Note: I am going to break some technical details down and will no doubt gloss over and simplify things. I encourage you to do some additional research and correct me in the comments.

My Requirements

• Live conferencing with software like:
  • Zoom, GoToMeeting, GoToWebinar, Fuze, Skype, etc.
• Audio recording with software like:
  • Audacity, Camtasia, Adobe Audition, etc.
• Music listening (not a microphone requirement specifically, but related)
  • Mostly Spotify and YouTube

Over the years I’ve had a few different microphones. Including a number of USB Blue microphones like the Snowflake, Snowball, and Yeti. They are all pretty good microphones, and very popular. I’ve heard from other people they’ve had trouble with them, but I found them fine. From talking to audio professionals they tell me that Blue is focused on making “professional grade” consumer devices – in other words, they aren’t used by “professionals.” (I don’t want to be pedantic about what defines a “professional” here.)

Audio Interfaces

A little detail about the four different ways microphones interface. As you move down this list, audio quality improves.

• Bluetooth – This is purely for convenience, and has the lowest sound quality (same is true for headphones). I’ve tried a few of these, but whenever you can use the same microphone or headphone via both Bluetooth and a wire, the wire sound quality is significant better. Bluetooth has a slight lag too.
• 3.5 mm or 1/8″ jack (Unbalanced, aka the headphone jack) – This is the most common consumer grade audio interface for both headphones and microphones. Significantly better sound quality than Bluetooth. There are some subtle variations that are less common in consumer grade equipment, including slightly smaller (2.5 mm especially common with microphones) or larger plugs (1/4″), as well as RCA/phono. What they all have in common is that they are analog and unbalanced. Unbalanced means that they have two connectors per channel. When you are connecting to your computer you use the jack that goes into the sound chip or card on your computer.
• USB Audio – The universal serial bus is truly universal. When you connect a microphone via USB it appears to the computer as a whole new sound device. This is because the USB microphone does its own analog to digital conversion. So it doesn’t matter what kind of sound hardware you have in your computer, you are completely bypassing it. You are however dependent on the quality of the converter in the microphone, so it may be better or worse than the build in audio chip in your computer.
• XLR, TS, or TRS (Balanced) – This is where you enter professional territory. TS and TRS may look a lot like larger 1/4″ headphone jacks, but they are different in that they are balanced. This means they use three wires per channel: positive, negative, and ground. Balanced audio cables resist interference and impedance mismatch (that hum when you have two devices connected via unbalanced audio cables). They also support phantom power microphones. I don’t know that I’ve ever seen a computer that supported these directly, so you will need a mixer to interface with them. This can mean running your mixer in through the 3.5 mm jack, or there are USB Mixers.

There is more, for example you can combine the headphone and microphone into a single plug, and most XLR are XLR3 (3 pins) but there are versions with more pins! Additionally, there are lavalier microphones (aka lapel or body mic) with wireless transmitters. These are a type of XLR microphone – essentially another layer on top of an XLR balanced audio system to hide the microphone.

In my opinion, if you want professional quality audio, then you want balanced cables and this means you want a USB Mixer and XLR connectors on your microphone.

But there are still a few more details. I’ve used two different XLR microphones. Both are Audio-Technica and both are good, but I’ve found they serve two different purposes.

My first was an AT2050 Multi-pattern Condenser Microphone. Condenser microphones are more sensitive. It also requires phantom power, which I’ve heard described as producing a “warmer” sound. Either way, it is a great microphone, but because it is more sensitive I found it picked up too much background noise, like keyboard, computer fan noise, or the air conditioner. If I had a dedicated, sound proofed, audio studio, then this would be a great solution.

The new microphone I just picked up is the BPHS1 Broadcast Stereo Headset. While technically it is a “headset,” it is better to think of it as a dedicated microphone attached to headphones. Usually headsets lack the quality of a dedicated microphone, and I’ve used a lot of headsets that this was the case with. These however exceeded my expectations. It is a dynamic microphone instead of a condenser microphone, which is typically less sensitive. It also does not require a phantom power mixer. It does a fantastic job of only recording my voice and mostly ignoring the other noises. Both microphones are cardioid, which allows them to reject background noise, but the BPHS1 does a better job rejecting background noise. You can still hear the keyboard (despite being a “quiet” model with Cherry MX Brown switches), but now it doesn’t overpower my voice. Oh, and the headphone audio quality is fantastic too.

I created a video where you can hear both keyboards with the same settings on my mixer while I type.

Both are great microphones, but without a dedicated, sound proof, recording studio I don’t think the AT2050 is the right solution for me. The BPHS1 still has great sound quality, but it sounds better without a studio.

Software Background Noise Rejection

Right after I got the BPHS1 I discovered a pure software solution for background noise rejection called Krisp by 2Hz. It uses a neural network to filter background noise – and it is really, really effective!

• 2Hz overview of the technology and their SDK
• Krisp is the consumer software solution ($20/mo)
• Nvidia has a blog post on their technology
• AppSumo has a limited time, lifetime subscription deal for $39 (but only for new users that don’t have a trial account)

I discovered Krisp via AppSumo and decided to go ahead and sign up for it (AppSumo has a really, really good refund policy – I’ve used it.) And despite it looking like magic, it works! Combining it with my microphone setup doesn’t improve it significantly, but it does include a feature where I can background noise filter incoming audio too (when I’m on a call with someone who has a lot of background noise.)

So if you already have a good microphone, I’d really suggest checking out Krisp, especially while AppSumo has this lifetime deal going on. After that you can get Krisp for $20/mo (or $10/mo billed annually). You can get 2 months free trial with this affiliate link (since I got the lifetime deal from AppSumo I don’t think I get anything if you use the link. Here is a direct link if you prefer.)

(I’ve been using AppSumo for a while now. I’ve got a few of their lifetime deals, and only one deal. I’ve recommended some specific deals to others and they got it . They offer a Pro subscription that gives you a discount and other benefits, I’ve considered it. If you use the affiliate link in this post I get a credit if you buy. If you don’t like affiliate links, you can access it directly here.)

Krisp works by setting up a virtual audio device, and you can route your software through it (works with pretty much any any software) on both Windows and macOS. You can turn the “filter” on or off for incoming our outgoing audio.

I might create a demo recording, but haven’t yet. Their demos totally appear legit to me though. Since it shows up as an audio device you can use it for recording audio for Audacity or Camtasia.

I really recommend checking out Krisp via AppSumo if you want to reject background noise.

Virtual Audio Mixer

A piece of software I’ve recently started using is Voicemeeter by VB-Audio software. They offer a range of low level audio software as donationware (similar to Shareware, but you decide how much to donate if you like it.) Originally I was using their VB-Audio Cable driver which lets you create a virtual audio device you can pipe sound, as if it were attached to its own individual sound system. When you combine the two, it gives you the ability mix and control the sound from six different sound inputs and outputs.

There is a bit of a learning curve, but if you really want to take full control of your sound system it is a my recommendation. You can also combine it with the Krisp system since it provides its own input and output virtual devices.

Audio Interface Protocols

I don’t know much about this, but wanted to point out that there are different audio protocols on computers. Depending on the hardware and software you have different options.

• MME – Multimedia Events – Legacy system with higher latency
• WASAPI – Windows Audio Session API – Lower latency and more recent interface
• DirectSound – Direct X wrapper or abstraction – it is more universal, but has more latency than WASAPI, and more simplified interface.
• ASIO – Extremely low latency, but supported less often then the above. Optionally use the free ASIO4ALL driver to add support.

I’m using WASAPI when given the choice. I’m looking at using ASIO, but haven’t committed to it yet since it requires installing more software and drivers.

When I’m not working for Embarcadero or spending time with my family, my other major interest is doing Improv with CSz Boise. If you are unfamiliar with improv, it is a performance art that focuses on fast thinking. It is something you practice for, but not something that is pre-scripted. If you’ve seen the show Who’s Line is it Anyway, then you are familiar with the basics. Usually at CSz Boise we are doing ComedySportz, which is a specific type of improv where we have two teams, a red team and a blue team, that battle it out for laughs and points through a series of short games and scenes, with a referee to keep things moving. Some of the points are determined objectively based on ability to rhyme, reaction time, giving and guessing clues, or other empirical skills. Other points come from purely entertainment value: who can make people laugh the most!

Besides it being a lot of fun with some great people, I am volunteer my time and money with CSz Boise for two reasons: 

1. Dedicated to being clean comedy for everyone
2. Laughter is the best medicine

ComedySportz, by definition is clean comedy designed for everyone. This means it never gets off color, and if someone does then they get the brown bag foul (that literally involves a brown paper bag being worn on their head). This means we see people on dates, families with their kids, or even someone bringing their elderly parents/grandparents. Everyone has a good time, and no one gets offended. Sure, we live in an age where some people are looking for something to be offended about, but it is nice to have an entertainment option that isn’t going out of it’s way to be disgusting. I believe it is important to have a good live entertainment option that you know is “family friendly” in that it is safe for the kids, and entertaining for everyone!

The second reason wasn’t something I realized right away, but since I’ve been involved for 5+ years now I’ve talked to a few fans who’ve shared how much of a difference ComedySportz makes in their life. We have fans who lost loved ones, suffer from depression, lost a job, stressful day at work, going through a divorce, and more, all who really needed a good laugh. Maybe of them come back weekly, sometimes even twice a week. ComedySportz is what helps them keep their sanity. I’ve literally had people tell me that ComedySportz works better than their depression medication (don’t stop taking your medication without consulting a doctor!) Unlike standup comedy, or some other forms of entertainment, seeing it the second time looses a lot of the entertainment value, but improv is always different because it isn’t scripted, and we play off of audience suggestions.

That brings us to Improvathon 2018. CSz Boise is a 501(c)(3) non-profit that is dedicated to helping the community through improv. The Improvathon is our annual fundraiser where we do improv for 29 1/2 hours straight! I personally will be taking a couple naps, but there will be someone on our stage making people laugh for 29 1/2 hours. Beyond non-stop improv, we also have raffle tickets, and some online silent auctions, or you can just make a donation.

If you are local in the Boise area, come down and join us for some laughs. Buy some raffle tickets, a few refreshments, and enjoy the fun. But if you’ve read this far down the page, then please take a moment and either bid on an auction or make a donation.

Once a year we have a Worldwide Championship. This year it is in Indianapolis, Indiana. That is where I am this week.

The patent in question is actually an continuation of a previous patent that was filed back in 2000.

I’d been watching the Apple vs. Samsung case with some interest (owning both Apple and Samsung devices) but now it got a whole lot more interesting.

It didn’t stop there though. Walk of the Earth did a creative cover, where the 5 of them played a single guitar.

That of course inspired a number of parodies and copycats, including some on the ukulele. By my favorite is by The Key of Awesome (yes, it is a parody of a cover).

And then the pinacle of the parodies comes full circle to the original video, with Teddie Films doing The Star Wars That I Used to Know.

What was your favorited parody or cover of Somebody That I Used To Know?

Inspiration for the design of the study was to determine the effect of the drug in the treatment of the subject matter of the present invention is to provide a method for the determination of the amount of the compound of formula I wherein R is a hydrogen atom or a methyl group at the University of California at Berkeley and the University of California at Berkeley and the University of California at Berkeley and the University of California at Berkeley . . . .

When I gave it the starting word “Inspiration” it assumed I was writing a paper about a study on a drug at the University of California Berkeley, and they got stuck in a recursive loop. What if I try a different word?

Writing and Editing Professional in Human Resources Management and Development of the National Association of Realtors and the National Institute of Standards and Technology and the Arts and Crafts movement in the United States and Canada for the first time in the future and the future of the country and the world of the living room and dining room with a view to the sea and the mountains of the world and the world of the living room and dining room with a view to the sea and the mountains of the world . . . .

Not sure where it was going with that one. I gave it the word “Writing” and it started talking about organizations and departments and countries then got in a weird loop about rooms with views . . . It doesn’t seem that it will ever suggest punctuation, which leads to run on sentences. I wonder what Scibe wants to say about “Google” . . .

Google Earth and Google Maps to find the best deals on the best way to get the best of the best in the world of the living room and dining room with a view to the sea and the mountains of the world and the world of the living room . . .

Interesting that it listed Google Earth and Google Maps specifically, but then got stuck in the room with a view loop again. It clearly isn’t looking only at word pairs since Google would have matched Earth both times, but at the same time the context is shorter in other situations since it really likes that room with a view loop.

It does have an option to give multiple suggestions, so the user could steer the conversation in different directions. Plus the addition of the occasional period would allow for the introduction of new chains of thought.

Conclusion: It does look at more than just the previous word, but still can get stuck in a recursive loop. No punctuation is suggested. It is clearly still a labs toy, but I’ve seen predictive correction before that works, so this may evolve and show up in more places. You can install the extension today and play with it on your favorite web text box.

He told me about a gift he made for his mother-in-law.  It was a very involved project.  He took a great piece of Onyx, cut it like a heart and polished it up.  Then he mounted it in a necklace.  I forget the exact number of hours he spent on it, but it was quite a few.  When he was done it was beautiful.  It got a nice jewelry box and put a little note it in, then mailed it to his mother-in-law.

When she got it she called him to say how much she loved it, but she was a bit confused about the note.

“Why do I need to keep it in the freezer when I am not wearing it?” she asked.

“Well,” he said, “onyx is a very hard and darkly colored stone.  So if you keep it cold, then I can tell everyone that my mother-in-law has a very cold, hard, black little heart.”

She thought it was very funny, and it is one of her most treasured pieces of jewelry.  She even keeps it in the freezer too.

It is good to have family with a sense of humor.

BTW, if you have a mother-in-law with a good sense of humor you can buy an onyx necklace for her.

I actually have not played Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic yet, but I heard good things about it. It it wasn’t BioWare teamed with Lucas Arts for this game then I would have my doubts of them actually achieving the scope they are aiming for in this teaser. Star Wars The Old Republic looks really cool.

This results in two classes:

• The Valid: Those with superior, non-flawed, engineered from conception, genetic makeup. These are the most desired employees for all the top professions: Doctors, Astronauts, etc.
• The Invalid: Those with naturally occurring genetic makeup and flaws, the result of normal conception. Sometimes called love children. These are the new lower working class: Janitors, etc.

Vincent (Ethan Hawke) is a natural born child full of defects and predisposed to a heart trouble. He also has a dream of space travel. Enter Jerome (Jude Law), no dreams, but the genetics to have any position. Unfortunately Jerome broke his back and is paralyzed.

Now Vincent is a borrowed ladder: A person living life under the guise another’s genome. That will get him in the door at GATTACA – the premier space exploration agency, but how will he make it to the stars?

Simple, There is no gene for Human Spirit.