Caw-Caw Music

Posts Tagged ‘Review’

Virtual DJ for Mac is the hottest DJ MP3 mixing software for Mac OS X, targeting every DJ from bedroom DJs to professional superstars like Carl Cox. With its breakthrough BeatLock engine, your songs will always stay in the beat, and you can work your mixes incredibly faster than any other DJ could. with Virtual DJ for Mac’s BeatLock Engine: your songs will always stay in time, and you can work your mixes incredibly faster than any other DJ could.

Virtual DJ Studio 6.1 is a Music Mixer product from vdj.net, get 5 Stars SoftSea Rating, Virtual DJ is a virtual Mixing Console for DJs. Plays multiple MP3 and WAV files, and has support for most playlist formats. With many unique features not found in other DJ software, Virtual DJ is perfect for DJs, radio stations, and hobbiests. We’ve been asked about Karaoke support for many years, and we have now delivered. Virtual DJ supports MP3+CDG, and supports multiple monitors (for example, a Television connected to your video card). You can either play an MP3 that has a corresponding .CDG file, or you can play directly from a ZIP file. Virtual DJ does this directly, with no need to create temporary files (like most other programs do). Virtual DJ is the only Karaoke system that lets you seek while directly playing a ZIP or MP3 file, without ever losing sync! Virtual DJ also allows you to configure several options including a background image, colors, synchronization, and on-screen text. No other Karaoke package delivers this many features.

Virtual DJ Studio gives you a mixer-board interface. Each line offers things you would expect from a typical mixer — volume fader, mute, crossfader assignment, etc. Additionally, each line contains an MP3/WAV/Karaoke player, with all of the controls you might expect — including a Pitch/Tempo control. If you have two or more sound cards/audio devices, you can route any line to your secondary device, for headphone preview or beat-matching. Alternatively, you might use this feature to simply allow more control with your external mixer.

The days of hunting down a Karaoke CD, finding the right track, and having only one or two singers queue’d up are gone! With a Laptop, you can replace not only your CD players; you can eliminate the need for cases of CDs, and take up less space than you ever imagined!

New Day Has Come is the latest Pop CD released by the extremely talented Celine Dion who once again has delivered a brilliant collection of tracks. I’m confident Celine Dion fans, and Pop fans alike will be pleased with this one.

Refreshingly, this was one of those CDs I was able to just pop in and comfortably listen to from beginning to end. Every track is enjoyable and was pretty easy for me to listen to from start to finish.

Pop music fans will recognize some of the well known guests that have been assembled to play along with Dion on several of the tracks. Artists like Michael Thompson and Paul Jackson Jr. just to name a couple.

Overall New Day Has Come is an outstanding release. What I call must have music. I give it two thumbs up and is most definitely a worthy addition to any Pop collection. Truly an outstanding Pop CD. One of those that is completely void of any wasted time, as each track is simply superb.

While this entire album is outstanding the truly standout tunes are track 3 – Have You Ever Been In Love, track 14 – When The Wrong One Loves You Right, and track 16 – Nature Boy.

My Bonus Pick, and the one that got Sore [...as in "Stuck On REpeat"] is track 1 – I’m Alive. This is a great track!

New Day Has Come Release Notes:

Celine Dion originally released New Day Has Come on March 26, 2002 on the Epic label.

CD Track List Follows:

1. I’m Alive

2. Right In Front Of You

3. Have You Ever Been In Love

4. Rain, Tax (It’s Inevitable)

5. New Day Has Come, A – (Ric Wake radio remix)

6. Ten Days

7. Goodbye’s (The Saddest Word)

8. Prayer

9. I Surrender

10. At Last

11. Sorry For Love

12. Aun Existe Amor

13. The Greatest Reward

14. When The Wrong One Loves You Right

15. A New Day Has Come

16. Nature Boy

Getting the best from a headphone review. Listening to my music through a set of quality hi fi home studio stereo speakers is the ultimate for me…at least until the found the other option. I like hearing the mid-range vocals coming out clear and crisp. The bass is something I like to feel as well as hear.

The problem comes when everyone else wants to sleep and I still want to listen to some of my favorite music. In my quest to feed the audiophile inside me, I finally determined headphones were the answer. It was either that or go it alone. But, this presented an entirely new set of problems.

I discovered “these cans” had some a long way since the last time I was looking. I had choices and a lot of them. I could get them with open end or closed end. In my case, I determined closed end would be best so what I was listening to could not go out and disturb anyone around me. It seems with an open can, the sound is still dispersed somewhat into the surrounding area.

I found out about passive and active noise canceling. I had to choose whether I wanted the background noise canceled by just the ear pieces themselves (passive) or were those little electronics inside going to stop the ambient noise (active). This is actually a big question. Because I have a long commute to work, the active noise reducing headphones would make the noise go away. Outside sounds like people talking and appliances running would also have no affect on my streaming audio. I liked this idea. I found makes and types that allowed me to switch between active and passive mode. This was perfect.

In my quest for the best headphones, I ran into a technology I had never heard before about stereo head sets. Bluetooth. What is bluetooth? Wireless? In ear? No cords? You have got to be kidding. This wireless stuff was sounding very interesting. I could move with my music and not land on my keester because I tripped on the cord. All I had to do was buy a wireless set for my stereo and I was good to go. I could move up to 300 feet away and still enjoy my tunes. This meant I could be all over the house and listen to the radio or my favorite CD. I was REALLY liking this option. I can not stand to sit for very long.

Finding all this out about a simple set of headphones made me realize it was not a simple thing and a little more in depth than I initially thought. What else was I to discover?

Well, how about the ultimate in any audiophile’s dream…surround sound. I could get a head unit that gave me true theater quality music with the touch of a button. I have since found out many wireless sets like the Koss, Sony and Sennheiser RS-110, RS-120, RS130 and RS140 from headphonewarehouse.com all have single button surround sound. This was sounding pretty good to me. I learned I could switch from stereo sound to surround sound any time I wanted.

Because of what I was able to find out, I was able to make my choice of the headphones I wanted. They are perfect for me. I am pleased with what I bought. There is a set out there for you, too. Just do some research and some reviews like I did and you can discover a complete listening experience like no other.

Not sure what’s happening with me on this one, but it seems like the more I listen to it, the better Soundtrack To Your Escape gets. Soundtrack To Your Escape stated simply is one of their best CDs to date.

Refreshingly, this was one of those CDs I was able to just pop in and comfortably listen to from beginning to end. Every track is enjoyable and was pretty easy for me to listen to from start to finish.

These days it’s a very rare CD on which every single song is good or better than the one before it. This CD is certainly one of those rare CDs.

Overall Soundtrack To Your Escape is an outstanding release. What I call must have music. I give it two thumbs up and is most definitely a worthy addition to any Rock collection. Truly an outstanding Rock CD. One of those that is completely void of any wasted time, as each track is simply superb.

While the entire CD is really very good some of my favorites are track 5 – Like You Better Dead, track 10 – Superhero Of The Computer Rage, and track 12 – Bottled

My Bonus Pick, and the one that got Sore [...as in "Stuck On REpeat"] is track 1 – F(r)iend. What a nice track!

Soundtrack To Your Escape Release Notes:

In Flames originally released Soundtrack To Your Escape on April 6, 2004 on the Nuclear Blast Records label.

CD Track List Follows:

1. F(r)iend 2. Quiet Place, The 3. Dead Alone 4. Touch Of Red 5. Like You Better Dead 6. My Sweet Shadow 7. Evil In A Closet 8. In Search For I 9. Borders And Shading 10. Superhero Of The Computer Rage 11. Dial 595-Escape 12. Bottled

In Flames: Anders Friden (vocals); Bjorn Gelotte, Jesper Stromblad (guitar); Peter Iwers (bass); Daniel Svensson (drums). Recorded in Denmark. In Flames: Anders Friden (vocals); Jesper Stromblad (guitar); Peter Iwer (bass instrument); Daniel Svensson (drums).

Koss has been making heavy duty professional studio and broadcasting headphones for decades, and it is fair to say that their studio phones set the standard for all others. The Koss MV1 headphones are one of the latest models in Koss professional collection, adding some style and sophistication to the rock solid simplistic headphone models that came before it. These are great for professional DJs and musicians.

As is essential for studio headphones, the MV1s’ closed cushions seal around the ear, holding sound in and locking noise out. That isolation is important for focus while working, as well as for hearing the entire frequency range without turning the volume way up. That isolation is further enhanced by the headband which is made of steel and rubber. The headband is comfortable but incredibly sturdy and it holds the earphone cushions tightly in place.

The sound quality of the Koss MV1 headphones is great, and the level of detail amazing. Both the bass and the treble are very clear, and to me one of the most impressive things is that during louder parts of songs the sound does not get muddled or cluttered, and you can still hear all the individual elements of the sound clearly. Contrast that with the “wall of sound” you often run into with less serious headphones.

The older professional studio headphone models from Koss are quite heavy, which was possibly their main drawback. The Koss MV1 headphones are not light either, but they are an improvement on the older models and will not weigh your head down as much. The ear cushions’ coating is made from rubber, though, which make your ears hot and sweaty after just a couple of songs. If you are a music professional then you can likely deal with that discomfort in favor of precision. But if you are a casual music fan, then the Koss Portapro headphones might be a better option for you.

Noise Cancelling Headphones have become extremely popular with travelers and those that really just want some peace and quiet when listening to music. Well Sennheiser has made an excellent pair of headphones that are perfect for this type of use.

The Sennhieiser PXC 250 Active Noise Cancelling Headphones are top of the line. They provide clear and crisp sound. Although they are a little more expensive than some other headphones you know you are getting what you pay for. When doing research for a nice pair of noise cancelling headphones these came right to my attention because of their five star reviews. I soon found out why they are so popular.

The headphones are extremely comfortable, light weight, and are most effective in blocking out noise. My main point for buying these headphones was so I could listen to my music and hear the instruments clearer. I got what I was looking for and much more.

First I hate small headphones, these completely covered my ears. I also noticed there was no buzzing or static when listening to any type of music. The buzzing sound can be a big complaint among noise cancelling headphones. I was also amazed at the sound quality. My music tastes vary from hard rock, jazz, and classical. Each type of music sounded surprisingly great. I have never been able to hear the instruments so clear before.

Sennheiser is really one of the best manufacturers in making headphones that block out noise. Although you can’t completely block out the noise on a subway or bus it helps tremendously is reducing it. So now I can listen to my music and not blow my ears out from having to turn the volume up so high. I was really able to tell the noise reduction feature when using the headphones on a airplane flight. It completely drowned out the noise of the engines and which allowed me to get a few hours of rest.

In conclusion Sennheiser is a very reputable brand. You know if it is good enough for DJs then it is the right choice for you. Although they are priced a little high you will be paying for a great deal of high performing features in a pair of headphones.