The new Zoom H8 audio recorder was just announced and I wanted to share my initial thoughts. This device offers a new spin on the role a portable audio recorder can play, and it does a few things that I think are impressive and compelling. If you’re someone who records music, podcasts, and audio-for-video, the H8 has a lot to offer. But is it the right tool for you?
Continue reading “First thoughts on the Zoom H8 audio recorder”Garmin Forerunner 245 vs. Apple Watch Series 5
If you’re looking for a truly excellent fitness watch there are two models you should consider: the Apple Watch Series 5 and the Garmin Forerunner 245. I’ve owned both for over 6 months and wanted to share my impressions. If you’re trying to decide which one to get, hopefully this info can help you.
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I often forget how to do things I occasionally want to do, so I write down notes that remind me how to do them. Instead of storing these notes privately, I publish them on this blog so others can maybe benefit. Because it’s confusing, I always forget how to properly begin a video project in Final Cut Pro X. So in this blog post I explain how to do this as clearly as I can.
Continue reading “How to start making a Final Cut Pro X video”Review of Apple Watch Series 5 after 7 months of use
When September of 2019 rolled around, I had no intention of upgrading my Apple Watch Series 4 to whatever it was going to be replaced by. My watch was in good shape, it was much better than the Series 3 it replaced, and nothing could tempt me away from it. Then the Series 5 was announced and it only did two things differently. One of the things was inconsequential, the other convinced me to get it.
Continue reading “Review of Apple Watch Series 5 after 7 months of use”I saw Modest Mouse live 20 years ago today and published a review
My career as a music critic was extremely short — I only had a single article published, and it happened long, long ago. It was a review of a live rock show of the bands Les Savy Fav, Califone, and Modest Mouse. It took place 20 years ago today at the Middle East Downstairs in Cambridge, MA.
I didn’t aspire to become a music writer. This was the only piece I wrote of this kind, and I did it because I was a huge fan of Modest Mouse. It was published in a local Boston newsprint magazine called Whats Up, which was created to help the homeless. The idea was to put out a fun and interesting magazine that appealed to young people, and to have the homeless sell the magazine on the street for $1.00 USD.
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A photographer climbs a tree beside a restaurant where Beyoncé is dining and finds a perch where they can use their $6500 Canon 1DX Mark III camera with a $2400 28-300mm telephoto lens to get a shot of the singer slurping noodles. A young child wanders around their backyard taking pictures of bugs with a $60 FUJIFILM Instax instant camera. Two people using extremely different cameras for extremely different purposes. Film scanners are similar…
There are many different types of film scanners available — and it isn’t obvious which kind you should get. I created this guide to help you quickly figure out what you need. I explain all of the important features, skip overly technical jargon when it isn’t necessary, and help you find a model that fits your budget.
Continue reading “Film scanner buying guide 🎞”Zoom H4n Pro vs. Tascam DR-40X
If you’re looking for an entry-level portable audio recorder that has XLR inputs — and let’s face it: you are — there are two models you should definitely consider: the Zoom H4n Pro and the Tascam DR-40X. In this post, I compare them closely, show you what makes them different and what features they share, and suggest which model better suits different kinds of people. It will be fascinating and surely blow your mind. You = 🤯.
Continue reading “Zoom H4n Pro vs. Tascam DR-40X”What it’s like to switch from an iPhone 6 to an iPhone 11
A great number of people have been happily using the iPhone 6 for many years, but like blue jeans that eventually get holes in the crotch — you need to replace ’em before you end up naked in the streets. Myself and several members of my family switched from the iPhone 6 to the iPhone 11, and I wanted to share our experiences. You’ll find out what’s painful and pleasant in this big transition, and pick up a couple of helpful tips…
Continue reading “What it’s like to switch from an iPhone 6 to an iPhone 11”Today this blog is 10 years old — My thoughts on blogging
10 years ago on this date, I published the first blog post on this site. Now that I’ve been doing this for a decade, it seems like a good time to put the act of blogging itself under the microscope. So much of the digital world is a rosy, Instagram-curated non-reality. My goal for this post is to be frank and blunt.
Lots of people have thoughts about blogging, but a surprising few actually do it. It would be nice if blogs existed because the people who wrote them liked writing, and their visitors were just readers who liked reading. But this largely isn’t the case. Most people don’t have blogs. Most intelligent companies and businesses do. Blogs exist to make money. The people visiting them just want information — well written or otherwise.
Continue reading “Today this blog is 10 years old — My thoughts on blogging”Zoom H4n Pro In-Depth Review
The Zoom H4n Pro is an updated version of the Zoom H4n, a portable audio recorder with a diverse array of features. The original H4n—which is now discontinued—was one of the most popular models on the market. The H4n Pro is very similar, but it has 3 key upgrades that make it a better product. In this article, I use the H4n Pro extensively and share many example sound recordings. There is information about how to use the Zoom H4n Pro in video production, music recording, podcasting, and news gathering.
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