On December 22th 2016, Avid announced the released of Pro Tools 12.7. The new update comes hot on the heels of the release of Pro Tools 12.6, which was released in September 2016. It now comes fully cloud enabled to allow creators to collaborate via the internet. There are also added features such as Soundbase, and Avid has included a 2GB sound library from Loop Masters. Pro Tools 12.7 also includes access to new plug-ins like Ibanez Tube Screamer and Leslie cab emulator.
Soundbase is a new feature in Pro Tools 12.7 that allows creators to use a search pane to search browse, and audition loops, samples and sound effects from any sound library. With Soundbase, creators can search the 2GB Loop Masters sound library, which features newly curated content from the industry's leading producers and sound designers. All sounds can be easily referenced and previewed in tempo with their current projects.
There's also Revision History. This feature allows creators to manages multiple versions of projects, backups, media and meta data. As per usual, all of the new features can be obtained with the purchase of a new annual upgrade plan for $99. Pro Tools users can keep their plug-ins current with the purchase of a plug-in and support plan that is also $99. A monthly subscription cost only $24, and if you haven't yet tried Pro Tools, visit Avid for a free 30 day trial.
Wednesday, December 28, 2016
Tuesday, December 20, 2016
New Release!
Wednesday, December 14, 2016
Microsoft To Add Cortana To Connected Devices
On December 12th 2016, at its WinHEC conference in ShenZhen, China, Microsoft announced that it intends to use Windows 10 to add Cortana to all devices that connect to the internet. The idea is to allow developers to add Cortana to devices such as refrigerators, toasters, robots, doorbells, and thermostats, etc, as long as these devices have a screen or visual display. The devices will use, "Wake on Voice from Modern Standby," and "Far-Field Voice," support to make this possible.
The, "Wake on Voice from Modern Standby, " command is what allows Cortana to turn on computers from off to a fully powered state. This is made possible through the use of Windows 10's "Modern Standby," Power management Support. The "Far-Field Voice," technology will give Cortana the ability to work in rooms where there is ambient noise, and will work at a distance of up to 13 feet away.
Microsoft expects to release its Windows IoT (Internet of Things) Core, as a part of its Windows 10 Creators Update, in the spring of 2017. Devices equipped with the new technology should arrive by late 2017.
The, "Wake on Voice from Modern Standby, " command is what allows Cortana to turn on computers from off to a fully powered state. This is made possible through the use of Windows 10's "Modern Standby," Power management Support. The "Far-Field Voice," technology will give Cortana the ability to work in rooms where there is ambient noise, and will work at a distance of up to 13 feet away.
Microsoft expects to release its Windows IoT (Internet of Things) Core, as a part of its Windows 10 Creators Update, in the spring of 2017. Devices equipped with the new technology should arrive by late 2017.
Tuesday, December 6, 2016
Amazon Introduces Amazon Go
On December 5th 2016, Amazon opened a brick and mortar grocery store in Seattle called, Amazon Go. Amazon Go is an 1,800 square foot store whose main features are the absence of long lines, cash registers, or self checkout machines. Amazon is testing the feasibility of allowing shoppers to grab the items that they want and just leave. The purchased items are later charged to the shoppers Amazon accounts.
The Amazon Go concept uses computer vision and sensors to determine what items shoppers are taking from the shelves. Shoppers start the experience by scanning an app as they enter the store. Shopping is done normally, while cameras monitor every move. Items placed into shopper's carts are scanned and identified by sensors that run throughout the store. When shoppers are finished, they pass through senors that scan their purchases as they leave.
Amazon is calling Amazon Go, the "Just Walk Out," shopping experience. The Amazon Go store not only offers grocery items such as bread, milk, etc, but the store also offers ready to eat meals that are prepared by on site chefs as well as from local kitchens and bakeries. While the store offers its Amazon Prime members a new shopping experience, there are no special privileges for members as of yet. If the test is successful, Amazon plans to open 20 such stores, with as many as another 2,000 stores planned for the future.
The Amazon Go concept uses computer vision and sensors to determine what items shoppers are taking from the shelves. Shoppers start the experience by scanning an app as they enter the store. Shopping is done normally, while cameras monitor every move. Items placed into shopper's carts are scanned and identified by sensors that run throughout the store. When shoppers are finished, they pass through senors that scan their purchases as they leave.
Amazon is calling Amazon Go, the "Just Walk Out," shopping experience. The Amazon Go store not only offers grocery items such as bread, milk, etc, but the store also offers ready to eat meals that are prepared by on site chefs as well as from local kitchens and bakeries. While the store offers its Amazon Prime members a new shopping experience, there are no special privileges for members as of yet. If the test is successful, Amazon plans to open 20 such stores, with as many as another 2,000 stores planned for the future.
Tuesday, November 29, 2016
7,000 Year Old Egyption City Discovered
On November 23rd 2016, the Egyptian Ministries of Antiquities announced that archaeologists there had found the ruins of a 7,000 year old city. The discovery was made 400 meters from the temple of Seti I, during an excavation of parts of Abydos, in Egypt's Sohag province. Researchers say that Abydos was once Egypt's capital city during the fist four dynasties and near the end of the predynastic period.
So far, archaeologists have uncovered huts, remains of pottery, iron tools, and 15 huge graves. Some of the graves were larger than those of the kings of Abydos. It is believed that the size of some of these larger graves indicates that the people who were buried there were very important. They may even have held some high social social standing, during this particular period of Egyptian history, which dates back to 5,316 BCE.
So far, archaeologists have uncovered huts, remains of pottery, iron tools, and 15 huge graves. Some of the graves were larger than those of the kings of Abydos. It is believed that the size of some of these larger graves indicates that the people who were buried there were very important. They may even have held some high social social standing, during this particular period of Egyptian history, which dates back to 5,316 BCE.
Thursday, November 24, 2016
A Scientist Proposes New Theory Of Gravity
On November 8th 2016, Professor Eric Verlinde of the University of Amsterdam published a paper that proposes a new theory of gravity. Professor Verlinde suggests that Dark Matter doesn't really exist. Dark Matter is the name for an invisible substance that scientist believes makes up 27% of all of the mass in the universe. It has been used to explain inconsistencies in the gravitational rotations of galaxies.
The new theory is called Emergent Gravity, and was actually first proposed by Professor Verlinde in a paper he wrote in 2010. In that paper, Professor Verlinde put forth that gravity is not a true force of nature, but it emerges as the result of an exchange of bits of information that are fundamental and stored in space time it self. In his latest work, Professor Verlinde contends that it is this information exchange and not Dark Matter that gives rise to gravitational effects observed across the universe.
Professor Verlinde contends that the bits of information stored in space time are actually the effect of the amount entropy in the universe. Entropy is the second law of thermal dynamics which states that things in a given system tend to move from order to disorder. According to Professor Verlinde, this can also account for what is being called Dark Energy. Dark Energy has been described as gravity's propensity to push objects away from each other and is credited with the accelerated expansion of the universe.
The new theory is called Emergent Gravity, and was actually first proposed by Professor Verlinde in a paper he wrote in 2010. In that paper, Professor Verlinde put forth that gravity is not a true force of nature, but it emerges as the result of an exchange of bits of information that are fundamental and stored in space time it self. In his latest work, Professor Verlinde contends that it is this information exchange and not Dark Matter that gives rise to gravitational effects observed across the universe.
Professor Verlinde contends that the bits of information stored in space time are actually the effect of the amount entropy in the universe. Entropy is the second law of thermal dynamics which states that things in a given system tend to move from order to disorder. According to Professor Verlinde, this can also account for what is being called Dark Energy. Dark Energy has been described as gravity's propensity to push objects away from each other and is credited with the accelerated expansion of the universe.
Tuesday, November 15, 2016
Adobe Creates Photoshop For Audio
On November 3rd 2016, at its Adobe Max Conference, the company announced that it had created an application that can reproduce human speech. The project code named, VoCo, is what Adobe is calling Photoshop for audio. VoCo allows a user to manipulate a piece of audio simply by editing lines of text. Words can be rearranged to change sentences or inserted where they were never spoken.
Voco works by sampling a large amount of voice data, which takes about 20 minutes. It then breaks down that data into "phonemes." Phonemes are the distinct sounds that make up a particular spoken language. Next, it voice models the speaker, using cadence, stresses, quirks and other artifacts. Then, to reproduce speech, VoCo either finds the word in the 20 minute sample or uses "phonemes" from the raw data to build it.
While users can make edits entirely from the raw data, it is suggested that copying and pasting the existing words sounds more realistic. Right now, the VoCo technology is only a prototype. However, Adobe is considering "watermarking and detection," to prevent fraudulent use. Adobe intends for VoCo to be used to make edits of podcasts, commercial voice overs, and/or audio book recordings.
Voco works by sampling a large amount of voice data, which takes about 20 minutes. It then breaks down that data into "phonemes." Phonemes are the distinct sounds that make up a particular spoken language. Next, it voice models the speaker, using cadence, stresses, quirks and other artifacts. Then, to reproduce speech, VoCo either finds the word in the 20 minute sample or uses "phonemes" from the raw data to build it.
While users can make edits entirely from the raw data, it is suggested that copying and pasting the existing words sounds more realistic. Right now, the VoCo technology is only a prototype. However, Adobe is considering "watermarking and detection," to prevent fraudulent use. Adobe intends for VoCo to be used to make edits of podcasts, commercial voice overs, and/or audio book recordings.
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