Results for headphones

Audio-Technica has announced the Sounds of the summer, a social media competition to find the nation’s favourite summer anthem.

Audio giant Audio-Technica has launched a social media quest to find the UK’s favourite summer track of all time. It is asking its fans and followers to tell the world on its Facebook page what is their favourite summer track and why. To help launch the online competition it has conducted a nationwide study into our musical preferences to find out how obsessed we are when it comes to our music. With singing at work and dancing in the street common place – we’ve certainly got some strange habits!

Almost everyone (96%) claimed they would rather give up films for a year over their music, with a further three quarters (73%) opting to ditch live sport, 37% ditching TV for music, and a dedicated third of people (34%) opting to ditch sex rather than going a year without music!

It also appears we like to express our love of music in public; three quarters of people (74%) admitting to spontaneously breaking into song while driving, a fifth 20% openly singing at work, 15% sing in the street and 11% have even danced in the street while listening to their iPod! Embarrassingly, almost all of us (90%) admit to having been caught doing one of these things!

Audio-Technica senior UK marketing manager Harvey Roberts said, “The UK is a nation with a long and distinguished history in producing world class music, so it’s no surprise to see such fanaticism towards music.

“The research shows that the majority of us actively listen to four-hours of music a day, which equates to more than 60 days a year. That is some serious listening time, and with a fifth of people preferring to use headphones, it makes sense to ensure you’ve got the very best equipment to make your experience as enjoyable as possible.”

The research was conducted as part of Audio-Technica’s ‘sounds of the summer’ campaign, where it is seeking the most popular ever ‘summer’ anthems via it’s Facebook page http://on.fb.me/mBPErZ. Five pairs of top of the range Audio-Tecnica headphones are up for grabs for the most popular suggestions.

The study also revealed that we like to listen to music in some unusual places, with 40% preferring to do it in bed, 27% in the shower, 11% while making love, and an obsessive 7% while asleep!

Audio-Technica also asked people how long they’d be prepared to queue to get tickets for their ‘ultimate’ music festival or summer show and despite the rise in internet bookings, a quarter would wait an hour and surprisingly one in six would be prepared to wait four-hours.

More information: Audio-Technica at Facebook

Funding for school music programs is disappearing nationwide, but there’s no shortage of people with a burning desire to sing or play an instrument. Recognizing a need for education, rehearsal, and recording facilities, microphone manufacturer Shure Incorporated is providing microphones and headphones to the growing list of Guitar Center Studios, as the music retailer expands its music education facilities in the U.S.

“Music education programs are disappearing from public schools, and individual lesson providers are challenged to deliver a broad offering of learning opportunities and tools,” says Tom Hemphill, Director of Guitar Center Studios. To counter this trend, Guitar Center Studios has taken the fundamental elements of music education—learning to play, connecting with peers, rehearsing together, and recording—and made them the cornerstones of a progressive learning pedagogy.

“Guitar Center Studios not only provides best-in-class music education, but a wide range of opportunities to apply that education,” Hemphill continues. “We serve as a community where musicians can learn, meet, rehearse, and record using professional equipment.” The facilities use a subscription model under which students can take advantage of any or all of these resources for one price.

In addition to providing music lessons and training in Pro Tools and Logic software, the program encourages musicians to get together, rehearse, and record themselves. Having access to professional-caliber equipment is a key component of this part of the program, and Shure has outfitted every Guitar Center Studios facility with SM58® handheld microphones, MX395 low-profile microphones and SRH240 professional headphones. “Shure has been a tireless supporter of what we’re doing, and we’re grateful,” says Hemphill. The microphones and headphones enable performances to be recorded easily, allowing musicians to review their performances and identify areas for improvement. “You can walk in, rehearse, and walk out with a CD that you can learn from,” says Hemphill.

“The Guitar Center brand is known and respected by musicians at every level, from beginners to working professionals,” says Abby Kaplan, Sales Director, Western U.S., at Shure Incorporated. “We’re proud to partner with Guitar Center Studios to help develop the next generation of performers.”

More information: Shure / Guitar Center Studios

Some interesting things I found recently:

# Hey You! What Song are you Listening to?

Asking random New Yorkers with headphones on what song they are listening to.

# STACKED by Royal Sapien – 300+ tracks mixed into one hour of electronic music soundtrack

# NAMM Oddities 2011

Barry Wood is back with another selection of interesting products showcased at the NAMM show.

Welcome to the 2011 edition of the NAMM Oddities …finally

This year the show went smoothly but due to a perfect storm created by of a pile of work (the paying variety), local politics, and the writing of my first now published book, the Oddities were nearly 4 months late.

There was no shortage of Oddities-worthy items at the show this year. Even though this is probably the last NAMM report to go online, I'm certain that there are a number of products that will see their press debut on these pages.

# Vinyl Poised to Make Further Gains; Time To Ask, “What Does it All Mean”?

At first, it seemed like it might be just a blip: amidst generally declining sales of physical music, down sharply from their 1990s boom, vinyl sales were trending up. The reversal started with a slight uptick in 2007 – already noticeable as the CD had begun its collapse. That slight uptick has turned into a small boom. From a tiny 300,000 units in US sales in 1993, the vinyl record is projected to do some 3.6 million units in sales.

# The Radiumphonic Workshop « Radium Audio Labs

Radium is inviting you to have a look behind the scenes at the Radiumphonic Workshop. In the video below we delve under the bonnet of Radium to have a look at what makes it all tick – the sound lab operated by the fine team at Radium. It demonstrates a rare glimpse of how we work, as well as showing off some of the machines, technology, people and creative approaches we use to manipulate sound!

ToneBoosters has released TB IsoneSurround, a 5.1 multi-channel surround sound loudspeaker setup including environment simulation.

TB IsoneSurround targets multimedia enthusiasts using headphones. It can be used on stereo content (simulating a virtual stereo loudspeaker setup) and 6-channel (5.1) multi-channel surround content (simulating a full surround experience). Besides binaural source simulation, the plugin also includes four different listening environments to optimally match the environment to the audio material.

TB IsoneSurround is the perfect extension for any multimedia player that supports VST plugins. Experience full surround-sound when watching movies using headphones.

TB IsoneSurround features

• Low-latency processing (511 samples).
• Support of all sampling rates from 44.1 to 192 kHz.
• Mastering-grade integrated peak limiter to prevent clipping artefacts.
• Four different virtual environments (Movie theater, home cinema, audiophile, live concert).
• Customizable distance.
• Based on the VST 2.4 specification to allow compatibility with virtually all host programs.

ToneBooster has also released updates for its current plugins:

• VU meter GUI fixes (peak values not always visible).
• Performance improvements for intel-based Macs.
• [XY Tool] Resolved bug of incorrect storage of linking and angle parameters.
• [Ferox] Bug fix resulting in clicking artefacts for Cubase 6 on Mac.

IsoneSurround for Windows and Mac (VST) is available as freeware.

More information: ToneBoosters

Numark has announced Red Wave headphones designed by DJ for DJs.

Red Wave headphones were designed with the entire DJ experience in mind. Their superior sound, eye-catching looks and comfortable design make RED WAVE headphones the clear choice of professional DJs.

Red Wave features

• High-quality full-range headphones designed for DJs.
• Swivel design allowing DJs the flexibility to monitor house audio and cue audition.
• Breathable protein-leather padding that remains comfortable during extended use.
• Large 50 mm driver, neodynium magnet and voice coil for optimal frequency response.
• Balanced detachable headphone cable with ¹/8″ adapter for use with MP3 players.
• Professional build and modern design matched with superior sound.
• Includes case to protect and store headphones, cable and adaptor.
• 1/4-inch connector with 1/8-inch adaptor included for use with virtually any DJ gear.

More information: Numark / Red Wave

Alesis has announced the DMPhones sound isolating headphones.

One of the benefits of electronic drumsets is the ability to practice quietly by using headphones. Having headphones that can accurately reproduce the high frequencies of cymbals, the deep thud of a kick drum sound and everything in between is essential.

The DMPhones are great sounding headphones designed for studio and electronic drummers. They employ a comfortable, closed–cup design for great isolation from outside noise so drummers won’t have to crank the volume up to 11. Drummers can pound away at their pads and still keep the volume at a healthy level.

DMPhones features

• Great-sounding headphones ideal for studio and electronic drummers.
• Comfortable, closed–cup, dual-ear design for great isolation from outside noise.
• Isolation enables performance and practice at lower sound levels for hearing safety.
• Adjustable headband fits virtually all head sizes.
• Sleek piano black finish and minimized size for visually unobtrusive appearance onstage.
• 1/8″ mini-plug with 1/4″ adapter for universal connectivity.

Alesis will unveil the new DMPhones at booth #6400 of the 2011 NAMM Show from January 13-16, Anaheim, CA.

More information: Alesis / DMPhones