Custom PC Building

The idea of custom building a PC can seem like a daunting task to those with little computer hardware experience. This is the reason companies like Dell, HP, etc do well, as they offer systems already setup in a variety of configurations. For the inexperienced, this is the easiest way to get started with a new PC. However, it would be wise to always weigh the options and look into custom computers.

There are several advantages to custom computer building. One of the most important, in my opinion, is the fact that you can select each component specifically to fit your needs. The most recent computer build I did was configuring a system mainly to be used for audio production. Knowing the needs of my setup I was able to put more quality into things like processing power, connectivity, memory and hard drive space / speed. Conversely, I was able to cut corners in price on things that weren't as much of a priority, like the graphics card for example. I was able to go with a very basic one, according to my needs. Another advantage is price. For the system I configured, as a comparable Dell or HP computer would have cost an average of $700-$800 dollars more. Also, I was able to choose from a variety of computer cases to get the look that I desired.

With even a modest amount of hardware knowledge, putting together a PC from it's parts can be a fairly simple procedure. There is a wealth of information and tutorials available on the Internet that can all but walk you through it step by step. Or at least offer guidance in the event that you come across any issues. Even with these resources, if you aren't comfortable in assembling and setting it up, there is another option. There are many custom PC companies that will assemble and setup your choice of components, and deliver a ready to go product based on your choices. Companies such as AVA Direct, CyberPowerPC, and OriginPC are just a few examples of those that provide these services. If you are planning on or shopping for a new computer, hopefully you will at least take some time to research the possibilities!

Amazon Drone Delivery

I recently had the pleasure of viewing a podcast on NPR.org about Amazon and their plans to use drones for delivery in the future. The podcast outlines how Amazon is working on technology that would allow packages to be loaded onto a drone in the warehouse, and sent out for delivery.  The first thing that comes to mind is safety. They state that the plan is for the drones to fly at an average altitude of 400 feet, which would potentially would be high enough to not interfere with traffic, power lines, etc; yet low enough to be out of the way of other aircraft.

On the surface, this sounds like an intriguing idea. I agree with the ideas that freight traffic and the associated costs / carbon footprint is getting out of hand. With the constant increase of online shopping, that will continue to get worse, and drone delivery could actually become a viable option.

The downside is the potential list of problems that could occur. Would hackers or hijackers be able to find a way to tamper with the drones or their route? Would the actual drop off of product have any potential personal injury concerns? Another question to be asked is how would the cost of operating these drones compare to the costs of traditional shipping. These questions aside, the future of drone deliveries is a very interesting concept to keep an eye on in the near future. I for one, am rather excited to see how it shakes out.

http://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2015/11/30/457884746/amazon-offers-new-glimpse-of-what-its-drone-delivery-could-look-like

Computers And Recording Software

Being an IT guy and also recording engineer and studio owner, I am often asked what is the "best" recording software. There is no best overall, because it all depends on your specific needs, budget, and work flow. However, many people believe that Avid's Pro Tools software is the best in the business. Although Pro Tools may be the most widely used recording software, in my opinion it is far from the best... especially in terms of price-to-performance ratio.

Similar to the way the term "Xerox machine" is used when talking about a copier; or how "Band-aid" is used when talking about a bandage; Pro Tools, being a pioneer in computer recording software is synonymous with recording in general. In my opinion, that is the reason its most used; name recognition. I believe that many other software packages, including Cakewalk's Sonar (my personal favorite and tool of choice), and Apple's Logic have far surpassed Pro Tools in features, ease of use, and price-to-performance ratio. In my own business, i also have Pro Tools software, but only because clients inevitably ask for it, or have projects that were started in the program. However, 9 times out of 10, when they experience Sonar at my facility, they realize that Pro Tools is no longer king of the hill. Again, it still somewhat depends on the way you work in recording, and your specific needs. But there are far better options around, in my humble opinion. So this begs the question: What's in a name?

I know we are all guilty of this at one point or another... Rushing out to buy that next new hottest thing in an attempt to be on the cutting edge of technology... only to have our pride shot down when something newer and better is released before our product is even broken in. There's always that new processor, new laptop or new OS, the next new Iphone, or video game system or some similar electronic device or setup. Then the next thing you know, yours is outdated and obsolete. 

Is it that the new tech is advancing  faster than we can keep up?  Or are technology companies simply playing on the fact that we will go out and make purchases solely to be at the forefront of new tech ? Are we being tricked into buying things we don't need? Or will those extra few gigabytes or slightly faster processor or slightly higher-resolution  screen make some huge impact on our lives? I wonder if we can answer this question before windows 8, and iPhone 6 comes out.

CMU's

I recently watched an extremely engaging  TED Talk presentation called “The secret US prisons you’ve never heard of before” by Will Potter. He presented the story of his investigation of CMU’s (Communication Management Units), which are secret areas within federal prisons that house what the government calls 2nd tier terrorists. Potter outlines the secretive nature of the units, and the mistreatment of the inmates that are housed there. He goes on to argue that the government goes to great lengths to keep these units in secret, and that many of the people imprisoned there are there because of race, religion, and freedom of speech.

The use of visuals in the presentation was scarce, but very effective. There were pictures of government documents that showed redaction and outlines that added to the mysterious and intriguing nature of the subject matter. Images of some of the prisoners were extremely moving, as were the images from inside the CMU’s. Potter’s visual description of being inside a CMU, however, may have been the most compelling image.

The delivery of the presentation was slow paced, and a perfect match to the somber story. There were one or two instances in which Potter injected bits of humor to break the tension, and they were very well timed. From the general overview of the CMU’s in the beginning, to the stories he told of specific inmates’ circumstances, the story was very well done. It was so moving that the question had to be asked, how can this possibly be happening?

Social Media and Business

We are living in the era of social media. Now many companies are using social media tools like Twitter and Facebook as a means to communicate with customers. This report will outline the social media use of two companies: Slate Digital LLC (@SlateProAudio) and The Milwaukee Bucks (@Bucks). I purposely chose one smaller, lesser known and one bigger, more recognizable company to compare and contrast.

I believe that every business can benefit, in some way or another, from a social media presence. From product support to advertising, each company has its own reasons to use these tools.. The Milwaukee Bucks use their social media reach to keep the team’s fans updated with news, interviews, and events. They focus on giving the audience a behind-the-scenes view of the organization. There are a lot of changes currently going on with the team, and the Bucks are taking full advantage of medial tools to build excitement among the fans. They constantly update and post videos of the new players, information about the coming new arena, as well as promoting ticket sales and specials.

Slate Digital also has a very strong social media presence. Slate is a small company that primarily develops and sells virtual instruments and virtual effects to be used in music production and audio recording. The target audience they are trying to reach are the music producers and audio engineers that use such products. Their primary use of social media is to advertise current and upcoming products. Slate Digital seems to release new products quite often, and they effectively use Twitter and Facebook to keep customers up to date.

Although both the Milwaukee Bucks and Slate Digital use social media to reach out and communicate with their customers, they definitely each take a different approach to doing so. On both Facebook and Twitter, the Milwaukee Bucks have a very corporate feel.They generally don’t do a lot in terms of interaction with replies and comments. In my opinion this isn't necessarily a negative. I found that the fans generally  tend to interact a lot with each other on the posts and commenting. Also the large-company feel is likely a good way to be viewed by fans, who want to believe their team is a big deal.

In contrast, Slate Digital takes a much more personal approach. Upon viewing the Twitter account, I quickly noticed that the profile picture is of the company’s owner with his name (Steven Slate). Also, many of the posts on both platforms are written in a more personal, conversational manner. Another thing that stood out on their Facebook page was that the company directly replies to just about every comment on the posts. Even considering that they are a smaller company reaching out to a smaller customer base, I still found this to be very impressive. All in all, both companies make great use of social media tools to further their brand.

Why I am at MATC

Education means different things to different people. Some people see education as an adventure in acquiring knowledge. Some people see it as a way to start or advance a career. I see it as a little bit of both.

My college career has definitely been an adventure. Graduating from high school, and starting college at a relatively young age (16), I spent quite a few years trying to figure out a career. I began at UW-Milwaukee in the mechanical engineering program. But at such a young age, the workload seemed overwhelming, and the fun of the college life was way too alluring and i didn't finish.

Fast forward a few years. After working and making a decent salary in transportation, I found myself being one of the many victims of the recession, and had to figure out a new plan. Weighing my options of cost and time, I decided to return to school, this time at MATC. Indecision led me to trying quite a few different programs ranging from IT, and music occupations (which I've earned certificates in), to business and accounting.

During these times I had a few different jobs in a few different industries. but something kept steering me back towards computers. Knowing a general direction that I was determined to finish was a huge help. Then when sizing up my different IT options, Computer Support caught my eye. Being a natural problem-solver and people person, I felt this particular program would be a great fit. So now i sit, 17 credits away from the finish line, with my eyes on the prize!!