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Quality Audio in FLAC File Downloads

FLACThe most common digital audio format is MP3 and it is widely used in the digital audio industry today. Basically the MP3 format is a patented digital audio encoding that has been standardized to be compatible in most audio and media players for sale today, whether portable or not. MP3 files are compressed audio files, also referred to as lossy comprehension. One of its defining characteristics is that it doesn’t take up too much space (the average size for an MP3 file is 3 mb) but the quality of the sound is still a faithful reproduction of the original uncompressed audio. So if the MP3 files seem to be a standard music format for listening to music, then what’s the deal with FLAC files that are now considered to be the fastest-growing audio codec today?

One of the greatest weapons that FLAC files can showcase to all music enthusiasts and audiophiles is that when it comes to audio quality, this audio format ranks the top one. FLAC stands for Free Lossless Audio Codec – with an emphasis on the word “lossless” (as opposed to the “lossy” quality of MP3), meaning, “without loss in quality.” If the MP3 format is a patented digital audio, FLAC is considered to be non-proprietary and in most cases, independent and clear from patents. With those qualities associated with FLAC files, you cannot blame most audiophiles and music enthusiasts to switch from MP3 to FLAC.

But FLAC remains to be in the background compared to MP3, albeit the fact that it can offer high quality audio sound. Why? There are also downsides when it comes to FLAC. For one thing, FLAC files cannot be played in iTunes so if you are a die-hard Apple fan, then you will find this extremely discouraging. FLAC files play in Windows Media Player and Winamp though.

Another reason why many people shrugged off FLAC files is that they take up too much space, with a FLAC audio file taking up to 43 MB compared to MP3’s average 3 MB size. Some people prefer to skimp on storage space and sacrifice music quality. One must consider, however, that compared to downloading movies from sites like Netflix, the amount of bandwidth and storage space required for music is trivial.  Even the highest quality audio contains less data than a decent video stream.  This makes opting for MP3’s a false economy in todays bandwidth rich world.

Still, if you find quality audio important to you then you’ll discover that you’re not really interested in compressed music files. After all, you can always buy extra hard drives – they are cheap these days. So make the switch to FLAC file formats, grab a cold beer from the fridge, and settle in for some quality music appreciation today!

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The Anatomy of a Guitar

In 1996, Ali Khamenei issued a fatwa about mus...
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The modern guitar has evolved over the years from the early vihuela, invented in 15th Century Spain, to become the instrument that we all know and love. There are some lovely instruments out there that would make even those who don’t particularly care for the guitar sit up and take notice. There also exists a dizzying array of options and paint jobs to choose from these days, and the salesmen in the music store use so much jargon that it can be quite intimidating for a beginner who just wants to buy their first guitar.

So let’s demystify the guitar jargon and explain what all the different terms mean that relate to its anatomy.

The Parts of a Guitar

The different parts of a guitar have quite exotic sounding names that don’t necessarily give any obvious clues about which bit of the guitar they relate to. You wouldn’t expect a musical instrument to be made partly from a “nut”, or a “bridge”, would you? Some of the other pats are more logically named, for example the “sounding board” is a no nonsense description of the the function of that part of the guitar.

So lets look at a few of the parts in turn.

The Body

The body of an acoustic guitar is hollow and has a hole in it between the fretboard and the bridge. The purpose of the hollow body and the hole are to amplify the sound generated by the vibrating strings. Electric guitars on the other hand do not require hollow bodies because their sound is amplified electronically using an amplifier, or “amp”.

The Headstock

The headstock of the guitar is right at the opposite end of the guitar to the body and is the important section of the guitar from the point of view of making sure it is in tune. The headstock is where the tuning pegs are located. The tuning pegs (sometimes called “machine heads”), are used to adjust the tension of the guitar strings, thereby altering the pitch produced when they are played.

The Nut and the Bridge

The nut is usually made from plastic or bone and is a narrow strip with grooves cut into it across which the strings are stretched. The strings reach along the length of the guitar and pass over the bridge, which is located on the body of the guitar. The distance between the nut and the bridge defines the length of each of the strings that is free to vibrate when plucked. The further this distance, the lower the note produced.

These are the basics of the guitar. Now you know them you can go to the guitar store with confidence and not feel intimidated by all the jargon.

Don’t forget to take your wallet!

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Popular Anime Series Available on DVDs

Japanese animation has grown tremendously in popularity over the years. A once local phenomenon has become a worldwide past time. Heavy translation of both manga comics and animated series has lead to a global fascination with the unique culture and interesting stories told through anime.  Anime classifies a whole array of categories that cater to many different audiences.  There are children, adult, and countless other types of animated series to satisfy any interest.

Action Based Animation

Perhaps the most common type of anime is the action adventure story. There is a hero and he embarks on some journey or quest. This popular story line however, is often presented in new and intriguing ways. Animation can bring an old and tired plot device into a new light, creating excitement and interest in fantasy characters. Some of these shows quickly fall flat, while others like Naruto air for years, clearing hundreds of different episodes and maintaining a incredible following of viewers.

The only issue with this type of series is maintaining interest. Driving a simplistic plot through three hundred episodes is no easy task. The journey often consists of a number of throw-away episodes known as filler allowing the story and it’s plot line to stay ahead of the curve. These episodes can detract from the overall excitement of a series and cause lasting damage to a brand name if they aren’t developed correctly. Keeping a long running series packed with excitement is a problem facing any kind of TV show, not just anime.

Drama and Thrillers

Another adaptation seen in popular animation are short stories that target an older audience. Death Note comes to mind as a particularly well executed thriller.  It tells the story of a boy who is granted god-like powers of life and death and can use them at a whim. Dark themes clouded by ethics and moral dillemas run throughout the series, making for an interesting and exciting ride. The audience, a smaller and older group of people, is less specialized since they don’t need to watch hundreds of episodes to reach the shows conclusion.

Both types of series can present exceptional commercial success. Naruto is an obvious slam dunk for the producers, who have targeted a specific audience and delivered flawlessly. This combination is not easy to achieve. Establishing a fan base and keeping them satisfied with the direction of the series might be easy for awhile, but somewhere around the 300th episode it might get a bit difficult. Shorter series will always hold a bit of higher regard because they are cleaner and unblemished by silly side plots.

To learn more about these different anime series or to buy anime DVDs, visit the online store located at LufuMall.com.