222 - Bad reviews...

[RandyNose]

I just finished listening to 222. I've not seen the review, but I'll be looking for it. I do think that there was / are some language disparities, and that might be the cause for some of the angst. I'm going to have to look for some of the other Linux shows. (and ya, I still miss Marland Dunn, you ought to call him from time to time to join your show. I bet that he'd be flattered.)

As for the sound quality of your show. I've love to have it improved. So how about this. You guys start posting, and making mention of what type of stuff you'd like to have, and maybe Santa, and others, would start dropping stuff on your doorsteps. - And no, I won't be sending Beer and Cigars. Since I'm driving when you do air the show live, I catch the podcast. I used to run a BBS `back in the day', and know all about spending money on a computerized hobby. And the joy of 300 baud. LOL.

But I, as a listener would love to get Dann, or whoever has the noisy background, a headset boom mike that might not pick up on the other sounds. I know that I can't afford to get him a new "sound" studio, but I'd be willing to purchase outright any kind of mike or hardware that would help in this aspect, or at lest contribute up to $100.00 for one... You guys ARE important to the open source movement, and the advancement of Linux. No doubt. If a man speeding down the road at 75 Mph, talking into a microphone, with a computerized co-host can make a positive impact, the four of you sure can.

----
A few shows back. Someone was asking about the sprint devices...
http://www4.sprint.com/pcsbusiness/down ... _Guide.pdf
Or
http://www4.sprint.com/pcsbusiness/supp ... /index.jsp
And select Linux.
I'm using it now on my laptop.... Having less then a year experience with Linux, I have found your show, and the other places that it leads me to, as somewhat invaluable. And no, I'm not a command line jockey, like i used to be with the C:\ prompt, but I'm sure that I'll get there slowly, as the needs arise.

And may Santa bring awesome gifts to all of his little green dancing elves!
LOL!

R_

[Philus]

As for the sound quality of your show. I've love to have it improved. So how about this. You guys start posting, and making mention of what type of stuff you'd like to have, and maybe Santa, and others, would start dropping stuff on your doorsteps. - And no, I won't be sending Beer and Cigars. Since I'm driving when you do air the show live, I catch the podcast. I used to run a BBS `back in the day', and know all about spending money on a computerized hobby. And the joy of 300 baud. LOL.

But I, as a listener would love to get Dan, or whoever has the noisy background, a headset boom mike that might not pick up on the other sounds. I know that I can't afford to get him a new "sound" studio, but I'd be willing to purchase outright any kind of mike or hardware that would help in this aspect, or at lest contribute up to $100.00 for one... You guys ARE important to the open source movement, and the advancement of Linux. No doubt. If a man speeding down the road at 75 Mph, talking into a microphone, with a computerized co-host can make a positive impact, the four of you sure can.

I agree, danns background noise is sometimes the only thing I have to complain about. I'm not bothered by the occasional dropout or mishap, because you usually work it out fairly quick, but that noise is there ALL THE TIME! There's been a few episodes where Dann has been offline, and I mean.. it's just wonderful to not have to listen to that constant buzzing. Please try to do something about that.

[Wally Balljacker]

I think the problem is that Dann uses Levelator to try and smooth out the podcast version, and when there is dead air, Levelator amplifies the background noise in an attempt to keep the audio at a consistent volume.

[Patrick]

The background noise is coming from Dann's place. The easiest way to fix this is either get a microphone with an on/off switch or get a mixer with mute buttons on all the channels. The microphone route is cheaper so he'll be getting a new one.

[Patrick]

I think the problem is that Dann uses Levelator to try and smooth out the podcast version, and when there is dead air, Levelator amplifies the background noise in an attempt to keep the audio at a consistent volume.

Levelator is partly to blame and will amplify the background noise. I used levelator on episode 220. Do you hear American Idol cranked in the background or my clothes dryer finishing up?

[dann]

Hopefully I have my workstation issues taken care of so I will turn my focus to the noise issues. I agree, a mic with a mute button would be ideal. I need to find one that is not going to produce an audible click when muted and un-muted.

Additionally, I am going to look into move the server a bit to muffle some of the fan noise.

If only I could move my the server somewhere else, but I really don't have a place to put it. I don't think the wife would like me moving it into the living room or kitchen.

Now if someone wants to cough up one of those really sweet amd servers that are practically noiseless!

[Philus]

Hopefully I have my workstation issues taken care of so I will turn my focus to the noise issues. I agree, a mic with a mute button would be ideal. I need to find one that is not going to produce an audible click when muted and un-muted.

Additionally, I am going to look into move the server a bit to muffle some of the fan noise.

Is there a web page or forum post that explains your sound setup in any way? Like, the sound from the asterisk server goes into the mixer, master out from mixer goes into some box with an obnoxiously loud fan, and so on.. Am I close? That way, it would be easier to suggest improvements or alternative ways of doing things..
Have you tried JACK? I really love it, I just wish more apps (particularly VoIP clients) would support it natively. Maybe I have to touch up on my programming skills and port some myself.. too bad skype isn't open source.

WRT the noise from your mic, it would help a lot if the mic was muted whenever you're not talking. A gate will do that for you. Using jack and jack-rack, this could be done in software. You could even throw in a notch filter to suppress the noise.. Endless possibilities!

[mowestusa]

Have you tried JACK? I really love it, I just wish more apps (particularly VoIP clients) would support it natively. Maybe I have to touch up on my programming skills and port some myself.. too bad skype isn't open source.

WRT the noise from your mic, it would help a lot if the mic was muted whenever you're not talking. A gate will do that for you. Using jack and jack-rack, this could be done in software. You could even throw in a notch filter to suppress the noise.. Endless possibilities!

I was going to suggest a gate as well. I have a high quality gate with compressor and it only cost $120. If you simply want a gate I would think that you could get a hardware gate for under $100 if you don't need the compressor and other stuff built in. Actually didn't you guys get the Behrenger Composer?

Also the JACK option is great because it is all software, and you could add all sorts of stuff through there for free.

Finally, couldn't you use the Audacity Noise filter on the show to remove the server fan noise and other things, by highlighting a "long pause" and then run the noise filter against that sample?

I would also like to say that I actually don't mind the background noise, nor do I feel it decreases the quality of the show. I don't expect you to have a studio production like I make for my work. I expect a live show with background noise and other technical difficulties because it is four guys in four different houses talking on the phone together about Linux and interviewing amazing guests from the Linux world.

It is unbelievable what you guys do with no money, no big name sponsors, and families to take care of. I'm personally happy that the language has been cleaned up a lot, and that alone makes the show more professional and easier to recommend to friends.

- I listen to Sourcetrunk for his great reviews, and to drool over beers I will never get to taste.
- I listen to Linux Reality to learn something new every week about my systems.
- I listen to Lotta Linux Links to find out about unique programs and unique tools that I can use with Linux, and Dave is just so down to earth, it is fun to ride in his car each week.
- I listen to Linux Outlaws because they touch on topics and news that I enjoy, and they are really trying hard to do a great job.
- I listen to Linux Action Show for the news bits and sometimes they go into a nice how to on an advanced topic.
- I listen to LugRadio mostly for the interviews they have with Linux people on the other side of the pond, and their newest season is their best in my opinion, more professional, more varied content, and not as much just airing their random thoughts.
- I listen to TLLTS because you guys have become my LUG when I can't get to LUG meetings. You have helped me solve so many issues as hosts, and as a community. I also listen because your interviews are the best in my opinion. You were also the first podcast I listened to, and the only live show I have listened to and participated with by using the IRC on Wednesday nights. Thanks for a great show.

All of the Linux shows offer me something, and my time in the car has become more fun since loading them on to my mp3 player.

[Philus]

I would also like to say that I actually don't mind the background noise, nor do I feel it decreases the quality of the show. I don't expect you to have a studio production like I make for my work. I expect a live show with background noise and other technical difficulties because it is four guys in four different houses talking on the phone together about Linux and interviewing amazing guests from the Linux world.

Well hey, don't get me wrong, I love the show. Nevermind the technical quality of it, it's great in so many other ways. It's just that this issue with the one mic, it can be dealt with quite easily, and it's the single most annoying technical issue. When guests from half way round the globe calls in on a line that sounds like it was laid down by mr. Bell himself, additional noise is the last thing we need.

Actually, I was wondering if Levelator could be adjusted to handle it more gracefully. When Dann actually talks, the signal-to-noise ratio (technically speaking ) isn't so bad. So, does Levelator have some kind of threshold setting, and anything below that is ignored? I have to look that up.

It is unbelievable what you guys do with no money, no big name sponsors, and families to take care of. I'm personally happy that the language has been cleaned up a lot, and that alone makes the show more professional and easier to recommend to friends.

- I listen to.. *snip snip*

All of the Linux shows offer me something, and my time in the car has become more fun since loading them on to my mp3 player.

I agree, I walk my daughter to kindergarden almost everyday, and it's a 40+ minutes walk both ways. TLLTS helps making it less boring. Thank you guys.

And thanks for the comprehensive list of other shows that I need to check out. How will I possibly find the time?? Oh well.

[RandyNose]

Hopefully I have my workstation issues taken care of so I will turn my focus to the noise issues. I agree, a mic with a mute button would be ideal. I need to find one that is not going to produce an audible click when muted and un-muted.

Additionally, I am going to look into move the server a bit to muffle some of the fan noise.

If only I could move my the server somewhere else, but I really don't have a place to put it. I don't think the wife would like me moving it into the living room or kitchen.

Now if someone wants to cough up one of those really sweet amd servers that are practically noiseless!

Umm, you mean like a Kulu $199.00 http://www.koolu.com/content/blogsection/6/169/ thin client? - Um, Wouldn't a quite fan be a little easier, or it just wouldn't be as kool? http://www.acousticpc.com/index_quiet_c ... _fans.html

OR we could just get a 5 gallon bucket and stick it on your head Dann... Sorta like a space helmet.