Re: Oh, the Energy of Time Domain Transients

David, I have a two-word answer for you: Print-Through.

The pre-echo thing does exists, but it comes from analog technology and has nothing to do with “temporal smearing” (unless you mean the stuff you apply directly to the forehead).

Print-through happens when magnetic recording tape, among other things, sits in storage. Here is an actual, factual explanation of it.

It can also happen on vinyl records depending on how close the grooves are and how intensely modulated (loud) the grooves are.

In the case of the Twilight Zone episodes; my expert opinion is that they were, at some point, transferred to videotape from the original film print. Imagine… reels and reels of magnetic tape with Rod Serling’s precious cargo just sitting… and sitting… and sitting. Magnetic tape back in the 1960’s and 1970’s could easily have suffered a good case of print-through while relaxing in the archives.

The same would have been true if the original film prints had a magnetic audio track instead of the usual optical audio track. The physics are the same.

Of course, the flux capacitor had not been invented yet, so we can easily rule it out as a contributing factor.

As for the “Gibbs phenomenon,” I think they are referring to the acoustical distortions reported during the recording sessions for “Stayin’ Alive.”

I think the life-lesson here is that educators are wise to insist that we not cite Wikipedia on our next term paper. However, if you're into comedy dish up some more. That one was precious.

I hope this helps.

Oh, the Energy of Time Domain Transients

Jon Simpson is The Hanger's resident audio/acoustics/recording geek. So Jon. . .

In today's blog-offering from James Lileks, he comments on an audio phenomenon he frequently encounters when watching old Twilight Zone episodes—something called "pre-echo." Apparently you hear a faint "echo" of some dialogue or a sound before the actual sound occurs.

James links to the following Wikipedia entry that purports to explain the mystery:

Pre-echo is a psychoacoustic phenomenon where an unusually noticeable artifact is heard in a sound recording from the energy of time domain transients smeared backwards in time after processing in the frequency domain due to the Gibbs phenomenon. Because forward temporal masking is so much stronger than backwards temporal masking, the Gibbs phenomenon can give rise to this audible distortion which sounds like an echo which comes before the actual sound.

Avoiding pre-echo is a substantial design difficulty in transform domain lossy audio codecs such as MP3, MPEG-4 AAC, and Vorbis.

So. . . Is this for real or some kind of geeky, nonsense-jargon-laden spoof? Are "time domain transients" a real thing and can they really "smear backwards?" Is the "Gibbs Phenomenon" something other than the win-loss record of a former Washington Redskins coach?

And is a "psychoacoustic phenomenon" something that causes sound waves to want to go toward the light?

In Honor of Their Sacrifice

As we stop (at least here in the red states) to honor the men and women who have laid down their lives in service to their country, I recommend to you this fine little gift book by our friend, Stephen Mansfield:

American Heroes: Stories of Faith, Courage, and Sacrifice from the Front Lines

And to the families of those who have given that last full measure of devotion to their nation, we honor and thank you.

What a Wonderful View

A few days have passed since the mighty kingdom of ABC Television's, "The View" helped Princess Rosie pack her royal bag and move out.

Ah, the minty-freshness lingers.

Amazingly, the other princess of the view, Elisabeth, was chastised for challenging her bigger princess, even after the bigger one said so many silly, silly not-based-on-reality things.

I guess becoming the biggest princess in view carries much weight. As usual, the "Queen" (or as SNL used to refer to her, Bah-bah Wah-wah) was not available (that means, staying the heck away from this one) for comment.

So, as this chapter ends, I know we all hope that the next one will bring a princess blessed with common sense and, more important, convictions based on facts instead of emotional beliefs of fantasy.

Of course, as we all know, at the kingdom of "The View" it will undoubtedly be a neverending story.

Born Again American Idol

This was clearly the year of the born-again Christian on American Idol.

Not only were top ten finalists Chris Sligh, Phil Stacy, Lakisha Jones, Sanjaya Malakar, Melinda Doolittle and Jordin Sparks all believers. . .the winner of the songwriting contest to see whose song would be the first single released by the winner, was contemporary Christian music singer-songwriter, Scott Krippayne.

Christians may be finally moving out the ghetto as the lines between what is sacred and secular get blurrier all the time.

An Epic(ly silly) TV Battle

At our house there was a war... a valiant struggle between TV finale programs.

In this corner, weighing in at 4 megatons of what-the-heck-storylines-are-we-doing-tonight -- LOST!

And in this corner, weighing in at 50 bazillion pounds of how-the-heck-did-Sanjaya-get-so-far-and-why-didn't-Melinda-get-farther-on-this-crazy-TV-favorite -- AMERICAN IDOL!

Sadly, we only have one TiVo (a sad and lowly state for an early adopter of the DVR).

Well, here is how we dealt with it: Jarrod (my son who graduates from high school [Go CHHS Panthers!!] this weekend and will be attending Texas Christian University [Go FROGS!!!] in the fall) jumped between TV sets and at no time was he interested in IDOL. He only watched LOST.

Mika (my wife who keeps our family universe in balance and without whom I would be unbearable, let alone unproductive) kept locked into IDOL.

As for me, I stood stunned… unable to move.

And then the balance changed.

Mika has never missed an episode of IDOL. Either by watching live or watching via TiVo, she's seen them all. Of course, she's also a serious LOST fan (and rents past seasons ALL THE TIME) and decided that TiVo could record IDOL while she and Jarrod would watch the finale of LOST unfold together as a bold mother-son bonding event before he leaves high school and heads for college (how sweet).

That leaves the daddy. You see, my other children were busy and couldn’t watch TV with me (because my other son, Jon Michael, was at church and my other son, Alex, was studying for finals and my daughter, Katie, was working out and my other daughter, Michelle, was on a cruise [a reward for her graduation from nursing school at TCU {GO FROGS!!!}]).

I have never been able to follow LOST (and I've tried because one of our clients really, really, really knows a lot about it and is nearly fanatical about it, so I tried to have a working knowledge about it but, of course, I never did get it) so I thought, let's record LOST and watch IDOL live.

But no... we (I say we, but it doesn’t include me) decided to do it differently after all. We shall record LOST and also watch LOST. (Head scratch goes here.) I’m sure this great idea was because the level of nuance and understated meaning of the legion of LOST storylines far exceeds any critique that Simon Cowell can muster even on his crankiest days, so we'd want to watch it again.

Well, I came up with another idea: watch CBS in another room (alone). The appetizer was NCIS (which, admittedly, aired before either LOST and IDOL and was an easy choice)... the soup n' salad was Criminal Minds (which went head-to-head with both BIG SHOWS and probably failed miserably in the ratings)... and, the main course was one of my favorites, CSI: NY (that Gary Sinese is a fabulous actor and a great American).

So that's it. A whole evening focused on stuff that doesn't matter... but brought a family together (albeit via three different TV sets and excluding the children who had better things to do).

If the names, Crow and Tom Servo mean anything to you...

You're going to want to check out this new store by frequent The Hanger visitor and occasional poster, Christopher Selby.

Chris has a large and growing inventory of stuff carrying catch phrases from beloved Mystery Science Theater 3000 episodes; as well as a line from our treasured Homestarrunner.com.

If you're not a big fan of either enterprise, you're not going to "get it." But if you have someone in your life who is, this is some stuff that will surprise and delight them.

Radio Takes a Step Toward Mobile Phones

This morning's Wall Street Journal, under a headline reading:

Clear Channel Expands Mobile Services

brings us a report (subscription required) about how a giant in the radio business is taking steps to harness the growing power of "mobile." An excerpt:

Clear Channel Communications Inc., in an effort to strengthen ties between its radio stations and their audience, is expanding its free offerings of interactive services aimed at listeners' mobile phones.

"It will be an opportunity for listeners to interact with, talk with and have a relationship with their favorite radio stations," says John Hogan, who heads Clear Channel's radio operations. The service will roll out to other big cities in coming months, with a goal of including 100 radio stations by the end of 2008.

The new service will be free.

Another Smart Organization Chooses H|S

Here at Holland|Simpson, we are most pleased to welcome a brand new addition to the H|S galaxy of star clients—Faith Landmarks Ministries. FLM is a very large and exciting church in Richmond, Virginia, headed by Pastor Randy Gilbert.

It will be our privilege to help bring their television broadcast, Contact with Pastor Randy Gilbert, to the wider audience it deserves, as well as coordinating donor development and online interactive strategy.

We look forward to a long relationship and the gratification that comes from doing good things together.

ABC Television to Offer HD on Web

Now what is it I'm always saying? It's a great time to be a programmer. My evidence today is ABC Television's decision to begin streaming HD quailty video of a select few of its network offerings.

Read all about it here.

This Just In

For months and months and months we endured an endless stream of polls (and the fine TV programming they spawned) showing the low, low approval ratings for President Bush. In response (as the media reported), a new "Get-'Er-Done" Congress rode into town on a mighty steed they named, "Mandate."

So, how has this new, better, more responsive Congress fared amongst the fine, fine people that sent them to Washington?

While flipping through radio stations today, I happened upon Sean Hannity's program and heard the answer: They are pretty-much like the President's ratings!

Take a look at the polls.

So, why hasn’t our balanced, open-minded, looking-out-for-us media reported it?

Of course, my question is rhetorical. I guess Congress’ political games with funding the troops in Iraq along with Speaker Pelosi’s visit to Syria did have an impact after all!

(I love pictures, don't you?)

While Mike Wallace asks Republican Presidential candidates if they had sex with their spouses before marriage, we can focus on other issues that might just be a bit more important.

Just a thought. Thanks, Sean.

Spiderman: The Bible Study

"My spidey-sense is tingling. . .or is that my conscience?"

A source I trust tells me Spiderman 3 is pretty awful. But that doesn't mean it's not cool to hear that there is an official Bible Study that is tied to the movie.

More News You Won't See on TV

From the Voice of the Martyrs. . .

Seven Christian Workers Beheaded - VOM Sources
The bodies of seven Christian workers were recovered in Parang town where they were kidnapped by Abu Sayyaf Muslim extremists. VOM sources report that the Christian workers' bodies were found in the jungles of Jolo by soldiers, days after they were seized while heading to a government road project. Pray for comfort for these families and ask God to use the testimony of the slain believers to bring non-believers into the knowledge of Him. 2 Corinthians 1:3-7

So, I'm wondering. At what point does adding the word "extremists" after "Muslim" start to become redundant?

The Next American Idol Scandal?

Why yes, I follow American Idol. What's your point?

When you share a house with a wife and three teenage daughters and find a television program you all want to watch and talk about, you sieze it like Rosie O'Donnell clutches that last glazed cruller in the Green Room.

Anyway, I commented several weeks ago about contestant Chris Sligh's Christian faith. In the weeks hence, it has become clear that Melinda Doolittle is a believer as well (her face is practically incandescent she exudes so much light). I have also suspected that Phil Stacy is a Christian as well, but I'm not sure--and I have wondered about Jordin Sparks.

Well, today I found this breathless item in the blog section of "Vote for the Worst." They believe they may have uncovered a dark secret about Jordin Sparks. The headline of the blog post reads:

"Is Jordin Sparks an ultra conservative Christian?"

It mentions lots of links to conservative organizations on her MySpace page and highlights this photograph: View image

Update: That MySpace with the "incriminating" photo is not Jordin's site. It is a fan/tribute site.