The Next Track

Chris Connaker joins us to discuss simple and elaborate audio systems. How many devices can you have in your audio chain? Chris surprises us with some of his. This week’s guest : Chris Connaker, of the Computer Audiophile website Show notes : Audiophiles in Japan are installing their own electricity poles dCS Linear power supplies Cable lifters? Screw-in pointy things IsoAcoustic speaker stands Ge...

We ask Andy Doe why classical concerts have such rigid traditions and etiquette regarding audience reactions. And we discuss the Bravo Guy, present at concert halls around the world. Note: We apologize that this episode runs a bit longer than usual, but it was too interesting and too much fun to cut. This week’s guest : Andy Doe Proper Discord Show notes : Murray Perahia and the Academy of St Mart...

Journalist Geoff Edgers joins us to discuss his Washington Post article about the slow death of the electric guitar. Sponsor : Rogue Ameoba’s Audio Hijack. If you can hear it on your Mac, you can record it with Audio Hijack. Download the free trial from Rogue Amoeba, then save 20% with coupon code NEXTTRACK. Check out Audio Hijack now . This week’s guest : Geoff Edgers on the Washington Post Show...

We take a look back at the 50th anniversary of the Summer of Love, in 1967. One correction. I said that Bob Dylan didn’t release any albums in 1967. That’s false; John Wesley Harding was released on December 27 of that year. Summer of Love The Monterey Pop Festival The Acid Tests Fantasy Fair and Magic Mountain Music Festival Newport Jazz Festival Newport Folk Festival The Complete Monterey Pop Fe...

Author David Weigel joins us to discuss his book The Show That Never Ends: The Rise and Fall of Prog Rock. This week’s guest : Dave Weigel’s website David Weigel’s writing on the Washington Post Show notes : The Show that Never Ends: The Rise and Fall of Prog Rock Dave Weigel’s Prog Spring series on Slate Mark Prindle’s record reviews King Crimson: In the Court of the Crimson King Wollman Skating...

Andy Doe joins us to take a close look at optical discs: CDs, DVDs, Blu-Rays, but also HDCDs, DVD-As, and more. I bet you didn’t know how many kinds of optical disc there are… “It is the betamax of audio formats…” Show notes : Optical disc – Wikipedia Compact disc – Wikipedia Compact Disc Digital Audio – Wikipedia Close to the Edge Nyquist frequency – Wikipedia 44,100 Hz – Wikipedia Error detectio...

We take a close look at iTunes playlists, how they work, what you can do with them, and how you can bend them to your will. Sponsor : Rogue Ameoba’s Audio Hijack. If you can hear it on your Mac, you can record it with Audio Hijack. Download the free trial from Rogue Amoeba, then save 20% with coupon code NEXTTRACK. Check out Audio Hijack now . Show notes : Episode #49 – Common Misconceptions about...

Chris Connaker, of ComputerAudiophile.com, joins us to talk about the most interesting audio hardware he saw – and heard – at this year’s Munich High End Audio Show. This week’s guest : Chris Connaker, of the Computer Audiophile website Show notes : High End Munich Focal Grand Utopia EM speakers Focal Utopia headphones McIntosh Constellation Audio Leo Devialet Phantom speaker Marten Coltrane 3 Ela...

Guitarist Woody Mann joins us to discuss his documentary about the life of the great blues and gospel musician Rev. Gary Davis. This week’s guest : Woody Mann Show notes : Harlem Street Singer (documentary) Harlem Street Singer (album) Empire Roots Band – music from the documentary Harlem Street Singer Students of Rev. Gary Davis Say No to the Devil: The Life and Musical Genius of Rev. Gary Davis,...

We welcome author and Dylanologist Andrew Muir to talk about Bob Dylan’s Never Ending Tour, and his recent concerts in the UK. Just a quick note: we’ve posted a brief survey about The Next Track , and we would love it if you could take the two minutes to answer a dozen questions about the podcast, how you listen, what you like, and feel free to suggest any topics you’d like us to cover. This week’...

We mark the end of The Next Track’s first year with a review of our most interesting episodes. Just a quick note: we’ve posted a brief survey about The Next Track , and we would love it if you could take the two minutes to answer a dozen questions about the podcast, how you listen, what you like, and feel free to suggest any topics you’d like us to cover. Show notes : Episode #1 – Songs to Albums...

We welcome Andy Doe to discuss the pros and cons of vinyl versus CD. Just a quick note: we’ve posted a brief survey about The Next Track , and we would love it if you could take the two minutes to answer a dozen questions about the podcast, how you listen, what you like, and feel free to suggest any topics you’d like us to cover. This week’s guest : Andy Doe Proper Discord Show notes : Do Vinyl Re...

Developer Paul Kafasis joins us to discuss in-house streaming: AirPlay, Bluetooth, and Google Cast. This week’s guest : Paul Kafasis of Rogue Amoeba Software Show notes : Episode #43 – Streaming Music 2.0 Episode #47 – 10 Ways to Connect Your Computer to Your Stereo Kirk’s Yamaha R-N301 Rogue Amoeba’s AirFoil Google Chromecast Our next tracks : Kirk: Moody Blues: Days of Future Passed Doug: David...

Doug and Kirk take a look at common misconceptions people have about iTunes. iTunes is just a database. Show notes : Doug’s AppleScripts for iTunes Kirkville Missing Tracks and Stray Files How to Set Up iTunes as a Minimalist Music Player Our next tracks : Kirk: Vinyl . Album . Cover . Art – The Complete Hipgnosis Catalogue (Not released in the US until May 16.) Doug: The Baja Marimba Band: Those...

Dave Harrington of DARKSIDE and the Dave Harrington Group talks about music between genres. … finding the space between genres… This week’s guest : Dave Harrington Show notes : DARKSIDE DARKSIDE: Psychic DARKSIDE: Pyschic Live (DVD) Other People DARKSIDE Live Archive The Next Track, Episode #7: Music and Genre Dave Harrington on Soundcloud (live recordings and more) Nicolas Jaar Guitar Power ep. 2...

We discuss the ten ways you can connect your computer to an amplifier or receiver. Show notes : 10 Ways to Connect Your Computer to a Stereo 1/8″ headphone jack to dual RCA cable Mini Toslink to Toslink optical audio cable Digital coaxial audio/video cable USB-A to USB-B connector Behringer U-Control UCA202 Episode #32 – Everything You Ever Wanted to Know about DACs Wharfedale Diamond A1 and A2 ac...

We talk with percussionist Colin Currie, who discusses performing and recording Steve Reich’s seminal minimalist work Drumming. This week’s guest : Colin Currie Show notes : Steve Reich: Drumming (the original 1974 recording) Steve Reich’s Clapping Music app The score of Steve Reich’s Drumming Colin Currie Group Record Steve Reich’s Drumming Colin Currie Group at the Southbank Centre, London, May...

We welcome Andy Doe for another Ask Andy episode, where we discuss hi-fi equipment and speaker placement. “If you have a valuable disc, always use a brand-new needle.” This week’s guest : Andy Doe Proper Discord Show notes : Episode #41 – Whatever Became of EQ? The Master Set speaker placement system (PDF file) Kirk’s Doctor Evil chair (and cat): Our next tracks : Kirk: Soundbreaking: Stories from...

We discuss bootleg recordings, live recordings, and torrents. “Once we’re done with it, the audience can have it.” Jerry Garcia Show notes : Charles Dickens copyright International Copyright Act of 1891 Bob Dylan: Great White Wonder Bob Dylan: The Basement Tapes Complete: The Bootleg Series Vol. 11 Charlie Parker: Complete Dean Benedetti Recordings Flick Lives has an archive of Jean Shepherd recor...

Chris Connaker joins us to discuss how music streaming service can make the next step. People just want to hear the song they want to hear. This week’s guest : Chris Connaker of the The Computer Audiophile website Show notes : This week’s guest: Tidal Deezer Elite Qobuz Spotify hits 50 million paid subscribers SiriusXM radio Pandora Our next tracks : Kirk: Leon Redbone: Long Way from Home Doug: Ca...

We take a close look at playlists. What they are, where they came from, and what you can do with them. Show notes : This week’s guest: High Fidelity, by Nick Hornby High Fidelity (movie) Elizabethtown Yamaha CD-C600BL 5-Disc CD Changer The True Story of Audion Search Results to Playlist script Join Together app Our next tracks : Kirk: The Clash: Super Black Market Clash Doug: Mogul Thrash: Mogul T...

Andy Doe joins us to talk about EQ. What is it, how does it work, do you need it, and where did it go? This week’s guest : Andy Doe Proper Discord Show notes : This week’s guest: Equalization on Wikipedia The Mysterious Loudness Control: What Does It Do? How to tweak your sound in iTunes and on iOS devices The Next Track, Episode #21 – Everything You Ever Wanted to Know about Subwoofers Our next t...

Author David Sax talks about his book The Revenge of Analog: why people like vinyl, and why other analog technologies are popular today. This week’s guest : David Sax, The Revenge of Analog: http://www.hachettebookgroup.com/features/revengeofanalog/ Show notes : This week’s guest: My review of The Revenge of Analog The Paradox of Choice , Barry Schwartz Do Vinyl Records Sound Better than CDs? Disc...

Doug and Kirk discuss storing a media library on a network-attached storage device. We focus on using a NAS with iTunes, but there’s some useful information for those using a NAS with other media software. Show notes : WD MyCloud EX2 Plex Doug’s Launch at Login applet How to map a network drive on Windows Our next tracks : Kirk: John Cale: Fragments of a Rainy Season Doug: The Jon Spencer Blues Ex...

Chris Connaker went to the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas. He reports for us on new audio equipment and the MQA music format. This week’s guest : Chris Connaker of the The Computer Audiophile website Show notes : Chris Connaker’s Long Strange Trip Chris’s overview of his visit to the CES Pandora is available in the US, Australia, and New Zealand The Next Track, Episode #6: What Is High-Res...