Linguistics, Computers, Audio, Video

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Linguistics, Computers, Audio, Video You
Jules D. Gliesche (drjdg_at_ufl.edu) UF Thursday
Linguistics Seminar 25 September 2008
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Overview

• A computer is just a machine (processor, parts
  ports)
• Hierarchical file systems (neatness is efficient)
• Unicode (making your characters "universal")
• Audio Recording Editing
• Video Recording Editing

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What a computer ISN'T
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What a computer IS

• Monitor
• Processor ("brain" of the machine" - makes "0"
  "1" into everything)
• RAM ("Random Access Memory")
• Data Storage Drives Drive (a.k.a. "Volumes")
• Ports

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"Memory"

• RAM
• Usually a chip or several chips
• Data is moved in and out of it from your hard
  disk
• When you shut the computer off or restart the
  contents are cleared
• Very fast - more is better - hard(er) to install

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"Memory"

• Volumes (Hard drives, CD/DVD, Flash drives, etc.)
• Data remains even if power is shut off
• Vary in speed and reliability
• Easy to add more
• Choose according to what you plan to do with data

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Ports

• Allow information to move in and out of the
  computer
• USB - Data
• Firewire (IEEE 1394) - Data
• VGA/SVGA - Monitor video
• Audio in/out - Sound

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Ports

• USB 2.0 - many microphones, still cameras,
  scanners, flash drives, etc.
• Firewire (IEEE 1394) - many video cameras, hard
  drives, etc.

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Hierarchical File System
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Hierarchical File System

• Volume is top entity (hard disk, CD/DVD, flash
  drive, etc.)
• Folders organize data
• Folders can exist within folders
• Computer uses "path name" to find data

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Hierarchial File System
HARD DRIVE/CD/DVD/FLASH DRIVE
TEACHING RESEARCH
COURSEWORK
LESSONS TESTS ARTICLES DATA
NOTES PAPERS
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Hierarchical File System
Pathname Mithgarth/Users/drjdg/UF Stuff/Computer
Intro Talk.key
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Hierarchical File System
Pathname C\Documents and Settings\Administrator\
My Documents\My Pictures
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Unicode
I EXPECTED
BUT I GOT
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Unicode

• http//unicode.org/
• Unicode provides a unique number for every
  character
• no matter what the platform
• no matter what the program
• no matter what the language

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Unicode

• Mac OS X Windows XP/Vista contain some unicode
  fonts
• Get more here
• http//www.linguistlist.org/sp/Fonts.html
• http//www.sil.org/computing/catalog/show_software
  _catalog.asp?bycatnameFont
• http//junicode.sourceforge.net/

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Audio Recording You

• Your computer can be your own personal recording
  studio
• A good place to start is
• http//audacity.sourceforge.net/
• Mac OSX also features GarageBand
• Record to your hard disk

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A Word About CD/DVD

• Cumbersome
• Slow
• Prone to fail
• Good temporary storage
• Last longer in controlled climate

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Audio Basics

• The Recording Cycle

HEADPHONES (CANS)
MICROPHONE
RECORDING SOFTWARE
MONITORS (OPTIONAL)
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Audio Basics

• Input device(s) - mics, instruments, etc.
• Set levels - computer controls volume of
  recording and playback
• Record (and monitor)
• Edit
• Save (and compress?)

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Audio Basics

• Input devices use
• USB or Audio-in port (1/8" jack)
• XLR jack Adapter

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Audio Basics

• VU/Input Meters Almost red is good, red is bad!

CLASSIC VU METER
DIGITAL VU METER
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Audio Basics

• Record (and Monitor)

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Audio Basics

• Audio Formats (i.e. how is your file encoded?)
• What will you do with it?
• Detailed phonetic analysis - bigger is better
  (i.e. .aif, .wav)
• Transcription, long recordings - "lossless"
  compression is better (i.e. .mp3)

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Computer-Based Video

• Requires a robust machine with
• Fast processor, Lots of RAM, Fast hard disk
• Ports that match video camera (USB, Firewire)
• Video Capture / Editing Software
• Mac OS X - iMovie / Final Cut
• Windows - Windows Movie Maker / Others

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Video Basics

• The video capture cycle

CAPTURE DEVICE
SOFTWARE
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Video Basics

• Software captures video
• Editing takes place (unwanted video is cut out,
  things can be reordered, titles added, effects
  added, transitions added, etc.)
• Finished video must be saved to some kind of
  media in some kind of format

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Video Basics

• Most capture software allows you to burn to DVD
• DVDs have a special file structure
• Raw / DVD-quality video files are huge
• Compression (.mp4, etc.) saves space but
  sacrifices quality
• Streaming video is limited by bandwidth