Following on the heals of my blog "We Don't Need No Stinkin' OS", is a project to do just that: eliminate the OS. SqueakNOS is an aggressive project, to say the least. What makes someone think they can bypass years of operating system R&D?...

iZotope and Goldbaby are offering XRB Free, a set of 16 iDrum Kits and 74 Apple Loops that work in GarageBand. The free loops are part of a larger commercial product called XRB. If you like the free loops, they are available for purchase at iZotope's web store for a promotional price of $29 USD until July 23rd, 2006, when the price will return to $49 USD.

this (for me) has got to be the number one, top of the list, first and foremost, craziest, stupidest, and by FAR most annoying interactive audio issue in the wild and whacky world of ringtones. right now, there are *at*least* fifty (50!) different ringtone formats being sold to consumers on over 500 different models of cell phone. how did this...

Given my history working with established artists, I'm often asked by my clients to seek their participation in various endeavors involving either new technologies or new forms of distribution (or both). However working with artists is in itself an art -- and requires a certain delicacy, diplomacy, and an understanding of how they think & operate (which often as not...

For almost a century, Nikolay Rimsky-Korsakov's Principles of Orchestration has shown composers the secrets of arranging music for orchestral instruments. Thanks to Garritan's new Flash-based version, you can now see and hear the examples play back for free. About a year ago, composer Greg Moore recommended I check out the work sound designer Gary Garritan was doing, including his...

If you have at least seven of these traits, I'd say you're well on your way to having what it takes to be a podcaster. There might be one more I'd throw in as an afterthought...if you want to be a professional podcaster, you must be willing to constantly explain how you earn a living to your father-in-law.

Talk about happy coincidences: About the time my analog desk phone died last month, Skype made computer-to-telephone calling free. (Computer-to-computer Skype calls have always been free.) Because I'd bought the old phone specifically to work with a telephone tap, I started looking into ways to record Skype-based interviews. I found an easy and inexpensive solution called Ecamm Call Recorder. My...

More than a thousand years ago when I worked as a DJ at an album-oriented-rock (AOR) station, we relied on up-timers to keep us on track with our show clock and to monitor airtime. As a podcaster, I've been craving just such a tool. You can buy an expensive up-timer from a company like Broadcast Supply Worldwide. But if you're lucky enough to have a Mac, you can get a software version for free.

hello, peter drescher here, i am currently sound designer at danger, inc., makers of the hiptop wireless internet device (aka the T-Mobile Sidekick), and o'reilly has been kind (and brave) enough to let me speak my mind (unedited! holy crap, batman!!) on interactive audio technologies, with an emphasis on the mobile space ... oh, this should be interesting! while i...

Visionary architect Buckminster Fuller reportedly liked to jumpstart his creativity by grabbing the magazine at the top right corner of the newsstand rack, no matter what the subject was. I'm trying the same experiment this week by attending O'Reilly's decidedly non-musical Where 2.0 Conference. Where 2.0 is all about digital map-making. The stars here are the creators of Google Earth...