June 2009

dekePod
dekePod 018: Photoshop and the Andy Warhol Silkscreen Effect
by Deke McClelland
June 11, 2009

Have you ever wanted to create an authentic looking Andy Warhol silkscreen? One of the most influential artists of the 20th century, Warhol was known for his avant-garde paintings and screenprintings. Remember Warhol’s garishly colored celebrity images of Marilyn Monroe, Elizabeth Taylor, or Mao Zedong? In the studio he called The Factory, Warhol took an assembly-line approach to his high-contrast, silkscreens and produced art as a mass consumable, like a t-shirt or a pack of gum. It’s not surprising that his art is still popular today, and there are lots of one-click Warhol solutions. But if you want the real thing, join Deke McClelland in the final episode of this dekePod series, as he dissects Warhol’s process, and shows you how to use Photoshop to render your favorite portrait in bona-fide Warhol magnificence.

May 2009

dekePod
dekePod 017: Photoshop and the Visual Communications Makeover
by Deke McClelland
May 28, 2009

Signs are our friends. They help us observe the rules when we actually need to know the rules. We don’t all speak English, and tourism is a huge industry, so signs need to be language-independent. Which is why a vocabulary of immediately identifiable symbols is essential to every working artist and designer. So if symbols are so important, why are most such an indecipherable mess? Computer icons! Laundry instructions! Or Deke’s favorite: What you shouldn’t throw into an airplane toilet! Learn what works and what doesn’t in this laugh-out-loud episode of dekePod.

dekePod
dekePod 016: Photoshopping the Great Masters
by Deke McClelland
May 14, 2009

They say you can’t be too rich or too thin. So how about getting rich by making others thin? Plenty of experienced retouchers make small but enviable fortunes shaving body fat off already lithe models. But rather than showing you a present-day example--honestly, how many underfed waifs do we need to see made skinnier?--Deke takes us back to a time when ideas of beauty were very different: the High Renaissance. In those times of mean circumstances and manual labor, body fat was a thing to be envied. How best to take a well-fed model rendered by the likes of Raphael and make her look like a modern work of art?

April 2009

dekePod
dekePod 015: Photoshop and the Lost Undersea Channel
by Deke McClelland
April 30, 2009

The ocean is a different world. Where else can you cavort with colorful animals a thousand feet or more above the Earth’s surface? But the romance of the sea comes at a price. Just as the watery depths rob our lungs of air, they rob our eyes of color. It’s not uncommon for an underwater photo to lack any information in the Red channel. Which is where coral, clown fish, and our very own skin tones live. Fortunately, Deke knows how to summon a Red channel back from the dead. Watch this dekePod and learn how to create underwater images that will satisfy your inner Jacques Cousteau.

dekePod
dekePod 014: Photoshop vs. Adobe Bridge—Beware the Cache, the Cache Must Die!
by Deke McClelland
April 16, 2009

If you use Photoshop, then you probably browse your images with Adobe’s Bridge, which shows you thumbnails of your files. Good news: The Bridge lets you preview images without going to the trouble of opening them. Bad news: Those previews result in large cache files that eat up your hard drive. Worse yet, they permit others to track what you’ve been looking at. Even if you’ve long since destroyed the original file, the thumbnail persists! Learn how to protect yourself—and maybe even save your job.

dekePod
dekePod Episode 013: The Mating Habits of the Pen Tool
by Deke McClelland
April 02, 2009

Adobe's landmark pen tool defined an industry. But to the uninitiated, its reliance on anchor points and control handles makes it as approachable as first-year algebra. Until you see it's nothing more than a mating ritual: The points are boys and the handles are girls. Once you get that, it all falls into place.

March 2009

dekePod
dekePod Episode 012: The Droplet Song (A Love Song to a Lost Feature in Photoshop)
by Deke McClelland
March 19, 2009

How best to encourage people to use an obscure but super-useful Photoshop feature? Rhyme, rhythm, and romance. Hence a music video that will make all your automation dreams come true. Give Deke five minutes of your time and he’ll set your world on fire.

January 2009

Deke McClelland's Video Tour of the Channels Palette
by Colleen Wheeler
January 15, 2009

Photoshop masking isn't easy, in fact, the elusive alpha channel has been described as the least understood feature in Photoshop's enormous arsenal. In this video from Lesson 1 of Photoshop CS4 Channels & Mask One-on-One, Photoshop Guru Deke McClelland gives you a tour of the Channels palette in Photoshop. This handy palette is truly Command Central for your Photoshop masking operations.

The End Is Near for Battlestar Galactica
by Susan Boyer
January 14, 2009

It’s the best of times and the worst of times for fans of Battlestar Galactica. The second half of the season premieres on Friday, January 16 on SCI FI Channel (yay!), but it’s the series’ final season (awww). VFX Supervisor Gary Hutzel hints at what’s in store for the explosive finale, plus takes us behind the scenes of the stunning Cylon versus Pegasus sequence from Battle Galactica: Razor and the spectacular “continuous shot” introducing Cylon U-87 from the upcoming Caprica—as well as reveals a few juicy details about what may be Ron D. Moore’s "lost" series, Virtuality.

Rick Walker: The Joy of Live Looping
by Larry the O
January 08, 2009

Rick "Loop.pooL" Walker's shows veer from hypnotic to energizing to amusing in the space of a single minute. Follow along as he whips DayGlo orange plastic, bar glasses, vibrators, and digital electronics into a swirling cloud of sound. Includes nine MP3s.

December 2008

Inside Digital Media Podcast Series Photography
Rick Sammon on Portrait Photography
by Derrick Story
December 23, 2008

There's more to good portrait photography than just clicking the shutter. In this video presentation from Photo Plus Expo, expert travel photographer Rick Sammon demonstrates some of his favorite techniques for capturing the essence of his subjects. Many of these tips can be found in his latest book, Face to Face: Rick Sammon's Complete Guide to Photographing People. Not only will you learn about the physics of photography, but also the human side of making great images.

Review: Submersible Music DrumCore 2.5
by Tim Tully
December 11, 2008

One of the biggest hassles in the home studio has always been recording drums and percussion. DrumCore, the database of celebrity grooves you play like an instrument, aims to make building better drum tracks drag-and-drop simple. Is it the breakthrough songwriters have been waiting for? Producer Tim Tully digs deep.

dekePod
dekePod Episode 011: Giving It Up For the Family
by Deke McClelland
December 09, 2008

Creative professionals are routinely roped into frivolous art projects for their families. You don't want to spend much time on them because who wants to do more of what you already do all day? But you don't want to do a lousy job because your cred's at stake. Oh and because, sure, you care about your family. In this episode of dekePod, Deke shows you how to create a spectacular birthday party invitation, with little effort, using a combination of found art and Photoshop.

Inside Digital Media Podcast Series Photography
Snapshots and TAT in ACR 5.2: Photoshop CS4 Companion for Photographers Screencast 5
by Derrick Story
December 03, 2008

Adobe Camera Raw 5.2 features a handful of terrific new tools, including Snapshots and the Targeted Adjustment Tool. In this screencast designed to supplement The Photoshop CS4 Companion for Photographers, Derrick shows you how to use these great new components.

November 2008

Review: TASCAM GT-R1 Digital Guitar Recorder
by Mark Nelson
November 26, 2008

The palm-size GT-R1 combines a 24-bit stereo WAV recorder with guitar effects, drum patterns, infinite overdubbing, and even a looper for practicing. "What we have here," says impressed reviewer Mark Nelson, "is a recorder that will make you a better musician."

"Hancock" Wreaks Havoc, On and Off-Screen
by Susan Boyer
November 24, 2008

Like its misanthropic superhero, director Peter Berg created unintended havoc off the set of Hancock, as Sony Pictures Imageworks, the company that created the film's visual effects, scrambled to keep up with his run-and-gun style. Read about how the VFX team augmented the prison scene by creating a CG inmate whose head gets stuck in another inmate's, um, bum, and all about the spectacular SUV chase sequence that was largely practical. And digital effects supervisor, Ken Hahn, talks about the coming revolution in 3D delivery.

dekePod
dekePod Episode 010: The Instant Liquid Diet
by Deke McClelland
November 19, 2008

Ah, the holiday season, a time of expansion. Great physical expansion. Fatty, high-calories food is everywhere you turn. And so we grow. But not this year. In some distant future, when you review Thanksgiving 2008 in your photo album, you’ll look back on it as the first of many years that you actually lost weight. "Thank you dekePod," you'll say. Because in this episode, Deke teaches you how to transform fat into fit using the Liquify command—and with smooth, stretch mark-free results.

A Look Inside the Aperture Nature Photography Workshop
by Derrick Story
November 18, 2008

While at PhotoPlus Expo in NY, Derrick Story sat down with Rob Trueman and Cathy Chung to talk about their experiences with the Fall 2008 Aperture Nature Photography Workshop in the Grand Teton National Park. Rob and Cathy were two of the four contest winners who earned a trip to the Grand Tetons where they received one-on-one instruction. During this discussion they talk about what they learned and how they are applying that knowledge now.

Fry the Cheerleader and Other Imperatives of the "Heroes" VFX Team
by Susan Boyer
November 17, 2008

In this article, we take a look at how the Heroes VFX team fried Hayden Panettierre to a crisp, shattered a human Popsicle®, and tore Tokyo in two using one of the industry’s best proprietary content management systems.

Review: Native Instruments Kore 2 Music Workstation
by Jochen Wolters
November 13, 2008

NI has fused six of its high-end synths and effects into a single "greatest hits" instrument and piled on an elegant hardware control surface. Kore 2 delivers the full sound of the component instruments in a streamlined package at a friendly price. Jochen Wolters dives deep and comes away impressed.

Inside Digital Media Podcast Series Photography
Batch Processing in ACR: Photoshop CS4 Companion for Photographers Screencast 4
by Derrick Story
November 12, 2008

Not only is Adobe Camera Raw terrific for processing individual files, you can batch process with it too. In this screencast, based on Chapter 4 of The Photoshop CS4 Companion for Photographers, Derrick shows you how ACR makes easy work of multiple images.

Raise up Your Goblet of Rock to the Makers of Guitar Hero World Tour
by Susan Boyer
November 07, 2008

In less than five years, Guitar Hero has become not only one of the most successful video games of all time but also a pop cultural phenomenon, immortalized on everything from South Park to Gossip Girl (Serena shreds "Free Bird"). Read all about how the game makers create convincing avatars of your favorite rockers, and scrapped a remarkably inaccurate scripting program for musical notation they dubbed "Murder Face."

dekePod
dekePod Episode 009: Sixties Space Siren
by Deke McClelland
November 05, 2008

If you’ve seen an episode of the original Star Trek, you’re no doubt familiar with the show’s main character, Captain Kirk, and his eternal blurry-eyed fascination with women. Every time he came in sight of a love interest, she appeared to him in diffused focus. In this episode of dekePod, Deke shows how you can achieve a nearly identical effect in Photoshop with such flattering results that you yourself could win the captain’s affections.

ActionScript 3.0 Cookbook: Chapter 1: ActionScript Basics
by Joey Lott, Keith Peters, Darron Schall
November 05, 2008

Excerpt from ActionScript 3.0 Cookbook: Chapter 1. This chapter addresses the frequent tasks and problems that relate to core ActionScript knowledge. Whether you are a beginner or master—or somewhere in between—these recipes help you handle situations that arise in every ActionScript project.

ActionScript 3.0 Cookbook: Chapter 3, Runtime Environment
by Joey Lott, Keith Peters, Darron Schall
November 05, 2008

Excerpt from Action Script 3.0 Cookbook: Chapter 3. This chapter’s subject matter examines the ability to work with the context menu with more detail and precision than was allowed in previous versions of the Flash player.

ActionScript 3.0 Cookbook: Chapter 6, Display List
by Joey Lott, Keith Peters, Darron Schall
November 05, 2008

Excerpt from ActionScript 3.0 Cookbook: Chapter 6. This chapter explains using display objects to display visual data on the screen.

ActionScript 3.0 Cookbook: Chapter 2, Custom Classes
by Joey Lott, Keith Peters, Darron Schall
November 05, 2008

Excerpt from Action Script 3.0 Cookbook: Chapter 2. Classes are absolutely essential to ActionScript 3.0. This is truer in ActionScript 3.0 than in any earlier release of the language. ActionScript 3.0 shifts the core focus of ActionScript so that the basic building block is that of the class. If you are using ActionScript 3.0 with Flex, and the introduction of the minor exception of code being placed within <mx:Script> tags, all ActionScript code must appear within a class. This chapter discusses the fundamentals of writing custom classes in ActionScript 3.0.

ActionScript 3.0 Cookbook: Chapter 5, Arrays
by Joey Lott, Keith Peters, Darron Schall
November 05, 2008

Excerpt from ActionScript 3.0 Cookbook: Chapter 5, Arrays. This chapter discusses working with indexed collections of data called arrays: from adding and removing elements to sorting.

Flex 3 Cookbook: Chapter 8, Images, Bitmaps, Videos, Sounds
by Joshua Noble, Todd Anderson
November 05, 2008

Excerpt from Flex 3 Cookbook: Chapter 8. Images, bitmaps, videos, and sounds is a mouthful and a far wider range of topics than could be adequately covered in a single chapter, so this one concentrates on answering the most common questions. As Flash becomes the primary method of delivering video over the Internet and the use of the Flex Framework in creating photo and MP3 applications increases, understanding how to work with all of these elements becomes more and more important.

Flex 3 Cookbook: Chapter 20, Browser Communication
by Joshua Noble, Todd Anderson
November 05, 2008

This highly practical book contains more than 300 proven recipes for developing interactive Rich Internet Applications and Web 2.0 sites. Now available in the Digital Media Help Center, an excerpt from Flex 3 Cookbook: Chapter 20, Browser Communication. This chapter focuses on the functionality contained within the core Flex Framework, though there are other tools to assist with integration of the browser and the Flash Player—the Adobe Flex Ajax Bridge (FABridge), and Joe Berkovitz's UrlKit among them.

Flex 3 Cookbook: Chapter 21, Compiling and Debugging
by Joshua Noble, Todd Anderson
November 05, 2008

This highly practical book contains more than 300 proven recipes for developing interactive Rich Internet Applications and Web 2.0 sites. Now available in the Digital Media Help Center, an excerpt from Flex 3 Cookbook: Chapter 21, Compiling and Debugging. Compiling Flex applications is most often done through Flex Builder or through invoking the MXML compiler (mxmlc) on the command line, but there are many other tools that let you compile an application, move files, or invoke applications. Debugging in Flex is done through the debug version of the Flash Player, which enables you to see the results of trace statements. This chapter examines compiling and debugging in depth.

Learning ActionScript 3.0: Chapter 1, ActionScript Overview
by Rich Shupe, Zevan Rosser
November 05, 2008

Learning ActionScript 3.0 gives you a solid foundation in the Flash language and demonstrates how you can use it for practical, everyday projects. Now available in the Digital Media Help Center, an excerpt from Learning ActionScript 3.0: Chapter 1, ActionScript Overview. While you likely know what ActionScript is and are eager to begin working with the new version, a brief overview of its development will give you some insight into its use—particularly related to Flash Player and how it handles different versions of ActionScript. This brief introductory chapter will give you a quick look at where ActionScript 3.0 fits into your workflow.

Learning ActionScript 3.0: Chapter 4, The Display List
by Rich Shupe, Zevan Rosser
November 05, 2008

Learning ActionScript 3.0 gives you a solid foundation in the Flash language and demonstrates how you can use it for practical, everyday projects. Now available in the Digital Media Help Center, an excerpt from Learning ActionScript 3.0: Chapter 4, The Display List. ActionScript 3.0 brings with it an entirely new way of handling visual assets. It's called the display list. It's a hierarchical list of all visual elements in your file. It includes common objects such as movie clips, but also objects such as shapes and sprites that either didn't previously exist or could not be created programmatically.

Learning ActionScript 3.0: Chapter 7, Motion
by Rich Shupe, Zevan Rosser
November 05, 2008

Learning ActionScript 3.0 gives you a solid foundation in the Flash language and demonstrates how you can use it for practical, everyday projects. Now available in the Digital Media Help Center, an excerpt from Learning ActionScript 3.0: Chapter 7, Motion. From your very first experiment to the umpteenth time you've performed a familiar task, moving assets with code can be a gratifying experience. In addition to creating more dynamic work by freeing yourself from the permanency of the timeline, there is something very immediate and pleasing about controlling the motion of a symbol instance purely with ActionScript. This chapter examines basic movement, geometry and trigonometry, physics and programmatic tweening.

Programming Flex 3: Chapter 18, Application Debugging
by Chafic Kazoun, Joey Lott
November 05, 2008

If you want to try your hand at developing rich Internet applications with Adobe's Flex 3, and already have experience with frameworks such as .NET or Java, this is the ideal book to get you started. Now available in the Digital Media Help Center, an excerpt from Programming Flex 3: Chapter 18, Application Debugging. In this chapter, learn about runtime errors, debugging applications using FDB, debugging applications using the Flex Builder debugger, remote debugging, and tracing and logging.

Programming Flex 3: Chapter 20, Embedding Flex Applications in a Browser
by Chafic Kazoun, Joey Lott
November 05, 2008

If you want to try your hand at developing rich Internet applications with Adobe's Flex 3, and already have experience with frameworks such as .NET or Java, this is the ideal book to get you started. Now available in the Digital Media Help Center, an excerpt from Programming Flex 3: Chapter 20, Embedding Flex Applications in a Browser. This chapter examines the options available to you for embedding a Flex application in HTML and how a Flex application can interact with the web browser environment.

October 2008

Oh, the Horror! Inside the Visual Effects of Saw V and a Crop of Fall Fright Flicks
by Susan Boyer
October 31, 2008

The Saw series hacked its way into the public consciousness four years ago and has grown into a cultural phenomenon and ghoulish annual tradition with four successive sequels released the week before Halloween. We take a look at the visual effects behind this fall’s harvest of fright flicks, including Saw V, and the supernatural thriller, House.

Digital Media Insider
Digital Media Insider Podcast 28: The Mind of the Maker
by David Battino
October 30, 2008

There are a whole lot of things that sound good the second you start making noise on them: Door springs. PVC pipes. Waterlogged Gertie balls. The Fat Man demonstrates how a DIY, Maker approach can help you find your signature sound.

Inside Digital Media Podcast Series Photography
Collections in Bridge: Photoshop CS4 Companion for Photographers Screencast 3
by Derrick Story
October 29, 2008

Collections are one of my favorite new features in Adobe Bridge CS4, which comes bundled with Photoshop. In this screencast, based on Chapter 3 of The Photoshop CS4 Companion for Photographers, Derrick shows you how Collections add the flexibility to Bridge that we've been waiting for. Plus you'll learn how to build Smart Collections based on a variety of search criteria. This is truly fun stuff.

Inside Digital Media Podcast Series Photography
Photo Downloader: Photoshop CS4 Companion for Photographers Screencast 2
by Derrick Story
October 23, 2008

Photo Downloader is one of the unheralded stars included in Photoshop CS4. In this screencast, based on Chapter 2 of The Photoshop CS4 Companion for Photographers, Derrick shows you how Photo Downloader can help you keep your images organized. Plus he demonstrates how to add your copyright and how to simultaneously back up your photos to another drive — all automatically during the downloading process.

dekePod
dekePod Episode 008: The Masks Palette
by Deke McClelland
October 22, 2008

Photoshop CS4 has been out one week. Hardly enough time for any of us to embrace it, let alone place our faith in it. And yet faith is precisely what one of the program's most highly touted features, The Masks palette, requires of you. Everything about it is promising; little about it makes sense. The palette that makes masks also wears one. In this special Halloween episode, we unmask the Masks palette. Will it be a bag of treats? Or a bundle of tricks? You'll find out, in dekePod.

Giant Moles, Rushing Rivers, and "Pandemoniun" Reign in "City of Ember"
by Susan Boyer
October 17, 2008

Coming off the monster success of Academy Award® nominated Monster House, director Gil Kenan chose the sandbox at Tom Hanks' Playtone Productions and Walden Media for his next project: an adaptation of Jeanne DuPrau's wildly popular novel, City of Ember, about the race to save a dying, underground city well past its 200-year shelf-life starring Bill Murray and Tim Robbins. We take a look at the awesome VFX behind the new movie.

Review: Blue Snowflake and SM Pro Audio Mic Thing
by Daniel H. Steinberg
October 16, 2008

Podcasting Tricks author (and former radio DJ) Daniel Steinberg checks out two compact, affordable ways to upgrade your sound: The Blue Snowflake USB microphone and the SM Pro Audio Mic Thing baffle. Hear the difference with the original WAV files.

Inside Digital Media Podcast Series Photography
The Photoshop CS4 Companion for Photographers Screencast 1
by Derrick Story
October 14, 2008

Photoshop CS4 contains all the tools you need for a complete photography workflow. In this series of screencasts based on the book, The Photoshop CS4 Companion for Photographers, Derrick shows you techniques from a chapter of the book. This week he starts with Chapter 1: The Quick-Start Roadmap. Here, you'll see the basic overview of this workflow and how the pieces fit together.

dekePod
dekePod Episode 007: Faking an HDR Portrait
by Deke McClelland
October 08, 2008

Think nothing can scare you? Enter dekePod, that thing that is not even slightly scary and yet, be honest, gives you the heebie jeebies. In this episode, Deke investigates how to simulate an extreme-detail HDR portrait -- which would otherwise require you to shoot multiple exposures of a person locked down in a body brace -- using flimflam and forgery. And a shrunken skull. These are the depths of scariness we go to. Here at dekePod.

Review: Yamaha Pocketrak 2G Handheld WAV Recorder
by Mark Nelson
October 02, 2008

As tiny as a pocket voice recorder but packing full-resolution WAV audio, the half-inch-thick Yamaha Pocketrak breaks new ground in sound and portability. Is this thumb-size studio right for you? Mark Nelson flips it open at an acoustic jam to find out.

From Windows to Aperture - Interview with Ben McMillan
by Derrick Story
October 02, 2008

Ben McMillan has been a working photographer in Beijing for more than four years. During that time, he's seen the city go through dramatic changes, leading up to the Olympics. In this conversation, Ben talks about his Beijing experience, and how he also went through a personal change when he discovered Aperture during the games.

September 2008

Inside Digital Media Podcast Series Photography
Getting Smart About Smart Objects - An Interview with Deke McClelland
by Derrick Story
September 30, 2008

What makes Smart Objects in Photoshop CS3 so compelling to power users? Derrick Story wanted to get the inside scoop on non-destructive tools, so he sat down with Photoshop expert Deke McClelland to find out how Smart Objects can improve his photography workflow. This interview was recorded at Photoshop World in Orlando during the Spring of 2008.

dekePod
dekePod Episode 006: Photoshop CS4, Buy or Die
by Deke McClelland
September 23, 2008

September 23 marks the announcement of Adobe's Creative Suite 4. And that means a new version of the company's flagship image editor, Photoshop. Coming just 18 months after its predecessor, is Photoshop CS4 any good? Enter dekePod, Deke McClelland's irreverent and uncensored video series. Day and date with Adobe's announcement, Deke provides a third-party, impartial, and highly opinionated review of the new software. Titled "Photoshop CS4: Buy or Die," this episode promises to show you all facets of the program—complete with commentary—without interrupting your busy day. In just five minutes, you'll know whether you want to upgrade or not. Either you buy or it dies, it's as simple as that.

QuickStart: Building Drum Tracks with Loops
by Jim Aikin
September 18, 2008

In pop music, the beat is the foundation. And one of the fastest, easiest ways to build a beat is with a drum loop. But don't just settle for the loops everyone else is using. Jim Aikin demonstrates a variety of ways to customize beats in GarageBand and other drag-and-drop music programs.

Mine Kasapoglu on Location in Beijing
by Derrick Story
September 11, 2008

Mine Kasapoglu photographed her first Olympics in 2002 at Salt Lake City. She's been shooting them ever since, including this year in Beijing where I caught up with her for this interview. Mine was first introduced to Aperture at the 2006 Torino Olympics. Nobody really knew about Aperture then, including Mine. But she was in great photographic pain and gave it a try. Here's her story two years later.

Inside Digital Media Podcast Series Photography
Sean Duggan on Digital Darkroom
by Derrick Story
September 09, 2008

Sean Duggan is an art photographer, educator, and Photoshop expert. He's recently teamed up with Katrin Eismann to publish The Creative Digital Darkroom. In this interview Sean talks about his approach to processing images and how to get the most out of digital capture.

Put Your Videos on OTHER People's iPods
by Michael W. Dean
September 04, 2008

Your videos got their 15 minutes of fame on YouTube. Now what? Follow this straightforward intro to RSS syndication and you can make your videos downloadable, savable, and playable on the millions of iPods out there.

dekePod
dekePod Episode 005: Spirographs on Steroids
by Deke McClelland
September 03, 2008

In this episode, Deke makes the startling claim that Illustrator, a complex piece of software that costs hundreds of dollars, is better than an $8 Spirograph. Using nothing but half an ellipse and a few live, editable effects, Deke shows you how to construct something truly extraordinary. "Trust me on this one. Artist, non-artist, proficient with Illustrator, never even heard of the program -- I don't care if you live in Antarctica, you have no access to electricity, you haven't seen sunlight in 45 days -- oh my God, what are you, a penguin? -- you're gonna wanna watch this!"

August 2008

Digital Media Insider
Digital Media Insider Podcast 27: Steve Horowitz and the Code Ensemble
by David Battino
August 29, 2008

Composer Steve Horowitz has written soundtracks for movies, dance, video games, TV, live orchestra, and even computerized piano. Now comes the world premiere of his multimedia extravaganza Invasion from the Chicken Planet, and New York City may never be the same.

Final Cut Server: An Introductory Overview
by Charlie Miller
August 28, 2008

Earlier this year Apple shipped Final Cut Server, its media asset management and workflow automation solution. Unlike Final Cut Pro and the other creative applications bundled in Final Cut Studio, Final Cut Server is not a content creation application. In fact it's something quite different: a powerful server-based solution for managing media and assisting users with tools to automate time- consuming pieces of your workflow. Charlie Miller explains how.

The Story Behind the Olympic Picture of the Day
by Derrick Story
August 26, 2008

The Kodak Picture of the Day has been an Olympic tradition for decades now. While I was in Beijing, I had a chance to sit down with Rich Connolly, Director of Olympic Operations for Kodak, to talk about how the Picture of the Day came about, and the behind the scenes process for its daily selection during the Games.

Three Free & Easy Web Audio Players
by David Battino
August 21, 2008

Want to play MP3s on your site (or others')? Here's a super-easy way, an easy yet highly customizable way, and an offbeat experimental way — and each one is free. From one-click page-hacking to automatic e-commerce, these three web audio players point the way to a musical online future.

dekePod
dekePod Episode 004: Stretching a Photo in Illustrator
by Deke McClelland
August 20, 2008

Have you ever wanted to stretch a photo's background but leave the foreground unchanged? Or turn a horizontal photo into a vertical one without making a mess of it? You can't do it in Photoshop CS3, but you can in its companion program, Adobe Illustrator. Deke shows you how in a way that'll make you so happy, you'll think you're on drugs. And wait till you see the new look! Deke is dreamy.

Aperture Screencast 5: Managing Previews
by Derrick Story
August 19, 2008

Aperture's previews are an important link to sharing your images with the outside world. Previews are JPEG renderings of your processed Raw files and, once generated, are easily accessible via other applications and output methods. In this screencast, Derrick Story shows you how to expertly manage your previews so you are always in control of your images.

Inside Digital Media Podcast Series Photography
Vincent Versace on Photography and Creativity
by Derrick Story
August 13, 2008

Vincent Versace, noted photographer, author, and photography instructor, sits down with Derrick Story to discuss the some of the larger philosophical questions that inform the photographic creative process during this video interview from Photoshop World Orlando.

Review: Edirol R-09HR & M-Audio MicroTrack II
by Mark Nelson
August 07, 2008

Portable recorder expert Mark Nelson tests version 2 of the popular MicroTrack and R-09 recorders side by side at his Hawaiian guitar camp. Were the upgrades worth it? Listen to his exclusive audio examples and find out.

dekePod
dekePod Episode 003: Don't Fear the Lab Mode
by Deke McClelland
August 06, 2008

Color models like RGB and CMYK are frightening enough on their own. But the fact that there's one called CIEL*a*b* D50 (or just Lab), and Photoshop actually encourages you to use it, is terrifying. But Deke says not to worry. RGB and CMYK are for machines. The Lab mode is for you.

Noise Ninja Plugin for Aperture
by Derrick Story
August 05, 2008

PictureCode has released Noise Ninja for Aperture, and it's the latest in the series of Edit Plugins that expand Aperture's image editing abilities. In this podcast, Derrick Story talks with Joe Schorr about Noise Ninja, and about the new plugins resource page on Apple's web site.

Inside Digital Media Podcast Series Photography
Off to Beijing - An Interview with Derrick Story
by Derrick Story, Dan Brodnitz
August 04, 2008

On August 4, Derrick Story is boarding a plane to Beijing to work in the media center at the Summer Olympics. In addition to his job of helping photographers get their images out to the world, he'll be blogging, podcasting, and tweeting, not to mention capturing his own Olympic images. In this interview, Dan Brodnitz asks Derrick how he's preparing for this assignment.

July 2008

Inside Digital Media Podcast Series Photography
Stephen Johnson on Print Display and Digital Photography
by Derrick Story
July 31, 2008

In this video interview, Stephen Johnson talks about his seminal work, On Digital Photography, the evolution of digital cameras including how megapixels fit into that picture, and provides some great advice on how to best display your work. It's a terrific chat that I think you will enjoy.

Inside Digital Media Podcast Series Photography
Inside Lightroom 2 - Exclusive Interview
by Derrick Story
July 29, 2008

Lightroom 2 is brimming with enhancements for all its modules. Derrick Story interviews Tom Hogarty and Frederick Johnson to find out their favorite features in this latest release of Adobe's comprehensive photo management application. Tom and Frederick share plenty of insights and helpful tips to help you quickly get up to speed.

Aperture Screencast 4: Introduction to Lift and Stamp
by Derrick Story
July 29, 2008

Lift and Stamp in Aperture is a tremendous time saver when you want to apply image adjustments or metadata to multiple images. In this movie, Derrick Story shows you how to take advantage of this power, plus a shortcut you can apply directly from the keyboard.

dekePod
dekePod Episode 002: Stealth 'Shop, The Virgin Histogram
by Deke McClelland
July 23, 2008

Imagine yourself walking down a lovely San Francisco street, whistling a merry tune, only to be confronted by the sudden appearance of a menacing robot packing a shockingly massive and entirely unnecessary... ray gun, of sorts. What would you do? If you were Deke, you'd snap a picture and correct its colors. And not in any standard way, either, but in a way that permits you to apply radical color adjustments while leaving a virgin-like histogram in your wake.

Aperture Screencast 3: Working with the Basic Levels Adjustments
by Derrick Story
July 22, 2008

The Levels adjustment is a comfortable tool for many photographers. In part, because it allows you to individually adjust the shadows, midtones, and highlights with the assistance of a histogram. In this screencast, Derrick Story walks you through the basic levels adjustments in Aperture.

Digital Media Insider
Digital Media Insider Podcast 26: One Glorious Note
by David Battino
July 21, 2008

In many ways, music technology has become a numbers game. Today's digital instruments are often sold on specs, not sound. In this episode, the Fat Man goes back to basics, gleefully playing everything from an ancient test-tone generator to a spicy Excaliburrito to demonstrate that one glorious note may be all you need.

Inside Digital Media Podcast Series Photography
Tim Grey Answers Your Digital Photography Questions
by Derrick Story
July 18, 2008

Tim Grey, author of the just released Take Your Best Shot: Tim Grey Tackles Your Digital Darkroom Questions, sits down with Derrick Story to answer submitted questions about photography during this video interview from Photoshop World Orlando. Tim addresses a number of topics including film vs digital, megapixels, sharpening, color management, and more.

dekePod
dekePod 001: Metadata Forensics, What a Crock
by Deke McClelland
July 09, 2008

We all know digital photos can be modified. So much so that, at least in the popular lexicon, Photoshop is synonymous with turning fact into fiction. But at least one facet of digital photo, a variety of metadata called EXIF, is supposed to be secure. EXIF records when and how an image was captured, and if credible, might actually be judged admissible in a court of law. But not if Deke has anything to say about it. To hear Deke tell the story, metadata forensics is pure baloney. Learn how to cook your own EXIF in this episode of dekePod.

Digital Home Recording Tips, Part 2
by Michael W. Dean
July 03, 2008

Last time, DIY guru Michael Dean revealed how to capture high-quality audio at home. This time, he shares mic tips, clever soundproofing ideas, and his personal gear recommendations. Bedcasting, anyone?

June 2008

dekePod
dekePod Pilot #2: 101 Photoshop Tips in Five Minutes
by Deke McClelland
June 24, 2008

If you've ever read a computer magazine, you know the idea behind "101 Tips." One gala issue, lots of first-rate contributors, lots of quality information. And lots and lots of pages. But when's the last time one lone guy tried to capture 101 tips in video? In just 5 minutes of video? Set to music? This is the realm of dekePod, the once-every-other-weekly series from Deke McClelland. It's bold, it's brash, it's ridiculous. It's a podcast with serious issues. Enjoy.

Digital Home Recording Tips, Part 1
by Michael W. Dean
June 19, 2008

Don't fix it in the mix — get it right the first time! DIY guru Michael Dean explains how to capture a clean signal so you don't have to mess with balky noise-reduction software after the fact. Get field-tested mic tips, computer tips, and more.

Digital Media Insider
Digital Media Insider Podcast 25: Greatest Bits
by David Battino
June 06, 2008

DMI hits 25! Listen in as we explore our favorite moments from the first 24 episodes and unearth some never-before-heard bonus material. From vocoders to space-helmeted cover bands, from the secret sound of Goldfrapp to harmonious fat men, here are Digital Media Insider's greatest hits.

May 2008

Review: Olympus LS-10 WAV/WMA/MP3 Recorder
by Mark Nelson
May 22, 2008

After capturing 65% of the voice-recorder market, Olympus has now aimed its zoom lens at portable WAV/MP3 recorders. Guitarist Mark Nelson tests this 24-bit, curvaceous, aluminum-clad beauty and likes what he feels and hears. Telephoto mics, anyone?

Reader Submitted Tips for Aperture
by Derrick Story
May 15, 2008

One of the fun things about running the "Inside Aperture" site is receiving reader contributions. Every now and then a clever new technique shows up in our Aperture mailbox, many of which I try. But why should I get to have all the fun? So, this week I'm sharing a handful of reader-submitted techniques. My guess is that you'll find one or two particularly useful.

Review: Marantz PMD620 Handheld WAV Recorder
by Mark Nelson
May 08, 2008

With an exotic OLED display, baby-simple controls, good sound, and an attractive price, the Marantz PMD620 aims to stand out in the crowded world of portable digital audio recorders. How well does it perform? Mark Nelson frails a gourd banjo to find out.

Layout Tool Disguised as Aperture's Book Making Function
by Derrick Story
May 06, 2008

Aperture 2.1 includes a more versatile book-making tool than we saw in earlier versions. So powerful in fact, that calling it a book making tool is really selling it short. It's actually a flexible layout application with some very useful output options. In this podcast, Derrick Story talks with Joe Schorr and tries to uncover all the hidden gems buried in Aperture 2.1.

Screencasting from Your Desktop with ScreenFlow
by Jochen Wolters
May 01, 2008

ScreenFlow grabs audio and video from the computer and external sources, provides a timeline for editing these recordings, and offers a range of effects aimed specifically at creating on-screen software presentations. This screencasting studio is easy to use and affordable. And if you have a Mac running Leopard with ScreenFlow loaded up, you're suddenly in the educational movie making business. Jochen Wolters reviews this application and provides plenty of video samples.

April 2008

Digital Media Insider
Digital Media Insider Podcast 24: 200 Digital Audio Blogs
by David Battino
April 24, 2008

To celebrate his 200th blog entry, O'Reilly Digital Audio Editor David Battino shares the sounds behind the stories. Hear how a bad pianist inspired the first computer music program, the surprising benefits of high-resolution distortion, and sneaky uses of voice recorders.

Inside Digital Media Podcast Series Photography
John Paul Caponigro on the State of Printing
by Derrick Story
April 23, 2008

Photographer and fine art printing expert John Paul Caponigro sits down with Derrick Story at Photoshop World 08 in Orlando to provide an inside look at the Epson Print Academy, the changing world of photography, and even a few remarks about his favorite printing papers.

Hi-Res YouTube Hacks
by Michael W. Dean, David Battino
April 17, 2008

Don't settle for cruddy looking, dismal sounding YouTube video. Follow our insider tips and you can upload, watch, and share movies that look and sound dramatically better. We even explain how to make the ultimate poster frame or "money shot."

"Subject to Change" Authors on Product Development
by Derrick Story
April 15, 2008

Designing products and services that resonate with customers takes more than just a few stock demographics reports. By studying practices of successful companies, you can apply the same techniques to your own endeavors. In this podcast, Derrick Story interviews three of the four authors of "Subject to Change," who provide insights about how prosperous businesses can--and should--use customer experiences to inform and shape the product development process, from start to finish.

Sal Soghoian on Extending Aperture with AppleScript
by Derrick Story
April 10, 2008

Apple automation guru, Sal Soghoian talks about the scriptability of Aperture in this podcast interview with Derrick Story. Sal points to the "Aperture-InDesign Integration Demo" as a powerful example of how AppleScript can extend Aperture's capabilities.

Special Report: Musikmesse 2008
by Jochen Wolters
April 03, 2008

Jochen Wolters scours the world's biggest musical instrument trade show and finds magical software, exotic synths, handheld recorders, and exceptional performers.

March 2008

Digital Media Insider
Digital Media Insider Podcast 23: Inside Intel Inside
by David Battino
March 28, 2008

Last year, O'Reilly Digital Media's David Battino got an amazing gig: the chance to compose and record the theme music for Intel's internal podcast on Open Source developments. With some slick music software and the freedom to explore endless musical ideas, he wandered into several hilarious dead ends before remembering some great advice and finding his voice.

Aperture 2 Features 101-103 with Joe Schorr
by Derrick Story
March 18, 2008

Apple's web page says, "Aperture 2 delivers over 100 dramatic, new features." And still there are a few terrific ones they forgot to put on the list. In this podcast, Derrick Story chats with Joe Schorr, Senior Product Manager for Aperture, to uncover a few of these hidden gems.

Audio Insights from the 2008 Game Developers Conference
by Kurt Heiden
March 13, 2008

To hear the future of audio, listen to video games. Interactive Audio expert Kurt Heiden did just that at the Game Developers Conference. He brings you what the experts at GDC 2008 had to say about the state of audio in games, and then dives into some of the technology advancements that are changing the interactive audio landscape.

Using the New Adjustment Tools in Aperture 2.0, Part Two
by Ellen Anon
March 11, 2008

In this second of two parts, Ellen Anon (Aperture Exposed and Inside Aperture) takes you through the bottom half of Aperture's Adjustment palette brick by brick. She picks up with the Enhance brick and continues down through the rest of the new tools. This two part article series is a great resource that belongs in any Aperture bookmark list.

Put Your Photos on TV, Part 2
by Michael W. Dean
March 06, 2008

Filmmaker Michael W. Dean reveals how to make a compelling video from your still images and music, make it fit broadcast standards, and get it shown on TV. In Part 1, you learned how to create a TV-ready video. Here's the crucial final step: rendering the video onto a broadcast-ready DVD and putting it in the hands of producers in a way they can't refuse.

Using the New Adjustment Tools in Aperture 2.0, Part One
by Ellen Anon
March 04, 2008

In this first of two parts, Ellen Anon (Aperture Exposed and Inside Aperture) takes you through the top half of the Adjustment palette brick by brick. This article is a terrific reference piece that that should come in handy time and time again. Next week in Part Two, Ellen picks up with the Enhance brick and continues down through the rest of the adjustments.

February 2008

Put Your Photos on TV, Part 1
by Michael W. Dean
February 28, 2008

Filmmaker Michael W. Dean reveals how to make a compelling video from your still images and music, make it fit broadcast standards, and get it shown on TV — with a potential audience of millions — for free. Part one of our two-part series focuses on the practical creation steps: processing images correctly for video display, adding an effective soundtrack, and then creating video.

Cool Macworld Product: VectorDesigner
by Adam Goldstein
February 21, 2008

Most of the features of VectorDesigner are available in higher-end vector drawing programs, but the $70 cost of VectorDesigner is hard to beat. Moreover, if you've never used a vector drawing program before, the simple features you'd end up using in a higher-end program aren't much different than the standard features in VectorDesigner -- and in VectorDesigner, they're easy to find. Adam Goldstein delves into his discovery from the Macworld Expo floor.

Digital Media Insider
Digital Media Insider Podcast 22: Synthesizer Sound Design
by David Battino
February 15, 2008

Part of the joy of playing electronic musical instruments is exploring the unique banks of sounds inside. This month, we speak again with Francis Preve, a Top 10 remixer who also works as the principal sound designer for Ableton and a consulting sound designer for Korg. Hear how he creates the sounds behind the hits.

Aperture 2.0 with Joe Schorr
by Derrick Story
February 12, 2008

Aperture 2.0 is faster, easier to use, and produces better images, says Joe Schorr, Apple Senior Product Manager. In this interview with Derrick Story, Joe explains how Aperture 2.0 meets those lofty claims. This chat covers a lot of new ground.

January 2008

MORE Music Technology at NAMM 2008
by Tim Tully
January 31, 2008

We're back from NAMM 2008 with even more intriguing new gadgets and gear. Once again, the throbbing halls of America's biggest musical instrument trade show introduced a torrent of high-tech goodness. From a $99 Steinway to a truly killer guitar, from audible notation to singing keys, here's what you'll be playing this year.

Inside Digital Media Podcast Series Photography
Katrin Eismann's Digital Darkroom Magic
by Derrick Story
January 29, 2008

Katrin Eismann, coauthor of The Creative Digital Darkroom, sat down with Derrick Story at PhotoPlus Expo in New York for a chat about how the darkroom has evolved from chemical-based to digital, and how that evolution has influenced her approach to image making. Katrin touches on many interesting topics, including her explanation on 3-step sharpening.

Less is More: Steve Jobs' Macworld 2008 Keynote Address
by Daniel H. Steinberg
January 17, 2008

Steve Jobs opened the Macworld surprise envelope at the 2008 keynote address and out slid a sleek notebook computer: the Macbook Air. Daniel Steinberg was on hand for the unveiling and files this report about all the new hardware, iPhone updates, and more.

Review: Sony PCM-D50 Portable WAV Recorder
by Mark Nelson
January 10, 2008

Sony's newest digital audio recorder boasts many of the exotic features of the flagship PCM-D1 for a third of the price. Once again, guitarist Mark Nelson renews his quest for the perfect handheld recorder — and it looks like the sixth time may be the charm.

Joe Schorr on Leopard and Aperture
by Derrick Story
January 08, 2008

Leopard brings a host of new goodies for Aperture users by virtue of the new photography functionality baked right into the operating system. In this interview with Senior Product Manager Joe Schorr, you'll hear some of the most enticing and useful features for Aperture photographers.

Digital Media Insider
Digital Media Insider Podcast 21: Remixing Tips with Francis Preve
by David Battino
January 04, 2008

Francis Preve produced six Billboard Top 10 remixes last year alone, but he graciously found time to share his insights and techniques. Hear the Preve magic in before-and-after musical examples and learn how he turned a shockingly small pile of gear into a production powerhouse.

Using InDesign CS3's Auto-Numbering Feature Across Stories
by Deke McClelland
January 03, 2008

Creative Suite expert and author of the Adobe Photoshop and InDesign CS3 One-on-One books Deke McClelland offers a step by step tutorial on how to use InDesign CS3's improved auto-numbering feature. Now InDesign can preserve your sanity by keeping track of your numbered lists automatically.

Lightroom O'Reilly Help Center
Rendering Previews, Discarding Previews
by Mikkel Aaland
January 01, 2008

Rendering and manipulating previews of your photos is easy in Lightroom. Excerpted from Mikkel Aaland's Photoshop Lightroom Adventure, check out step by step examples on how to use some of Lightroom's most popular features.

Lightroom O'Reilly Help Center
Renaming Files on Import, Proper Punctuation
by Mikkel Aaland
January 01, 2008

Learn more about giving your files unique, machine friendly names when importing. Excerpted from Mikkel Aaland's Photoshop Lightroom Adventure, check out step by step examples on how to use some of Lightroom's most popular features.

Lightroom O'Reilly Help Center
Finding Missing Files
by Mikkel Aaland
January 01, 2008

Find missing files with Lightroom's help. Excerpted from Mikkel Aaland's Photoshop Lightroom Adventure, check out step by step examples on how to use some of Lightroom's most popular features.

Lightroom O'Reilly Help Center
Creating and Using Watched Folders, Tethering a Digital Camera
by Mikkel Aaland
January 01, 2008

By enabling Lightroom's Auto Import feature from the menu bar, you can automatically import photos into the Lightroom Library module using a designated watched folder. Excerpted from Mikkel Aaland's Photoshop Lightroom Adventure, check out step by step examples on how to use some of Lightroom's most popular features.

Lightroom O'Reilly Help Center
Creating and Using Stacks
by Mikkel Aaland
January 01, 2008

Stacks are another useful way to organize your images. Learn how to create them! Excerpted from Mikkel Aaland's Photoshop Lightroom Adventure, check out step by step examples on how to use some of Lightroom's most popular features.

Lightroom O'Reilly Help Center
Using Quick Develop
by Mikkel Aaland
January 01, 2008

The Library module contains streamlined image processing capabilities via Quick Develop. Excerpted from Mikkel Aaland's Photoshop Lightroom Adventure, check out step by step examples on how to use some of Lightroom's most popular features.

Lightroom O'Reilly Help Center
Noise Reduction
by Mikkel Aaland
January 01, 2008

Lightroom's Noise Reduction feature can easily reduce the effect of electronic noise, while maintaining image detail. Excerpted from Mikkel Aaland's Photoshop Lightroom Adventure, check out step by step examples on how to use some of Lightroom's most popular features.

Lightroom O'Reilly Help Center
Lens Corrections
by Mikkel Aaland
January 01, 2008

Add and remove vignettes with ease. Excerpted from Mikkel Aaland's Photoshop Lightroom Adventure, check out step by step examples on how to use some of Lightroom's most popular features.

Lightroom O'Reilly Help Center
Evaluating Tonal Distribution and Color
by Mikkel Aaland
January 01, 2008

What you see on your monitor, even if the monitor is perfectly calibrated, can be deceptive. Let's look at the various tools Lightroom offers to evaluate your images. Excerpted from Mikkel Aaland's Photoshop Lightroom Adventure, check out step by step examples on how to use some of Lightroom's most popular features.

Lightroom O'Reilly Help Center
Adjusting Tone Directly from the Histogram
by Mikkel Aaland
January 01, 2008

If you prefer, you can make your Basic tone settings directly from the Histogram. Excerpted from Mikkel Aaland's Photoshop Lightroom Adventure, check out step by step examples on how to use some of Lightroom's most popular features.

Lightroom O'Reilly Help Center
The Split Toning Pane
by Mikkel Aaland
January 01, 2008

The Split Toning pane can also be used to subtly tweak color in just the highlight or shadow areas and create a more pleasing looking image. Excerpted from Mikkel Aaland's Photoshop Lightroom Adventure, check out step by step examples on how to use some of Lightroom's most popular features.

Lightroom O'Reilly Help Center
Getting a Cross-Processing Look with Split Toning
by Mikkel Aaland
January 01, 2008

Cross-processing is a popular technique in the film world, where film was deliberatively processed incorrectly. Excerpted from Mikkel Aaland's Photoshop Lightroom Adventure, check out step by step examples on how to use some of Lightroom's most popular features.

Lightroom O'Reilly Help Center
Exporting Revealed
by Mikkel Aaland
January 01, 2008

With Lightroom, you can export one photo at a time, or as many as you wish. Excerpted from Mikkel Aaland's Photoshop Lightroom Adventure, check out step by step examples on how to use some of Lightroom's most popular features.

Lightroom O'Reilly Help Center
Saving Metadata to the Original File
by Mikkel Aaland
January 01, 2008

In order to properly open or view your Lightroom adjusted image files in Adobe Camera Raw or Adobe Bridge you'll need to make sure these develop settings travel with the file. Excerpted from Mikkel Aaland's Photoshop Lightroom Adventure, check out step by step examples on how to use some of Lightroom's most popular features.

Lightroom O'Reilly Help Center
Using Metadata and Custom Text for Slideshow Captions
by Mikkel Aaland
January 01, 2008

Possibly the single most compelling feature of the Lightroom Slideshow module is the ability to turn metadata associated with an individual image into a slide caption which is totally sizeable and positionable. Excerpted from Mikkel Aaland's Photoshop Lightroom Adventure, check out step by step examples on how to use some of Lightroom's most popular features.

Lightroom O'Reilly Help Center
Creating a Quicktime Slideshow
by Mikkel Aaland
January 01, 2008

Here's a way to create a QuickTime slideshow with Lightroom. Excerpted from Mikkel Aaland's Photoshop Lightroom Adventure, check out step by step examples on how to use some of Lightroom's most popular features.

Lightroom O'Reilly Help Center
Lightroom Color Management
by Mikkel Aaland
January 01, 2008

You may use a custom printer profile, or you can turn over the color management to your printer software. Excerpted from Mikkel Aaland's Photoshop Lightroom Adventure, check out step by step examples on how to use some of Lightroom's most popular features.

Lightroom O'Reilly Help Center
Customizing a Web Gallery
by Mikkel Aaland
January 01, 2008

Lightroom ships with several templates for creating web photo galleries. You can customize these templates and save your own version. Excerpted from Mikkel Aaland's Photoshop Lightroom Adventure, check out step by step examples on how to use some of Lightroom's most popular features.

December 2007

ActionScript 3.0: Is It Hard or Not?
by Colin Moock
December 21, 2007

In parts of the Flash community, ActionScript 3.0 seems to have gained a reputation for being “hard” —- particularly among those who have not yet tried the new language. Colin Moock, author of Essential ActionScript 3.0, explores this issue and offers code examples comparing earlier versions of ActionScript to version 3.0.

John McDermott on Assignment with Aperture
by Derrick Story
December 13, 2007

John McDermott's workflow once consisted of handing off rolls of Kodachrome to a courier and waiting to see which images appeared in Newsweek. He then struggled through the awkward digital transition until he discovered Aperture. In this conversation with Derrick Story, John talks about his life as an assignment photographer, and how he's adapting to the changing photography landscape.

The eSession Experience: Online Recording for All
by Spencer Critchley
December 13, 2007

Hear a song evolve from MIDI sketch to Grammy-quality mixdown as Spencer Critchley test-drives eSession, the online studio that lets you hire top musicians to record your tunes. He offers an inside view of a start to finish online musical collaboration.

The Annoying Future of Cell Phone Headsets
by Peter Drescher
December 07, 2007

Once again, Peter Drescher has glimpsed the future of mobile audio, and this time, it's deep in your ear. Come explore heavenly and hellish mobile speaker scenarios that are likely just around the corner.

November 2007

Anarchy, Integrity, and the Digital Marketplace
by Michael W. Dean
November 29, 2007

Protect your art, make a living, and still be able to sleep at night. Here's how one digital filmmaker beat back the anarchist punks to distribute a feature movie on his own terms: a high-quality director's cut with no DRM.

Sal Soghoian on Leopard, Automation, and Aperture
by Derrick Story
November 27, 2007

Apple's product manager of automation technologies is the same guy who many of us consider the ultimate AppleScript guru: Sal Soghoian. Even though Sal and I live only a few hours apart, I had to go all the way to the Caribbean to chase him down for this podcast interview. It was worth it. Sal talks about Leopard, automation improvements, and of course, how this all affects Aperture.

Inside Digital Media Podcast Series Photography
Mikkel Aaland Shares CS3 RAW Tips
by Derrick Story
November 21, 2007

The new Bridge 2 and Adobe Camera Raw 4 combination included in Photoshop CS3 provides photographers with the tools they need to build an excellent post production workflow. In this interview at PhotoPlus Expo in New York, Mikkel Aaland, author of Photoshop CS3 Raw, talks about the power of these applications and how best to use them.

Backup Strategies with Aperture, Part Two
by Josh Anon
November 09, 2007

In this second part of a two-part series, Josh Anon takes a look at the best ways to back up Aperture files with third party tools such as RSyncX, .Mac, and Retrospect, and online options. Josh also explores Leopard and Time Machine to see if there's functionality there for hardcore Aperture users.

Digital Media Insider
Digital Media Insider Podcast 20: Precision vs. Feel
by David Battino
November 08, 2007

One of the fascinating challenges in modern music production is balancing the creative tension between computer precision and human feel. Hear how playing with quantization (timing correction) can make or break a groove.

Backup Strategies with Aperture
by Josh Anon
November 02, 2007

In part one of this two-part series covering strategies for protecting your photos, Josh Anon discusses some basic archiving concepts and then delves into hard drive options, including RAID configurations. There's lots of food for thought here as you devise your strategy for storing images.

October 2007

Inside Digital Media Podcast Series Photography
Rick Sammon's Travel Tips for Photographers
by Derrick Story
October 26, 2007

Seasoned travel photographer Rick Sammon sits down with Derrick Story in the O'Reilly Media booth at PhotoPlus Expo '07 in New York City. In this podcast, Rick draws upon his experiences to offer good advice for photographers on the go.

Apple at PhotoPlus Expo 07 - Joe Schorr Interview

October 26, 2007

Apple Senior Product Manager, Joe Schorr, sits down with Derrick Story on the last day of the 2007 PhotoPlus Expo show in New York City. Joe discusses the growing interest in Aperture's custom books, integration with Keynote for DVD authoring, and the growing popularity of the application among big time photographers.

DIY Surround-Sound DVDs
by David Battino
October 25, 2007

Learn how to make 5.1-channel Dolby Digital DVDs at home without pricey pro software. Plus — a sneaky way to hook multiple speakers to a stock Mac.

Special Report: 2007 Podcast Expo
by Michael W. Dean
October 11, 2007

Last week we brought you the sounds of the 2007 Podcast and New Media Expo. Here are the sights, trends, and some fascinating links, all wrapped up in an irreverent photo tour.

Inside Digital Media Podcast Series Photography
Peter Krogh on Digital Asset Management
by Derrick Story
October 11, 2007

"When you think about keywording," says Peter Krogh, "you have to determine what the use will be. Are the keywords to help you find you own pictures, or are they for a stock agency?" Peter, author of The DAM Book: Digital Asset Management for Photographers talks about tagging and other important organizational tools for photographers during his interview with Derrick Story on the expo floor at Photoshop World 07 in Las Vegas.

Inside Digital Media Podcast Series Photography
Tim Grey on HD Photo and Microsoft Technology
by Derrick Story
October 11, 2007

"HD Photo has been in development at Microsoft for the better part of 5 years now," says Tim Grey during his interview with Derrick Story on the expo floor at Photoshop World 07 in Las Vegas. "It enables us to have really good images within a smaller file size." Tim goes on to explain the benefits of HD Photo in detail during this chat in the O'Reilly booth.

Publishing with Aperture - Jennifer Sauer Interview
by Derrick Story
October 05, 2007

Jennifer Sauer is a pro shooter who has incorporated Aperture into her post production workflow... but not in the way you might imagine. For her latest project, The Way to Tea (a glorious book that's an adventure guide to San Francisco tea culture), she chose Aperture to handle the Raw processing for images from her Canon 5D. She also used Photo Mechanic and Photoshop for other stages of production.

Digital Media Insider
Digital Media Insider Podcast 19: Inside the New Media Expo
by Michael W. Dean, David Battino
October 04, 2007

In this special guest episode, DIY digital media expert Michael Dean interviews podcasting's rock stars to learn where the format is going and how we all can get involved. Recorded live at the premier podcasting show, the New Media Expo.

September 2007

Review: Steinberg Sequel Recording and Performing Software
by Jochen Wolters
September 27, 2007

This new audio program from the makers of Cubase promises the drag-and-drop ease of GarageBand with the realtime remixability of Ableton Live. It features 5,000 loops, 600 virtual instruments, and runs on both Mac and Windows—all for just $99. Jochen Wolters digs deep to learn if Sequel is truly a better way to record, edit, mix, and perform.

Teaching with Aperture - Ben Long Interview
by Derrick Story
September 21, 2007

One of the most startling things teacher Ben Long learned about last summer, while teaching photography to teenagers, was the caliber of the students: their dedication and focus was impressive, as was the quality of their work. What also impressed Ben was how much easier it is to teach and manage a lab using Aperture. In this conversation with Derrick Story, Ben talks about Aperture in the classroom.

Inside Digital Media Podcast Series Photography
Deke McClelland on Photoshop CS3
by Derrick Story
September 21, 2007

"Finally we have nondestructive filters to work with," said Deke McClelland in his interview on the show floor of Photoshop World 07 in Las Vegas. During this discussion with Derrick Story, O'Reilly Digital Media Evangelist, Deke covered his favorite aspects of CS3, some old techniques he just can't let go of, and some great inside anecdotes about his latest book, Adobe Photoshop CS3 One-on-One.

Inside Digital Media Podcast Series Photography
Mikkel Aaland on the Lightroom Adventure
by Derrick Story
September 21, 2007

"I wanted real world experiences with Lightroom," said Mikkel Aaland during his interview at Photoshop World. "So we took 12 great photographers to Iceland to put this product to the test." Mikkel goes on to tell the story of how the Lightroom Adventure came about, including some great anecdotes from the trip. This knowledge and beautiful imagery is captured in Mikkel's latest book, Photoshop Lightroom Adventure.

Inside Digital Media Podcast Series Photography
Stephen Johnson Talks Digital Photography
by Derrick Story
September 21, 2007

"That magic of seeing something that is a momentary capture of something almost beyond belief that makes you grab your camera to begin with," said Stephen Johnson, "that's why we love photography. And that's why I wrote this book." Stephen was referring to Stephen Johnson on Digital Photography, his latest published work that is a comprehensive examination of many facets of photography.

Review: Zoom H2 Handheld Surround Recorder
by Mark Nelson
September 13, 2007

With twice the mics and half the price of the competition, this breakthrough digital audio recorder puts four-channel surround recording at your fingertips. Is this the one we've all been waiting for? Guitarist Mark Nelson fires up the bagpipes to find out.

Digital Media Insider
Digital Media Insider Podcast 18: Better Arpeggiate Than Never
by David Battino
September 07, 2007

It's about the most fun you can have with one finger. Arpeggiators turn a single note into a spiraling flurry of sound for instant musical fun. Hear how they work and explore some surprising applications.

Organizing Power Tips with Joe Schorr
by Derrick Story
September 05, 2007

Do you know the difference between blue folders and yellow folders? What do you do if you're about to meet with clients and want only their images to show in Aperture? In this podcast interview with Joe Schorr, Derrick Story discovers advanced organizing tips for Aperture power users.

August 2007

Lightroom O'Reilly Help Center
Basic Tonal Control in Lightroom 1.1
by Colleen Wheeler
August 29, 2007

Using Lightroom's Develop module, you can do a lot to bring out the best tonal qualities of your images. Lightroom has easy-to-use sliders that allow you to react to the Exposure, Highlight/Shadow, and Brightness/Contrast needs of your images. In this excerpt from Chapter 5 of Photoshop Lightroom Adventure, Mikkel gives you a lushly illustrated overview of how to use the sliders in the Lightroom Develop module to quickly, easily, and satisfyingly make a variety of technical and aesthetic improvements to your photos.

Digital Media Insider
Digital Media Insider Podcast 17: Secrets of the Demo Gods
by David Battino
August 23, 2007

Top music technology gear reviewers Jim Aikin and Mark Nelson reveal how they create their web audio examples. Listen to some of our favorites.

Interview with Tom Hogarty, Lightroom Product Manager
by Michael Clark
August 17, 2007

O'Reilly Lightroom blogger Michael Clark caught up with Lightroom Product Manager Tom Hogarty at the Photo Arts Santa Fe trade show in Santa Fe, New Mexico. They sat down to chat about Adobe's professional photo management application, both as it stands now and where it might be going.

iLife '08 for Aperture Users with Joe Schorr
by Derrick Story
August 16, 2007

Apple recently released iLife '08 with a truckload of goodies for Aperture users. In this podcast, Joe Schorr tells you how to use some of these new tools and discusses the latest Aperture update (1.5.4).

Slideshows from your Aperture Images, Part 2
by Dominique James
August 15, 2007

In part two of our series on creating slideshows with Aperture images, you'll learn how to tap iDVD and Keynote to build professional presentations for clients and promotion. iLife's integration with Aperture makes it the perfect source library for authoring dynamic slideshows.

Pictures in Motion: Slideshows from your Aperture Images
by Dominique James
August 09, 2007

Aperture provides plenty of tools for creating professional looking slideshows from your images. But you have even more possibilities outside its cozy confines thanks to its interoperability with other Mac OS X applications. In this first part of a two-part series, Dominique James explores the options within Aperture, then takes you on a tour of other Mac OS X slideshow tools.

New Music Gear at Summer NAMM 2007
by Scott Snyder
August 09, 2007

Scott Snyder combs the giant musical instrument show to find the products that spark his "Wow, I wish I had one of THOSE" smile.

Review: Korg MR-1 Hi-Def Portable Recorder
by Mark Nelson
August 02, 2007

Thanks to 1-bit technology, this new audio recorder puts Super Audio CD resolution in the palm of your hand. Guitarist and recording engineer Mark Nelson jets back to Hawaii to test it and is astonished by the quality.

July 2007

Digital Media Insider
Digital Media Insider Podcast 16: Cover Yourself (A Radical Approach to Copyright)
by David Battino
July 27, 2007

Open source enthusiast Lucas Gonze wanted to record cover songs and share them online. But copyright law and web spiders crushed that plan. Then he found a mother lode of free music on a government web site.

Lightroom O'Reilly Help Center
The Lightroom 1.1 Develop Module Revealed
by Colleen Wheeler
July 26, 2007

In Lightroom's 1.1 Develop module, you'll find sophisticated yet easy to use tone and color developing controls. Other tools in the Develop module provide basic retouching ability, plus cropping, straightening and more. Our excerpt from Mikkel Aaland's Photoshop Lightroom Adventure provides a guided tour of Lightroom 1.1's shining glory.

Version Control in Aperture
by Jeffery Morse
July 25, 2007

Many Aperture users don't realize exactly what's happening behind the scenes with versions, how many options there are, and what versions actually entail. In this article, Apple Pro Trainer Jeffery Morse takes you inside Aperture's versioning function so you can tap its power to its fullest potential.

QuickTime Web Movie Secrets
by David Battino
July 16, 2007

QuickTime is still the best-looking, most flexible way to present video on the web. Here's how to present multiple movies on a single page, launch a movie in fullscreen mode, and even play a sequence of movies automatically.

Advanced Aperture Techniques with Joe Schorr
by Derrick Story
July 03, 2007

Have you tapped the power of Album Picks or mastered the Primary Only function? In this edition of Inside Aperture, Joe Schorr talks with Derrick Story and explains some of his favorite power techniques.

Lightroom O'Reilly Help Center
The Lightroom 1.1 Library Revealed
by Colleen Wheeler
July 03, 2007

In Lightroom's 1.1 Library module, you can edit, rate and sort images, add keywords and perform basic image processing on one or multiple images at the same time. Join us for a quick tour of its key elements, including an explanation of the new "catalogs" (formerly known as libraries) concept.

June 2007

Hands on with the Aperture 1.5 Professional Keyboard
by Bakari Chavanu
June 29, 2007

I wanted to work faster in Aperture 1.5 and realized that I needed to stop being the mousy navigator that I am and begin learning more keyboard shortcuts. I mean, really, mousing to the Adjustment HUD five or six times a session is just ridiculous. So I checked out LogicKeyboard's Apple Pro Keyboard for Aperture, and have a hands-on report for Inside Aperture readers.

Digital Media Insider
Digital Media Insider Podcast 15: The Fat Man Sings...Digitally
by David Battino
June 28, 2007

The DigiTech Vocalist Live stompbox listens to your guitar playing and automatically generates vocal harmonies. Listen up as the Fat Man puts it through its paces and predicts where this breakthrough technology will lead.

More on Export Plug-Ins
by Derrick Story
June 19, 2007

Aperture made its WWDC debut with its first official session and an after-hours reception hosted by AUPN. Derrick Story sits down with Richard Kerris, Micah Walter, and David Schloss to talk about the latest in export plug-in development, hot plug-ins, Aperture Plugged In web site, and the Aperture Users Professional Network.

Digital Media Insider
Digital Media Insider Podcast 14: Doug Wyatt
by David Battino
June 15, 2007

Renowned music software programmer Doug Wyatt deftly fuses vintage electronics, Swedish vocals, and digital technology into remarkable soundscapes on his latest CD. We visit his home studio to learn how.

dekeBytes: A Taste of Vanishing Point 2.0 in Photoshop CS3
by Deke McClelland
June 15, 2007

Deke McClelland takes a look at the new and improved Vanishing Point 2.0 Photoshop filter in Adobe's CS3. The Digital Media community can follow along with example files as Deke melds an image around a virtual DVD case!

Web Audio Lab: Three JavaScript Tricks to Spice Up Your Site
by David Battino
June 08, 2007

Our simple tutorial on building an online MP3 player inspired hundreds of you to ask for enhanced features. Now you can grab our latest code and experiment yourself.

Joe Schorr on iPhoto to Aperture
by Derrick Story
June 01, 2007

Many photographers have scores of valuable images stored in iPhoto libraries. As Aperture becomes incorporated into the workflow, what's the best way to move those pictures to the Aperture environment? And what if you want to share your Raw files with both iPhoto and Aperture? In this podcast, Joe Schorr, senior product manager for Aperture, explains all of the inside tricks for working with both iPhoto and Aperture libraries.

May 2007

Digitizing Your Film Archive with Aperture
by Micah Walter
May 25, 2007

One of the biggest challenges to digitizing your film archive is organization and metadata management. In this article, Micah Walter proposes a sane approach to bringing your analog past into the digital age.

Digital Media Insider
Digital Media Insider Podcast 13: Seize the Rhythm
by David Battino
May 24, 2007

There's rhythm all around us, and computers make it easy to capture those sounds and weave them into your own compositions. In this episode, we transform the everyday rhythms of talking, laughing, and even toothbrushing into exciting new grooves.

iPod Mic Shootout
by Mark Nelson
May 18, 2007

Apple finally added "CD-quality" recording to the iPod. But how good is it really? Recording engineer Mark Nelson plugs in three leading add-on mics and records voice and guitar to find out.

What Does Photoshop CS3 Mean for Aperture Users?
by Josh Anon
May 17, 2007

Aperture's comprehensive set of photo management tools keep users within the Aperture environment for the bulk of their work. But for more complicated image editing tasks, round tripping to Photoshop is often the workflow of choice. CS3 offers improved performance and new tools, many of which will be of interest to Aperture users. In this article, Josh Anon take you on a tour of the best of these improvements.

Digital Media Insider
Digital Media Insider Podcast 12: Synth Mania, Part 2
by David Battino
May 10, 2007

Synthesizer maniac Paolo Di Nicolantonio returns with more stories, sounds, and musical toys.

April 2007

Rick LePage on Fine Art Printers for Aperture
by Derrick Story
April 30, 2007

Affordable hardware for fine art printing is more bountiful than ever. In this exclusive Inside Aperture podcast, Macworld editor at large, Rick LePage, covers the latest offerings from Epson, HP, and Canon. Rick supplies plenty of insight about how HP is challenging Epson, and some thoughts about Canon's emergence, then absence in the mid range fine art market. Derrick Story chats with Rick during a visit to San Francisco.

Review: Boss Micro BR Palmtop Recording Studio
by Gina Fant-Saez
April 26, 2007

At just over 3x5 inches, the Boss Micro BR is a digital recording studio you can use anywhere. It records up to 32 tracks, has a built-in mic and drum machine, and even plays your MP3s. Can it possibly work at just $229 street? Reviewer Gina Fant-Saez finds out.

Digital Media Insider
Digital Media Insider Podcast 11: Synth Mania, Part 1
by David Battino
April 20, 2007

Synthesizer enthusiast Paolo Di Nicolantonio runs a wonderful website of synth sounds and information. In this episode, we listen to famous sounds, infamous sounds, and Paolo's favorite keyboard ever.

Controlling the Aperture User Interface
by Dominique James
April 18, 2007

In this article, pro shooter Dominique James shows us his commonly used techniques for working faster and smarter with Aperture. He shares some of the most practical tools that he uses when dealing with thousands of shots from his studio sessions or location photo shoots. He also provides a nifty list of his favorite keyboard shortcuts.

Special Report: Musikmesse 2007
by Jochen Wolters
April 12, 2007

Jochen Wolters hits the world's biggest musical instrument trade show and finds fresh sounds, fantastic new gear, and phenomenal performers.

Joe Buissink on Capturing the Moment
by Derrick Story
April 11, 2007

At the recent WPPI conference, Joe Buissink discussed how to unlock the artist inside of you. I really enjoyed Joe's presentation and wanted to follow up with an interview with this "wedding photographer to the stars." I discovered that he is just as informative, interesting, and candid in person as he is on stage, and I think you'll learn much from this exclusive chat with him in Las Vegas.

March 2007

Digital Media Insider
Digital Media Insider Podcast 10: Annoying Audio
by David Battino
March 30, 2007

Peter Drescher designed the sounds for everything from After Dark screensavers to the T-Mobile Sidekick. Hear what it takes to annoy (and thrill) this top ringtone composer.

Robert Leslie on Shooting TED and Using Aperture
by Derrick Story
March 27, 2007

Event photographers need all the help they can get to survive the grueling hours and gigabytes of data they amass. Pro shooter Robert Leslie just completed one of the most challenging events of all, the TED conference in Monterey, California. In this Inside Aperture interview, Derrick Story talks with Robert about TED, tips for successful event assignments, and Aperture's impact on these types of gigs.

Singing With Your Thumbs: How To Make User Interfaces Musical
by Peter Drescher
March 22, 2007

Peter Drescher, the #1 Google hit for "annoying audio," returns with another wonderful article on creative sound design. Triggering boatloads of MP3s, he walks us through the adventure of designing emotional sounds for really tiny speakers.

Digital Media Insider
Digital Media Insider Podcast 9: Songs You May Have Missed
by David Battino
March 16, 2007

Did you realize we've published nearly two dozen musician interviews on the O'Reilly Digital Media site, many with full-length songs? In this episode, we dig up some of the "lost" tunes and explore the surprising technology behind them.

Joe Schorr on UI Customization in Aperture
by Derrick Story
March 15, 2007

In this edition of "Inside Aperture," Joe Schorr, Apple Senior Product Manager, provides a bounty of tips for customizing the user interface. You might want to have Aperture running as you listen so you can see how these adjustments look, then pick the ones right for you.

Lightroom O'Reilly Help Center
Creating Identity Plates in Lightroom
by Colleen Wheeler
March 14, 2007

You can personalize the Lightroom environment by creating Identity Plates that appear throughout the application for a nice aesthetic touch. They also have very practical purposes as they can be used to identify slideshows, web galleries, and prints. Here’s how to set up an Identity Plate of your own.

Aperture vs Lightroom - An O'Reilly "Inside Aperture" Field Test
by Micah Walter
March 06, 2007

During a week long field test of Aperture and Lightroom, Micah Walter put both photo management applications to the test comparing ease of use, tool set, speed, and output. He summarizes his findings in this article with links to the complete set of blog posts that he published during the week of testing.

Lightroom vs Aperture - The Results
by Michael Clark
March 06, 2007

During a week long field test of Lightroom and Aperture, Michael Clark put both photo management applications to the test comparing ease of use, tool set, speed, and output. He summarizes his findings in this article with illustrations comparing key functions for each program.

Six Slick Tricks for the Creative Xmod Audio Enhancer
by Erica Sadun
March 01, 2007

Smaller than a computer mouse, the Creative Xmod packs some surprising sonic powers inside its sleek white shell. Erica Sadun reveals how to use it to pump up your MP3s, enjoy nine-speaker surround sound, and even upgrade your car stereo.

February 2007

Digital Media Insider
Digital Media Insider Podcast 8: A Theme Come True
by David Battino
February 23, 2007

What makes a good musical theme? We ask Emmy Award-winning composer BJ Leiderman, the melodic mastermind behind NPR's Morning Edition, PRI's Marketplace, and many more irresistible tunes. Then we digitally deconstruct an original theme song to see how it works.

Lightroom O'Reilly Help Center
Organizing the Lightroom Workspace
by Colleen Wheeler
February 22, 2007

The Lightroom workspace is extremely malleable. You can easily enlarge or shrink the various windows to suit your viewing and working preferences, whether you are on a laptop in the field or your cinema display in the studio. In this downloadable PDF excerpt from Photoshop Lightroom Aventure - Mastering Adobe's next-generation tool for digital photographers, Mikkel Aaland takes you on a short Lightroom tour of the workspace.

The HP Pro B9180 Inkjet Printer - Pro Quality at an Enthusiast's Price
by Derrick Story
February 15, 2007

Photographers searching for an affordable, gallery-quality, pigment-based inkjet printer should give serious consideration to the HP Pro B9180. Yes, it's made by HP, not Epson or Canon. Yet it churns out beautiful 13 x 19-inch images that are rated for 200+ years. Combined with advanced features such as a densitometric closed loop color calibration system and built-in networking, this printer is a steal for about $510. Derrick Story reviews.

Joe Schorr on Color Management in Aperture
by Derrick Story
February 13, 2007

Joe Schorr, Apple Senior Product Manager for Aperture, covers color management in Aperture 1.5.2. Derrick Story interviews Joe in this exclusive O'Reilly Media podcast.

Digital Media Insider
Digital Media Insider Podcast 7: Express Yourself
by David Battino
February 12, 2007

Expression is the soul of music. In this episode, we listen to the techniques players use to coax emotion out of electronic instruments and software.

Review: Zoom H4 Handy Recorder
by Mark Nelson
February 01, 2007

Mark Nelson completes his tests of today's three hottest audio recorders with this in-depth review. The Zoom H4 offers more features than the M-Audio MicroTrack and Edirol R-09 for $100 less. But is it right for you?

January 2007

Lightroom O'Reilly Help Center
Lightroom Revealed: The Modules
by Colleen Wheeler
January 30, 2007

Lightroom is designed to streamline the process of importing, processing, and sharing your digital images. Although much can be discovered by simply experimenting on your own, there is a lot to the application that doesn't immediately meet the eye. In this first in a series of downloadable PDF excerpts from his book "Photoshop Lightroom Adventure - Mastering Adobe's next-generation tool for digital photographers," Mikkel Aaland gives you a quick overview of each of the modules available in Lightroom 1.0 (Library, Develop, Slideshow, Print, and Web).

Photo Workflow on the Road - A Hitchhiker's Guide to Aperture
by Micah Walter
January 26, 2007

For many photojournalists, traveling the world and owning a desktop computer back at the home base just isn't practical. But the laptop-only alternative -- making sure images are safely backed up, archived, organized, delivered to clients, and easily findable down the road once had its challenges too... before Aperture. In this article, Micah Walter provides Aperture tips for the photographer on the go.

New Music Technology at NAMM 2007
by David Battino
January 25, 2007

America's biggest musical instrument trade show just wrapped up, and we brought back sounds, photos, movie clips, and more. Check out our gallery of new music technology and see what you'll be playing tomorrow.

Compare, Select, and Rate
by Derrick Story
January 19, 2007

Aperture's powerful sorting tools enable photographers to cull hundreds of images quickly. This podcast features Derrick Story and Scott Bourne explaining the compare, select, and rating tools, including stacks, during a recent workshop at Macworld San Francisco.

Digital Media Insider
Digital Media Insider Podcast 6: Desktop Music in Japan
by David Battino
January 08, 2007

From Tokyo, David Battino interviews DTM Magazine's Daigo Yokota on the state of Japanese music technology, tests Mixmeister's slick podcasting software, and explores two cool songs on the DTM DVD.

Richard Kerris on Aperture Plug-In Development
by Derrick Story
January 04, 2007

Richard Kerris is a director in the Applications Division of Apple Computer. He focuses on professional photography partnerships, spending a lot of his time with third-party developers. In this edition of Inside Aperture, Derrick Story talks with Richard about the plug-in architecture for Aperture, both from programmer and photographer viewpoints.

December 2006

Joe Schorr on Aperture Sharpening and More
by Derrick Story
December 21, 2006

Joe Schorr, Apple Product Manager for Aperture, covers edge sharpening, metadata presets, and provides lots of helpful tips for working efficiently in Aperture 1.5.2. Derrick Story interviews Joe in this exclusive O'Reilly Media podcast.

Automated Workflow to Archive Your Best Images to DVD
by Derrick Story
December 20, 2006

Aperture's Vault feature is an intelligent way to back up your photos to one or more external FireWire drives. As good as the system is, it depends on the integrity of your hard drives. As an extra measure of precaution, I also archive my best images to DVD. And to remove the tedium from the process, I've developed this semi-automated system to manage the process. Here's how it works.

Three Surprisingly Cool MIDI Controllers Under $300
by Mark Nelson
December 20, 2006

Mark Nelson tears into a MIDI drum set, guitar, and keyboard that look like toys but deliver big-time musical fun.

Ad-Hoc Clustering
by Raimo Koski
December 14, 2006

Clustering may sound like rocket science, intended for large or complex computationally expensive problems. It doesn't have to be difficult, however. You just need a parallelizable task and some creativity. Raimo Koski demonstrates how to build an ad-hoc cluster to rip digital music.

Sal Soghoian on Automating Aperture
by Derrick Story
December 13, 2006

No one knows more about bringing automation to Aperture than AppleScript guru Sal Soghoian. In this interview, Derrick Story talks with Sal about enhancing Aperture workflow using Automator. Sal makes many great points, including that automation is the way for users to customize an app for their specific needs.

O'Reilly Happenings at Macworld SF 2007
by Bruce Stewart
December 11, 2006

Macworld SF 2007 is shaping up to be a busy show for O'Reilly Media. We have great specials, lots of books, a full speaker lineup, and a menu of activities. Here's a comprehensive overview.

Digital Media Insider
Digital Media Insider Podcast 5: Portable Recorders
by David Battino
December 08, 2006

Go inside the mind of guitarist and recording engineer Mark Nelson, whose unusual reviews of pocket digital recorders are top-ten Google hits.

Tethered Shooting in Aperture
by Micah Walter
December 05, 2006

Sending captured images directly to your Mac provides some useful options in studio and time-lapse photography. In this tutorial, Micah Walter shows you how to incorporate Automator into your tethered workflow to help you shoot and process as efficiently as possible.

November 2006

Six Fresh Tips from iPod: the Missing Manual
by J.D. Biersdorfer
November 30, 2006

The fifth edition of O'Reilly's action-packed iPod guide just hit the streets, and here are six free excerpted tips you can put to use right now. Learn how to load high-res photos, where to get free vids, how to share your player among multiple computers, and more.

Bill Frakes on Aperture
by Andrew Darlow
November 28, 2006

Bill Frakes is a versatile pro shooter who is widely known for his Sports Illustrated work. In this podcast interview conducted by Andrew Darlow in New York City, Bill talks about his workflow and how he manages thousands of images using Aperture.

Review: Cakewalk Dimension Pro
by Gregory Moore
November 22, 2006

High-tech composer Gregory Moore dives into what may be the best computer music-making bargain around: Cakewalk's first virtual instrument to run on both Mac and 64-bit Windows.

Five Zune Secrets You Need to Know
by Erica Sadun
November 16, 2006

Learn how to hack your Zune's video output (and save a hundred bucks), avoid the WMA plague, install your own movies, and more in this fast, easy tutorial.

More Joe Schorr on Aperture 1.5
by Derrick Story
November 14, 2006

Joe Schorr, Apple Product Manager for Aperture, digs deeper into Aperture 1.5, Apple's premier photo management application. He explains the new referenced files option and how it compares to the managed library approach. Joe also gives some great tips and discusses how you can use managed library and referenced files together.

Digital Media Insider
Digital Media Insider Podcast 4: (((Echo)))
by David Battino
November 09, 2006

Sync and grow rich! Hear how tempo-synced effects can bring your music to life. Plus: virtual guest appearances by drummer Stewart Copeland and drum machine pioneer Roger Linn.

Top Ten Aperture Features
by Scott Bourne
November 01, 2006

Apple's ground-breaking, workflow tool for professional photographers has caused quite a stir in the imaging community. After working with Aperture for a year, I've decided that although it's not perfect, it has some incredible and exciting features that photographers can really use. Here are the 10 that top my list.

Joe Schorr on Aperture 1.5
by Derrick Story
November 01, 2006

Joe Schorr, Apple Product Manager for Aperture, gives us an inside perspective on the development of Apple's premier photo management application. He discusses the program's evolution over the past year, then turns his focus to some of the new features in version 1.5.

FOO Casts
Ken Milburn Unplugged
by Sara Peyton, Ken Milburn
November 01, 2006

Take a listen. The author of Digital Photography Expert Techniques, Second Edition knew Dan Rather in college, started his career taking publicity photos of Hollywood starlets, and shot album covers for Capitol Records. Ken talks to O'Reilly staffer Sara Peyton about his career, tips and tricks, and creating the wow factor.

October 2006

QuickStart: Digital Audio Editing
by David Battino
October 26, 2006

Want to clean up your recordings but not sure where to start? We walk you through some essential audio editing skills, from reading a waveform to crafting the perfect fade.

Bill Atkinson Describes Dust Mapping with the ExpoDisc
by Derrick Story
October 19, 2006

Yes, the ExpoDisc works great in odd lighting situations to help you capture accurate color and clean whites. But you can also use this photo accessory for identifying color shifts across your sensor array and for creating a dust map for auto retouching. Check out this video where color expert Bill Atkinson explains additional uses for the ExpoDisc.

What's The Big Deal About Making Music Players Social? Microsoft Zune and the Big Idea
by Erica Sadun
October 17, 2006

Why does Microsoft insist that a social music player, its upcoming Zune, is the wave of the future? Zune social networking manifests itself through its Wi-Fi-based music sharing and its PC-based (and presumably MySpace-inspired) Zune Marketplace. Microsoft gambles that these two spheres are sufficient to define a new and unique Zune space. Erica Sadun takes a good hard look at the Zune and tries to figure out if it is the wave of the future--or just a pipe dream.

Digital Media Insider
Digital Media Insider Podcast 3: Singing Computers
by David Battino
October 16, 2006

Daisy, Daisy, make your computer sing. Listen up as we uncover sneaky new tricks for speech synthesizers and audition some amazing new singing software.

September 2006

Two Slick QuickTime Tricks
by David Battino
September 29, 2006

Turn your video on its ear! Our hands-on tutorial shows you how to work with vertical movies and then embed them in a web page with a friendly new kind of trigger.

FOO Casts
The Way of a Digital Photography Pioneer
by Sara Peyton, Stephen Johnson
September 29, 2006

In Stephen Johnson on Digital Photography, the renowned photographer writes about his journey on the "bleeding edge of digital photography's evolution." In this podcast, Johnson talks to Sara Peyton about his career, photo techniques, photo ethics in a digital age, and why, for him, taking landscape photos became synonymous with caring about the wild places he wandered in.

O'Reilly Photography Learning Center
Shooting RAW with Mikkel Aaland
by Daniel H. Steinberg, Mikkel Aaland
September 26, 2006

We talked to Mikkel Aaland about shooting RAW when we met up with him at the MacWorld Expo in January 2006. Aaland is the author of Photoshop CS2 RAW and is an expert with working with RAW files in Photoshop, Bridge, and Adobe Camera Raw. (11:34)

Digital Media Insider
Digital Media Insider Podcast 2: The Vocoder
by David Battino
September 21, 2006

Hey, Cylon breath! Think vocoders are only good for robotic sound effects? Hear how top musicians are using them creatively as we dive into the expressive sounds behind four recent features.

Burn Your New iTunes Movies to DVD (and Protect Your Other iTunes Purchases)
by Erica Sadun
September 19, 2006

How much money have you spent at the iTunes store? And what do you have to show for it? An iPod full of music? TV shows? Those new games and movies? Too many people forget how much cash they've put into their digital media. And when bad things happen--house fires, computer theft, iPod loss--they're not always prepared to be able to recover those digital assets. Erica Sadun shows you archiving techniques to preserve your (hefty) iTunes investment.

FOO Casts
Creating Beautiful Digital Photos the Eddie Tapp Way
by Sara Peyton, Eddie Tapp
September 15, 2006

Eddie Tapp, 2006 Photoshop Hall of Famer, award-winning photographer, and much sought after educator, discusses his new book from O'Reilly, "Photoshop Workflow Setups." In this interview by new O'Reilly staffer Sara Peyton, Eddie talks about his photography roots, the art of taking pictures, his new book...and why he lives by the rule of 300.

O'Reilly Photography Learning Center
Sharpening with Camera Raw
by Mikkel Aaland
September 15, 2006

Almost every RAW file requires some degree of sharpening to counter the effect of blurring that occurs at some stage of image capture or image processing. But when do you apply the sharpening? In Camera Raw or later in Photoshop? The answer isn't as straightforward as you might think. In this excerpt from Photoshop CS2 RAW, Mikkel Aaland shows you how to sharpen your images with confidence.

FOO Casts
Barbara Brundage discusses "Photoshop Elements 5: The Missing Manual"
by Sara Peyton, Barbara Brundage
September 12, 2006

In this podcast, O'Reilly Media's Sara Peyton interviews Barbara Brundage. Barbara's an extraordinary harpist who has performed for dignitaries and celebrities around the world, including Margaret Thatcher, Tom Cruise, the Clintons, and Isaac Stern. She's also the go-to expert when it comes to using Photoshop Elements. Her brand new book, Photoshop Elements 5: The Missing Manual, is all about the just-announced version of Elements. She talks to us about the cool new tools for digital photographers and scrapbookers in this new program.

Digital Media Insider
Digital Media Insider Podcast: Playing with Audio Plugins
by David Battino
September 07, 2006

Listen as songwriter and Pro Tools guru Gina Fant-Saez transforms a dust-dry vocal into a gorgeous soundscape by chaining four cool effect plugins, and then builds a song from scratch using only virtual instruments.

August 2006

Review: Edirol R-09 Pocket Digital Recorder
by Mark Nelson
August 31, 2006

You asked for it: Recording engineer and acoustic guitarist Mark Nelson grabs this hot new 24-bit WAV/MP3 recorder and returns to Hawaii for a shootout with the defending champ, M-Audio's MicroTrack. Listen to the high-res WAV files and decide if Mark chose right.

ExpoDisc for Pro (and Easy) Color Capture
by Derrick Story
August 24, 2006

The custom white balance setting on my camera was one of my most underused features, though I knew it could save me lots of post-production time. On a recent weeklong assignment, I packed the ExpoDisc and tested its color balance prowess under a variety of conditions. Custom white balance is now one of my favorite features. Here's how it works.

Unify and Synchronize Your iTunes Libraries
by Matthew Russell
August 22, 2006

Last June, David Miller published an article that explained how to synchronize playlists on iTunes. Today, Matthew Russell extends this idea by investigating and presenting three different ways to synchronize the actual contents of your iTunes music libraries when they are scattered across multiple machines. Then in the second half of the article, Matthew lays the foundation for a custom Python script that you can extend across multiple platforms and in various other ways.

Inside Pandora: Web Radio That Listens to You
by Brad Fuller
August 17, 2006

Select a song or artist you like and Pandora plays similar songs through your web browser. Linux audio expert Brad Fuller reveals how Pandora's combination of open source wizardry, Flash artistry, and human ears serves millions of listeners fresh music--for free.

FOO Casts
George Jardine Discusses the Adobe Lightroom Adventure
by Derrick Story
August 17, 2006

George Jardine, pro shooter and Adobe Lightroom Evangelist, was part of the Lightroom Adventure team that traveled to Iceland during the summer of 2006. In this interview by fellow Adventurer Derrick Story, George talks about working with other world class photographers on location and the development of Adobe Lightroom... and how the two forces came together in Iceland.

The Top 20 Plugins for Musicians and Songwriters
by Gina Fant-Saez
August 03, 2006

Pro Tools guru Gina Fant-Saez has mastered dozens of audio plugins while running her world-class recording studio. Here she reveals her favorite virtual instruments and effects, then recommends what to get if you can only afford a few.

July 2006

Review: Frontier Design TranzPort
by Spencer Critchley
July 20, 2006

This wireless, two-way remote control won acclaim in the pro audio community for simplifying computer recording. Now it works with iTunes as well. Songwriter Spencer Critchley tests it with iTunes and Reason, discovering how to loop song sections, create remote playlists, and even tranzform iTunes into a foot-controlled backup band.

Automate Your Favorite Photoshop Routines
by Scott Bourne
July 13, 2006

If you find yourself performing the same tasks over and over again in Photoshop, it's time for you to tap the power of actions. Scott Bourne shows you how.

June 2006

Secrets of the Arpeggiator
by Jim Aikin
June 29, 2006

Arpeggiators are some of the handiest gadgets in computer music. With an absolute minimum of dexterity, you can create driving rhythms and superhuman tapestries of notes. Jim Aikin explains how arpeggiators work, what features to look for, and how to use them to revitalize your music.

Indie Podcasting with Open Source
by John Littler
June 22, 2006

Linux has a reputation as a multimedia lightweight. That's undeserved; there are plenty of powerful, useful, and usable applications to meet most of your media needs. For example, it's possible to become an independent podcaster with a little bit of equipment and experience. John Littler shares his advice on podcasting with open source.

Travel Advice for Photographers
by Ed Carreon
June 14, 2006

Are you the type of photographer who wants to be prepared for every situation on the road? If so, pro shooter Ed Carreon has tips for the traveling photographer based on his years of experience. You won't believe some of the items in his travel kit.

The Digital Songwriter: Better Music Through Computer Collaboration
by Gina Fant-Saez
June 07, 2006

Vocals in Texas, drums in Germany, guitars at Peter Gabriel’s studio in England—you can now co-write and record songs without leaving your desktop. All you need is an internet chat application, some basic gear, and these hands-on tips.

May 2006

Build a Better Web Audio Player
by David Battino
May 31, 2006

In the popular "Build a Simple MP3 Player for Your Site," you learned how to create a slick pop-up music player with just two lines of JavaScript. Version 3 of the technique now supports MP3 playlists and dances around Windows audio roadblocks.

Review: M-Audio Black Box, v2
by Mark Nelson
May 17, 2006

This breakthrough guitar processor offers amp modeling, unique rhythmic effects, a mic input, a drum machine, and a Pro-Tools-compatible USB audio interface for an astonishingly low price. Our impressed reviewer concludes, "It deserves a place in every guitarist's tool kit." Plus: exclusive tips and demos from inventor Roger Linn.

Photoshop Elements 4 for the Mac: Worth the Wait?
by Giles Turnbull
May 16, 2006

There was a minor uproar in the Mac community when Photoshop Elements 4 was released for Windows with no Mac version in sight. But Adobe has rectified the situation with a stellar release of Elements for OS X. Giles Turnbull takes you on a tour of its highlights.

From Darkroom to Lightroom: Downloadable PDF
by Ken Milburn
May 09, 2006

Lightroom is Adobe's new photo workflow application. It provides an upload-to-output solution in one attractive interface that's filled with features designed specifically for serious photographers. O'Reilly author Ken Milburn introduces you to this breakthrough application and provides a 22-page "Getting Started" PDF that you can download today.

Julieanne Kost Discusses Adobe Lightroom
by Derrick Story
May 09, 2006

By now, you've probably heard that Adobe's new Lightroom application simplifies your photography workflow, especially if you shoot Raw. In this seven-minute podcast, O'Reilly editor and photographer Derrick Story interviews Julieanne, and they discuss how Lightroom could change photography as we know it.

dekePod
A Look Inside dekePod--Beware of What You Might Find
by Derrick Story
May 03, 2006

Deke McClelland introduces dekePod, his new video podcast devoted to computer graphics, digital imaging, and anything else that happens to spill out of his head. Lasting a mere five minutes (short enough to watch three times in a single coffee break), the pilot episode shows you how to scan and open money in Adobe Photoshop. I interviewed Deke to find out what's going on inside dekePod. I think you'll enjoy what he has to say.

April 2006

Could Mobile Game Audio BE More Annoying?!
by Peter Drescher
April 26, 2006

Danger, Inc., sound designer Peter Drescher is a master at squeezing really cool sounds out of really small speakers. In this enhanced transcript of his Game Developers Conference presentation (seven movies and 19 MP3s!), he reveals how to make smartphones stand up and sing.

Aperture 1.1--Apple Listens
by Scott Bourne
April 18, 2006

With Aperture's new features, bug fixes, and universal compatibility with PowerMacs and Intel Macs, it's now a serious contender for top digital photo software. Scott Bourne reviews Version 1.1.

Fee, Fi, Fo, FM: Explore the World of FM Synthesis
by Jim Aikin
April 12, 2006

In 1983 it ruled the world. By 1993, it was buried in scorn, the victim of cheap knockoffs. But FM synthesis has a sparkly magic that today is stronger than ever, thanks to powerful new software instruments. Jim Aikin explores the top four FM synths and explains how FM can make your music shine.

Digital "Not Hot" at Sundance 2006
by Susan Boyer
April 05, 2006

Digital cinema is no longer new or novel, but it is clearly, and inevitably, the wave of the future. Susan Boyer attended this year's Sundance and gives us a glimpse at how the cinematic landscape is changing.

March 2006

How to Make Your Sound Sing with Vocoders
by Jim Aikin
March 29, 2006

You've heard their smoothly sexy yet alien voices. Vocoders are devices that make ordinary sounds sing or speak recognizable words. In this hands-on tutorial, Jim Aikin explains how vocoders perform their magic and how to set up your own software vocoder, and shares some unexpectedly cool uses for vocoding.

Inside Animusic's Astonishing Computer Music Videos
by Randy Alberts
March 22, 2006

Composer Wayne Lytle's custom software transforms musical notes into jaw-dropping 3D animations. The resulting DVDs have sold tens of thousands of copies. Watch excerpts here and learn how Lytle turned his digital pipe dream into a thriving business.

Digital Bookmark Mods
by Matthew Russell
March 15, 2006

Matthew Russell shows you how to add better bookmarks to your audio books, add slideshows to your music files, create enhanced podcasts, and share your favorite mods with others--even if they're on protected audio.

Building a MythTV Antenna System
by Matthew Gast
March 15, 2006

Over-the-air reception with an antenna can be a maddening affair. TV signal strength can vary dramatically, especially indoors, and it can take a lot of tinkering to get an antenna system set up right. Matthew Gast walks you through his process of setting up a antenna system for digital reception.

Review: Native Instruments Guitar Rig 2
by Mark Nelson
March 08, 2006

"Rarely have I had so much fun testing software," says Mark Nelson after recording guitar and bass through this colossal rack of virtual amps and effects. "If you can't find a satisfactory tone, you aren't trying." But is digital guitar right for you?

February 2006

O'Reilly Photography Learning Center
Managing Digital Images: Applying Ratings and Keywords
by Peter Krogh
February 24, 2006

The explosion of digital imaging has left professional and serious amateur photographers drowning in photographs, with little guidance on how to store, sort and organize them. In this excerpt from The DAM Book, Peter Krogh shows you expert techniques for applying ratings and keywords so you can begin to take control of your digital photo library.

Killer Interviewing Tips for Podcasters, Part 2
by Jack Herrington
February 22, 2006

Last time, we showed you how to set up and record a great interview. Now it's time to edit it to flow beautifully and sound great. Grab the free waveform editor and follow along.

Featured Photographer
Julieanne Kost: Window Seat Photography
by Julieanne Kost
February 22, 2006

Julieanne Kost is an amazing amalgamation of personalities: painter, humorist, inspirational speaker, technician, educator, photographer, and illustrator. She assembled this portfolio of images over the course of five years while traveling for her job as a Photoshop evangelist for Adobe. And they are also included in her new book: Window Seat: The Art of Digital Photography and Creative Thinking.

Digitizing VHS Tapes with EyeTV
by Joe McMahon
February 14, 2006

By digitizing your old VHS tapes, you can move them from taking up precious shelf space to more readily available disk space. In this article, Joe McMahon shows you a hack that lets you archive full-quality digital recordings from EyeTV to offline media, but still play them back easily in EyeTV.

O'Reilly Photography Learning Center
Walking the Talk with Julieanne Kost
by Julieanne Kost
February 08, 2006

In addition to over 150 full-color images, Julieanne Kost's new book, Window Seat: The Art of Digital Photography and Creative Thinking includes details on such topics as how to make great-looking images of clouds, mountains, farmland, and water, while photographing through airplane windows. This excerpt from Kost's book explains how to do just that. Kost details some of the techniques she used to transform images captured from the skies above into the final images that appear in the book.

Free Your Music: How to Convert Digital Audio Files
by Bruce Fries
February 08, 2006

Is your music trapped in an inconvenient format? Maybe the files are too big, hobbled by copy protection, or incompatible with your portable player? Good news: Any audio you can play on your computer can be converted to work the way you want.

Mac OS X Screenshot Secrets
by David Battino
February 01, 2006

With the advent of Tiger, there are more ways than ever to capture pictures of your screen. Picking up where "Screenshot Hacks for Mac OS X" left off, this article explains how to grab the exact pixels you want, add window shadow, and even capture DVD stills.

January 2006

What the Critics Don't Get About Apple's Aperture
by Scott Bourne
January 25, 2006

Many reviewers have given Apple a pretty good thrashing over its new professional photography software, Aperture. After delving into Aperture, Scott Bourne has come to some conclusions about where the critics went wrong, and he puts forth his ideas in this article.

Special Report: New Music Gear from NAMM
by Randy Alberts, David Battino
January 25, 2006

The NAMM show is Mecca for musicians—acres upon acres of sparkling new instruments, pro audio gear, and music software, most of it not even released yet. But the show is not open to the public. Our team spent four days combing the halls and prodding the prototypes to round up this audiovisual gallery of what you'll be playing this year.

Putting Google Video onto Your iPod
by Erica Sadun
January 24, 2006

There's some pretty interesting stuff on Google Video. In this article, Erica Sadun shows you how to download videos, convert them to an iPod-friendly format, and load them onto your new 5G video iPod.

Killer Interviewing Tips for Podcasters, Part 1
by Jack Herrington
January 18, 2006

Podcasting expert Jack Herrington reveals how to set up, conduct, and record an interview that will delight your listeners.

Shop Different: Accessorizing Your iPod ... for Cheap!
by Erica Sadun
January 11, 2006

Even though there are aisle after aisle of iPod add-ons on display at Macworld, Erica Sadun went a different direction to accessorize her player. She made a visit to the Dollar Store. Here's what she found.

Andy West: From Dregs to (Software) Riches
by Randy Alberts
January 04, 2006

Dixie Dregs co-founder Andy West discovered that virtuosity can be a liability in the music world, but a benefit in technology. Now this four-time Grammy nominee programs computers by day and pursues his amazing music at night, drawing the best from both disciplines. Here's how.

December 2005

Create Scorching Grooves with Spectrasonics' Stylus RMX
by Jim Aikin
December 21, 2005

There's never been a better time to put together drum tracks in your computer. But Stylus RMX stands apart from the software crowd due to its inspired sound design, creative randomization engine, and vast customizability. In this hands-on tutorial, MIDI meister Jim Aikin reveals how you can get the most out of this amazing percussion plugin.

O'Reilly Photography Learning Center
Introduction to Camera Raw
by Deke McClelland
December 16, 2005

Adobe's Camera Raw is arguably the most popular RAW-format converter available today. In this video, Deke McClelland introduces you to this tool and shows you tips for making image adjustments.

Josh Gabriel: From Programmer to No. 1 Remixer
by Randy Alberts
December 14, 2005

Ten years before remix entered the musical lexicon, Josh Gabriel was inventing machines that remixed electronic dance music, eventually leading to Mixman, the first popular remixing program. A dozen No. 1 Billboard dance mixes followed. Now his inventor's mind has turned to the internet.

MythTV Part 4: Tuning and Troubleshooting
by Matthew Gast
December 07, 2005

It's certainly true that building a MythTV system is not for the faint of heart. In the course of his installation, Matthew Gast had four major problems to get through: two performance problems, one display problem, and one maddening mystery (solved). He tackles all four in this article.

O'Reilly Photography Learning Center
Introduction to the Variations Color Correction Tool in Photoshop
by Deke McClelland
December 05, 2005

Photoshop's Variations tool simplifies color correction by presenting you with visual options in realtime. In this training video, Deke McClelland shows you how perform simple color correction quickly.

Five Fun Ways to Play with Audio Hijack Pro
by Erica Sadun
December 02, 2005

It's like a sound lab on your Mac -- with Audio Hijack Pro you can digitize legacy music, time-shift radio shows, and even repurpose your legally purchased music. Erica Sadun shows you five of her favorite AHP tips.

November 2005

Review: M-Audio MicroTrack 24/96 Pocket Digital Recorder
by Mark Nelson
November 30, 2005

Barely larger than a first-gen iPod, this portable recorder lets you capture sound in 24-bit WAV format or compact MP3. But is the low price too good to be true? Accomplished recording engineer Mark Nelson MicroTracks a Hawaiian guitar festival to find out.

Reaktor Secrets Revealed!
by Jim Aikin
November 23, 2005

If your music relies on fresh, ear-grabbing sounds, you'll love Reaktor. Native Instruments' flagship softsynth isn't just packed with cool presets; it's a set of more than 20 instruments, all of them packed with cool presets. In this hands-on tutorial, MIDI guru Jim Aikin uncovers expressive features most Reaktor owners overlook.

What Is Screencasting
by Jon Udell
November 16, 2005

Whether it's for a tutorial, a how-to, or a software review, if you have a product you'd like to explain to other users, screencasting—the art of screen recording with audio narration—can be both easier and more effective than written descriptions accompanied by static screen shots. Jon Udell walks you through how to make, edit, and deliver compelling screencasts.

Inside a Luxury Synth: Creating the Linux-Powered Korg OASYS
by Peter Kirn
November 09, 2005

Defying the trend toward ever-cheaper plastic gear and soulless soft synths, this super-keyboard is designed to rock the world for years to come. Create Digital Music's Peter Kirn goes behind the scenes at Korg USA to learn how the designers finally built the dream instrument they'd been planning for 15 years.

MythTV Part 3: Getting Quiet Enough for the Living Room
by Matthew Gast
November 02, 2005

My MythTV system sits on top of the television in the living room, which means it's subject to much more rigorous noise standards than my other computers. While some fan noise is expected, the white noise is much more distracting when it comes from the home theater. Here's how I tackled this problem.

October 2005

Vince Lawrence: 8,000 Square Feet of iTunes
by Randy Alberts
October 26, 2005

Step inside the cavernous studio of Chicago's Slang Musicgroup, where teams of computer-packing producers create hit songs and remixes in a vast range of styles—inspired by 20,000 CDs worth of networked iTunes.

Analog Fuel for Digital Audio: Great New AES Gear
by Gina Fant-Saez
October 19, 2005

Studio pro Gina Fant-Saez hit the recent Audio Engineering Society show with a mission: find great-sounding gear to help project-studio musicians achieve the highest quality possible. Here's her hands-on report from the booths of the boutique audio companies.

Canon 5D: First Impressions
by James Duncan Davidson
October 12, 2005

The first thing that's noticeable about the EOS 5D is that it is a full-frame camera. I took a shot out of my hotel window with an EF 24-70 L zoom lens at 24mm. My reaction was, "So that's where my wide-angle has been hiding all these years." James Duncan Davidson reports on the Canon 5D after his first assignment with it.

How to Record a Podcast Interview
by Glenn Fleishman
October 11, 2005

Podcasting interviews involve two distinct tasks. First you have to record the audio and prepare it for listening. Then you need to syndicate it via RSS so others can subscribe to your programs. In this tutorial, Glenn Fleishman shows you some nifty tricks for recording your audio, especially if you want to capture phone interviews for syndication.

Hacking Your Car: How to Get Clean Audio and Video Signals into Your Car
by Damien Stolarz
October 05, 2005

In the living room, red, white, and yellow RCA jacks are the universal standard for input. Wouldn't it be nice if car manufacturers did the same and put these jacks in your car? Car PC Hacks author Damien Stolarz thinks so, and shows you how to hack your ride to get a clean audio and video signal into your car.

Build an Enhanced MP3 Player for Your Site
by David Battino
October 05, 2005

Last time, we showed you how to build a simple pop-up MP3 player for your website with no complex Flash, redundant windows, or unpredictable plugins. A sneaky bit of JavaScript was all you needed to deliver smart-looking audio playback for your visitors. But what if you want to include a photo and caption with the song as well? A few more lines of JavaScript is all it takes.

September 2005

Featured Photographer
Nate Howard: Midwestern Photographer in Iraq
by Derrick Story
September 28, 2005

A photojournalist from Rochester, Minnesota is assigned to cover a local transportation unit on duty in Iraq. The images that Nate Howard returned with document the Iraqi people and American soldiers from a compassionate point of view.

Julian Kwasneski: Inside Game Audio
by Randy Alberts
September 21, 2005

If you've played Star Wars, The Lord of the Rings, Indiana Jones, James Bond, or any number of NBA, NFL, PGA, or NCCA console games, you've likely heard the music and sound effects of Bay Area Sound. Cofounder Julian Kwasneski takes us inside the process of optimizing audio for games, then shares five MP3s.

Hacking Digital Video
by Josh Paul
September 14, 2005

Need an inexpensive dolly to capture moving footage? Want to have some fun turning digital video into Matrix-style symbols? How about learning a way to create text on screen? You'll find hacks that provide the answers to these questions, and more, in these excerpts from Digital Video Hacks. If you're a digital video addict, be sure to check out the book for more hacks you'll find you can't live without.

Hosting Your Podcasts
by Jack Herrington
September 07, 2005

Once you've created an MP3 of your podcast, where do you store it? And since podcast files are much larger than HTML files or JPEG images, what about bandwidth? Jack Herrington offers several solutions to the podcast hosting problem, from using a dedicated service to reusing your blog or using your own ISP. Jack is the author of Podcasting Hacks.

The Synful Orchestra: Better Music Through Database Splicing
by Randy Alberts
September 07, 2005

Eric Lindemann’s goal is to help musicians play more expressively, and this inventor, composer, and former session keyboardist has developed some groundbreaking technology to do it. The Synful Orchestra is a new concept in virtual instruments that has audiences buzzing. Here’s how it works.

August 2005

What's New in CS2?
by Jennifer Alspach
August 31, 2005

What's new in Creative Suite 2 (CS2)? Jennifer Alspach runs down the list of the most compelling features in each CS2 app: InDesign, Photoshop, Illustrator, GoLive, Acrobat, and Version Cue, as well as Bridge, the new connector program in CS2. Jennifer is a coauthor of the upcoming Adobe Creative Suite 2 Workflow (December 2005) from O'Reilly.

Review: Fervent Software Studio To Go!
by Brad Fuller
August 31, 2005

Pop this CD-ROM into any recent PC and it will boot up as a powerful Linux music workstation with tons of cool software. Eject the CD, and you're back to normal. Linux music expert Brad Fuller takes the world's roundest and flattest portable studio for a spin.

Mobile Video: Working with MPEG-4 Clips on Mobile Phones
by Doug Dixon
August 24, 2005

MPEG-4 files can be struggle to work with, but the format is so good it's worth taming. In this article, Douglas Dixon uses the QuickTime Player to view and deconstruct clips created by several camera phones. He examines the details of the MPEG-4 format for mobile phones--called 3GPP--and works around some of the idiosyncrasies of how different devices create slightly different formats.

Hands On: Ableton Live 5
by Jim Aikin
August 24, 2005

This premier music-production program gained massive features in its latest upgrade. Here are step-by-step recipes for shuffling beats, gating pads, extracting hits, maximizing MIDI, and much more.

Roger Manning, Jr.: The Digital Cookbook
by Randy Alberts
August 17, 2005

The analog virtuoso behind the Moog Cookbook, Beck, Jellyfish, Imperial Drag, and countless ads and soundtracks shares his tasty digital production tips.

Building My MythTV Box, Part 2: Software
by Matthew Gast
August 17, 2005

A MythTV computer makes HDTV much better. In the first article in this series, Matthew Gast went through picking out the hardware for his new machine. Now, it's time to make the software work. Here are all the details.

Important Notice for Digital Media Readers About O'Reilly RSS and Atom Feeds

August 16, 2005

O'Reilly Media, Inc. is rolling out a new syndication mechanism that provides greater control over the content we publish online. You'll notice some improvements immediately, such as better standards compliance, graphical tiles accompanying article descriptions, and enclosure support for podcatching applications. We've tested the new feeds using a variety of popular newsreaders and aggregators, but we realize that there may be a few bumps along the way. If you experience problems, please don't hesitate to send mail to webmaster@oreilly.com. Please include detail about your operating system and reader applications. We also welcome your suggestions. Thank you for your continued support of O'Reilly Digital Media.

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Ten Tips for Improving Your Podcasts
by Jack Herrington
August 10, 2005

Jack Herrington, author of Podcasting Hacks, offers his top ten suggestions for creating great podcasts. He starts with the basics: reducing noise, getting a good microphone, proper microphone technique, show prep, and format; and closes with tips that deal with improving the content of your show.

Doug Wyatt: Architect of Synchronicity
by Randy Alberts
August 10, 2005

Open Music System (OMS) mastermind Doug Wyatt is wrapping up a new ambient CD, and we go behind the scenes to explore his unique programming and recording techniques. Never has digital music been so analog.

Revenge of the Combinator
by Jim Aikin
August 03, 2005

When Propellerhead Software unveiled the Combinator in Reason 3.0, many musicians scratched their heads. But this misunderstood meta-module lets you create monstrous new instruments. Learn how in this hands-on tutorial.

July 2005

What Is Vlogging (and How to Get Started)
by Josh Paul
July 27, 2005

Short for "video blogging," vlogging is another way to take advantage of the RSS enclosure tag. Josh Paul, author of "Digital Video Hacks," explains vlogging and shows you how to get your videos into the iTunes Music Store.

Country Music’s Digital Surprise
by Spencer Critchley
July 27, 2005

Some of the most cutting-edge music production is going on in Nashville. Join producer Spencer Critchley for a behind-the-scenes tour through the computer-powered recording sessions for “When I See You Smile,” Bo Billy’s acclaimed country remake of the hit Bad English song. Includes 18 MP3 examples.

What Is Podcasting
by Phillip Torrone
July 20, 2005

So, you're ready to hop on the podcasting bandwagon, but you're not sure how to get started? This article by Phillip Torrone briefly describes what podcasting is and the software you'll need, then takes you right to the fun with a comprehensive step-by-step guide to podcast production. From recording to editing to publishing and syndicating your podcasts, Phillip covers everything you need to know to serve up your first podcasts.

Gary Garritan: A Personal Orchestra for Everyone
by Randy Alberts
July 20, 2005

Producer Gary Garritan has made it his mission to put a high-quality digital orchestra in your hands—along with extensive free training. Hear how composers have seized the opportunity.

My Favorite Macworld Product: The IRISPen
by Adam Goldstein
July 19, 2005

Have you ever said, "If I learn just one great thing, then the whole conference was worth attending"? At Macworld Boston Adam Goldstein discovered the IRISPen, and he shares the details of this handy text-scanning device with us.

My Five Favorite Soft Synths
by Jim Aikin
July 13, 2005

Looking for sonic inspiration? Synthesizer guru Jim Aikin reveals his top five virtual instruments, explains why they’re great, and shares custom MP3 examples.

The Ultimate Portable Studio, part 2
by Gina Fant-Saez
July 06, 2005

Last week, Gina Fant-Saez walked us through the essentials of setting up a laptop-based professional recording studio. This week, she shares seven enhancements that make it truly sing.

Featured Photographer
Scott Haefner: View from Above
by Derrick Story
July 06, 2005

Landscapes that look commonplace at ground level come to life when photographed from above. Scott Haefner suspends his Nikon 5000 from a kite and uses a radio controller to pan, tilt, rotate, and trip the shutter. His images combine technical prowess with a truly unique artistic eye.

June 2005

The Ultimate Portable Studio
by Gina Fant-Saez
June 29, 2005

If you’re a musician, producer, engineer, or songwriter who wants to set up a professional, laptop-based recording studio, here’s all the information you need.

Seven Steps to Noise-Free Digital Audio
by Bruce Fries
June 22, 2005

Virtually all audio recordings will contain some amount of noise. Learn what causes it, how to avoid it, and how to remove it from your files. Based on Digital Audio Essentials by Bruce and Marty Fries.

Building My MythTV Box, Part 1: Hardware
by Matthew Gast
June 22, 2005

While the Broadcast Flag battle continues, it's still legal to put together your own home-theater PC. Matthew Gast has begun constructing his system and covers hardware in this first installment of the series.

Adam Williams: Massive Guitars, Micro Computers
by Randy Alberts
June 15, 2005

The former Powerman 5000 guitarist reveals how to make huge guitar sounds on a home computer—without waking the neighbors—then shares loads of MP3 examples.

Bring Your MIDI Music to Life
by Jim Aikin
June 08, 2005

Last week, we discussed what to look for in MIDI hardware controllers. This time, we share numerous tips on getting the best musical expression out of them—both through playing technique and crafty computer editing.

Look Ma—Hands! Choosing and Using MIDI Controllers
by Jim Aikin
June 01, 2005

If you really want to play today’s wonderful software instruments, drop that mouse and grab a dedicated MIDI controller. In this MP3-enhanced tutorial, you’ll hear the dramatic difference controllers make in musical expressivity, then get buying and usage tips.

May 2005

Steve Turnidge: Turning Weed into Green
by Randy Alberts
May 25, 2005

Go behind the scenes with the co-founder of Weedshare.com, the service that pays you--and the original artist--to share music. Driven by ex-Microsoft and Real Networks employees, Weed is totally legal, and even supports surround sound.

Consumer Camera Time-Lapse Movies
by Scott Forst, brian d foy
May 18, 2005

Pocket digicams are great for still photos, and some of them even record quality video. But you can push the envelope even further with these devices, such as by creating time-lapse movies. Here's how two photo novices created their first production.

Review: Olympus DS-2 Stereo Voice Recorder
by David Battino
May 18, 2005

The world is filled with amazing sounds and ideas. Here's a pocket-size gadget that lets you capture them covertly--in full 44.1kHz digital stereo. It's a thumb drive, too.

Featured Photographer
Ed Carreon: Making the Connection
by Derrick Story
May 11, 2005

During a four-month visit to a remote village in Mexico, Ed Carreon photographed a world with one foot still in the past, a distant place he had heard about as a boy through family stories. His images capture the beauty and the struggle of a land that few of us will ever see.

Hands On: Create Insane Reason Grooves
by Jim Aikin
May 04, 2005

Don’t settle for the same loop everyone else is using! This MP3-packed tutorial shows how to blast beats apart in Propellerhead Reason, then shape them into unique, twisted grooves.

On the Go with the Motorola MPx220 Camera Phone
by Todd Ogasawara
May 04, 2005

The Motorola MPx220 is a 3.88-ounce, portable multimedia tool cleverly disguised as a mobile phone. The ROM-based Microsoft Windows Media Player can play back MP3 and WMA audio, as well as WMV video files. The integrated camera can record 1.3-megapixel still photos. Todd Ogasawara explores all in this in-depth review.

April 2005

Make Your Own Music Software with Pure Data
by Jim Aikin
April 27, 2005

With Pd (Pure Data), the graphical music toolkit for Windows, Linux, and Mac, you can wire up custom music programs no commercial software can duplicate--for free. Generate and process complex streams of MIDI and audio for live performance, build your own software synthesizer and effects, and even process video. Here's how to get started.

Johnny “Juice” Rosado: Digital Public Enemy
by Randy Alberts
April 20, 2005

Chuck D’s right-hand man explains the high-tech (and surprisingly low-tech) secrets behind the Public Enemy sound, then shares a track from the group’s upcoming album.

An Interview with Jack Kelliher of pcHDTV
by Matthew Gast
April 20, 2005

Open source is alive and well in the realm of digital video recording and HDTV--that is, unless the broadcast flag becomes a reality. This compelling interview with Jack Kelliher provides insight about the broadcast flag and illustrates the value of preserving open source coding in digital media.

Inside FL Studio--Euro Techno's Secret Weapon, Part 2
by Jim Aikin
April 13, 2005

In part one of this series, synthesizer guru Jim Aikin introduced the popular software formerly known as FruityLoops. This time, he goes deep, sharing insider tips for using precomputed effects, external MIDI hardware, and MIDI controller data.

The File Manager Is Dead. Long Live the Lifeblog
by Giles Turnbull
April 06, 2005

Christian Lindholm wants us to change the way we think about electronic media, especially the way we store and archive it all. As part of his work for Nokia, he's championing the Lifeblog era. Find out how it can revolutionize the way you think about digital media.

Inside FL Studio—Euro Techno’s Secret Weapon, Part 1
by Jim Aikin
April 06, 2005

The software formerly known as Fruityloops delivers exceptional music-making power for an amazingly low price. This tutorial explores some of its little-known but cool features while also bringing newcomers up to speed.

Create Podcasts Using Your PC
by Jake Ludington
April 05, 2005

Want to create a podcast? It's simpler than you think. Jake Ludington shows you how to do it using tools virtually everyone has or can easily acquire on a tiny budget.

March 2005

Revving Up Photoshop Elements 3 for Windows
by Barbara Brundage
March 30, 2005

Photoshop Elements 3 offers lots of great new features and tools. Unfortunately, you may find its performance isn't always as up to snuff. Barbara Brundage, author of Photoshop Elements 3: The Missing Manual, rounds up some of the most useful hints for revving up Elements' performance and keeping it running smoothly.

BJ Leiderman: Rocking the Bottom of the Dial
by Randy Alberts
March 30, 2005

Meet BJ Leiderman, the melodic mastermind behind National Public Radio’s Morning Edition, PRI’s Marketplace, and countless more unstoppable themes. Then hear two previously unreleased demo songs—with commentary.

HDTV on Your Mac
by Erica Sadun
March 29, 2005

Even though the Mac is a little late to the HDTV party, you can roll your own setup for not too much time or money. Erica Sadun shows you how.

Resurrect Your Old PC for Music—with Linux
by Brad Fuller
March 23, 2005

Dig that clunker out of the closet! This step-by-step guide explains how to upgrade even a 486-based PC to an efficient, Linux-powered music machine. Total cost? About ten cents for a blank CD.

Doc Wiley: Master of the 30-Hour Album
by Randy Alberts
March 16, 2005

Pro Tools wiz Doc Wiley combines studio psychology and cutting-edge technology to coax the best performances out of artists ranging from U2 to Whitney Houston. Here are some of his favorite approaches.

Featured Photographer
Andrew Ilachinski: Tao of Photography
by Derrick Story
March 16, 2005

Andrew Ilachinski displays his unabashed joy in finding the sacred in everyday life. In this series of flower images, you'll see these subjects in a new light, and one that hopefully inspires you to go out and record your vision to share with others.

Receive Podcasts Using Your PC
by Jake Ludington
March 15, 2005

Receiving podcasts using free software, your PC, and a portable music player is a snap. Jake Ludington shows you how to do it in a few easy steps.

High Tech Hybrid: the Casio EX-P505 Digital Camera
by Derrick Story
March 09, 2005

The Casio EX-P505 is a smart-looking, 5-megapixel camera that fits in the palm of your hand. It captures full frame, full motion digital movies with ease, and it's packed with creative features sure to stir the imagination of fun-loving photographers. Derrick Story helps you decide if this is a high-tech toy or a real photographic tool.

Turn Your Mac into an Audio Transcriber
by David Battino
March 09, 2005

With these simple AppleScripts, you can transform the QuickTime Player into a virtual Dictaphone. Control playback of songs and movies from your word processor—or any app. Slow them down, speed them up, bookmark the current location. Here’s how.

Canon PowerShot SD200: A Big Little Camera
by Todd Ogasawara
March 02, 2005

In these days of megapixel madness, why would we care about a 3-megapixel point and shoot? Here are a few reasons why: big screen, big performance, small size, affordable price. Here's our user report of the Canon SD200.

Roger McGuinn: 8 Drives High
by Randy Alberts
March 02, 2005

Former Byrds guitarist Roger McGuinn was shot down by record companies that grabbed nearly all of the profits from his hit songs. Now he builds his own computers, records at home, and sells directly to fans.

February 2005

Actions for Photoshop Elements 3
by Barbara Brundage
February 23, 2005

Want to automate a complicated artistic effect, like making a photo look like a watercolor, or adding a 3-D frame? Photoshop Elements 3 makes these tasks easy with actions. Barbara Brundage, author of Photoshop Elements 3: The Missing Manual, shows you how to write, install, and troubleshoot actions in Elements 3, for the Mac or Windows.

Build a Simple MP3 Player for Your Site
by David Battino
February 23, 2005

You don’t have to monkey with Flash, redundant windows, or unpredictable plugins to deliver smart-looking audio playback for your visitors. With this sneaky bit of JavaScript, you can generate pop-up music players on the fly.

Getting Started with Ableton Live
by Scott Tusa
February 16, 2005

Designed by musicians who wanted to use the recording studio as an instrument, this inspiring program is a sequencer you can play. Start making music today with this step-by-step walkthrough.

Featured Photographer
Raymond Soemarsono: Natural Eye
by Derrick Story
February 16, 2005

Some people are meant to be artists. Self-taught photographer Raymond Soemarsono has a natural eye for composing stunning landscape scenes, then taming his digital camera to record them according to his vision. His gallery features many places with which you're probably familiar. Maybe it's time to get in the car and revisit them?

Make Your Own Software Synth, Part 3
by Rick Jelliffe
February 09, 2005

In Part 1, you heard what’s possible with the shareware SynthEdit program. Part 2 walked you through building a playable instrument. We now conclude with the insider details of SynthEdit operation so you can polish your creations to a glossy shine.

High Definition in Focus at 2005 Sundance Festival
by Susan Boyer
February 09, 2005

Cheaper than film, bigger and better than plain, old digital video, high-definition digital video definitely came into its own during this year's Sundance Film Festival. According to Sony, nearly half of the features, documentaries, and shorts screened in Park City were shot in HD. Susan Boyer reports.

Make Your Own Software Synth, Part 2
by Rick Jelliffe
February 02, 2005

In Part 1, you heard what's possible with SynthEdit, the Windows shareware program that helps you build your own software synthesizers and effects. This time, we dive in and build a playable instrument, step by step.

Schedule HackTV with iCal
by Erica Sadun
February 02, 2005

In this second article in a series about watching TV with Apple's (free) HackTV utility, you'll learn how to convert your Mac to a low-end but working PVR. You'll see how to control HackTV through Apple's GUI scripting extensions for AppleScript (at least as much as Mac OS X will let you) and how to schedule your recordings with iCal.

Output Like a Pro with iPhoto 5
by Derrick Story
February 01, 2005

Earlier I discussed how iPhoto 5's RAW capability lets you input like a pro. But some of its new output features are quite sophisticated, too. Here's a look at how to create sophisticated slideshows and QuickTime downloads using only iPhoto 5.

January 2005

Make Your Own Software Synth, Part 1
by Rick Jelliffe
January 26, 2005

Download the SynthEdit program, follow this straightforward tutorial, and you'll soon be making your own software synthesizers and effects.

Build Your Own PVR (for free) with HackTV
by Erica Sadun
January 26, 2005

HackTV is a developer app for Mac OS X that you can download for free. It enables you to watch TV (or any video source) on your Mac. Better yet, it enables you to download that content to your hard drive. Erica Sadun shows you the ins and outs of HackTV.

How to Record a Podcast
by Glenn Fleishman
January 25, 2005

Podcasting involves two distinct tasks. First you have to record the audio and prepare it for listening. Then you need to syndicate it via RSS so others can subscribe to your programs. In this tutorial, Glenn Fleishman shows you some nifty tricks for recording your audio, especially if you want to capture phone interviews for syndication.

The Angel with Digital Wings
by Randy Alberts
January 19, 2005

Fusing hip-hop, drum ’n’ bass, movie soundtracks, and cutting-edge digital workstation technology, The Angel creates music that’s essential listening.

Frank Serafine: Turning Elephants into Explosions
by Randy Alberts
January 12, 2005

Academy Award-winning sound designer Frank Serafine discusses the art and science of sound effects, tape-baking, and why selling all his analog gear on eBay made him happier musically.

Featured Photographer
Ofer Halevi: The Art of Juxtaposition
by Derrick Story
January 12, 2005

Whether it's a man standing beside a mannequin in Amsterdam, or a poster of Rabin staring up at a passerby in Israel, Ofer Halevi has an eye for recording the juxtaposition of people and their inanimate environment. In this portfolio you can experience Ofer's passion for detail, interaction, and patterns.

Interview: Tal Herzberg, the Long Arm of the DAW
by Randy Alberts
January 05, 2005

Producer/engineer Tal Herzberg shares the digital audio techniques that earned him Grammy nominations for Best Engineered Non-Classical Album and Record of the Year.

Time-Saving Digital GEM Plug-Ins for Photoshop
by Derrick Story
January 05, 2005

Removing noise from images or trying to retouch facial blemishes is time-consuming work. Fortunately these Photoshop plug-ins from Kodak's Austin Development Center can help photographers work more efficiently. Derrick Story takes them for a spin.

December 2004

Designing Musical Instruments for Flow
by Spencer Critchley
December 29, 2004

Musicians live for “flow,” that wonderful sense of being lost in an activity, so why do so many of today’s musical instrument designs sabotage it? A group of top players and designers recently figured out the problem—and the solution.

Exporting QuickTime Movies with Simple Video Out X
by Erica Sadun
December 22, 2004

You have great QuickTime content in your computer, but it seems not so easy to play it on a TV or send it to a VCR or DVD recorder without firing up iMovie or Final Cut. Or is it? Erica Sadun has discovered a simple but powerful (and free) application that makes exporting QuickTime as fun as watching it.

Sync and Grow Rich
by David Battino
December 15, 2004

Tempo sync is an amazingly effective technique for music and video production. Here’s how to get creative with it.

Tired of Inkjet Snapshots? The Canon CP-220 to the Rescue
by Derrick Story
December 08, 2004

I have a love/hate relationship with my inkjet printer. Love it for business forms and enlargements. Hate it when trying to print simple 4x6 snapshots. What a hassle! I tested the Canon CP-220 dye sub printer, and I'm never going back to inkjet snapshot prints.

The Blind Men and the Digital Elephant
by Ron Kuper
December 08, 2004

Digital music-making tools are astonishingly powerful and inexpensive. Why aren't more people using them? The CTO of Cakewalk thinks he knows the answer.

Reeking Havok with the Experience Music Project
by Randy Alberts
December 01, 2004

High-tech drummer Reek Havok develops interactive music technology for Seattle’s Experience Music Project museum. In this interview, he takes you behind the scenes and shares his software groove secrets.

Featured Photographer
Greg Kessler: Rock and Roll Shooter
by Derrick Story
December 01, 2004

Greg Kessler has photographed plenty of well known artists in the music industry, including the likes of Phish, Bela Fleck and the Flecktones, String Cheese Incident, and Of A Revolution (O.A.R.). In this portfolio, he not only presents the captivating images, Greg also includes anecdotes about the subjects themselves.

November 2004

Interview: GrandMixer DXT Scratches Deep into Digital
by Randy Alberts
November 24, 2004

The drummer who introduced vinyl scratching to the world, GrandMixer DXT, reveals how to add expressive rhythms to digital music production.

Creating iPod Tattoos
by Tony Williams
November 17, 2004

One of the benefits of the Apple-HP iPod partnership is HP's clever idea to let iPod owners customize their devices using "tattoos." You can download predesigned ones from the HP site, or create your own with an inkjet printer. Tony Williams shows you how.

Transferring Presentations to DVD with DVDSP 3
by Marc Loy
November 10, 2004

Marc Loy, author of DVD Studio Pro 3: In the Studio, brings you yet another way to embrace the digital video revolution. In this article, Marc shows you how to transfer your presentations onto DVD for archive and distribution purposes. Learn how to extract each slide or extract a movie of the presentation. The end result? Simple and impressive.

Could Ringtones BE More Annoying?!
by Peter Drescher
November 10, 2004

People absolutely LOVE annoying ringtones, and the annoying effect they have on everybody else around them. This is REALLY GOOD NEWS for those of us in the audio business.

Fun iPod Tricks
by Wei-Meng Lee
November 09, 2004

Seems like everyday someone figures out new and cool things to do with the iPod. Wei-Meng Lee discusses five of his favorite discoveries, including podcasting and internet radio, in this survey of fun iPod tricks.

Featured Photographer
Nick deCarlo: Point of View
by Derrick Story
November 03, 2004

Nick deCarlo's approach to photography is similar to the classically trained musician who first masters scales, then turns to jazz later in his career. Nick studies every element in the composition before firing the shutter of his Canon 20D. "I like images that combine reality and impressionism," he says. See what you think in this selected gallery of Nick's images.

Automatically Import Images into iPhoto
by brian d foy
November 03, 2004

If you're using a Mac OS X Bluetooth-enabled laptop with a Bluetooth camera phone, it seems like it would be easy to automate the process of moving images from the phone to iPhoto. Wonk! Not true. There are potholes along the way. In this article, brian d foy does his best to fill those dips in the road and create a fully automatic image transfer process.

Interview: Gina Fant-Saez Builds the Global Studio
by Randy Alberts
November 03, 2004

Top recording engineer Gina Fant-Saez (Sting, U2, King Crimson) unveils her laptop studio and web-based collaboration network that offers renowned session musicians to play on your songs.

October 2004

Hacking iPod and iTunes
by Hadley Stern
October 28, 2004

Hadley Stern, author of iPod and iTunes Hacks, has chosen five useful hacks to help you push the envelope of your iPod's capabilities. Your favorite toy just got better; learn how to turn your iPod into a universal remote, install it in your car permanently, and run Linux on it. In addition, make smart playlists and tame iTunes with AppleScript.

Interview: Carmen Rizzo—Synthesizing the World
by Randy Alberts
October 26, 2004

If Carmen Rizzo were in a circus, he'd be its best juggler. It's amazing how this Hollywood-based producer, composer, and remixer keeps artists, songs, technologies, concerts, films, studios, continents, and even trustees aloft. Appropriately, one of his remixes appears this year on Cirque du Soleil's 20th Anniversary CD.

Sneaky Tricks for Speech Synthesizers
by David Battino
October 26, 2004

Surprisingly, synthetic speech can add a captivating human aspect to your music. Here are several creative (and free) ways to use speech synthesizers.

Eight Great Tips for DVDSP 3
by Marc Loy
October 20, 2004

Marc Loy, author of DVD Studio Pro 3: In the Studio, has chosen eight tips to demystify the process of DVD design and authoring. Coming straight from a seasoned veteran, these tips will help save you hours of wasted time and frustration, so that you can spend your time productively, making DVDs like a pro. Learn how to use Photoshop for layering menus, get in touch with graphical view, use A.Pack for all of your audio, and override remote control options.

Digital TV without the Subscription
by Matthew Gast
October 14, 2004

Terrestrial digital TV is traditional land-based antenna broadcast, as opposed to cable or satellite television. And it's free. You don't need to pay hefty subscription prices to enjoy quality digital TV, and Matthew Gast shows you how to set it up.

The Canon 20D DSLR: First Impressions in the Field
by Randal L. Schwartz
October 06, 2004

Serious amateur digital photographers who have avoided pricey DSLRs can now put their compact digital cameras aside and get serious with the new Canon 20D digital SLR. With camera in hand, Randal Schwartz reports from the field.

September 2004

Pepcom "Holiday Spectacular" Event Offers Early View of New Digital Cameras, MP3 Players and More
by Daniel Dern
September 29, 2004

Pepcom's Holiday Spectacular (NYC) provided a good look at a roomful of mostly consumer and professional products: digital cameras, camcorders, and related peripherals; MP3 players; handhelds and PDAs; cell phones; notebook computers; and some random doodads and doohickeys. Daniel Dern reports.

Move Beyond Amateur Filmmaking
by Susan Boyer
September 29, 2004

The jump from casual video recording to professional filmmaking requires more steps than many artists realize. Sonoma County filmmaker Susan Boyer walks you through the paces in this illuminating article.

A Quick Guide to Digital Shoeboxes
by Giles Turnbull
September 22, 2004

You like taking all of those digital photos, but what do you do with them after you put them on your computer? Giles Turnbull looks at four digital shoeboxes that can help you organize your image library.

Featured Photographer
Jay Yao: Fashion with a Flair
by Derrick Story
September 22, 2004

The work of Jay Yao combines visual beauty with narrative. Even though his fashion images have a distinct New York City flair, there's often an element of surprise that moves his work well beyond pretty pictures of attractive women. See for yourself.

Tasteful Food Photography
by Simone Paddock
September 15, 2004

Food photography traditionally has been the realm of a handful of weathered professionals. So for the casual shooter or even the ambitious amateur, getting great food shots can seem like an intimidating and daunting task at best. But it doesn't have to be that way. Simone Paddock shows you how.

Machinima: Filmmaking's Destiny
by Paul Marino
September 08, 2004

Machinima is filmmaking redefined -- a merging of three creative mediums: filmmaking, animation, and 3D game technology. It's animated filmmaking within a real-time 3D virtual environment. Paul Marion takes you on a tour.

Professional Product Shots Made Easy
by Derrick Story
September 01, 2004

How do you get professional-looking product shots without spending a ransom on equipment and studio space? Here are a few clues: wireless flash, umbrella softbox, and a trip to the hardware store. Derrick Story shows you how to shoot products like a pro--with an amateur's budget.

August 2004

Create Self-Booting Movie CDs
by Robert Bernier
August 26, 2004

Self-booting Linux distributions are really, really cool. They can also be really, really useful, and not just for system administrators or gamers. Robert Bernier demonstrates how he turns his precious DVDs into self-booting Linux CDs that his son can take with him.

Go Wide with Digital Panoramas
by Jack Herrington
August 25, 2004

Tired of telling people, "It looked much bigger when I was there"? Digital panoramas let you re-create the same magnificent feeling that moved you to click the shutter in the first place. Jack Herrington shows you how.

Featured Photographer
Julian Cash: Interactive Photographer
by Derrick Story
August 25, 2004

Julian Cash's evocative style blends photographic technique with his ability to interact with subjects and ultimately evoke a compelling image. You can experience Julian's work through this portfolio.

June 2004

An Interview with Derrick Story (Digital Photo Hacker at Large)
by Kathryn Barrett
June 08, 2004

Over the years, photography and the technology behind it have provided plenty of material for creative thinkers, making it a natural fit for the hacker spirit. In this interview with Derrick Story, O'Reilly's resident photo hacker, he talks about the direction of digital imaging, what makes it cool, and new ways that you can push the limits of your photography.

A Survey of DVD Recording Formats
by Wei-Meng Lee
June 07, 2004

Wei-Meng Lee writes of his quest for the right DVD writer to buy. After surveying the various DVD recording formats (DVD-R, DVD-RW, DVD+RW, DVD+R, DVD-RAM, and DVD-RW DL), as well as some of the DVD writers currently available on the market, Wei-Meng offers his recommendations.

May 2004

The Missing Digital Photography Hacks
by Derrick Story
May 11, 2004

The quest to compile compelling hacks is not something I can just turn off now that Digital Photography Hacks has hit the streets. It's an addictive process. And I admit it; I can't stop. So here are five brand-new tips for you to explore.

March 2004

End of Shutter Lag? The Contax SL300R T* Might Be the Sign of Good Things to Come
by Derrick Story
March 09, 2004

Kyocera's RTUNE technology provides amazing performance in a digital camera that fits easily in your shirt pocket. Is this the beginning of the end for shutter lag? Derrick Story examines the Contax SL300R T* and shows you how the bar has been raised for pocket digicams.

Next-Generation File Sharing with Social Networks
by Robert Kaye
March 05, 2004

At the recent O'Reilly Emerging Technology Conference in San Diego, CA, Robert Kaye lead a talk on "Next-Generation File Sharing with Social Software." For those who were able to attend, this essay builds upon that session. And if you missed the talk all together, you can now get up to speed.

February 2004

D.E.B.S.' Kickboxing Catholic School Girls Rule Sundance
by Susan Boyer
February 19, 2004

Over half of the movies screened at this year's Sundance Film Festival originated in digital video, including D.E.B.S., the story of kickboxing Catholic school girls out to defeat evil villains. Susan Boyer talks with Angela Robinson, D.E.B.S. director, as well as other filmmakers working in digital video, about the pros and cons of using the technology.

September 2003

The Case for Digital Video
by Susan Boyer
September 12, 2003

At the 2003 Los Angeles Film Festival, a panel featuring filmmaker Helmut Schleppi explored the issues and advantages--and dispelled some of the myths--of shooting in digital video.