Last night whilst inspired to revisit 'Hotter than July' after Marcus on the X factortried valiantly to sing Lately in tune, noticed that my current Den speaker system isn't working. Admittedly at high volumes, the signal broke-up and also seemed as if more detail was moving to one speaker versus the other (with sound still coming from both speakers). I don't think it could be the other links in the chain from MP3 to ear - Mac to DAC to Amp..for the scientific reasons that it's intermittent and there is still sound at all times from both speakers and it seems to be worse at high volumes.

Anyway I think I've got enough justification to get some new speakers. The current set-up is below

Some funny old concrete speakers by Avance sit on the desk connected to an Arcam Solo and via Arcam DAC back to Mac - any recommendations? I am limited on space and like them in front of me. and they can't go further left or right as then we hit windows.

I had thought about B&W 686s?

Thank you oh wise ones

According to an interview with Ain't it Cool News, Stephen Spielberg has stated that

(In the future) there’s going to be no more digital enhancements or digital additions to anything based on any film I direct. I’m not going to do any corrections digitally to even wires that show.If 1941 comes on Blu-Ray I’m not going to go back and take the wires out because the Blu-Ray will bring the wires out that are guiding the airplane down Hollywood Blvd. At this point right now I think letting movies exist in the era, with all the flaws and all of the flourishes, is a wonderful way to mark time and mark history

Just a bit more class than his mate Mr.Lucas with his constant tampering......and so the rubber shark will not suddenly become 3D CGI

Rest of (fascinating) interview here - http://www.aintitcool.com/node/49921

This piece on Mashable.Com is either a fascinating insight at how to use the current digital world in order to market and release a product or enough to make any sane person run screaming from their computers to go and plant peas.or both.

One of the worst aspects has to be all the hangers-on who have constructed these various tactics and just how bleeding clever they think they are. At the end of the day, given the profile and demand for this product a drunk monkey could probably mastermind a successful release.

http://mashable.com/2011/05/24/lady-gaga-case-study/#view_as_one_page-ga...

Actually I find watching this Google Chrome ad, from the article, a dis-incentive to buying it, even when at £3.99 in the UK it's hardly a major investment decision..stop telling me how we are all interacting and enjoying something. Just give me the album and let the performer promote it.

.be

Right I just want to drag one track into a playlist - oh sod it its that bloody...

I love my itunes - is it my Cloudbase-style Music Control Centre. It has bloated its way to 300gb over the years, as I have put everything I buy and have bought into it, and I am not interested in reducing its size or breaking it up into chunks. Its currently managed through a 3 year-old iMac with the maximum amount of RAM, with the actual content being stored on an external Drobo drive connected by whatever was recommended as being the fastest data link.

It works, it doesn't crash, and it doesn't consistently take a long time with a particular routine - ie I can't just point the finger at the Drobo for slow access of the underlying mp3s. But it can be so sloooooooww. I have tried things in the past - eg reducing smart playlists, monitoring the use of RAM by other open programmes - but still it just seems that my library is just too big.

Given that it is vital to my tunes-obsessed soul for it to be zippy what could I do? A dedicated machine? Would love to know if any of the Massive have mastered their itunes set-up and would care to share tips.

p.s and Sonos? - does that work speedily with big libraries ...because Apple TV doesn't....

A by-product of the Tunes household watching the 1976 TOTPs (as covered http://www.wordmagazine.co.uk/content/meanwhile-back-1976 ) is that some strange obscure tunes are worming their way into our heads.

Chief amongst these is Paul Nicholas' 'Reggae Like it Used to Be'.

Never heard of it before, it apparently peaked at number 17. It has however featured in 2 of the repeats so far; the first time the reaction was 'good grief on every level that is dreadful', however after the second airing youngest Tunes (7yo) was subsequently caught muttering

'I had a reggae-pneumonia, I went to my doctor.
He said "I got just what you need
Three times a day, a little reggae like it used to be" '

..and as a result its being going round my head for the last week. You can't download it but here it is

Anyone else being taken by any odd 1976 songs they had no prior knowledge of?

Apologies if already shared, but it raised a smile

http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/adamandjoe/2011/04/song-wars---the-royal-wedd...

Big Spotify announcement today

They expect people to now manage their iThingys through Spotify rather than iTunes - I think, although its not hugely clear.

Here is the BBC story

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-13273135

If I was them I'd be concentrating on their USP - the provision of streaming services - and making that as pretty as possible for a sale to Apple or Amazon - rather than trying to create new models.

I saw Thor on Monday. Despite being a bit of a Marvel fan- though not an obsessive like Tunes Jnr. -I went with low expectations - trailers were a bit unconvincing, not sure that Branagh was the right choice for the material.

Fortunately I was worrying unneccessarily. It was hugely entertaining and exciting - well-directed & acted (in particular Chris Hemsworth as Thor -very charismatic - and Sir Anthony Hopkins top-notch as Odin) good effects and most of all a good story.

Thoroughly recommended.

Captain America later this summer and with The Avengers just starting shooting it is a good time to be a 12yo comic-loving boy, whatever your real age - this is the 'first day of shooting' picture from the studio:-

Just listening to her new album and really impressed - a proper band, warm Americana sound, good tunes - best I've heard from her in a long time.

I've stayed basically loyal since the excitement of getting Shadowlands the first time and just being blown away. An obvious choice but live her 'Crying' renditions just gave goosebumps...

This is her new Orbison-esque single

A stone cold classic

Heard it the other day and ever since have had that "...I felt Mandy pull me up give me the kiss of life, Just like the girl in Dr. No No No No..." line going through my head

10cc were a one-off

Right chaps, new kindle arriving for birthday at the weekend.

Need to buy some software - and that means need the recommendations of the Massive. What is the best novel you have read in the last year?

As soundtrack, the current Gorillaz single - good , more low-key, tune that seems to be slipping by unnoticed.

All 3 hours + of LCD Soundsystem's last gig

I'll miss them but will be there for the reunion gig in a few years

Music has certainly got a harder job of grabbing the attention of youth today than in the past.

In the early eighties the only competition for music for me was the local Video rental. Today its games like this - and this is actual gameplay not just a cut in CGI clip.

I recently set up Tunes Towers with an XBox plugged into the 'proper' surround speakers -it is hugely impressive.

Just slightly more exciting than Noah & The Whale.

Initial line-up just announced

http://meltdown.southbankcentre.co.uk/

This landed in my inbox this morning

Roger Manning is a hugely talented musician who I have followed from the days of Jellyfish. Alongside his seminal work with Jellyfish and all the 'sideman' work mentioned above, he has produced some great solo work that never got anywhere eg

and now he is having to actively say '...I'm for hire!...'

http://rogerjosephmanningjr.com/musicservices/

Similarly Jason Falkner doesn't seem to be able to get proper recognition. Don't get it- both really talented musicians but they can'y seem to connect with a wider audience or make a success of what they have.