Accomplishment As Artwork

ALEXANDRIA, Va. & TURIN, Italy - Oct., 2005 - Audio MPEG, Inc. and Sisvel, S.p.A. announced that Thomson S.A. and a number of its subsidiaries have been sued in the United States and Europe for infringement of several MPEG Audio patents by its MP3 players and digital set-top boxes. This patented technology was developed and is owned by France Telecom, TDF (Telediffusion De France), Philips, and IRT (Institut fur Rundfunktechnik GmbH). The patents are essential to the MPEG audio compression standard used worldwide in MP3 players, TV set top boxes, digital television broadcasting, and an increasing number of consumer electronics products.

The lawsuits were filed by Sisvel S.p.A. and Audio MPEG, Inc., who have the right to license the patents. Litigations for patent infringement against Thomson are now pending and progressing in Alexandria - Virginia, Mannheim - Germany, and Milan - Italy. In this process, thousands of Thomson MP3 products have been detained by the customs authorities in Germany and continue to be detained by customs following a preliminary injunction issued by the Mannheim Court in Germany.

According to the complaints, Thomson markets and sells MP3 players, TV set top boxes, DVD players, and CD players using MPEG audio compression covered by the patents of France Telecom, TDF, Philips, and IRT, without a current license to practice those inventions. Over 250 companies are licensed under these patents and are paying royalties. Until recently, Thomson was also licensed, but failed to renew their license in 2005.

The lawsuits seek royalties for past infringement, punitive damages for willful infringement, attorney’s fees, and injunctions to permanently prohibit Thomson from selling MP3 players, TV set top boxes, DVD players, and CD players using MPEG audio compression.

“By refusing to renew their license under the MPEG Audio patents, Thomson has ignored its duty to respect intellectual property of third parties. This led to the seizure of its products by the Customs Authorities and made lawsuits necessary in both the United States and Europe,” said Gen. Richard I. Neal, President of Audio MPEG, Inc. “Thomson’s failure to take a license is not only unfair to the owners and the inventors of the patents, whose efforts and research have made this technology possible, but also to the over 250 competitors of Thomson who are meeting their intellectual property obligations as licensees under these patents. Our actions both in the United States and overseas are all about accountability and responsibility.”

According to John Paul, a partner in the law firm of Finnegan, Henderson, Farabow, Garrett & Dunner, LLP, “The US litigation against Thomson is pending in one of the fastest moving Federal trial courts in the United States, a court known as the “rocket docket.” Litigation in the US is focused on getting all of the facts out in the open and that process consumes a tremendous amount of time, energy, and expense. In the rocket docket the consumption of these resources is even more intense because the court requires that the litigation must be completed much faster than in other courts.”

Who are Sisvel and Audio MPEG?

Societ Italiana per lo Sviluppo dell’Elettronica S.p.A (Sisvel) is a patent management company that has become a leader in its field with offices in Turin, Milan, and Hong Kong. It has the rights to license a number of patent portfolios, including the non-US patents in a portfolio relating to MPEG audio compression. Originally established in 1982 as a joint venture by the Italian television producers, it later acquired the entire patent portfolio of Indesit and conducted a number of successful licensing programs in various fields of consumer electronics.

Audio MPEG, Inc. is a patent management company, located in Alexandria, Virginia. It is a wholly owned subsidiary of Sisvel and has the rights to license the US patents in a portfolio relating to MPEG audio compression.

Planning the Perfect Slideshow Production

Planning is the perfect slideshow takes time and effort. But with the help of a professional slideshow creation company the value of your time and effort will be priceless. Whether you’re creating a wedding slideshow, reception slideshow, anniversary slideshow, graduation slideshow, birthday slideshow, Mother’s Day or Father’s Day Slideshow, Valentine’s Day Slideshow, Christmas slideshow, memorial slideshow, or a slide show for any occasion here is a planning checklist you can follow to ensure a priceless slideshow production keepsake.

1. Choose the length of your slideshow production.

__10 minute slideshow

__15 minute slideshow

__20 minute slideshow

__25 minute slideshow

__30 minute slideshow

__40 minute slideshow

____minute slideshow (you fill in the blank)

__It doesn’t matter how long

2. Choose your timeframe.

__ Lifespan of main character/s in slideshow.

__Specific timeframe for each year. For example: Piano recitals for the last ten years.

__Is there more than one person’s life who is going to be featured in this slideshow?

__Do you want their lives shown __separately __simultaneously

__Is the timeframe very specific such as this years summer vacation?

___________________________________ fill in the blank for what the timeframe is.

__________ - __________ Fill in the blanks with the specific years or timeframes you want covered in your slideshow.

3. Questions to ask before choosing the photographs for your slideshow.

__Is the photograph clear and not blurry? Blurry photographs are hard to correct and the larger the image, the more blurry the photo appears.

__Is the photograph too bright or too dark? Although some corrections can be made here, if the photograph is too bright or too dark, you may loose quality in the photograph.

__Is someone or something blocking the main focus of the photograph? Unwanted objects or big heads in the way of the main focus of the photograph detract from the photo and does not give you the best quality slideshow.

__Is the photograph in focus? What you see is what you get - magnified.

__ Is the photo too grainy? Grainy photos do not scan well.

__Has the photograph been cut up to use in a photograph memory book? Cut up photos look great when done properly for memory albums, but they work poorly for slideshows.

4. __ Organize your photos by year or by timeframe. For example if your slideshow is going to span the lifetime of a person, organize your photos by year. Make separate piles for each year.

5. The pictures are now organized, but I have too many. Which of the best pictures do I choose? If the slideshow is personal and mainly for one person you can have as many pictures as you want and not worry about boring anyone since everyone loves to see photographs of themselves, but if the slideshow is going to be seen by an audience ask yourself these questions:

__ Do I have more than 2 photos of a specific category? Example: 2 photos of little Emily in her favorite Easter dress in 1987 is more than enough.

__Are the pictures similar enough that one can be put aside? You do not want to bore your audience, the more variety in the photographs, the more entertaining the slideshow will be.

__ Do you have 12 photos taken in 1987 and 4 taken in 1988? Try to keep the years as close to even as possible.

__Are there a variety of photographs of others? If you really want to entertain your audience, try to include pictures of them in the slideshow. Everyone loves to see themselves light up on the big screen! It will make them feel a part of your special event and keep their interest peaked to see who will be showing up next. In addition, include credits in the slide show when applicable. Give credit to mothers, fathers, grandparents, brothers, sisters, friends, bridal party, and anyone else to whom credit is due.

If you still have trouble cutting down the amount of photographs, ask for help. A mom choosing pictures of her child tends to think every picture is worth showing - I know because I’m a mom - but if you ask dad for help, or a close friend you’ll be amazed at how much they can cut down the amount of photos to go in your slideshow!

6. __After choosing the photos look at them carefully and decide whether or not you want captions with the photograph. Captions can add to the appeal of the picture for the audience to help them understand what is happening in that particular photo. They can also add to the humor or sentimental value of the video. Not every picture should have a caption; for the most part the photos should be able to speak for themselves. Your audience may not enjoy the slideshow as much with too many captions. However, in certain circumstances, such as creating a slideshow for a loved one who is away serving in the military captions can be quite effective.

7.__ Now it’s time to choose your music. Hollywood producers will tell you that the right or wrong music can make or break a movie production. Choose the music according to the feeling you want to give your audience. Happy, sentimental, funny, nostalgic…. it’s all in the music. Choose music that means something to you or the person you are creating the slideshow for. Check the length of the music to the number of photos you want to use and the type of slideshow you are choosing. Write down your choices of songs, the artist and album below.

1.__________________________________________________________ 2.__________________________________________________________ 3.__________________________________________________________ 4.__________________________________________________________ 5.__________________________________________________________

8. __Choose Video Clips - Adding a couple of short video clips to your slideshow can help break up and enhance your slideshow. Keep your video clips short if possible. 30 seconds - 2 minutes. Once you find the video clips you want to use, copy exactly what you want included onto a separate video tape. Do not send the originals in the mail.

9. __Consider using Voiceovers - This can add a sentimental touch to any slideshow. This can be done using a video camera, or with some digital cameras that take video. Just be sure to tell your slideshow company that you just want to use the voice, not the video.

10. __ View Samples, Choose Your Slideshow Company, and Place Your Order-There are many slideshow companies to choose from, so how do you know which one is right for you? Always view the online samples. To narrow your search look for unique and creative slideshows. Your memories are special and unique and should be treated as such. Stay away from the cookie-cutter picture after picture slideshows. Creativity and uniqueness are key elements to any truly stunning slideshow.

11. __Back up your photos. Make sure you have copies of your photos or the negatives. Slideshow companies are not responsible for what happens to your photos while in the mail. And unless you have a back-up, photos are irreplaceable.

12. __Pack your photos with care. Use proper packaging material. Always place 5×7’s or 8×10’s between pieces of cardboard. Make sure the photos and other material is packed tightly to avoid moving around inside the box. When packaging your photos place them in Ziploc baggies. This will protect them from any possible water damage and also works great for separating your photos chronologically. You should also place your discs or videos in Ziploc baggies. And always insure your package. Although lost or damaged mail is a rare occurrence, it’s always best to be prepared. And always opt for priority mailing services. The less time in the mail - the better.

Your time and effort is now finished. Your slideshow company will take care of you from here. They should be in constant communication with you and you should have a good idea when to expect your slideshow to be finished. Sands of Time Multimedia Creations creates unique and creative slideshows for every occasion. Creative anniversary slideshows, graduation slideshows, birthday slideshows, Mother’s Day or Father’s Day Slideshows, Valentine’s Day Slideshows, Christmas slideshows, memorial slideshows, the list goes on and with Sands of Time Multimedia Creations your satisfaction is guaranteed. So visit us today and experience the difference!

After a long, exhausting day you came home, had your dinner and then sat in front of the TV looking for a nice relaxing movie. Nothing! Then suddenly you remembered that you bought the CD of the new, Oscar-winning movie “Million Dollar Baby”. You took out your laptop, inserted the first CD and hit “play”. To your surprise, the only thing you could see was a green screen. You took out the CD, cursing at the media market that gave you a “broken” CD for the fifth time. Tried the second CD; again the frustrating green screen. First thing in the morning, you took your “broken” movies and went to the shop. Having yelled at the owner of the shop for five minutes, you suddenly noticed the cynical smile on the guy’s face. Having the opportunity to talk, the shop keeper said “CODEX”.

All you needed were the codecs for these movies. They were not broken; they were just coded in a “foreign” language to your media player. The codecs were the dictionary that your laptop had to use to translate the absurd computer language to the nice scenes of the movies.

Every video, audio, picture or even word document files are coded in a different way. In the case of big data entries like movies, the computer has to use different algorithms to compress the data so that the size does not exceed the standard limits. We see this compression in PDF files (Acrobat Reader), in MP3 files (WinAMP), in MPEG files (movies), in each and every data storage file that you can imagine. While the compression is being done, the programs use some kind of a dictionary. Without these “dictionaries” (codecs in the case of video and audio files) the code would seem as meaningless to the player or the viewer as it is to you. So you have to install certain codecs to be able to use certain files.

Some codecs replace the repetitive symbols over the file, ome codecs changes the aspect ratio of the movie; some of them decrease the quality of the picture and yet, all of them turn gigabytes of data into fair size that can fit into a CD or a DVD.

As the user demands increases, codecs are multiplying in a logarithmic scale. There are several codecs that are musts for movie fans, however. You should install most of these if you don’t want to be disappointed.

1. MPEG4 - It is the default codec which is already included in WMP. 2. DIVX - A series of sound and display codex which come with shareware DIVX player. 3. XVID - Relatively new, one of the most used video codecs. 4. AC3 - Most common sound codec. 5. Intel Indeo - Rather useful series of codec which a new version pops out everyday.

Overall the way movies are encoded is changing day by day. Everyday we see a new aspect ratio. Everyday we encounter a new codec. To many, it would seem that it is getting harder and hard to watch movies. The least you can do is to download a codec viewer program which would help you on your quest for a pleasant evening.

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Gossip Girl: You Know You Love Me by Cecily von Ziegesar might be great reading, however busy life styles make finding time hard to do. Lengthy journey times to work and day to day activities might be taking up huge chunks of day without you realizing it. Working, dealing with children or even housework can all cut down the time you have for your hobbies. You could use the time spent driving to get up to date on novels you can’t get around to reading. With user friendly technology, you can spoil yourself with Split Second by David Baldacci by Download Audio Book Online, or audible books recounted by Jeffrey Rogers Hummel without even flipping a single page.

Nowadays multi-tasking is unavoidable. Audiobooks such as Pimsleur Russian III Complete Course by Dr. Paul Pimsleur by Download Audio Book Online take advantage of the wasted moments in our routine, it could be minutes spent waiting at the doctor’s office or grocery shopping. Audio-books are obtainable to download as audio files suitable for personal computers, laptops and ipods these titles include Pimsleur Japanese I Part 3 by Dr. Paul Pimsleur, so if you’ve got an iPod or other mp3 player and earphones and use the opportunity to listen to the latest whodunnit, for instance audiobooks penned by James Lee Burke without carrying a heavy book around. Another benefit of audible books is the chance to rent or purchase many titles and peruse them at your leisure. Interested in learning Polish? Why not give audiobooks a try? You can review current business trends, or you can enjoy reflecting on the most recent notions pertaining to religious belief or spirituality. Audio books exist in a multitude of titles and writing styles. Whether you enjoy history, mad about biographies or even if your interests lie in self help, many are available through online downloads. Choices are wide open; it’s easy to subscribe to a rental program or buy the title online.

Fervent readers will invariably find a time for reading, nevertheless audio-books offer a wonderful alternative. A narrator can enhance the enjoyment of many novels. Reading a book isn’t the same as listening to an audio title narrated by John Le Carre, with the additional nuances given during a rendidtion. Your reading experience will be heightened by listening to an audio-book like Seven Secrets, The: Uncovering Genuine Greatness by John Hagee and frequently go much deeper the written word. Don’t forget about audiobooks when you next want to buy books, they can be tremendous means to fit the books you desire into a hectic life.

Video conferencing facilitates learning by allowing remote or distant learners to meet regardless of their location. Students can take classes at multiple universities. In essence classes that are not available at one location may be available at another through video conferencing. Video conferencing can also benefit non traditional students who are not able to attend classes during normal hours.

There are various types of videoconferencing; which is suitable for your application will depend upon the IT structure available and what it is that you actually want to achieve. Video conferencing has in the past been relatively expensive, but prices are coming down and it is possible for anyone with a fast enough internet connection to operate a video conference.

There are excellent quality video conferencing systems out there. Many of them are well worth the dollars that they cost. And, because technology continues to grow, you’ll find that prices for video conferencing will become more competitive. It is the way of the future. Is your company in the future? Using video conferencing can help to insure that it is there.

Most video conferencing terminals also require what is called a codec or Compressor/Decompressor interface. This piece of equipment helps compress information being passed from audio to video to make transmission of materials feasible over the Net. Without this piece of equipment most files would be too large to send from one computer to another. The process of compression data using a codec machine is often referred to as decoding and encoding information.

Finally, a computer and reliable internet connection are also necessary to facilitate video conferencing. A high speed connection is recommended to make the video conferencing experience not only endurable but also enjoyable. The actual computer you have is not as important as the size of your display. Remember that when using video conferencing equipment, the larger your display the better your picture and the more easily a time you will have ‘conferencing’ with other people on the Web.

Conferencing - Providing conferncing information. Learn about web conferencing,
audio coferencing, video conferencing, etc. Find out about web data conferencing & web
exchange conferencing here.

Audio conferencing web technology and video conferencing web
technology have taken away the barrier to personalized service
and voice-to-voice or face-to-face communications that internet
business presents while enabling the sharing of files and
materials over the internet to facilitate communications.

Phone conferencing has long been recognized as a tool that
enables people in various geographic locations to communicate
effectively in group settings. Audio conferencing web services
have intensified and improved upon the benefits of phone
conferencing adding a greater range of features for conducting
conference calls and communications. Video conferencing web
services add even more personalization opportunities for long-
distance communications.

Audio conferencing web technology or video conferencing web
services can be used to conduct sales presentations, to hold
service calls, to provide training and technical support, and to
hold meetings of any kind.

There are quite a few audio conferencing web services and video
conferencing web services to choose from. Different service
providers offer various options for audio conferencing web and
video conferencing services.

Some require that conferences be preset with invitations to the
conference sent out while others enable you to instantly set-up
and conduct audio conferencing web meetings or video conferences
without making advance arrangements.

Real-time audio conferencing web capabilities and video
conferencing web capabilities, desktop sharing, internet voice
options, and collaboration services such as transferring of files
are all features of video and audio conferencing web services
that have the potential of improving sales processes, customer
service, technical support, training, and communications for your
internet-based business.

Global availability of the video and audio conferencing web
services is something else to consider when selecting a video or
audio conferencing web service provider.

Using video or audio conferencing web services can improve your
productivity and levels of service as well as providing instant
cost savings. Because the use of video and audio conferencing web
services eliminates the need for travel for the purpose of
communicating face-to-face, making presentations, holding
training sessions, or conducting meetings, a lot of money in
travel expenses can be saved by using such services.

There are also time-saving benefits associated with video and
audio conferencing web services because people don’t have to take
time out of their business schedules for travel. The ability to
transfer files and documents through the use of the web before,
during or after video or audio conferencing web meetings
diminishes the need for postage and for printouts as all
supplemental information can be delivered to conference
participants electronically.

While using video and audio conferencing web services is rather
inexpensive, there are some options to using such services. Video
and audio conferencing web software can be purchased. Whether you
use video or audio conferencing web services or software, there
may be some specific equipment needs although the equipment
needed is pretty basic.

Most times a computer with an internet connection, speakers, a
microphone and a webcam are about all that is needed to host or
to participate in a video or audio conferencing web session.

Some internet business operators view up and coming, state of the
art technology as being too complex, or they may think that the
use of such technology is cost-prohibitive for a small internet-
based business.

The truth of the matter is, the popularity and use of video and
audio conferencing web options is growing which has resulted in a
greater number of providers and relative competition. As with any
industry, when the competition increases, prices decrease making
the services use of technology more cost-effective for
individuals and businesses of all sizes.

Don’t assume that your internet business is too small or too
simple to use advanced technology or communication options such
as video or audio conferencing web technology. It may just be the
touch of class and personalization that sets you apart from your
competitors giving you a competitive service advantage.

Copyright Christopher J. Enders. Are you at the end of your rope,
fed up and confused by all the scrambled internet marketing
advice you’re getting? Whether you are new to internet marketing,
or a website owner who wants to make more money from your
website, learn the proven strategies that will sky-rocket your
internet business at http://BiznessTips.com

Meetings and conferences will never be the same again! Gone are the days where meetings could only be conducted when everyone involved was present at a proposed venue, properly attired and mentally equipped to deal with the possibility of spending at least half the day in the meeting. Meetings and conferences have now become hassle-free, less mundane, less rigid and less time-consuming, thanks to the innovative method of audio conferencing.

Audio conferencing, also known as teleconferencing or tele-seminar, is a method of holding conferences and meetings using a telephone or computer as the medium of communication. With the help of an audio device attached to something common as the telephone, a meeting consisting of more than 5 people can be held anywhere and anytime.

The biggest advantage of audio conferencing is that it can take place no matter where you are, so long as you have access to the phone. There is no need to be dressed up in your office suit since you will be there without actually ‘being there.’ This is a great avenue, especially for bosses who are away for business trips and need to hold urgent meetings with their people; it also benefits those who work from home.

Audio conferencing is not only for business purposes, even though this is its most common use. This method of communication can also used for entertainment; for example, to chat with friends or family who are scattered in different parts of the country or even in different parts of the world!

The important thing to remember is that all participants should be aware of the time of the conference and the numbers which they are supposed to dial into. It would also be beneficial if the participants are well-informed of the topic of discussion in order to avoid confusion and prolonged meetings, since most audio conferences are meant to finish at a shorter time.

Audio Conferences provides detailed information on Audio Conferences, Audio Conference Calls, Audio Conference Companies, Audio Conference Services and more. Audio Conferences is affiliated with Online Audio Conferencing .

Dish Network’s gift of a free Digital Video Recorder to new
subscribers is certainly a blessing in disguise. It allows the
viewer of Dish Network’s superb programming to record and save
favorites for later viewing and for sharing at special times
with others. The DVR (digital video recorder) is a device that
contains a hard drive that records and stores digital satellite
television programming in digital and high definition
resolution. This is a product of the combinations of ongoing
research and development in the area of advanced technology in
recording and satellite communications systems. This device
gives you full control over what you see and when you want to
see any given programming. Most people’s lives are quite hectic
and you can’t always be in front of the television when a
program you want to see is being broadcast. The beauty of the
Dish network DVR is that you can pre-record a favorite program,
and watch it on your schedule. The remote has buttons for
record, fast forward, rewind, and pause. The pause button will
let you stop live television programming and either rewind or
resume within a short time. When recording, you can eliminate
all commercials or other interference. The Dish Network DVR has
a storage capacity of 100 hours allowing you to create your own
library of favorites - music, movies, sports events, etc.
Digital storage saves money in that you no longer have to buy
and store the bulky and cumbersome videotapes. The Digital Video
Recorder menu is fully integrated with the Dish Network program
guide allowing ease and flexibility in recording programming.
All this convenience is free as a new subscriber to Dish
Network’s digital high definition satellite television services.
Dish Network provides the ultimate in television viewing as they
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The Need To Communicate

The need for businesses to communicate both internally and with each other has always been great. Successful transactions cannot be completed without communication - so much relies upon it; decent customer service; placing orders; winning new business.

As global markets have emerged with multinational organizations and twenty-four hour trading the need to find a reliable and cost effective method of communicating on a worldwide level has grown too. Logistical problems such as different time zones, busy schedules and a need to quite literally be in at least two places at once has commanded a software application that can tackle these difficulties.

First there was teleconferencing where two or more participants could engage in verbal communication over the telephone. Certainly an effective means of conversing but, as we all know, dealing with a person face to face is far more preferable. Body language conveys so much more than just a voice alone.

Trace it back, and you will find the roots of web conferencing in localized intranet systems. Document sharing and collaborative working was developed from this and the software for these systems was developed further still.

The development of the internet and its capabilities - greater bandwidth capacities, for example - made web conferencing a viable method of communication and developers forged ahead with refining their systems.

The expansion of the internet saw not only big players trading in the global markets but small and medium organizations also found themselves trading with partners across the globe. The need for effective methods of communication had to address the needs of all potential users, from multi-nationals to home-workers.

Web conferencing applications have now reached a sophisticated level. Going beyond the brief of providing a virtual meeting place, some applications now provide fully interactive capabilities, document and file sharing and the ability to communicate with not just one, but hundreds of participants at the same time.

Where Does The Future Lie?

Of course, refinement of web conferencing applications is ongoing. As a relatively new phenomenon, there is plenty scope for developers to enhance and improve their software packages. The needs of businesses are constantly changing and the shift in trend towards home rather than office-based employment will place a higher demand still for virtual meeting facilities.

It is hard to predict the future of web conferencing. There are so many avenues this exciting technology could explore. The popularity of mobile technology - cell phones, laptops and hand-held computers, for example - provide the software developers with new challenges. An increasingly mobile workforce demands software that will work for them rather than them having to work round the technology.

The web conferencing market place is become increasingly competitive and providers will have to stay ahead of the game in order to survive. As it increases in popularity as a means of communication, users will become more demanding in terms of the sophistication of the software they are using. With so many routes web conferencing technology can take it will be interesting to see the diverse range of software solutions on hand to solve the communication problems of the global business community of the future.

Diane Parker is a freelance writer and technology enthusiast providing valuable information including: web conferencing and conferencing service solution.

This is the introduction to my new book, which will be for sale next year: With this book I have endeavoured to explain the major factors of the sound reproduction of a loudspeaker. It hope it will be a helpful summary for the loudspeaker enthusiast as well as the professional who wants an overview of the latest technology and knowledge. It also provides the enthusiast with a broad knowledge and basic understanding of loudspeaker design in order to enable him or her to understand the manufacturers data and advertising and therefore also supply a guide for the purchase of loudspeakers, be it finished products or kitsets. Unfortunately a lot of advertising is unclear, confusing and missleading. I wish this book will shed some light in the mystyrious ways of sound reproduction, which are very often not as mysterious as some people would like us to believe. I therefore also describe a generic loudspeaker with excellent sound reproduction and moderate cost. Due to the ever changing market I don’t name specific models but rather show with the following example in this book that an excellent sounding speaker does not need to be overly complicated or extravagant. A carefull selection of good parts and well engineered crossover is mostly sufficient. Unfortunatly the latter is a bit difficult to achieve without some basic measuring equipment and experience. However for the commited DIY the costs for equipment is relatively affordable nowaddays and experience is mostly gained with time. I ommited elaborate mathematics, since the enthusiast is usally interested in the practical aspects and the professional knows the basic mathematics already. Therefore my emphasis lies on cone technology and driver design, which is normally, providing the cabinet is sensfully designed, the most critical part which determines the soundquality. Several transducer principles will be explained, but again the emphasis lies on the electrodynamik transducer for reasons of practicality, sensitivity, size and last not least price. Due to these advantages it does not surprise that most commercial loudspeakers use standard electrodynamik transducers to reproduce sound instead of exotic technology which is usually costly and their advantages in sound reproduction are often questionable to say the least. Of course this does not mean the electrodynamik transducer is always superior, but in order to achieve a significant advantage over a well designed and constructed electrodynamik loudspeaker a manufacturer has to go to great length and in the case of an exotic transducer design, spend extensive time in the development which again is costly. All the new introductions of transducer technology that I have heard of are based on theories and designs invented many decades ago and allthough improved and modified, are not really “new technology”. It seems all the transducer inventions have been made and we can only improve on those. Maybe new scientific research and developments will enable us one day to build the perfect loudspeaker, preferably with very small size, but until then we will have to compromise and live with an “almost perfect sound”. Since sound reproduction is to a great extend also a matter of perception, there is a big element of subjectivity and personal taste involved. This element of taste often leads to massive discussions and arguments about which loudspeaker sounds best. We have all sorts of sophisticated measuring equipment at our disposal, with which we can measure all sorts of things, but the relation between measurements and perception is not well researched and is not conclusive at the present day. A big problem up to date is the measuring signal that is used, which should be representative of a musical signal but still be simple enough to conduct exact measurements. Especially in the area of distortion measurements there are no clear methods in place that allow an assessment which emcompasses all important audible aspects.

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