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September 20

How does one record a podcast without hiss?

A difficult to phrase question and I do apologise. Whenever I record from my desktop, my laptop, my iPad, my phone, there is always a background hiss. I understand that it is possible to reduce the hiss using "noise reduction" (or whatever it is called) on Audacity/similar software. But, my question is, what hardware/software do people use to record their podcast/audio recordings without the hiss?

I know it is possible. Surely it is! Do I need a dedicated piece of hardware that exists beyond my computers? If so, what is that called? If you would be so kind, could you provide an example link? Thank you very, very much. Ohgoshidunno (talk) 11:39, 20 September 2019 (UTC)

It's possible the hiss isn't in the recording, but is due to poor speakers. Do you hear this hiss when playing the podcasts directly ? If so, you might try covering the speakers with some form of insulation, like a taped-down paper towel. This filters out high frequencies, including hiss, and lets the bass through, similar to the idea of a dead cat or dead kitten. SinisterLefty (talk) 12:28, 20 September 2019 (UTC)

I have listened to the recordings from speakers and high-quality headphones on a variety of different platforms. From what I've read, it's a natural product of having a sound card very close to everything else inside of a machine. A microphone attached to a computer's sound card will pick up everything inside of a computer, too. But I'm curious as to how a professional podcast (radio shows, too), can just produce things without as much natural background hiss. I'm wondering what hardware should I buy so I don't have to faff around with noise reduction software. I have also used pop-filters/windscreens without change. It's bloody annoying! Ohgoshidunno (talk) 13:12, 20 September 2019 (UTC)

You've mentioned quite a few details but seem to have missed what mic you are using. A quick search finds plenty of discussion of unknown reliability e.g. [1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6] [7]. Many of these seem to recommend a USB mic, so your sound card doesn't come in to it although I think you're still likely to get noise since the USB power is hardly a clean signal (among other things). An XLR microphone is another option, either combined with a USB device or a stand alone recorder although I believe the primary advantage here is if you want multiple mics, portable recording or other things which require it like a long wire although you can introduce a preamp which may have advantages e.g. [8]. [9].

BTW, a search for mic hiss e.g. [10] [11] finds a lot of discussion that seems relevant [12] [13] [14] [15] [16] [17] [18] (a podcast!) [19]. At least one of these mentions your mic isn't that important for background hiss, but I think this is more of a case of the difference between a $100 mic and a $500 mic is not much. Rather than 'you're fine using a $5 mic connected to your computer's 3.5" port'.

Anyway, from what I can tell, 2 key take aways from this seem to be that you should not expect there to be no hiss. Rather you want it to be low enough that it's almost irrelevant. I.E. you need your signal to noise to be excellent. You'd first want to start by reducing ensuring you record loud so move your mic as close as possible without introducing problems and ensure you speak at a decent volume. Then ensure the background noise (in the room) is as low as possible. Maybe you can't afford a soundproof studio, but see what you can do about fans etc.

BTW, while I'm sure professional recording setups for podcasts and the like have equipment and studios beyond anything you have and have low background noise, is there some reason to think they do not use noise reduction? As some of the discussions say, noise reduction actually works best when you have an already low (and of course constant) background noise.

My impression is that professional podcasts tend to also have high production values. They start off with good equipment and studios, but also spend a lot of time producing their work to get exactly what they want, with careful planning, multiple tries etc as needed and possible with what they're doing. (Someone doing an interview probably can't really do multiple takes except for a few mistakes etc.) And of course extensive post-production. They don't avoid noise reduction just because they don't want to "faff around with noise reduction software". See e.g. [20] Live radio and other live streams are more limited in what they can do, but still they set things up carefully beforehand with whatever hardware and software solutions available to them.

Nil Einne (talk) 14:35, 20 September 2019 (UTC)

Forgot [21] [22] Nil Einne (talk) 15:11, 20 September 2019 (UTC)

(ec with Nil Einne) A lot of podcasters (and youtuber and twitch streamers) use pretty decent USB microphones like the Rode NT-USB. People who need to record multiple sound sources concurrently, like interviews, or musical instruments, or who want other equipment in the signal chain, might instead use an analog microphone like a Marantz MPM1000 with an XLR connection (with other sources also connected via XLR or 1/4 inch mono patch cords) running into an external USB interface device like a Focusrite Scarlett. If you're using a analog microphone (and not a USB one) then most people intending to make content for others to listen to (something better than a Skype call to grandma) use an external ADC like the Focusrite, because the electronics and ADC in a consumer motherboard are cheap and don't produce great results. If you have to handle voices that vary a lot in volume over the course of a recording, adding dynamic range compression might help - that can be a physical compressor device in the signal chain, or processing in the software. With that done, and the microphone appropriately positioned, you have to worry that you're not recording noise. The biggest concerns are air conditioning and room fans (if you live somewhere hot) and the sound of the computer's own fan - so turning those off, and keeping the mic as far from the computer as you can will help. Lastly, some well placed acoustic foam tiles around your recording space will help improve the audio the microphone hears - they're mostly to kill reverberation (of your own voice) around the room, but they may also help to deaden any ambient hisses that are bouncing around. -- Finlay McWalter··–·Talk 14:57, 20 September 2019 (UTC)

September 21

Access Question: Specifying Default Option for Field in Table

In Microsoft Access, if I am defining a table, using Design View, is there a way that I can specify a default value (either text or numeric) to be pre-filled for a new record in the table, which can be changed on entry? Robert McClenon (talk) 03:35, 21 September 2019 (UTC)

I believe so, yes. Hopefully this explains it: [23]. SinisterLefty (talk) 04:00, 21 September 2019 (UTC)

Thank you, User:SinisterLefty. Robert McClenon (talk) 04:03, 22 September 2019 (UTC)

Access Question: Increasing Size of a Join Key

I have an Access database on my PC. I have a table with a fishhook relationship. That is, a field links back around from the table to the table, so that I can define a hierarchy. I want to increase the width of the field that is the key, from 48 bytes to 60 bytes. But when I tried to increase the size of the field, I was told that this could not be done because the field was used as a join key. I would have expected this on trying to decrease the width, but not on increase. I was able to do what I was trying to do by deleting the relationship, and then increasing the width of the field in the two places, the one where it is the child and the one where it is the parent, and re-establishing the relationship. Is there a way that I could have increased the width without breaking the relationship and re-creating it? Robert McClenon (talk) 03:42, 21 September 2019 (UTC)

If the concern was that you couldn't take the table down for maintenance while you made this change, perhaps you could have created a new field, established this relationship, copied the data over to it, then deleted the old relationship and field, then rename the field and relationships. I prefer the way you did it, though. SinisterLefty (talk) 03:55, 21 September 2019 (UTC)

There wasn't an issue about keeping the database up for other users, User:SinisterLefty. It's a single-user database. Robert McClenon (talk) 04:05, 22 September 2019 (UTC)

In that case, the way you did it is exactly what I would recommend. Perhaps some future release will allow you do it in a single operation. SinisterLefty (talk) 08:10, 22 September 2019 (UTC)

Desktop monitors

Are they usually compatible with most makes of PC (and vice versa, I guess)? Specifically, a Medion tower? Any advice appreciated! ——SerialNumber54129 11:55, 21 September 2019 (UTC)

In my experience, a monitor's VGA (D-sub, 9-pin) connector is compatible with just about every PC (although not with all TVs, as some lack a VGA port). An HDMI connector is more iffy, especially if the monitor is also designed to be a TV. The TV/monitor I'm on right now causes the display to extend beyond the edges of the screen on all sides when using HDMI, at any resolution, but VGA is fine. I haven't used other types of connectors, so can't comment on those.

Speaking of screen resolution, regardless of the connector, some resolutions may not display on some monitors. This can cause a severe problem if the PC is set to that resolution initially. Then you must use another monitor, which can display that resolution, to change the resolution to one that will display on the new monitor, but you may not know which resolutions the new monitor will display, requiring a lot of switching back and forth with trial-and-error. Old CRT monitors also were picky about the refresh rate they could display, and maybe color depth, but newer monitors don't seem to care about those settings. Newer operating systems tend to have a time-out where if you attempt to change the screen resolution, and don't confirm within 15 seconds or so, it switches back to the old resolution. This can prevent a lot of hassle, in that this prevents changing to a resolution that won't display, which if course would make it quite difficult to change back.

If doing the trial-and-error, I suggest starting with old, moderately low resolutions, like 800×600 and 1200×1024. Those are more likely to work on all monitors than uncommon resolutions and those which push either the upper or lower limits. Once you are able to get a usable resolution, then you can try all the others to find the best one which works. Note that the highest resolution which works isn't always best, as it may not fit the screen as well, may be blurry, and the text may be too small to read. And just because a res works and looks good on VGA doesn't mean it will on HDMI, or vice-versa.

As for audio, some HDMI ports on PC and on TV/monitors support audio, some don't. It may be necessary to use a separate audio cable (usually light green). For VGA, this is always required. If you are plugged into an HDMI port on the PC which does output audio, that might disable the audio on the green cable.

Some comments on PCs with multiple output types:

• Usually you can only use one at a time. For example, if you have both VGA and HDMI plugged in, only one will work.

• A graphics card typically disables the onboard (motherboard) output type(s). For example, if you have a graphics card with a HDMI output only, and the onboard output is VGA only, then the VGA output will be disabled while the graphics card is in. Therefore, it may be necessary to open the case and pull out the graphics card to use the VGA connector. It may also be possible to disable the graphics card in the BIOS, but this option isn't always available and doesn't always work even when present. Pulling the graphics card will also typically reduce the graphics performance.

• A reboot may be required after switching between VGA and HDMI.

• Some TV/monitors are smart enough to automatically switch to whichever input is providing a usable signal, if only one, but many others require you to manually select the input using the remote control menu. SinisterLefty (talk) 12:32, 21 September 2019 (UTC)

The problem with TV and monitor connections using HDMI not showing the whole picture is known as overscan and is a relic of analogue TV which can generally be fixed as described in this CNET article [24] Egglz (talk) 14:20, 24 September 2019 (UTC)

To look up the "Medion tower" specs, I'd need the specific model number, but the ones I looked at both had VGA outputs and lacked HDMI. One also had composite video and S-Video. Of course, even if we found the specs for the stock device, it's always possible that a new graphics card was installed, adding HDMI capability. I'd just look at the connectors on the back panel to figure it out. So, you will need a monitor that at the very least has one of those connector types in common with the PC, and you will also need that type of cable. (Although it is possible to convert some types of signals to some others with an adapter.) SinisterLefty (talk) 16:48, 22 September 2019 (UTC)

Short answer: we need more data before we can say anything. Medion made a lot of different computers throughout the years. What type/build year are we talking about?

Also, SinisterLefty mentions VGA above but this is an old standard. Newer devices tend not to have these anymore. Converters exist but these are not good for image quality. Rmvandijk (talk) 12:39, 24 September 2019 (UTC)

Here's a fairly recent Medion PC with a VGA connector (they refer to it as "D-sub" in the specs, which is technically one kind of VGA connector): [25]. It even has the old PS/2 connectors for keyboard and mouse, but also has the (somewhat) newer stuff (8 USB ports, 1 TB hard drive, HDMI, DDR4 RAM, etc.) SinisterLefty (talk) 02:30, 25 September 2019 (UTC)

September 22

Google Chromium and Google Chrome

Are there two different inter-related Google products called Chrome, which is a web browser like Firefox or MS Edge or Opera, and something called Chromium, which appears to give me its own desktop view? It appears that sometimes when Windows cold-restarts, it launches something that displays an image of three artists (one Renaissance, two modern), and says that it didn't shut down cleanly. I want the regular Windows desktop. I don't want an improved desktop view. I think that it is confusing because two very similar names have been used. Robert McClenon (talk) 23:02, 22 September 2019 (UTC)

Chromium is the open source counterpart to Google Chrome. Chromium and Google Chrome are both web browsers, but while you can view Chromium's source code you can't do the same with Google Chrome's code. Most of Chrome's source code comes from Google's open-source Chromium project, but Chrome is licensed as proprietary freeware. I think that the stuff you describe is probably Windows 10's Spotlight feature which is enabled by default (but I may be wrong and I do not use Chromium or Chrome because fuck Google). Poveglia (talk) 23:41, 22 September 2019 (UTC)

September 23

Acid3 question

How does the Acid3 test know how the browser did on the test? Can it somehow "see" the rendered output as a visual image? JIP | Talk 07:56, 23 September 2019 (UTC)

Those are not images. They are HTML paragraph tags with some CSS applied to it which makes it look unusual. It uses Javascript to colour em in. I don't know if you know Javascript but if you do you can visit acid3.acidtests.org and look at the source code. Its a long script that tries to do a bunch of stuff that should not work and a bunch of stuff that should work and displays the result to the user. Poveglia (talk) 08:21, 23 September 2019 (UTC)

Here, an example in CSS (you can look at the source to see how I did it):

Pizza

Poveglia (talk) 08:33, 23 September 2019 (UTC)

The person who wrote it is at least 7 times smarter than I am.

assertEquals(r.toString(), "Hello Wonderful KittyHow are you?", "toString() on range selecting Document gave wrong output");

Poveglia (talk) 08:51, 23 September 2019 (UTC)

September 24

more trouble with Windows 10 v. 1903 build 18362.356

Nothing happens when I click on any of the apps accessible from the Windows key. Anything I can do about it? --Halcatalyst (talk) 03:25, 24 September 2019 (UTC)

September 25

Auto-rotate.

Does the auto-rotate feature (on Android smartphones) consume alot of energy?Ajax-x86 (talk) 03:52, 25 September 2019 (UTC) — Preceding unsigned comment added by Ajax-x86 (talk • contribs) 03:50, 25 September 2019 (UTC)

I don't see why it would. Maybe if you had the cell phone mounted to a wheel so it would rotate continuously it would, but in normal use, no. SinisterLefty (talk) 04:07, 25 September 2019 (UTC)

Help

(50.122.6.106 (talk) 15:25, 25 September 2019 (UTC))

Help!. SinisterLefty (talk) 17:22, 25 September 2019 (UTC)

Help!. —Tamfang (talk) 18:47, 25 September 2019 (UTC)

Try pressing F1? Elizium23 (talk) 19:39, 25 September 2019 (UTC)

September 26

How to install Ubuntu/Debian/Turnkey Linux latest compatible distro in about 366GB unallocated space of a Dell x64 type PC with pre-installed Windows 10 Pro with bootable pen drive

I am facing trouble in giving correct configuration setting probably because I keep on getting boot device not found error even though I have chosen boot sequence and disabled SAFE boot option at UEFI boot iterface by clicking.I do not want to use CD/DVD.I have created around 366 GB of free unallocated space out of the uused free E and F drives and by shrinking C drive with a partition manager then I created a boot-able Ubuntu flash drive in a 64 GB pen drive and Universal Ubutu Installer but alas poor me I am in total mess as keep on getting boot device not found sort of error and I feel hopelessly embattled and harangued after 2 days of war effort.Please help

The configuration of my system is:
The following discussion has been closed. Please do not modify it.
OS Name Microsoft Windows 10 Pro Version 10.0.16299 Build 16299 Other OS Description Not Available OS Manufacturer Microsoft Corporation System Manufacturer Dell Inc. System Model OptiPlex 3046 System Type x64-based PC System SKU 079B Processor Intel(R) Core(TM) i7-6700 CPU @ 3.40GHz, 3408 Mhz, 4 Core(s), 8 Logical Processor(s) BIOS Version/Date Dell Inc. 1.1.2, 8/30/2016 SMBIOS Version 2.8 Embedded Controller Version 255.255 BIOS Mode UEFI BaseBoard Manufacturer Dell Inc. BaseBoard Model Not Available BaseBoard Name Base Board Platform Role Desktop Secure Boot State Off PCR7 Configuration Elevation Required to View Windows Directory C:\WINDOWS System Directory C:\WINDOWS\system32 Boot Device \Device\HarddiskVolume2 Locale United States Hardware Abstraction Layer Version = "10.0.16299.371" User Name SG-0ITERP-02\ERP02 Time Zone India Standard Time Installed Physical Memory (RAM) 4.00 GB Total Physical Memory 3.90 GB Available Physical Memory 1.72 GB Total Virtual Memory 6.28 GB Available Virtual Memory 3.09 GB Page File Space 2.38 GB Page File C:\pagefile.sys Virtualization-based security Not enabled Device Encryption Support Elevation Required to View Hyper-V - VM Monitor Mode Extensions Yes Hyper-V - Second Level Address Translation Extensions Yes Hyper-V - Virtualization Enabled in Firmware Yes Hyper-V - Data Execution Protection.

Wrogh456 (talk) 15:15, 26 September 2019 (UTC)

(I formatted your detailed specs.)

You need to load a Linux boot manager to the flash drive which specifically allows you to download Linux onto the hard drive. This is tricky as many only use the hard drive for storage, and still run from the flash drive. Also, using multiple hard drives may be problematic, but Linux distros are small so it will probably fit on one. Some PCs just inexplicably refuse to boot from flash drives. If you have one of those you would need to boot up in Windows and use that to download Linux to one of the other hard drives, and then make that the boot drive in the BIOS settings when rebooting (this likely requires Linux to be on a physical hard drive, not a virtual one.). You could also use a boot manager that allows you to choose whether your boot in Linux or Windows, but I haven't had much luck with those. Hopefully others can make specific recommendations for boot/download managers. SinisterLefty (talk) 17:04, 26 September 2019 (UTC)

Also, a general comment on your PC: It looks like a nice one, in general, but only having 4 GB of RAM will tend to limit speed and capabilities (perhaps more of a problem in Windows than Linux). It seems to be expandable to 16 GB, for around US$74: [26]. I don't think this has anything to do with the problem of downloading Linux, though. SinisterLefty (talk) 17:59, 26 September 2019 (UTC)

Have you attempted to load any Linux variants directly on a physical hard drive ? If so, how did that work out ? SinisterLefty (talk) 17:47, 27 September 2019 (UTC)

September 27

How to declare that I am an Oracle employee on my talk page to disclose the WP:COI?

I am an Oracle employee trying to update the https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oracle_Database page. One of the reviewers rejects all my updates on the page and ask me to declare my WP:COI. How can I do that in order to continue the work to update the Oracle Database page that needs corrections? JFVerrier (talk) 13:56, 27 September 2019 (UTC)

Wikipedia is not the place to advertise what Oracle can do. You need to comply with WP:COI and WP:Paid, then you should suggest changes on the talk page of the article. Please note that Wikipedia reports only what is written in WP:Reliable sources, so you should provide these sources along with your suggestions. Wikipedia itself is not a reliable source. Dbfirs 15:36, 27 September 2019 (UTC)

And any suggestions for changes should be strictly factual info, like "Press release nnnn announced that Oracle Vxxx.xxx.xxxx will be released on mm-dd-yyyy". Any qualitative comparisons like "Oracle is considered the best because..." should be avoided. SinisterLefty (talk) 17:45, 27 September 2019 (UTC)

In principle there are a bunch of complicated rules for this. In practice it's probably best to not edit the article directly, but instead edit the talk page, saying "the article contains error X and it should instead say Y", giving a source if possible, and stating your relationship with Oracle. For noncontroversial things (Oracle DB supports the BLAH operation as of version 12.34), Oracle documentation or press releases should be ok as sources. For controversial things it's better to use independent, third-party sources. 173.228.123.207 (talk) 00:29, 28 September 2019 (UTC)

First handheld printer ever? First handheld digital (mobile) camera ever? smallest Printer of the world?

Hi there as you see, my question is about:

• First handheld printer ever?
• First handheld digital (mobile) camera ever?
• smallest Printer of the world?

I ask this question because I have discovered lately that there existed a Game Boy Printer for the Gameboy Camera - also built by Nintendo. As much as I have understood, I feel like if its from 1998, its all of that: the smallest printer ever and the first handheld printer ever (I cant even count another printer same like that) and its feels like the Nintendo Camera was the first camera ever, it took time till alcatel, siemens or nokia mobile phones had a camera "onboard".
My question is, I am right with this? May this be the smallest printer ever, the first printer ever which you can use outdoor and put in your pocket or was there yet a serial (! please no prototypes) printer before? -46.167.62.33 (talk) 01:03, 28 September 2019 (UTC)

For the first handheld printer you may want a very old adding machine with a roll of paper in it for printouts. I don't know how old those are, but IBM made things like that before computers. Here's the specs on one of these antiques (1935) from another company: [27]. At 12 lbs, it should (barely) qualify as hand-held. SinisterLefty (talk) 01:07, 28 September 2019 (UTC)

It would qualify as portable, yes, but I suggest handheld means you have to be able to operate it while holding it up with your hand. This sort of thing, for example. --76.69.116.4 (talk) 01:55, 28 September 2019 (UTC)

The one I linked to could be operated with two hands, one holding it up, and the other entering the numbers and then pulling the "return" handle, like a typewriter. I picture a manager at a department store walking from salesman to salesman to get their sales for the day, and entering each into the machine as he goes. He might set it down where convenient, but use it hand-held when there wasn't a good spot to sit it down. SinisterLefty (talk) 02:12, 28 September 2019 (UTC)

Thanks for the idea of the printers of 1935 and older, but I was thinking about electric ones, and only electronic ones -46.167.62.33 (talk) 02:21, 28 September 2019 (UTC)

Breakaway usb cable to old xbox classic controller on xbox 360 slim S?

I am interested if the newest 360 may recognize an xbox classic controller if its connected by such a breakaway usb adapter. I found the information that the old xbox 360 consoles (with the old HDD on top) doesn't accept the controller as a controller if linked, but maybe the newer one is a bit more "intelligent" ? -46.167.62.33 (talk) 02:26, 28 September 2019 (UTC)