Audacity: Quick Answers

And now, a little break from the fascinating world of file transfers...

In today's post, we're going to cover some frequently answered questions about a popular audio editing application called Audacity.

Okay, the reality is that we don't get too many questions in general about Audacity because it is so easy to use. But if someone (like me) was forced to come up with some questions about the application, these would be what I'd ask:

Q. Where can I find Audacity?
A. Audacity is installed on all of the computers in Meyer, Tresidder, and the residential clusters. It is also available for free download and use on your own computer from http://audacity.sourceforge.net/

Q. How can I learn to use Audacity?
A. The best way to learn it is probably the hands-on approach. If you want to work on a sample project, try going to our Audacity wiki page and download the source files under the Workshop section to your computer. Then open up the downloaded file, import the vocal, music, and sound effect files into a new Audacity project!

Q. Where should I save my project?
A. Audacity projects get really big really fast, so make sure you're saving to the User Space or Temporary Storage if you're using a cluster computer. If you accidentally save things to the Documents folder or your Home folder, it will fill up your AFS space really fast and you will start getting weird errors.

Q. How do I add tracks to the project?
A. Open Audactiy and select Project --> Import Audio. All audio file imports are given their own new track.

Q. What can I do with the selection tool?
A. Click and drag in a track to make a selection. Then, you can duplicate that part to another track. Or select part of a track and apply an Effect. You can even select and move multiple tracks at once.

Q. What is the envelope tool?
A. You can make an envelope around a track to control the volume of the track. It enables you to create a smooth fade in and fade out and muting effects in your audio.

Q. How do I use the draw tool?
A. Uhh... This is an advanced tool that's frankly difficult to explain in words. You'll have to figure it out by experimenting. =]

Q. How do I use the zoom tool?
A. Zoom in and zoom out (with the shift key) of your project tracks to see more or less audio detail.

Q. How do I use the time shift tool?
A. This is the basic "move" tool in Audacity. For example, when you import a sound effect file, you can shift the sound effect horizontally in time to make it "fit" with something in a music/spoken track.

Q. How do I use the multitool?
A. You get to figure this one out. It can supposedly replicate all of the other tools' functions with the right keyboard combinations.

Q. How do I only listen to one track out of many tracks?
A. Click the Solo button on the left panel of the track(s).

Q. How do I temporarily mute one track out of many tracks?
A. Click the Mute button on the left panel of the track(s).

Q. When should I export to MP3 instead of the Audacity project format?
A. Remember that exporting to WAV or MP3 will "flatten" all of your project's audio tracks (to use a term from Photoshop), and it will also compress your audio, which degrades the quality each time you do it, so exporting as MP3 should be one of the very last steps in the production of an audio project.

Q. How do I export to MP3?
A. You must make sure you've downloaded the LameLib file linked from http://audacity.sourceforge.net and that it is selected under Audacity --> Preferences --> File Formats --> MP3 Export Setup. Then go to File --> Export as MP3.

Q. Wher can I get more help on Audacity?
A. A pretty good overview is located at
http://www.transom.org/tools/editing_mixing/200404.audacity.html

The official Audacity wiki is good too:
http://audacityteam.org/wiki

And if there continue to be things you don't know, please write to consultants@lists.stanford.edu so that the MMS consultants know what issues aren't covered by this tutorial.

See you next time!

Tips and Tricks for Transferring PART III: Using Target Disk Mode on Macs

Overview:
Using target disk mode is quick and easy way to transfer files of any size between two Macs. This handy trick can save you lots of time when transferring large files. In this example, we assume that you want to transfer a file from a Mac in the Multimedia Studio onto your Mac. Essentially, you'll be turning one Mac into an external FireWire hard drive.

Materials Required:
6-pin to 6-pin FireWire cable (available at the desk if you don't have one).

Step 1: Prepare the Connection

• Shutdown your Mac (the computer you want to turn into the external FireWire hard drive).
• Plug the FireWire cable into both computers.

Step 2: Boot Your Machine into Target Disk Mode

• Hold down the "T" key and turn your Mac back on. Continue holding the "T" key until the FireWire logo (right) appears on the screen.

Step 3: Transfer Files

• You should now see your computer show up as an external FireWire drive on the desktop of the cluster Mac.
• Transfer the files you need to transfer using Finder.

Step 4: Disconnect

• Eject your Mac by dragging the FireWire hard drive to the trash.
• Turn off your Mac by pressing the power button. Unplug the cable.

Congratulations! You're done!

Tips and Tricks for Transferring Files PART II: Transfer Files between Macs Using iChat

Overview

1. Login to the two Macs
2. Start iChat and enable Bonjour
3. Drag file onto name in Buddy List

Step 1
Find the two Macs you need to transfer files between and log in to them.

Step 2
Once logged in, do the following on both computers:

• Choose Applications from the Finder's Go menu and double-click on iChat in the window that comes up.
• If you have never used iChat before, you will see a Welcome to iChat AV window. Keep clicking Continue until you reach the Set up Bonjour Messaging window. Here, check the Use Bonjour Messaging box and keep clicking Continue again until the button changes to Done; then click Done.
• If you have used iChat before and a Buddy List or other window shows up when you launch it, but you don't see a Bonjour window, choose Bonjour from the Window menu and click on the Enable button if it asks you to enable it.

If you've done this correctly on both Macs, then they should both have a window that looks like this (where Sun Hae Hong is replaced by your own name):


Step 2½
We want to make sure that when iChat receives the file, it doesn't try to store it in your AFS home folder because it's probably too small to accommodate the large files that you're using this method for. So, on the receiving Mac, do the following:

• Choose Preferences from the iChat menu.
• Click on the General tab.
• If, next to Save received files to, you don't see Temporary Storage, click on that menu, choose Other, choose Temporary Storage in the resulting window and click Select.

Step 3
Now we are ready to transfer the file. This procedure is straightforward.

• Find the file that you wish to transfer on one of the computers and drag it on to your own name in the Bonjour window in iChat; iChat will ask for a confirmation; click Send
• You should see a window like this:
  
  
• This is a cue for you to go to the other Mac and find this window waiting for you:
  
  
• Click inside the window, click Save File.
• The file should begin transferring and you should see the transfer progress.

When the file transfer is complete, iChat will show you the file in the Finder.

A word to the wise: once you are done transferring your file, do log out of one of the machines. Having multiple machines logged in to your account doesn't have any immediately detrimental consequences. However, situations can arise (the two computers try to use the same file at the same time) which might cause one or both of the computers to hang or some files to get corrupted.

Tips and Tricks for Transferring Files PART I: How to Use Your AFS Space

This is the first post in a series of posts about methods for storing or transferring files between computers.

You may or may not be aware that Stanford gives students, staff, and faculty members AFS (short for Andrew file system) space. Using your AFS space, you can store files on Stanford servers and access these files remotely from any computer.

When you need to share files with friends or transfer files between cluster computers and your own computer, AFS space can be a great option.

Overview

File Size: As much as your AFS space can hold, generally under 200MB
Pros: Well supported by Stanford computing environment, WWW folder makes sharing files over the web very easy
Cons: Not useful for large files
Required Software: No software download required if using cluster computers. Fetch or SecureFX if using own computer.

Checking AFS Quota

First of all, you might want to find out how much AFS space you have available. Read how on the MMS Wiki.

By default, you have 200MB of AFS quota. However, some courses grant students additional AFS space for the quarter in which they are enrolled.

On a Cluster Computer

With the exception of some stations, most computers in Stanford clusters automatically mount your AFS space upon login. That is, the desktop that appears is your AFS desktop and your AFS home folder is easily accessible.

To access your AFS home folder on a Mac, open a Finder window and click on your home folder, which will show up as a house icon followed by your SUNet ID.


To access your home folder on a PC, look for the desktop shortcut with a house icon that says My AFS Home.


WWW folder

The WWW folder is a convenient place to store files to download later on. Simply drag files into the WWW folder.

Open a browser on any computer and type "http://www.stanford.edu/~[yourSUNetID]/" in the URL bar. You will see a list of the files in your WWW folder. Right click and select Save Link As (or its equivalent) to save the files to your computer.

Notice in this picture how the contents in the WWW folder match the contents on the page:


I have personally found this to be a good way of sharing full-sized versions of photos with friends. I simply bundle the files into a single .zip file, upload it to my Stanford webspace, and send out the link via email.

On Your Own Computer

You can also access the files on your AFS space from your own computer using an FTP client by connecting to a Stanford server, such as elaine. We recommend using Fetch for Macs and SecureFX for PCs. Both are available for download on the ESS homepage, which also contains configuration instructions for both.

Once connected, you can move files to and from your AFS space just as you would to and from any folder on your computer.

Here are some screenshots of the Fetch and SecureFX interfaces:



Read more about your AFS space on the ITS homepage.

A Brief History of Poster Printing at Meyer

Amongst the many services that the second floor of Meyer Library offers, such as equipment checkout and technical consulting, Wide Format Poster Printing is one of the unique services that we offer.

History
The poster printing service was started at Meyer Library in 2004 as demand among the student population grew for a more convenient and economical alternative to commercial services such as FedEx Kinko’s. Most people also do not have access to a printer that costs anywhere from five to ten thousand dollars, whose seven ink cartridges each cost almost a hundred dollars and that can print on archival- and exhibition-quality paper that is forty-four inches wide.

When first introduced, poster printing was a do-it-yourself affair, in which the patron logged on to a computer and sent the print command to the poster printer just like a normal print job. To help the patron, there was an informational notice next to the computers with instructions on printing. Patrons then paid for their prints at the Desk and waited to pick it up.

Growing Requirements
Within a few months of operation and a lot of wasted ink and paper, it became apparent that patrons were not the ideal persons to be in charge of printing their posters because poster printing was more expensive than the usual print job and, as it turned out, a lot more complicated. The system then evolved into a more controlled operation in which trained consultants, who were already doing helping patrons with multimedia tasks, would assist patrons with choosing all the appropriate settings before printing. (Part of this phenomenon was merely a product of clients not wishing to send the print job until a consultant had actually double-checked all of the settings from the beginning.) However, as the number of poster jobs per week steadily increased, we felt the need for an even more structured and organized system.

'Now Full Service'
In the very beginning of 2006, poster printing at Meyer Library was transformed into being a “full service” facility. With the new service, patrons simply had to fill out a one-sheet form and provide basic contact information and their poster would be on its way. The full service model was a huge improvement over the old consultant-assisted system and thanks to the fact that the print queue was no longer a free-for-all affair, we were able to accomodate queue systems such as a ‘rush’ service for patrons who require very short turnaround times ("under 4 hours'').

The Future and eCommerce
Looking towards the immediate future, we see a need for transitioning the initial client interaction to a web form where clients can fill out all the required information and make payments using Stanford University’s eCommerce service. This would not only be a lot more convenient for patrons but also allow us to keep extensive records of poster print jobs.

A few years from now, the basic concept of poster printing is not expected to change much beyond general improvements in technology and equipment allowing, for example, larger print sizes, more accurate color reproduction thanks to better calibration, etc. However, from an organizational point of view, our aim is to automate as much of the printing process as possible so as to minimize the possibility of client/operator error. The patron’s document would be automatically checked for potential printing issues, print settings would be chosen appropriately, a record of the print job would be created in our database, and the print job would require minimal human intervention.

That's all for this short history of poster printing at Meyer. Join us in the future for more glimpses into the past!

Create a Video DVD in (Nearly) One Step!

Sometimes, you just want to take your miniDV camcorder footage and burn a video DVD with no editing, no flashy menus nor titles nor transitions - just the footage. The "OneStep DVD" mode in iDVD 6 let's you do just that. You'll be amazed how simple this really is:

Step 1: Get what you need
Okay, we assume you've already recorded your movie onto a miniDV tape, otherwise, what are you waiting for? You'll also need a miniDV camcorder, a 4-pin-to-6-pin (or Large-to-Small) FireWire Cable, a blank DVD-R disc, and a Mac with iDVD 6 (a nutritious part of Apple iLife 06) installed.

Step 2: Hook it up
Connect your camcorder to the Mac using the FireWire cable. Turn on your camcorder to VCR or Playback mode.

Step 3: OneStep
Open the iDVD application. If a white project panel opens up, click the large OneStep DVD button. If iDVD automatically opens up an existing project, just click File > OneStep DVD to start a new project.

At this point, if you have not already inserted a blank DVD into the Mac's DVD drive, you will be prompted to insert one. Go ahead and do so. If your camcorder isn't detected, go ahead and repeat Step 2.

Step 4: Do nothing
If you followed all of the steps above, you should now be simply waiting for iDVD to rewind the tape, import the footage from it, and burn it on to the blank DVD. This might take a while if you've got a lot of video. As a general rule of thumb, it requires at least 2-3 times the length of your video to complete the process. (i.e. a 1-hour tape should take slightly less than 3 hours to fully process from tape to DVD.) Watching iDVD process your video is also somewhat hypnotic if you're a fan of progress bars, and I wouldn't recommend against it.

Step 5: And you're done (maybe)!
Once iDVD is finished burning a copy of the disc for you, it will eject the DVD and display a little message informing you of this grand technological achievement. But don't hit the Done button so quickly. If you wish to make another copy of the same movie, this is your golden moment, because you can do so by inserting another blank DVD. Once you hit Done, iDVD will delete the temporary project it has created, and you will have to go through the entire tape-importing procedure again if you want another copy (or you'll have to look for a tutorial on how to efficiently copy homemade video DVDs).


One Last Note of Great Usefulness
Now, what if you simply wanted to make a menuless DVD out of a random video or an iMovie project instead of from camcorder footage? iDVD actually has another trick hidden up its sleeve. If you want to do this, just open up a new iDVD project, and choose File > OneStep DVD from Movie.... You will be prompted for a movie file (either an iMovie project or any video that can be played in QuickTime). Once you insert a blank DVD, away it goes! That was easy, wasn't it?

Happy Burning!

How to Download YouTube Videos

As winter quarter draws to an end in the academic frenzy known as Dead Week, many students have been working on final presentations in the Multimedia Studio. Not surprisingly, YouTube has become a popular source of content for presentations. Rather than relying on a stable wireless connection in the classroom and waiting for the video to stream or, even worse, getting a "Video has been removed by user" or "This video is no longer available due to a copyright claim by Fuji Television Network, Inc." message, here are some tips! (Thanks to James and Vincent for letting me know this could be done!)

A Google search for "download youtube" will return a multitude of results. Most sites prompt the user to paste in the URL of the YouTube video, e.g. "http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sHzdsFiBbFc" and will either download the video or return the URL at which the video can be downloaded.

The downloaded video will be in FLV format (You may have to rename the file with an "FLV" extension), which is playable using VLC and other media players. Downloaded videos are generally 320 by 240 pixels.

Here are screenshots of some of the sites which worked:

Javimoya.com has a download tool which also supports downloading from GoogleVideo, Dailymotion, and other sites. Other than occasional network error messages, the site worked reliably.



Qoogle Video and TechCrunch have simple interfaces and consistent performance.




As for converting FLV files to more widely playable formats, a Google search for "convert flv" will direct you to programs for download, not all of them free. Vixy.net offers a download-free option; users simply enter a YouTube link and download directly to MOV (QuickTime-compatible), AVI (Windows Media Player-compatible), MP4 (iPod-compatible), and MP3 (audio only).



As a note, the site occasionally gave me a busy server error, but retrying eventually worked with all the YouTube videos I tested. A 2-min video took me approximately 4 min to convert to AVI or MOV. While the MOV files seem to play on any computer with QuickTime installed, not all computers have the codecs necessary to play the AVI files. However, the computers in our Multimedia Studio supported playback in Powerpoint for both the AVI and MOV files -- it can be done!

That's all for today. In other news, tomorrow is a dual holiday day!! Both Pi Day and White Day fall on March 14.