Category — Audio & Video

You’ve heard of audio books, or recorded books before, haven’t you? Many people, even the ones who use them daily, remain tongue-tied when it comes to answering correctly the following questions.

Why? My guess is that audio books in general are so convenient to use. Many of us prefer to venture into the scenes of an audio book without delay more willingly. Spending our precious time researching every detail about its creation remains a distant “maybe”.

On the other hand, there are a few details about recorded books you want to know.
What for?
‘Cause knowing them makes it easier for you to navigate around audio books with more confidence. Your improved “shopper’s education” to make the right choice is worth it.

I admit I used to be unaware of even the basic terms about audio books myself. So, I asked questions to get answers.

Guess what? I’ve found them. And I’d love to share them with you so you can save time researching the same questions. If you’d like to know the answers to the following basic questions about audio books, keep on reading.

What’s an audio book?

An audio book is a book in audio format. It is a “fun replacement” for a physical hardcover or paperback book you’d read from cover to cover. Instead, you grab-n-read books on CD, books on tape, or MP3 books versions.

What formats do audio books come in?

You can get recorded books on tape, books on CD, and MP3 books. From an old-fashioned cassette player to modern and sleek MP3 players, audio books keep you company on-the-go where traditional book reading is simply unsuitable.

What’s an MP3 book?

MP3 books are still audio books. But a clever compression technique reduces the file size to take up less recording space. Besides that, MP3’s are portable and easily downloadable. Storing them is a breeze when compared to piling up stacks of cassettes or CD’s.

How can recorded books in MP3 format be played back?

You can play MP3 audio books on any MP3 portable player. You can also play them on your home PC (need to have Windows Media Player or similar). Playing MP3’s on a laptop or MP3-enabled cellular phones is the latest trend. If you don’t have an MP3 player, but have a CD player, you can burn MP3 files to a CD using your computer. You’ll need special software to do that. Search Google for “free software to burn CD’s” .

What does “unabridged audio book” mean?

Good question. An “unabridged” audio book is narrated (or told) word for word. It’s the printed book equal in audio format. Nothing’s missing. Nothing’s added. As a result, they are longer than “abridged” versions.

What’s an “abridged audio book” version then?

It’s similar to the printed original, but shorter. The word-for-word narration from the previous example is not exact. “Abridged” also means shortened, cut. Keep that in mind if you are looking for the original version.

What are “dramatized audio books”?

Dramatized audio books are stage-like, “play-life” versions of printed books. You get all the bells and whistles: full cast, music and sound effects. Some people prefer it; some would rather get a simple, told version by an experienced narrator.

Is there a difference between having the author of the physical book tell the audio version, or is it better to have a professional narrator do the job?

Some authors are gifted for both writing and telling their own book. Others are better off leaving it to professional “voice-over calibers”. If you can, listen to a sample of the recorded book that catches your interest. It’ll help you decide if the narrator resonates with you. Some people swear that half the beauty of an audio book is the voice-over quality.

Where’s a good place to start for a novice interested in recorded books?

An excellent place to start is to pick up a favorite story you already know about, but would like to “read” as an audio. About the length, pick “abridged” audio books to start with to cut down on time they take to play back. Once you become more skilled with recorded books, you got to check out “unabridged” editions as downloadable audio MP3 books as soon as you can.

Once a beginner, Lou Smith shares the riches he’s found in Audio Books He offers you a special invitation to get free Recorded Books as gifts now. You can listen to MP3 books samples right away.

The best home theater system in the world will cost you a fortune, that’s a given! Truth is, you don’t need to spend a fortune. Problem with many potential home theater enthusiasts is they are waiting for the right time to set up.

There is no right time! Your best home theater won’t suddenly show up. You have to get it going. Now is a great time to get started because pricing has never been so good.

Apart from the vast array of home theater components available at the major department stores, opportunities to purchase equipment online has opened up a whole new world for buyers which inevitably has led to greater competition for the buyer’s dollar. This means better deals for you so if you’ve been thinking of “taking the plunge” now is as good a time as any.

The Basics Of Home Theater

Today, home theater requires four basic components.

- The television, either LCD or Plasma. Size is important. Many enthusiasts suggest at least a 4o inch tv. After all, to recreate a cinema atmosphere you want to have as big a screen as possible.

- A DVD player. Many people are still using old VCR’s however, to move to the next level then you should be considering a DVD. Their ability to store more data and to encode digital signals produces a much clearer picture while multiple channel sound data makes them much more effective as a recording and playback device.

- A receiver for decoding channels feeding the relative speakers during your playback session.

- Speakers however, for full home theater effect, the days of speakers either side of the television are gone. In this scenario, 4-6 speakers is desired for surround sound effect.

Price Of Home Theater

It’s difficult to suggest a specific price for your best home theatre set up. Everyone has different tastes and different budgets. Each one of the components listed above provide an effective cinema-style scenario when all working in unison.

For between $1500-3000, you are working at the lower end of the price range but don’t be fooled; there are some excellent bargains to be picked up in this price range. The higher you go, the less choice you need to make. The bottom price rung is an extremely competitive market and sellers are normally happy to do deals. The options decrease the higher the price as the market isn’t as large.

It’s important to remember, setting up the best home theater system in the world isn’t a race. It’s a step-by-step process. Technology changes rapidly and there are new and better options coming onto the market all the time. The other thing to consider is brand choice. It’s a little like shopping for cars: people have their preferences and will be loyal to a particular brand.

Once you have the basics to your home movie set up established, then it’s time to think about accessories… but that’s for another time!

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One of the overwhelming aspects of finding and/or designing the right home theatre system is that there are now so many options to choose from. With the ever steady boom in home theatre demand, more manufacturers are producing a wide array of options. Technology continues to change and improve in leaps and bounds, which often means what was brand new and completely unaffordable only twelve months ago may now be right in your perfect price range.

One reason many individuals like having a hand in designing their own home theatre system is that you can basically mix and match to make it into whatever you want. You are not restrained by package deals. It is possible to put together a full-scale, state of the art system with projector, receiver and the works, or if that seems a little over the top, you can buy a quality TV (some almost to projection screen sizes nowadays) and accessorize it with DVD player and surround sound speakers.

The variance can go from a couple thousand, to $100,000 for the ludicrously rich and extravagant. This illustrates the importance of choosing a system that suits your needs and doesn’t break the bank.

In the end, it’s all about getting the best possible home theater system for the money you have available. Don’t be afraid if it’s not state of the art—your neighbor will still be paying that off six years down the road when you’ve already upgraded for cheaper. Because of the rapid move of technology, prices bottom out pretty quickly as companies rush at sometimes break neck speeds to try and out do each other.

Think about your own watching and listening needs. Based on what you prefer, a little research should reveal to you the best brands, the best speakers, the best options for what you want to enjoy.

Building your home theater can be a great experience. If you are a family man, you can enjoy movies with the family without having to go out to the hassles of a theatre. If you’re a bachelor, invite the guys over for the game. If you’re a college student, you are probably incredibly popular (just don’t put it on the credit cards). There are several different factors to consider when picking out the various parts that will go into your own personal home theatre system. Here is a check list of a few things to consider:

* Projector or TV? Are you in a semi-permanent residence, or moving soon? That may make a huge difference in how much you want to sink in.

* If you’re shooting for the projector, then what type suits your needs?

* Small room or larger one.

* What is the focus? Movies? Music? Football games? All of the above?

* Location, location, location!

* Can I do it myself, or should I get help?

Keep this checklist in mind and do your research, and you’ll be sure to find the home theatre system that matches your needs.

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If you want to update the interior of your home, one of your best options is to install a home theater. But if this sounds like something that interests you, there are a couple of options that you will need to consider. Home theater installation can be done in one of two ways.

First off, if you are looking to save money and are the handy man type, you may want to consider installing your own home theater. This is not a difficult task if you have a little bit of skill, as well as some patience. In most cases, you will be able to complete most jobs with ease. Where you may run into a problem is when you are trying to wire your system. The best way to get around this is by following the directions to a T. This way, you do not get off course and you are ensured of a 100% accurate job upon completion.

When you install your own home theater, you have a lot of options as to what equipment to buy. You can purchase a “home theater in a box” setup which provides you with everything you need. This is a great idea of you don’t know what components you want or you simply want the convenience of one stop shopping and the assurance that all your components will fit and work together.

If you prefer to buy the pieces separate then you should do some research before hitting the stores. Perhaps you have a favorite piece you want for your home theater – if this is a must have you should figure that into your budget first and then go looking for the other pieces that will fit into the remainder of your budget. Checking out components at a few different stores before you jump in and buy can help you get a better deal and a better understanding of what you want.

If you do not want to install your own home theater for one reason or the next, you should check into having a professional do the job for you. Most of the time, whoever you buy your equipment from will also be able to set everything up for you. The main advantage of having a professional complete the project is that you know the job will be done correctly. Also, they can make suggestions as to what sort of set up you should use. The only downside to hiring a professional is that you will have to pay for their services.

Overall, home theater installation is not a difficult task. You can either take the job on yourself, or get the help of the professional. Either way, make sure that the job gets done correct, and your room is set up exactly how you envisioned it.

Over the years, I have grown really attached to my home theater system. I must say, of all the rooms in the house, my own little movie theater is the one I could not live without. I am absolutely in love with my home theater system and, if you are anything like me, I am sure you will love yours too. I found, when I was initially building my system, that there was so much information to absorb. Every product out there seemed better than the next, and I found myself unsure about which to buy. Here are a few things to keep in mind when shopping for a new home theater projector.

There are two main types of projectors on the market; DLP and LCD. DLP stands for digital light processing. It was invented by Texas Instruments, and utilizes a microscopic array of over 2 million mirrors. DLP has a higher contrast than LCD, but there are some unfavorable consumer reports that note something called the “rainbow effect”. The “rainbow effect” is noticeable when looking from one side of the screen to the other, and is characterized by a sudden burst of color.

LCD stands for liquid crystal display. These projectors have three distinct glass LCD panels inside; one for each component of the video signal (red, green, and blue). While DLP chips reflect light, the LCD panels allow light to pass through them. LCD projectors produce brighter images, and they are known for having excellent color saturation. In the end, you will be hard-pressed to notice a great difference between the two types of projection systems.

When shopping for a new projector, keep your particular needs in the forefront of your thoughts. As I mentioned above, it is really easy to lose yourself in the minutiae of each particular system. Connectivity is a definitely something to be mindful of. Make sure that you are able to connect all of your components, including your gaming system. Nothing beats playing Halo in real-life size! Contract ratio is another important factor; the higher the ratio, the better the picture will be.

The brightness of your projector is another thing to consider. Light output is measured in ANSI (American National Standards Institute) lumens. You will want to avoid a projector that produces anything shy of 1000 lumens. As you are likely aware, the projection resolution is extremely important. This refers to the number of pixels that can be displayed on the screen. Go for something that is no less than 1024×768, as this will allow you to fully appreciate the depth and quality of HDTV. In the end, you should buy the projector that is in line with your needs and your budget. Soprano’s is coming on right now! Time to go!

So you’ve finally decided to venture into the exciting world of home theater? Well one of the first steps in getting started is deciding on a room for your new system and preparing it for the optimal home theater experience. Preparing your room can be an expensive and time-consuming endeavor and for those interested in an ultra high-end system, this can even include building an entirely new room altogether. However this doesn’t have to be the case and is overkill for most of us. Instead, here are a few simple tips for taking an existing room or unused area of your house and tweaking it a bit so you can get the best home theater experience for you and your family.

Whether you’re converting an existing area like a basement or you’re using your current family room for your new setup, you’ll probably have to do some sort of room preparation before setting up your home theater. For those with a big budget, this could include custom equipment for automation, new material for the walls and ceilings and other structural changes. But for the “Regular Joe”, you can take a simpler approach and follow a few guidelines to improve the audio and video experience you’ll have while enjoying your new system.

Windows and home theater lighting

Obviously too many windows could cause lighting problems, especially if you’re using a projector as opposed to a television. Either way, try to avoid having your video display situated opposite a window. This will help to reduce or eliminate glare. Also, opaque drapes can work wonders for keeping excess light from entering the room.

Open floor plans affect sound quality

When choosing a room, it will ideally have as few entrances as possible…for instance, a room with a single window and door (or windows on just one wall). Preferably the room will have level ceilings that are relatively low also (as opposed to an open ceiling that’s level but extends up to the second floor or a vaulted ceiling). Those high ceilings are great for giving you a sense of openness in the room, but the extra space also keeps the sound from your new system from being confined in a tighter area. This effectively disperses the sounds and might require a more powerful system to compensate for that effect. Then again, it may not be an issue at all if you are satisfied with the sound, so take this as a general rule and something to be aware of, but let your ears be the judge.

Smooth floors or carpet—Which is best for your new room?

If you’re converting a basement, be sure to cover the floors, preferably with carpet. Smooth surfaces, like the concrete that might be in your basement, act as reflectors when sound waves hit them. Keep this in mind if you’re converting an existing room also, especially if that room has hardwood or tile floors, which have similar reflective properties. Too much reflection can degrade your home theater’s sound quality or possibly cause an echo.

By following these simple guidelines, you’ll be able to improve the audio and video experience from your new home theater room. And remember, in the end, it’s not the name brand of the equipment or how many bells and whistles they have that matters. The true test is how enjoyable your new system is for you and your family.