In the world of digital audio compression there seems to be mountains of info and technical jargon surrounding all the various file formats and compression algorithms to convert your music.  Our aim with this guide is to offer solutions for converting your music collection and get it sounding great with your integrated audio systems.

What is a Compression Algorithm?

To simply put it, a compression algorithm is the software or method of compression that converts audio or video into file formats.  Compressing audio files reduces the amount of storage space necessary.

Okay, than what is the file format?

File formats are typically associated with media player software. For example “.mov” file is for QuickTime, a “.wmv” file is for Windows Media Player, and an Mp3 file is for….. you guessed it, an Mp3 player.

Compressed Audio Types

In digital audio there are two main categories of compression algorithms: lossy and lossless.

Lossy: Lossy compression algorithms significantly reduce the file size by crunching info that is considered “less-essential”.  The upshot of this loss in file size is a noticeable hit in audio quality.

Lossless:  Lossless compression algorithms s are able to compact the info without losing any information.   This method does reduce the file size, but not nearly as much as a lossy compression.

Converting Audio

While there are many options for converting audio, here are the free software packages that we recommend.

• iTunes
• Winamp

For its ease of use we generally recommend iTunes as it plays particularly nice with a SoundVision favorite, Apple TV.  Here is our guide to converting audio in iTunes.

Uncompressed Audio Conversion

If storage is not at a premium you can opt to convert your music to uncompressed formats such as WAV or AIFF. Converting to a WAV file will deliver the best sounding and most compatible conversions, at the expense of disk space.   Keep in mind with uncompressed conversions, a typical song under 4 minutes could get as high as 30MB in size.

1. Go to the edit menu and choose Preferences.

2. The Preferences pop-up menu will appear.  In the General tab, click on the Import Settings button.

3.  For Import Setting Select WAV Encoder in the drop-down menu , and in the Setting drop-down select Automatic.  Hit the OK button and you are all set to start importing your CDs at the best quality possible.

Lossless Audio Conversion

Here are our recommended settings for Apple Lossless Audio Compression (also known as ALAC).  This is a somewhat proprietary format, but is a great option if you are primarily using Apple or Sonos products as your media playback devices.

Follow steps 1-2 from above to get to the Import Settings Pop-up menu.

From the Import Settings menu choose Apple Lossless Encoder, and in the Setting drop-down select Automatic.  This setting will ensure that your digitized music will retain a high quality sound without sacrificing too much disc space.

Lossy Audio Conversion

For a more lossy, but broader range of compatibility, you can opt for Mp3 conversions.  The quality will be  lower than Apple Lossless, but you will save the most disk space  with Mp3 conversions.  It’s worth noting that iTunes has the ability to slightly modify the quality of Mp3 compression under the Setting drop-down.

Follow steps 1-2 from above to get to the Imoprt Settings Pop-up menu.

From the Import Settings menu MP3 Encoder, and in the Setting drop-down select Higher Quality (192 kbps).  This setting will ensure that your digitized music will not lose too much quality despite being a lossy compression.

If you have any questions, or care to share your advice feel free to contact us or drop us a note in the comment section.

Left: Traditional. Right: The TRUFIG difference.

Introducing TRUFIG—a revolutionary new flush-mounting technology developed by the engineers at Sonance, the inventors of the original in-wall speaker. TRUFIG takes ordinary protruding wall elements like Crestron touchpanels, Lutron lighting keypads, electrical outlets and even recessed lighting fixtures and turns them into flush-mounted pieces of architectural beauty. This new technology is turning heads the architectural and interior design committee, as TRUFIG recently received the Wallpaper* Magazine Design Award in the “Best Turn On” category.

To truly appreciate the TRUFIG difference, contact us today to experience the TRUFIG demo at our Novato showroom.

Fresh off the heels of the incredible growth of the Android mobile operating system, Google unveiled the new Google TV platform at last week’s Google I/O Conference in San Francisco. The new device is promising to merge the world of online content from portals like YouTube, Netflix and Hulu with what you already receive from cable or satellite services, and allows you to leverage the power of Google Search when looking for programming to watch.

Built on Google’s successful Android mobile operating system for smartphones and tablet/netbook computers, Google TV leverages technology from Adobe, Intel and Google’s Chrome browser to deliver engaging experiences to your living room. Sony has signed on with Google to make the first TVs with integrated Google TV technology, and Logitech will manufacture a set-top device to bring Google TV to displays without the technology built-in. Both devices will contain Intel Atom chips for processing power.

More Information

• Google TV: Everything You Ever Wanted to Know (Engadget)
• Google TV (Official Website)

Welcome to the first edition of Brian’s Corner, our new recurring feature here on the SoundVision Blog with SoundVision Operations and Project Manager Brian Stang.  Brian will be blogging about various topics facing the custom installation industry.—Ed.

It’s no secret that the custom installation industry, and the construction industry as a whole, has faced significant challenges during the recent global economic recession. Like many of you, those of us at SoundVision strongly believe that the worst of our economic troubles are behind us, and we are beginning to see signs of growth once again.

During this recession, we saw companies of all sizes forced to trim employees or choose to not fill vacant positions as a way of reducing headcount. While we were not completely exempt from the need to scale our own workforce to meet a decline in demand, we also took this time as an opportunity to ramp up our marketing activities. But as we headed into this year, demand for our services continued to decline. It was then that we made the difficult decision to furlough most of our field technicians and office staff, reducing them to a part-time or on-call basis.

Often times, difficult organizational changes like these result in a drop in employee morale, and in turn, the quality of work to suffers. In the case of SoundVision, however, the exact opposite is true. Our Employees realized early on that maintaining the high quality of work that originally set us apart from other custom integrators was one of the primary keys to successfully weathering the economic storm and returning to the amount of active projects we saw in the past. During this time, we continued to add to our portfolio of completed projects, and added new Clients who were just as enthusiastically satisfied with our work as others that came before. It was truly an inspiration to see our Employees rising up and meeting the challenge in a time of adversity.

Since then, SoundVision’s business has continued to ramp up as we’ve moved through the first half of 2010, and we have returned 100 percent of our Employees to full-time status. It just goes to show that SoundVision is here to stay, successfully weathering the economic storm through which we just passed, and setting ourselves up for the future as things turn around.

When I first studied architecture 20 years ago, we were taught that room layouts are designed around focal points. The two focal points we have designed around since the dawn of time are fireplaces and windows (for the views). This is because for thousands of years all there was to look at was the fireplace and the view.

When television started to enter the mainstream some 60 years ago, designers believed it was unsophisticated to design a space around a TV set. Many considered sitting down to watch TV was an unrefined use of idle time. In many finer homes, this line of thinking often caused TVs to be relegated to armoires where they could be closed away when not in use. As the medium has matured, the caliber and quantity of programming has increased to the point where the average American spends more than two hours a day watching TV.

At this point, I think it’s safe to assume that television is not a passing fad. The same will most likely hold true for that little thing known as the Internet as well. For the most part, Americans live around their media when they are at home. Rich or poor, large house or small, almost all people watch TV.

I have found that there are two kinds of people—those who admit that they watch TV, and those who say “…we don’t watch TV.” My experience in the industry has revealed that most people who say they “don’t watch TV” actually watch much more TV than they may have realized.

With that said, we are finally seeing the design community come to terms with the fact that television is here to stay. That does not mean that people want the huge TV of the 1990s, the huge speakers of the 1970s and a stack of electronics to be the focal point of their family room.

This is where SoundVision can help. Our role in the design process is to work with the client and/or designer to elegantly integrate the TV into a tasteful room design. We can recess the TV over a fireplace to maintain a traditional room layout, or conceal it behind motorized artwork so that it virtually disappears when not in use. We can install speakers in walls or ceiling to minimize the aesthetic impact. We can hide electronics in cabinetry or in other rooms so they are not in view. We can eliminate multiple remote controls and replace them with a singe remote that controls all devices and works through walls and doors.

The good news is that we can help create a blend of design and technology that allows our clients to enjoy the benefits of this cutting-edge entertainment, without having to live with the eyesore.

Avatar proved to be the highest-grossing motion picture release of all time, and when the initial Blu-ray Disc home release of Avatar went on sale yesterday, it came as no surprise that the blockbuster hit shattered previous first-day sales records with 1.5 million people taking the movie home to watch in all the high-def glory that is Blu-ray Disc.

But for those SoundVision clients with Samsung Blu-ray Disc players, heads up: we’ve received reports from Samsung that some models may require a firmware update before they can play the Avatar Blu-ray Disc. The reason? The new digital rights management (DRM) encryption on the Avatar disc, intended to thwart piracy and illegal duplication. The current Samsung Blu-ray Disc player models affected are the BD-C5500 and BD-C6500, as well as all older models of Samsung players.

If you device is connected to the Internet through a wired or wireless connection, chances are your player has prompted you to download and install the firmware at some point. If your player is not connected, you can download the firmware update by visiting the Samsung firmware website and downloading it there. Instructions will be posted there for installing the firmware on your player, and if you need assistance, please give us a call at (415) 456-7000.

With 3D technology dominating the conversation in both the consumer electronics industry as well as the electronic integration industry, it only makes sense that this year’s National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) Show would be dominated by talk of 3D technology as well. Held last week in Las Vegas, NAB Show is one of the world’s largest annual gatherings of professionals from across the broadcasting industry, including television and motion picture industries. Whereas other trade shows like the Consumer Electronics Show focused on 3D technology in the home, the 2010 NAB Show focused primarily on acquiring and distributing 3D content for broadcasters, which up until this point largely remained a glaring question mark. And just how there are competing and differing technologies for showing 3D content at home, the broadcasting industry has yet to decide on a single technology for shooting movies and TV shows in 3D.

The first technology uses a device known as a beam-splitter, which is essentially an angled two-way mirror allowing one camera to shoot images through the mirror, and another camera mounted on top to shoot images that are reflected off the mirror. This setup, shown here with two Red One cameras, is typically used for filming motion pictures in 3D, such as the mega-hit Avatar.

The second option is to mount two cameras side-by-side, which is typically used when shooting live programming like sports events in 3D. This image was taken during ESPN’s first-ever test 3D broadcast of the USC vs. Ohio State college football game last fall. While it works well for live 3D events, a special technician known as a stereographer looks ahead a few shots to ensure that the two cameras do not lose convergence—essentially going crosseyed—due to the distance between the two lenses. These cameras also present logistical challenges for broadcasters and venues, as they cannot be placed in the typical stadium camera locations.

Just introduced at this year’s Consumer Electronics Show and put on public display for the first time at the 2010 NAB Show is Panasonic’s new AVC-ULTRA3D camcorder, which features new split lens technology. This eliminates the need for two complete cameras to be placed side by side in a special rig and enables handheld shooting, making it more cost effective for broadcasters and filmmakers to produce 3D content.

Whenever we make a site visit for a new project, the first thing we do is talk with the prospective client in order to put together a “wish list.” Simply put, the wish list is a compilation of all the features the client is interested in. For example:

Family Room Media System with:

• Flat-panel TV mounted on the wall, on an articulating arm allowing the TV to pull out and swivel;
• Surround sound system with in-ceiling speakers for minimal visual impact;
• Sources include Cable TV, AM/FM radio, Blu-ray Disc player, CD player, iTunes music and streaming Netflix movies;
• Single remote control, making the system easy to use while allowing control through walls and doors;
• Equipment located out of view in remote location.

Whole-House Music System with speakers in these areas:

• Kitchen
• Living Room
• Dining Room
• Back Patio
• Master Bedroom
• Master Bathroom

Motorized Window Shades in:

• Family room — glare/UV protection
• Living room — privacy
• Dining room — privacy
• Master bedroom — blackout

Once we get an understanding of the wish list, our goal is to review options and various performance

levels for each system, so the client can determine what solutions are best for them.  As we nail down the scope of the project, we begin to consider which products are best suited for the application. We also estimate how much time it will take to wire and install the systems.  In this initial meeting we can narrow down the scope of the potential project and determine the budgets required to deliver the desired systems.

In many cases we end up with a gap between what a client wants, and what they have budgeted for. In these cases, it’s always important to keep in mind the four factors that drive budgets, including:

1. Features
2. Performance level
3. Aesthetics
4. Control/ease of use

Any increase or decrease in budget can always be associated with increasing or decreasing one of these factors.

1. Examples of eliminating Features to reduce costs:

• Eliminate the mount that allows the TV to pull out and swivel.
• Eliminate surround sound and do stereo sound (2 speakers instead of 5).
• Eliminate CD player and play CDs in DVD player.
• Eliminate outdoor speakers.
• Use manual shades instead of motorized shades.

1. Examples of lowering Performance to reduce costs:

• Use lower quality TV
• Use lower quality speakers and electronics.
• Use lower quality shades with louder motors.

1. Examples of sacrificing Aesthetics to reduce costs:

• Remove the TV wall mount and set the TV on a cabinet.
• Locate equipment in cabinet below TV.
• Leave components in view so they can be controlled by traditional remote controls.
• Reduce installation time by leaving wires exposed.
• Install speakers in locations that are easy to wire vs. locations that are aesthetically pleasing.
• Use paper type honeycomb window shades instead of fabric roller shades.

1. Examples of sacrificing Control (ease of use) to reduce costs:

• Use multiple remote controls instead of single universal remote control.
• Use manual shades instead of motorized shades.
• Control house music at central location instead of in each room.

While the above examples will be effective in reducing costs, they will also be effective in diminishing the desirability of the finished systems. Whether a client chooses to adjust the budget, or modify the wish list, our job is to make sure they understand the repercussions of the decisions they are making.  It is up to us to make sure that when the project is complete they do not find themselves saying “I wish I had…” or “If knew that, I would have…,” but are enthusiastically satisfied with their new system.

At the Consumer Electronics Show back in January, the major TV manufacturers made it clear: this year was going to be the year when three-dimensional technology came out of the movie theaters and into your living room. They called 3D “…the next big thing,” and were making the same claim that going from high definition TV to 3D is the same as going from standard definition to HD. Lofty claims for sure, especially when we all know the difference between HD and SD is so great. While the technology that makes 3D at home a possibility is indeed groundbreaking, it’s hard to escape the feeling that it’s also shrouded in an inordinate amount of hype.

SoundVision's opinion of the difference in overall experience between SDTV, HDTV and 3D TV.

It is our opinion as an organization that the technology behind 3D still has some significant maturing to do before it can become as widely adopted and essential as HD. The technology behind the 3D TV sets today is a vast improvement over the anaglyph method that has been used to reproduce both still and moving 3D images since the turn of the 20th Century, there still is a requirement to wear glasses in order to view 3D images. The glasses required by today’s 3D displays use active shutter technology, opening and closing the lens in front of each eye many times per second. The human eye cannot detect this motion, and the technique tricks our brain into seeing a 3D picture. This technique of reproducing 3D can also slightly sacrifice image quality by reducing the overall resolution of your TV.

As we talked about last week in our post about the new 3D flat-panel TV lineups from Panasonic and Samsung, with the upcoming 3D Blu-ray Disc and cable network launches, there is going to be demand from early adopters to integrate 3D technology into media systems. As always, SoundVision is here to help our clients navigate the 3D waters. Most high-performance plasma and LCD TVs will be “3D ready” in 2010, so it’s a very real possibility for anyone purchasing a new TV this year will be bringing this new technology home, and we’ll be here to help you get the most from it.

Do you have an opinion on the new 3D technology? Let us know in the comments!

As we first told you about during our Consumer Electronics Show wrap-up post back in January, 2010 is shaping up to be the “Year of 3D.” The mega-hit epic movie Avatar is due for home release on a 3D Blu-ray Disc version next month, which many experts believe will be the drive for many consumers to take the 3D plunge. Of course, upgrading to 3D will require the purchase of a 3D-capable Blu-ray Disc player and display device, and now Panasonic and Samsung have unleashed their new 3D-capable HDTVs and Blu-ray players on the world.

With Pioneer now completely out of the high-performance plasma HDTV market, Panasonic is clearly establishing itself (including hiring many Pioneer engineers and acquiring rights to the KURO technology) as the new point of reference for high-end displays. The company has emerged as a leader in the new 3D revolution, showing off its 153-inch behemoth of a 3D, 4K ultra-HD display at this year’s CES. Since few of us have the living room wall space (or the budget) to make a 153-inch TV a realistic option, Panasonic recently unveiled the VIERA VT20-series plasma HDTV and DMP-BT300 Blu-ray Disc Player. When these two components are paired with Panasonic’s Active Shutter 3D glasses, you’ll experience an immersive and engaging full HD, 3D experience right in the comfort and convenience of your own living room.

Not to be outdone, Samsung also recently took the wraps off of its 2010 HDTV lineup, which unsurprisingly also includes several 3D-capable models. One difference between Panasonic and Samsung’s 3D models are that Samsung’s lineup revolves around its popular LED edge-lit LCD display technology, whereas Panasonic has continued down the plasma route. First seen at this year’s CES, the ultra-thin Samsung UN55C7000delivers a stunning, full-HD (1080p) 3D image when combined with a Samsung 3D-capable Blu-ray Disc player and Samsung 3D glasses.

The 2010 models from both Panasonic and Samsung are just now starting to trickle out into the wild, so we’ll be seeing more as we get closer to summer.