropriate
5. Save file as mp3 to be downloaded or streamed in flash (32kbps mono for spoken word and 128kbps stereo for audio)

Some other features in Peak 6 LE are:  The ability to podcast (complete with audio ducking to lower music level during voiceovers) as well as the ability upload your podcast via ftp from directly within the software.  iTunes integration which allows you to export audio files directly to an iTunes playlist.  Support for three simultaneous real-time AU/VST effect/instruments and a record timer that automates record stop time.

Peak LE 6 also includes some bundled software aptly named the “Peak LE Production Pack”.  The BIAS Freq-2 pro-quality paragraphic EQ.  WireTap Pro which allows you to capture internet and system audio with no loss of original quality.  SFX Machine LT  a real time VST plug-in with many special effects.  32 VST audio effects from Maximum Digital Audio (delay, limiter, dithering, de-ess, tone generator, and more). Top quality audio loops from PowerFX audio and 100+ high quality sound effects from Hollywood Edge.

Peak LE 6 is available to purchase as a download on the BIAS website for $129. There is a free trial download too but it won’t allow you to save anything duing the trial period.

Oh my how far we’ve come! Computer based recording is going to the next level later this year. This plugin is absolutely AMAZING. Pay special attention to the portion when he starts changing keys in real-time.

Just notice a post on Shawn’s blog about Evernote invites and I went and checked my account.  Someone ask me a couple weeks ago for an invite but didn’t see the link at that time.  Anyways, I have 10 to give a way if you’re interested (comment and I’ll send you one).

For those wondering what the new Evernote Beta is all about I’ll point you to this video. The gist of it is a single place to store and index all your “notes”.  Notes can range from typed notes, to scans/photos of receipts (which Evernote will index the text thereon).  Add to this a slick online version that syncs your desktop notes so that they’re searchable anywhere you have an internet connection and you’ve got one amazing application.

[UPDATE] Evernote beta has another feature which I just learned about…  You can connect your iPhone or Windows Mobile device to Evernote via email IMAP protocol and then view your notes within your email program on your mobile device! Your notebooks and tags show up as folders within the IMAP structure!  Awesome!

[UPDATE 2] TUAW posted their take on Evernote this afternoon

We’ve only had a Mac in the house for a couple weeks but so far here’s some of my favorite apps.  I’ll update this post as I discover more!

Quicksilver 

Quicksilver = huge productivity.  First thing I installed. Hard to explain what it does so watch this.

Final Cut Express 4

 Amazing piece of software for those looking to get into professional level video editing.  Yea there are limitations but then again Final Cut Studio it over 1000 clams more.

 Password Manager + AutoFill for Mac OS X

Password management software.  Could NOT live without this kind of software (previously used RoboForm on Windows).

MacTheRipper

 DVD ripping software [ for legal usage of course ]

Perian

The swiss-army knife of QuickTime components.  This software will allow you to play the following formats natively within QuickTime!

• AVI, FLV, and MKV file formats
• MS-MPEG4 v1 & v2, DivX, 3ivX, H.264, FLV1, FSV1, VP6, H263I, VP3, HuffYUV, FFVHuff, MPEG1 & MPEG2 Video, Fraps, Windows Media Audio v1 & v2, Flash ADPCM, Xiph Vorbis (in Matroska), MPEG Layer II Audio
• AVI support for: AAC, AC3 Audio, H.264, MPEG4, and VBR MP3
• Subtitle support for SSA and SRT

Windows Media® Components for QuickTime

 Play WMV in quicktime… Nuff said.

Raging Menace - MenuMeters

 MenuMeters, free resource monitoring utility.

ClamXav

 Free anti-virus for Mac OS X

It’s a know fact that Firefox is a memory hog, but over a gig!!