#audio-engineering
51 episodes
#3799: Why Printers Demand PDFs (And PNGs Fail)
PDFs are shipping containers for print. PNGs are loose cargo. Here's what actually matters for large-format output.
#3601: The All-Day Headset Unicorn: 12-Hour Mic & Comfort
One device, all day, great microphone, comfortable enough to forget. What actually exists for 12-hour voice work?
#3564: Fixing Your Phone's Variable Frame Rate Video
Why your phone's video drifts out of sync, how to fix it, and whether RAW video is actually worth it.
#3563: RAW Video on Android: Is It Worth the Storage Nightmare?
RAW video on Android means 6-12GB per minute. Here's how to shoot it, edit it, and actually export something usable.
#3454: Bluetooth Range Lies: How to Get Audio Through Concrete Walls
Your phone's Bluetooth antenna can't punch through concrete walls. Here's the dedicated transmitter that can.
#3446: Where to Clip a Speaker for the Best Sound
Tiny placement changes dramatically alter sound. Learn the physics of where to clip your speaker for the best audio.
#3403: Why Clip-On Speakers Beat Headphones for Parents and Workers
Clip-on speakers solve problems headphones can't. Who uses them, what they clip onto, and which ones are actually good.
#3353: How a 30-Story Tower Sounds Next Door
A stage-by-stage breakdown of high-rise construction noise, from pile driving to topping out — and what actually works to quiet it down.
#3242: Where to Put White Noise Machines for ADHD Focus
Desk placement is wrong. Here's where to put white noise machines for actual sound masking that works.
#3189: Drawing the Melody: SSML's Hidden Power
How SSML gives developers narrative control over AI voices — and why ElevenLabs became its center of gravity.
#3183: Why Film Photography Is Surging in a Digital World
Film is growing 50% in 5 years. Here's the physics behind why analog looks different from digital.
#3113: Baby Vital Signs: What Actually Works for Home Monitoring
Pulse oximeters, thermometers, and stethoscopes for infants — what's accurate and what's dangerously misleading.
#3097: Measuring Car Horns: Phone Apps vs. Court Evidence
Can a phone spectrogram app prove which car honked? Usually not — here's what you actually need.
#3076: Heat Shrink vs Sharpie: Cable Labeling That Actually Lasts
Sharpie labels fade in 12 weeks. Heat-shrink labels survive 18 months of touring. Here's what actually works.
#3047: Frankincense in Your Laundry: Scent Chemistry Explained
How ancient temple resin ended up in detergent, and the chemistry that makes it work.
#2964: The Physics of Tiny Speakers: How 46mm Fools Your Ears
How a 46mm driver uses psychoacoustic tricks to fake bass — and why it’s accidentally perfect for podcasts.
#2960: Small Camera vs Phone for Baby Videos
Can any compact camera beat a phone for capturing newborn moments in low light? We break down the options.
#2846: The Quest for Earbuds That Actually Fit
Why your earbuds won't stay put — and three paths to a secure fit, from aftermarket tips to custom molds.
#2845: Why Reading Patents Is Always Free
Google Patents, Espacenet, and the secret weapon of classification codes for tracking ANC innovation.
#2843: Why Solar Gadgets Fail: The Missing Battery Buffer
Why your solar USB panel can't run a Raspberry Pi — and the fix that actually works.
#2836: Can ANC Handle Real City Noise Now?
ANC has gotten smarter, not just stronger. Can it handle construction noise? And what about cancelling noise in a whole room?
#2821: The Trench Coat Is on Fire: Making Smart Home Parts Interrupt Each Other
Three engineering problems in a trench coat. Make Zigbee sirens, Snapcast speakers, and push-to-talk audio actually work together.
#2818: The Connector Built for War Zones
The chunky military connectors in control centers aren't USB. Here's what they are, and how to use them on a laptop.
#2783: Can a DAP Cure Your Distraction Addiction?
A listener asks if anyone still makes a decent non-phone audio player. The answer is yes—with a few important caveats.