Articles written by Richard Mudhar

The Zoom H4n works well for the musician on a budget. It can record from its own mics, or interface to studio mics or mixer via XLR or mini jacks.

Dec 9, 2009 - Richard Mudhar

Headphone cables are very difficult to solder due to their special construction. Knowing the details makes it possible to replace the moulded plug in many cases.

Nov 24, 2009 - Richard Mudhar

FM radio has served well since the 1950s, but performance in portables is often poor. DAB addresses many of these issues, but cross-country standardisation is needed.

Nov 18, 2009 - Richard Mudhar

Gilded English walnuts make cheap and attractive Christmas decorations. They have been a popular home-made Christmas tradition since Victorian times.

Nov 1, 2009 - Richard Mudhar

Noise weighting compensates for the fact that the human ear does not have a flat frequency response. The variation in noise weighting curves can be confusing.

Oct 28, 2009 - Richard Mudhar

Using sound is easier with advances in technology like digital MP3 players, and cueing the audio is easier with these tips to make the sound operator's job simpler.

Oct 21, 2009 - Richard Mudhar

Realising the extra sound quality from high definition audio files sampled at more than CD quality needs more than just a PC with an audio interface card.

Oct 14, 2009 - Richard Mudhar

Compressed audio downloads means poorer audio for quality conscious listeners. Here are some sites selling downloads of lossless compressed CD quality or better audio.

Oct 13, 2009 - Richard Mudhar

Saxon noblewoman Richeldis de Faverches had a vision of recreating the house where Jesus's birth was announced by Gabriel. Thus was the legend of Walsingham born.

Sep 28, 2009 - Richard Mudhar

Candles have improved indoor ambiances for years, however some studies show that it is worth moderating the use of some types due to emissions of potential carcinogens.

Sep 27, 2009 - Richard Mudhar

Guitar plugs get a lot of wear and tear on the road, so musicians will find it worth knowing how to repair this common audio connection.

Sep 24, 2009 - Richard Mudhar

Carols sung by the legendary King's College Choir are an annual Christmas feature, the fan-vaulted Chapel towers high in the heart of the University city of Cambridge.

Sep 22, 2009 - Richard Mudhar

In the late Autumn and Winter, millions of starlings roost in the reedbeds at Westhay Nature Reserve near Glastonbury. The wildlife spectacle is well worth a visit.

Sep 21, 2009 - Richard Mudhar

Glastonbury is the mystical heart of England and legendary birthplace of King Arthur. This heritage is reflected in lovely range of New Age, Wiccan and Mystical shops.

Sep 21, 2009 - Richard Mudhar

First proposed by US economist James Tobin in 1972, the aim of the Tobin tax is to damp speculative trades without interfering with normal trading in a global economy.

Sep 20, 2009 - Richard Mudhar

The workplace is one of the places in the modern world where potential romantic partners can size each other up over a period of time before making a move.

Sep 19, 2009 - Richard Mudhar

Cheap electret capsules like the WM61A can perform well with a battery box. This article describes how to power them with P48 phantom power balanced inputs instead.

Sep 19, 2009 - Richard Mudhar

Billed as an "Employee Handbook for Romance on the Job", this book takes a light-hearted look at a dating scene that many people overlook in their search for a partner.

Sep 19, 2009 - Richard Mudhar

10:10 is a campaign to cut 10% of the UK's emissions in the year 2010, instigated by Franny Armstrong, director of the film The Age of Stupid.

Sep 1, 2009 - Richard Mudhar

The Plantronics C65 DECT wireless headset brings hands free flexibility to a fixed line phone just like a Bluetooth headset does for a mobile.

Aug 30, 2009 - Richard Mudhar

The Grandstream GXP-2000 is a versatile office VOIP phone with speakerphone and headset capability and capacity for four lines.

Aug 29, 2009 - Richard Mudhar

Christchurch Park in Ipswich offers 70 acres of rolling parkland with many veteran trees and enough room places for fun for kids as well as peace and quiet for adults.

Aug 26, 2009 - Richard Mudhar

Browse a range of New Age, spiritual, occult and mystical books and supplies in these specialist London bookshops, located a short walk from each other.

Aug 24, 2009 - Richard Mudhar

Foyles of London is a real bricks and mortar bookstore which carries a massive stock. It is a browser's paradise, where buyers can see if a book really suits the reader.

Aug 24, 2009 - Richard Mudhar

It is important to wire an Ethernet plug using the correct color code. There are two possible color codes, T568A and T568B. Use either, but usage must be consistent.

Aug 20, 2009 - Richard Mudhar

Recorder plug-in-power is poorly specified and often too low to power the microphone properly on loud sounds leading to distortion on sounds like rock concerts.

Aug 19, 2009 - Richard Mudhar

Computers connected to the internet via ADSL phone lines can be damaged by lightning strikes on the phone wire. Connect to the modem via WiFi to prevent damage.

Aug 14, 2009 - Richard Mudhar

Some credit cards offer a facility to transfer a balance from another card at 0% interest for a fixed period. These can save money but borrowers need to watch for traps.

Aug 11, 2009 - Richard Mudhar

Some credit cards offer an introductory 0% purchase deal. This can help budgets if used wisely, but there are pitfalls for the unwary which can make it a costly mistake.

Aug 10, 2009 - Richard Mudhar

There has to be something special about the CD555 retailing at about £12000 (US$20000) where a basic CD player is to be had for £12 at Tesco.

Aug 8, 2009 - Richard Mudhar

Spooky sounds can be really scary in the dark. The audio hardware is cheap and freely available, so add a new dimension to Halloween with scary sound effects.

Aug 8, 2009 - Richard Mudhar

Colin Wilson has studied the peak experience ever since the publication of The Outsider, Super Consciousness distills a lifetime of knowledge on how to achieve it.

Aug 7, 2009 - Richard Mudhar

Countless personal finance books have been written, and yet the essential message boils down to a few evergreen principles. Know these, and save money on PF books too!

Jul 30, 2009 - Richard Mudhar

Naim Audio's DAC is a flexible interface capable of excellent CD reproduction and can also make the best of digital files on an iPod and high-resolution audio downloads.

Jul 26, 2009 - Richard Mudhar

Naim Audio have produced a good big loudspeaker in the Ovator S-600 model. The high-frequency driver covers six octaves from voice up to beyond human hearing.

Jul 26, 2009 - Richard Mudhar

One of the simplest steps a household can make to save fuel is knowing how far they can drive for a dollar, pound or euro. Knowing this can change driving patterns.

Jul 5, 2009 - Richard Mudhar

Hi-Fi enthusiasts can save money and boost quality by omitting a traditional pre-amplifier, feeding the CD player or Ipod to their power amp via a passive volume control.

Jun 27, 2009 - Richard Mudhar

Good audio techniques to make a clear recording that is easy to listen to rather than the low-fi muddy sound and background noise often found in audio on web sites.

Jun 15, 2009 - Richard Mudhar

Most mixers and audio inputs are single-channel 3-pin XLR sockets. A simple Y cable breaks out one stereo XLR 5 pin socket to two 3-pin plugs.

Jun 5, 2009 - Richard Mudhar

Wiring balanced audio 3-pin XLR connectors is straightforward but it is important to get it right, else phase errors may occur.

Jun 4, 2009 - Richard Mudhar

Eye, with its castle mound and half-timbered architecture is a compact size well suited to exploring by foot or bicycle.

May 31, 2009 - Richard Mudhar

The Triangular Lodge takes the viewer aback - the power of three is embodied in every angle and dimension of this physical expression of the Trinity and Tresham's faith.

May 30, 2009 - Richard Mudhar

Separates are still the way to get the best sound beyond the budget market, but contrary to popular belief it is not just the loudspeakers that determine audio quality.

May 28, 2009 - Richard Mudhar

Video conferencing can reduces costs and make better use of people's time but getting it to work between companies is not always straightforward.

May 28, 2009 - Richard Mudhar

Birdwatching demands a lot of optical equipment, and the need to take them out into the field means weight is an issue for many people too.

May 27, 2009 - Richard Mudhar

Seeing other people at a distance with video conferencing can be a better experience than regular phone conferences, but it depends on getting some basic details right.

May 26, 2009 - Richard Mudhar

Ipswich is a one of England's earliest continuously settled towns, with a long history from the Anglo-Saxon foundation through to modern times.

May 26, 2009 - Richard Mudhar

Network music players make it easy to play any CD stored on the music server hard disc. No more lost CDs - like an Ipod for the home stereo.

May 24, 2009 - Richard Mudhar

It is the human relationships and how life is lived that makes for happiness and a life well lived, not material purchases.

May 23, 2009 - Richard Mudhar

The Edirol R09HR is a small handheld all-in-one recorder and stereo microphone that records onto SD cards with no moving parts.

May 20, 2009 - Richard Mudhar

The Museum of East Anglican Life is a family-friendly attraction covering 78 acres. The museum shows how people lived in the primarily rural region of East Anglia.

May 18, 2009 - Richard Mudhar

Many consumer audio items offer the choice of Toslink optical cables or coaxial cable digital interconnects. For short (1.5m) runs they are comparable for most uses.

May 18, 2009 - Richard Mudhar

Vintage European audio equipment does not always interface well with modern gear, understanding the differences helps match it to give of its best.

May 6, 2009 - Richard Mudhar

These dykes show the impressive capabilities of the Saxons, who often get a bad press with their rule being considered the Dark Ages in Britain

May 5, 2009 - Richard Mudhar

Microphones vary in how they respond to sound coming form different directions. Using the right pickup pattern for the subject gets better results.

May 5, 2009 - Richard Mudhar

The story of Peter Caddy making the sandy dunes of Findhorn bloom is remarkable, both in what he achieved and how he describes it was done.

May 5, 2009 - Richard Mudhar

This well preserved castle was built in 1165 to keep the rebellious Earl of Suffolk, Hugh Bigod, in check.

May 4, 2009 - Richard Mudhar

The Standing Stones of Callanish are a powerful and evocative sight, visible from a distance on a piece of raised ground near to the sea.

May 4, 2009 - Richard Mudhar

Peregrine Falcons (Falco peregrinus) have nested at a disused quarry in Huntly for several years. See them easily at this Forestry Commission family attraction.

May 4, 2009 - Richard Mudhar

Unlike the more common windmill, a Tide Mill uses the rise and fall of sea level for power. The power source is more reliable than wind, though hours are not fixed.

May 4, 2009 - Richard Mudhar

Clava Cairns is a peaceful ancient setting of prehistoric passage graves and standing stones near Inverness.

May 3, 2009 - Richard Mudhar

MIDI cables are readily available in standard lengths, but for short lengths and rack wiring it sometimes makes sense to wire up bespoke lengths on-site.

May 3, 2009 - Richard Mudhar

The enigmatic Picts left many carved symbol stones in the early years AD. This is one of the later types, easily viewed in Edderton churchyard.

May 2, 2009 - Richard Mudhar

The National Trust for Scotland opened a new visitor centre at Culloden in 2008, showing the big picture behind this decisive last hand-to-hand battle on British soil.

May 1, 2009 - Richard Mudhar

Castlerigg is the most visited stone circle in Cumbria, a region which is host to a number of other large prehistoric stone circles.

Apr 30, 2009 - Richard Mudhar

This enigmatic carved Pictish symbol stone shows scenes from an unknown epic battle.

Apr 29, 2009 - Richard Mudhar

Visit this remarkable limestone cave system, which has been inhabited sporadically from prehistoric times.

Apr 29, 2009 - Richard Mudhar

Plug-in-power was introduced in the 1990s with MiniDisc, but poorly matched microphones and recorders can deliver poor results, particularly with loud sounds like music.

Apr 28, 2009 - Richard Mudhar

A microphone in the open makes a visual statement, not always ideal. Binaural mics look just like in-ear headphones, reducing impact for field and urban recording.

Apr 26, 2009 - Richard Mudhar

Mastering audio is an art, and Bob Katz has been doing it since 1971. In this book he shares his knowledge for anyone wanting to get the best sound for their music.

Apr 20, 2009 - Richard Mudhar

Many people own analog(ue) audio media from many years ago. Here is how to copy these cheaply to CD, preserving them for the future or getting them into iTunes.

Mar 31, 2009 - Richard Mudhar

The jack plug (phone jack in US parlance) is a very common audio connector, but is wired in several different ways. Identify the differences to get a good connection.

Mar 30, 2009 - Richard Mudhar

There are several ways of using two or more microphones to record stereo in the field, each with their different strengths and weaknesses.

Mar 24, 2009 - Richard Mudhar

Recording sound at home often sounds boomy and coloured because of room acoustics. These can be improved with small changes.

Mar 20, 2009 - Richard Mudhar

Use a sonic key finder to keep tabs on errant keys, wallets or other small items that are essential to daily life but are so easy to lose from one day to the next.

Mar 19, 2009 - Richard Mudhar

Cooking smarter in an all-electric kitchen saves electricity and reduces costs, as heating uses a lot of energy.

Mar 17, 2009 - Richard Mudhar

Measuring the power drain of equipment used in the home is the start to prioritising what needs using less, or what appliances should be switched off when not in use.

Mar 17, 2009 - Richard Mudhar

The best coffee starts with freshly ground coffee beans, but the grinding process need to be even for the best results.

Mar 16, 2009 - Richard Mudhar

Bury St Edmunds Abbey is where Cardinal Langton and the barons met in 1214 to swear an oath to make King John accept the conditions of the Magna Carta.

Mar 15, 2009 - Richard Mudhar

Lavenham is a well preserved medieval wool town, famed for its blue broadcloth between the 14th &16th centuries, accommodating many antique shops and tea rooms.

Mar 15, 2009 - Richard Mudhar

Pure Perfect Sound Forever was promised with CD, but misguided mastering is destroying the sound of CDs for short-term commercial gain at the expense of listenability.

Mar 14, 2009 - Richard Mudhar

Britain is digitising its broadcast TV network. This article compares several different ways of receiving broadcast TV to help viewers choose the right method.

Mar 14, 2009 - Richard Mudhar

With interest rates falling borrowers may want to bail out of fixed-rate deals by paying an exit penalty. Check with your lender that you can take another deal from them.

Mar 13, 2009 - Richard Mudhar

Measuring power consumption in the home using a real-time power monitor is the start to making real savings on electricity bills.

Mar 13, 2009 - Richard Mudhar

Pure Digital's Flip camcorder is the size of a mobile phone but delivers surprising quality for around US$150 , even in low light typically encountered indoors.

Mar 10, 2009 - Richard Mudhar

Microphones used in wildife sound recording have more in common with the types used for outside broadcast and film/TV sound rather than music recording.

Mar 6, 2009 - Richard Mudhar

Birds need all the help they can get when raising young, even in a nest box. Here is a selection of tips for success.

Feb 26, 2009 - Richard Mudhar

The tiny Panasonic WM61electret microphone has a response extending to around 60kHz. Some manufacuturers of bat detectors use these capsule for low cost bat detectors.

Feb 18, 2009 - Richard Mudhar

Perelandra, the author's 45-acre private nature reserve, embodies her unique take on working in balance with elemental nature beings.

Feb 11, 2009 - Richard Mudhar

Audio Editing software prices range from free to thousands of dollars. Audacity is a free open-source audio editing package that runs on Windows, Macs and Linux.

Feb 10, 2009 - Richard Mudhar

Sound recordists and Podcasters looking for a low cost recording solution can use the computer they already have to record their programmes.

Jan 16, 2009 - Richard Mudhar

Basic soldering skills help musicians and road crew to make minor repairs on site to keep the show on the road.

Jan 15, 2009 - Richard Mudhar

Baden-Baden is at the northern end of the Black Forest, and is the site of the famous thermal waters for which the town has been known since Roman Times.

Jan 15, 2009 - Richard Mudhar

Alcohol duty in Britain is much higher than it is in France, so British visitors to France can often buy drinks cheaper than at home.

Nov 18, 2008 - Richard Mudhar

The stunning carvings inside Rosslyn chapel are worth seeing on their own merit, and readers of the Da Vinci Code will get an extra frisson as they recognise the site.

Nov 4, 2008 - Richard Mudhar

Glastonbury Abbey has a good claim to be one of the oldest Christian sites in England, the first church probably built here in AD63.

Nov 2, 2008 - Richard Mudhar

Glastonbury is an interesting town with a strong New-Age/Alternative living feel to it, and the pilgrims have been coming to the Abbey and Tor for generations.

Nov 1, 2008 - Richard Mudhar

Glastonbury Tor is the highest point in the Isle of Avalon, a place of ancient mysticism and linked with the legend of King Arthur.

Oct 31, 2008 - Richard Mudhar

Drink the Chalybeate Waters of the Chalice Well and absorb the Peace and Restfulness of this Spiritual Sanctuary.

Oct 31, 2008 - Richard Mudhar

Three TV standards are used worldwide for standard definition TV, making tapes from Europe unplayable in America and vice versa.

Oct 23, 2008 - Richard Mudhar