Shows
PhotoActiveiPhone 18 Pro Camera Hands OnApple’s iPhone 18 Pro gains a variable aperture and a faster main camera, but that’s not all. In iOS 27, Apple has also revamped the Camera app somewhat. Jeff has been shooting with the iPhone 18 Pro since its release, and we talk about his hands-on experiences.
Hosts:
Jeff Carlson: website, Jeff's photos, Jeff on Instagram, Jeff on Glass, Jeff on Mastodon, Jeff on Bluesky
Kirk McElhearn: website, Kirk's photos, Kirk on Instagram, Kirk on Glass, Kirk on Mastodon, Kirk on Bluesky
Show Notes:
(View show notes with images at PhotoActive.co)
Rate...
2026-10-1236 min
PhotoActiveiPhone Duo and iPhone 18 ProApple has announced its new iPhone lineup and for the first time it includes a foldable, the iPhone Duo. But photographers will want to check out the iPhone 18 Pro. We discuss what's new, from the variable aperture to improved maximum f-stop to (finally) manual controls in the Camera app.
Hosts:
Jeff Carlson: website, Jeff's photos, Jeff on Instagram, Jeff on Glass, Jeff on Mastodon, Jeff on Bluesky
Kirk McElhearn: website, Kirk's photos, Kirk on Instagram, Kirk on Glass, Kirk on Mastodon, Kirk on Bluesky
Show Notes:
(View show notes with images at PhotoActive...
2026-09-1832 min
PhotoActiveCameras Are EverywhereFrom Meta’s “pervert glasses” to rumored camera-equipped AirPods, cameras are making their way into more of our personal technology.
Hosts:
Jeff Carlson: website, Jeff's photos, Jeff on Instagram, Jeff on Glass, Jeff on Mastodon, Jeff on Bluesky
Kirk McElhearn: website, Kirk's photos, Kirk on Instagram, Kirk on Glass, Kirk on Mastodon, Kirk on Bluesky
Show Notes:
(View show notes with images at PhotoActive.co)
Rate and Review the PhotoActive Podcast!
Airpods with Cameras, MacRumors
Meta Can’t Stop the Avalanche of Content Filmed on Pervert Glasses, PetaPixe...
2026-08-3029 min
PhotoActive"It Feels Un-Apple-y"With new iPhones on the horizon, we discuss the new Apple Upgrade program -- and why it feels less like the Apple we knew. We then pivot to amazement about the photographers who shoot the Tour de France every year. And then Jeff shares details about the Godox iT32 flash, a flash and wireless controller that’s affordable and clever for how it works.
Hosts:
Jeff Carlson: website, Jeff's photos, Jeff on Instagram, Jeff on Glass, Jeff on Mastodon, Jeff on Bluesky
Kirk McElhearn: website, Kirk's photos, Kirk on Instagram, Kirk on Glass, Kirk on Mastodon, Ki...
2026-08-1731 minPhotoActiveDealing with Heat and a Drone Made for WaterThe recent heat waves in the US and UK have us thinking about ways to keep our cameras and phones cool. We also look at a report on Apple’s new raw processing technology coming in iOS 27, and Jeff talks about the HoverAir Aqua, a camera drone designed to be used on the water.
Hosts:
Jeff Carlson: website, Jeff's photos, Jeff on Instagram, Jeff on Glass, Jeff on Mastodon, Jeff on Bluesky
Kirk McElhearn: website, Kirk's photos, Kirk on Instagram, Kirk on Glass, Kirk on Mastodon, Kirk on Bluesky
Show Notes:
(View show no...
2026-07-2030 min
PhotoActiveJeff Goes to the Dark Side (Sony)We’ve mocked YouTubers who make a fuss about selling all their camera gear to switch brands and systems, only to do it all again later for clicks. Well, the universe has a sense of humor, because that’s just what Jeff has done—the first part, anyway. He sold his Fuji X-T3 and lenses in became a Sony photographer. And it was the last thing he expected. We also talk about Apple raising the prices of most of its products.
Hosts:
Jeff Carlson: website, Jeff's photos, Jeff on Instagram, Jeff on Glass, Jeff on Mastodon, Jeff o...
2026-07-0934 minPhotoActiveCraig Grannell on Apple’s New AI Photo AnnouncementsApple introduced its next OS 27 systems at its Worldwide Developers Conference, which included changes to the Camera and Photos apps that revolve around AI features. Actually, that’s almost literal: the new Spatial Reframing feature lets you rotate a scene and generative AI fills in the missing details. Is it a slide into AI slop or a legitimate tool to help photographers? We’re joined by writer and photographer Craig Grannell to talk it out.
Guest:
Craig Grannell: Revert to Saved, Craig on Mastodon, Linktree
Hosts:
Jeff Carlson: website, Jeff's photos, Jeff on Instagram, Jeff...
2026-06-2240 minPhotoActiveObsessive Isn’t a Bad WordWe often talk about framing a photo to get the best composition, but sometimes we don’t nail it. Or we realize in editing that a tighter crop would be better. Or something crept into the edge of the frame at the last second. In this episode, we talk about cropping photos, whether AI cropping is worth trying, and why there’s only One True Aspect Ratio.
Hosts:
Jeff Carlson: website, Jeff's photos, Jeff on Instagram, Jeff on Glass, Jeff on Mastodon, Jeff on Bluesky
Kirk McElhearn: website, Kirk's photos, Kirk on Instagram, Kirk on Glass, Kirk...
2026-06-1226 minPhotoActivePhoto ScoutingBefore you go out to do some photography, how do you determine where to go? Jeff had a portrait session booked and discovered that the location was fenced and blocked -- but scouting in advance gave him time to find a new spot. We talk about tools and techniques for finding the best photo spots and conditions.
Hosts:
Jeff Carlson: website, Jeff's photos, Jeff on Instagram, Jeff on Glass, Jeff on Mastodon, Jeff on Bluesky
Kirk McElhearn: website, Kirk's photos, Kirk on Instagram, Kirk on Glass, Kirk on Mastodon, Kirk on Bluesky
Show Notes:
2026-05-2628 minPhotoActiveWhat If Apple Makes a Camera?Our conversation in this episode started with news of John Ternus becoming the next CEO of Apple as of September 1, but that led to an intriguing concept that isn’t as far-fetched as it might seem: What if Apple makes its own camera? Imagine a fixed-lens compact mirrorless with a larger sensor, better glass, and all of the technologies Apple has developed for the iPhone. Could it happen? We get into the details.
(Photo: Apple QuickTake 200, by Don DeBold. Used by Creative Commons license.)
Hosts:
Jeff Carlson: website, Jeff's photos, Jeff on Instagram, Jeff on...
2026-05-1126 minPhotoActiveDaVinci Resolve, Lightroom Killer?
The well regarded video editor DaVinci Resolve just introduced a Photos module inside the app, making some people wonder whether the free software could replace traditional photography tools like Lightroom. We also talk about a book of passport photos, photos that change history and film simulations.
(Image: Black Magic Design)
Hosts:
Jeff Carlson: website, Jeff's photos, Jeff on Instagram, Jeff on Glass, Jeff on Mastodon, Jeff on Bluesky
Kirk McElhearn: website, Kirk's photos, Kirk on Instagram, Kirk on Glass, Kirk on Mastodon, Kirk on Bluesky
Show Notes:
(View show...
2026-04-2730 minPhotoActiveMonochrome Sensors, DNG, and Apple 50th
We remain fascinated by monochrome cameras, and this week we discovered just how tough it is to source the sensors used by the Ricoh GR IV Monochrome. We also talk about DNG, Adobe’s universal raw format, becoming an official image standard (and why the big camera companies probably won’t adopt it). And if you hadn’t heard, Apple turned 50!
Hosts:
Jeff Carlson: website, Jeff's photos, Jeff on Instagram, Jeff on Glass, Jeff on Mastodon, Jeff on Bluesky
Kirk McElhearn: website, Kirk's photos, Kirk on Instagram, Kirk on Glass, Kirk on Mastodon, Kirk on Bluesk...
2026-04-1231 min
PhotoActiveYou Can’t Trust Photos Anymore
So it’s come to this. Generative AI has quickly gotten so good that it’s hard to distinguish real photos from generated ones. So where do we go from here? We talk about C2PA authentication, trusting your sources, and more.
(Image: Generated with Adobe Firefly)
Hosts:
Jeff Carlson: website, Jeff's photos, Jeff on Instagram, Jeff on Glass, Jeff on Mastodon, Jeff on Bluesky
Kirk McElhearn: website, Kirk's photos, Kirk on Instagram, Kirk on Glass, Kirk on Mastodon, Kirk on Bluesky
Show Notes:
(View show notes with images at P...
2026-03-3032 min
PhotoActiveSpec Goblins and the MacBook Neo
Apple has announced the MacBook Neo, a $600 laptop running on the same A18 Pro processor that was used in the iPhone 16 Pro. Oh, and it has 8GB of RAM and starts at 256GB of storage. Believe it or not, lots of people on the Internet take issue with those specs, so we look at it from the point of view of whether it could be a good machine for photographers who blew all their money on a $10,000 Leica f/1.2 lens.
Hosts:
Jeff Carlson: website, Jeff's photos, Jeff on Instagram, Jeff on Glass, Jeff on Mastodon...
2026-03-1528 minPhotoActiveStorage PricesThe prices of digital storage are set to climb this year because AI is eating up all the available inventory. And modern photography is entirely dependent on storage, whether it's the SD cards that store the captured images, the internal solid-state memory that stores data on your computer, or the external SSDs and traditional hard drives that keep your archive of photos.
Hosts:
Jeff Carlson: website, Jeff's photos, Jeff on Instagram, Jeff on Glass, Jeff on Mastodon, Jeff on Bluesky
Kirk McElhearn: website, Kirk's photos, Kirk on Instagram, Kirk on Glass, Kirk on Mastodon, Kirk on...
2026-03-0228 minPhotoActiveDo You Have $10,000 to Spare?
The best-selling compact camera in Japan is from... Kodak? We’ve talked about compact cameras in the past, but it remains a fascinating part of the photo marketplace as people look for something different than mirrorless and DSLR cameras. By the way, do you have $10,000 to spare on a new 35mm lens? Leica’s Noctilux-M 35mm f/1.2 ASPH was just announced at that eye-watering price. Lastly, Jeff covers some new Lightroom features in the latest versions.
(Photo: Leica)
Hosts:
Jeff Carlson: website, Jeff's photos, Jeff on Instagram, Jeff on Glass, Jeff on Mastodon, Jeff...
2026-02-1431 minPhotoActivePixelmator Pro Returns
Now we know what Apple is doing with Pixelmator Pro after its acquisition of Pixelmator: it’s part of the new Apple Creator Studio bundle. Also, we celebrate the latest black and white camera to hit the market, the Ricoh GR IV Monochrome, and ponder large-format photographer Sally Mann’s discovery of digital photography.
Hosts:
Jeff Carlson: website, Jeff's photos, Jeff on Instagram, Jeff on Glass, Jeff on Mastodon, Jeff on Bluesky
Kirk McElhearn: website, Kirk's photos, Kirk on Instagram, Kirk on Glass, Kirk on Mastodon, Kirk on Bluesky
Show Notes:
(View...
2026-02-0330 min
PhotoActiveWhat’s Real
Is your phone not accurately capturing the world around you? An article in the Guardian questions whether image processing in smartphones is making photos that aren’t genuine. Also, Leica released a firmware update that radically changes the entire interface, leading to a discussion of how important the UI in our cameras is when making photos.
Hosts:
Jeff Carlson: website, Jeff's photos, Jeff on Instagram, Jeff on Glass, Jeff on Mastodon, Jeff on Bluesky
Kirk McElhearn: website, Kirk's photos, Kirk on Instagram, Kirk on Glass, Kirk on Mastodon, Kirk on Bluesky
Show Notes:...
2026-01-0333 min
PhotoActiveAll Our Cameras
Two Hundred episodes! To celebrate roughly seven and a half years of the PhotoActive podcast, Kirk and Jeff picked some favorite photos from the digital cameras they’ve owned.
Hosts:
Jeff Carlson: website, Jeff's photos, Jeff on Instagram, Jeff on Glass, Jeff on Mastodon, Jeff on Bluesky
Kirk McElhearn: website, Kirk's photos, Kirk on Instagram, Kirk on Glass, Kirk on Mastodon, Kirk on Bluesky
Show Notes:
(View show notes with images at PhotoActive.co)
Rate and Review the PhotoActive Podcast!
Episode 35: Martin Parr Shot My Portrait
...
2025-12-2339 min
The Next TrackEpisode #321: Writing About MusicKirk recently read Cameron Crowe's memoir The Uncool, about his experience writing about music, notably for Rolling Stone. Doug and Kirk reflect on rock music journalism.
Help support The Next Track by making regular donations via Patreon. We're ad-free and self-sustaining so your support is what keeps us going. Thanks!
Show notes
Cameron Crowe: The Uncool, a Memoir
Almost Famous
Fast Times at Ridgemont High
Jerry Maguire
Aloha
Can AI tell us anything meaningful about Bob Dylan’s songs? - Aeon Essays
Write Now with Scrivener
The Bongos - Wikipedia
Richard Hambleton, ‘Shadowman’ of the ’80s...
2025-11-1927 minThe Next TrackEpisode #304: Box SetsThe Grateful Dead released a big box set that Kirk will not buy, leading Doug and Kirk to discuss box sets of CDs.
Help support The Next Track by making regular donations via Patreon. We're ad-free and self-sustaining so your support is what keeps us going. Thanks!
Show notes:
Enjoying The Ride, Grateful Dead
Grateful Dead Complete Europe ’72 Box Set
New Live Release from Yes: Progeny, Seven Concerts from 1972
Why Box Sets Are Stuck in the Past
Vinyl and packaging manufacturer, Key Production Group, reveals its predictions for vinyl and physical music releases in 2025
Stev...
2025-03-2629 minThe Next TrackEpisode #291: Why Can't Concerts Be More Interesting?Kirk attended a unique concert recently, and Doug and Kirk discuss how concerts could be more interesting.
Help support The Next Track by making regular donations via Patreon. We're ad-free and self-sustaining so your support is what keeps us going. Thanks!
Show notes:
Episode #178 - Lieder and Opera Singer Ian Bostridge
Winterreise review - agony and ecstasy as Bostridge and Drake bring Schubert’s song cycle to dramatic life
Palladium
Lone Star Cafe
The Bottom Line
Our next tracks:
La Folia 1490-1701: Jordi Savall
X: Smoke & Fiction
If you like the show...
2024-09-2527 minThe Next TrackEpisode #281: Kirk's New Audio GearKirk buys new audio gear for the first time in several years. Tech doesn't always work.
Help support The Next Track by making regular donations via Patreon. We're ad-free and self-sustaining so your support is what keeps us going. Thanks!
Show notes:
NAD C 3050 amplifier
NAD BluOS module
Cambridge Audio CXA61 amplifier
Belkin SoundForm Connect AirPlay 2 Adapter
CalDigit TS4 Thunderbolt 4 Dock
Our next tracks:
Durutti Column: Vini Reilly 35th Anniversary Edition
The Sex Pistols: The Original Recordings
If you like the show, please subscribe in iTunes or your favorite podcast app, an...
2024-05-0831 minPhotoActiveKirk Simplifies with One CameraHe really went and did it. When Kirk decided to simplify his photography setup, he sold all of his Fujifilm cameras and lenses, put the Leica Q2 Monochrom up for sale, and bought a brand new Leica Q3. In this episode, we talk about the reasons behind such a drastic move and the advantages of simplifying your gear.
Hosts:
Jeff Carlson: website, Jeff's photos, Jeff on Instagram, Jeff on Glass
Kirk McElhearn: website, Kirk on Instagram, Kirk on Glass
Show Notes:
(View show notes with images at PhotoActive.co)
Rate and...
2023-07-0735 minThe Next TrackEpisode #185 - Use Plex to Manage Your Media LibraryPlex is a great way to manage your media library. Doug and Kirk discuss how they use it. Note: we recorded this episode before the lockdown began, but held off publishing it because we had a number of interviews with musicians in lockdown.
Help support The Next Track by making regular donations via Patreon. We're ad-free and self-sustaining so your support is what keeps us going. Thanks!
Support The Next Track.
Show notes:
Plex
A Suitable Boy
Our next tracks:
Ustad Vilayat Khan: From the NCPA Archives
The Pointer Sisters...
2020-06-1020 minThe Next TrackEpisode #178 - Lieder and Opera Singer Ian BostridgeWe talk with Ian Bostridge, Kirk's second-favorite lieder singer, about life in lockdown, and about Schubert's Winterreise, the song cycle that Bostridge is best known for, through his many performances, recordings, films, and a book he wrote about it.
Help support The Next Track by making regular donations via Patreon. We're ad-free and self-sustaining so your support is what keeps us going. Thanks!
Support The Next Track.
Guest:
Ian Bostridge
Show notes:
Lieder (Wikipedia)
Ian Bostridge – a life in music (Guardian)
Ravel: Chansons madécasses
Schubert's Winter Journey: Anatomy of an...
2020-04-1740 minThe Next TrackEpisode #172 - Social Isolation and MusicThese are difficult times for many people, who are now required to stay at home. Music can help us get through this. In this "two guys not in a pub" episode, Doug and Kirk reflect on social isolation and music.
Show notes:
Bus-sized fatberg weighing 40 tonnes cleared from London sewer
GrimeGran's Twitter feed
The Dropkick Murphys - Streaming Up From Boston
Royal Shakespeare Company in cinemas
National Theatre Live
Dead & Company YouTube channel (lots of videos, including full concerts)
The Rolling Stones: Four Flicks
The Berliner Philharmoniker's Digital Concert Hall
Alex Ross's COVID-19 live streams list
...
2020-03-2530 minThe Next TrackEpisode #168 - L'Affaire Sonos and Obsolescence in Audio EquipmentAndy Doe joins us again to discuss the perils of having software-controlled audio equipment. After the Affaire Sonos, when the company announced that a lot of its older products would become "obsolete," perhaps it's time to think more carefully about how long hardware we buy will last, when it depends on software.
Guest:
Andy Doe
Show notes:
Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance
LSO Live
Starting in May 2020, some of our oldest products will no longer receive software updates or new features. We want to explain why and your options.
Sonos Recycling Program...
2020-01-2936 minThe Next TrackEpisode #166 - Our Year in MusicFor the first episode of the new decade - the last one recorded in the previous decade - Doug and Kirk look back on their year in music.
Show notes:
Honkyoku (Kirk's shakuhachi website)
The Zen of Everything (Kirk's podcast)
Rode Procaster microphone
Yamaha AG03 mixer
Episode #147 - Kirk's New Sonos Amp
KEF Q350 speakers
Q Acoustics 3020I speakers
Amazon Echo Dot
Tivoli Audio model One
Episode #162 - Apple's New Improved macOS Media Apps
Doug's AppleScripts
Time Out: We Don’t Give Music Enough Time to Grow on Us Anymore
John Cale: Music for a New So...
2020-01-0234 minThe Next TrackEpisode #162 - Apple's New Improved macOS Media AppsDoug and Kirk spend a half hour or so discussing Apple's new apps that replace iTunes on the Mac. They rant, they praise, they shrug, they laugh, and they reminisce on what was, while imaging what could have been. It was a very good year.
Show notes:
The iTunes Guy column on Macworld
CarPlay Crashes Constantly in My Car
The iTunes and Everything Apple forum on Audiophile Style
Kirk's new book, Take Control of macOS Media Apps
Poll: What Do You Think of the New macOS Media Apps that Replace iTunes?
In Praise of the iTunes...
2019-11-0632 minThe Next TrackEpisode #158 - What We Did this SummerDoug and Kirk discuss some audio-related projects they carried out this summer, new Sonos gear, streaming audio in the home, the iTunes visualizer, and more.
Show notes:
My New Vitsœ Shelves Have Freed Up Space in My Office
Rams (documentary about Dieter Rams)
Kef Q150 speakers
Q Acoustics 3010i speakers
Kirk's comfy chair is an older model from this brand, similar to this style.
Sonos Move
Sonos One SL
Sonos Port
Sonos Connect
Kef LS 50 wireless speakers
Netgear Orbi mesh wi-fi system
Episode #136 - Breaking Up with iTunes?
Episode #145 - The Future of iTunes Redux
Episode #152...
2019-09-1229 minThe Next TrackEpisode #147 - Kirk's New Sonos AmpKirk bought some new audio equipment: a Sonos Amp. We talk about how this amp works, and how it has allowed Kirk to minimalize the equipment in his home office.
Show notes:
Episode #21 – Everything You Ever Wanted to Know about Subwoofers
Sonos Amp
Music Matters, Stratford-upon-Avon
Yamaha R-N803 amplifier
dbx 286s Microphone Preamp & Channel Strip Processor
Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 USB Audio Interface
Episode #134 - Downsizing Your Audio System
Marantz Melody X (M-CR612)
Kirk's Audio Test Tracks (AppleMusic playlist)
Tangent CD II
Cambridge Audio AZUR 651BD
Our next tracks:
J. J. Cale: Stay Around
Mose Al...
2019-05-0327 minThe Next TrackEpisode #144 - Cornelius Boots and His Bad-Ass ShakuhachiCornelius Boots is a bad-ass shakuhachi player, and Kirk's second shakuhachi teacher. Cornelius is a composer, performer, and teachers, and has just released his third album of original compositions.
Guest:
Cornelius Boots
Sacred Root: Kung Fu Flute & Buddhist Blues (Shakuhachi Unleashed, Vol. III)
Green Swampy Water (video)
Show notes:
Episode #96 - Kiku Day Explains the Shakuhachi
Taimu shakuhachi by Ken LaCosse
Ney flute (Wikipedia)
Bansuri flute (Wikipedia)
Our next tracks:
Chiku Za: Take To Iki
T. Rex: The Slider
If you like the show, please subscribe in iTunes or your favorite...
2019-04-1232 minThe Next TrackEpisode #143 - Too Old to Rock 'n RollLots of big rock stars are getting old. How much longer will these musicians be able to perform and tour?
Show notes:
Since we recorded this episode, we found out what was wrong with Mick: Mick Jagger recovers in hospital after undergoing successful heart surgery
Kirk said musicians playing in arenas and studios; obviously he meant stadiums; or stadia, if you want to be pedantic
Cruise to the Edge
Jam Cruise
27 Rockers Going Strong After 70
Ages of Rock Stars
Eric Clapton Crossroads Festival
Pete Townshend and Roger Daltry plug album + tour
The Ship of Theseus
...
2019-04-0529 minThe Next TrackEpisode #142 - Why Wi-Fi Is Important for Your Home Media UseMost people depend on wi-fi to get data from one device to another in their home. This is the case for music and video, and having good wi-fi ensures that you can enjoy your home media without any glitches.
Show notes:
Kirk's review of the NetGear Orbi
Wi-Fi SweetSpots
AirPort (Wikipedia); look for the photo of the first AirPort base station
NetGear Orbi outdoor unit
Our next tracks:
Iron & Wine: Around the Well
The Greatest! Count Basie Plays, Joe Williams Sings Standards
If you like the show, please subscribe in iTunes or your...
2019-03-2926 minThe Next TrackEpisode #139 - In Which We Bid FarewellIt's been a long, strange trip, and it's time to get truckin' on.
Show notes:
Doug's website
Kirk's website
Thanks for helping make this a wonderful adventure. See you all again somewhere.Support The Next Track
2019-01-1404 minThe Next TrackEpisode #137 - How Do You Create a "Music Social Network?"Apple has killed off its second attempt at a "music social network," Connect, which was part of Apple Music. We ponder what it would take to create a useful music social network.
Show notes:
Discogs
iTunes Features That Have Been Retired
Episode #60 – Geoff Edgers on the Slow Death of the Electric Guitar
The Classical Music Recordings Discussion Group (Facebook)
How to Share Your Listening History in Apple Music
Doug's profile on Apple Music
Kirk's profile on Apple Music
Our next tracks:
The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel; two-disc CD
Steppenwolf: All Time Greatest Hits
If yo...
2018-12-2832 minThe Next TrackEpisode #135 - Christmas Gift GuideDoug and Kirk make a list, and check it twice, presenting some ideas for music-related Christmas gifts.
Show notes:
Episode #130 - Desert Island Discs, Part 1
Episode #133 - Desert Island Discs, Part 2
Angle plugs
Banana plugs
TwelveSouth BackPack for iMac
iTunes gift cards for Apple Music
Technics SL-1210 MK2 turntable
IsoAcoustics speaker stands
Behringer U-Phono UFO202 Audiophile USB/Audio Interface with Built-in Phono Preamp
Bach 333
Mozart 225
Bach 333: Amazon.com, $523: Amazon UK: £400, Amazon FR, €384
Bloom: 10 Worlds
Sonos One
Apple HomePod Compared to Sonos One
Sony CDP-CX355 Mega Storage Compact Disc 300 CD Changer Player
If you like the sho...
2018-12-1431 minThe Next TrackEpisode #133 - Desert Island Discs, Part 2Doug and Kirk have made lists of their ten desert island discs, and, in part one of a two-part series, we hear Doug's picks. Check out Episode #130 - Desert Island Discs, Part 1 to hear Kirk's picks.
Show notes:
Doug's ten desert island discs (links to Apple Music, except for Exposure which isn't streamable):
The Clash: London Calling
The Rolling Stones: Get Yer Ya Yas Out!
Humble Pie: Performance Rockin' the Fillmore
Lucinda Williams: Car Wheels on a Gravel Road
Fats Waller: Greatest Hits
JS Bach: The Brandenburg Concertos
Fatboy Slim: You've Come a Long...
2018-11-3030 minThe Next TrackEpisode #130 - Desert Island Discs, Part 1Doug and Kirk have made lists of their ten desert island discs, and, in part one of a two-part series, we hear Kirk's picks.
Show notes:
Kirk's ten desert island discs (links to Apple Music):
Hume: Musicall Humours, Jordi Savall
Bach: Goldberg Variations, Andras Schiff
Schubert: Piano Sonata no. 21, D960, Maria Joao Pires
Miles Davis: Kind of Blue
Grateful Dead: American Beauty
Budd/Eno: Ambient 2: The Plateaux of Mirror
Reich: Music for 18 Musicians (1978 ECM recording)
Bob Dylan: Blood on the Tracks
Durutti Column: LC
Feldman: Piano and String Quartet, Kronos Quartet, Aki Takahashi
2018-11-0926 minThe Next TrackEpisode #117 - Back from VacationDoug and Kirk took a week off. They are back to discuss their music listening during that week, and more.
Show notes:
PhotoActive: a podcast about photography and the Apple ecosystem
Richard Russo: Nobody's Fool, Everybody's Fool
Nobody's Fool (movie)
Anthony Powell: A Dance to the Music of Time (book; part one of four); A Dance to the Music of Time: First Movement (audiobook; part one of four)
Episode #93 – Simon Vance on Narrating Audiobooks
Coming Soon: An Even Bigger Classical Box Set, Bach 333
Our next tracks:
András Schiff Plays Schubert on an 1820 Fortepiano
BR5...
2018-08-1030 minThe Next TrackEpisode #110 - Requiem for the StereoIs the home stereo dead? It certainly looks like it.
Show notes:
Carvel
Radio Shack
Realistic (Wikipedia)
Wollensak (Wikipedia)
Goliath
Bosch
The Good Fight
Sonos Beam
The Best Stereo Receiver (Wirecutter)
Sonos One (In the show, Kirk mentioned the Play:1, but that's not the model that will support AirPlay 2; it's the newer Sonos One. Their products are a bit confusing.)
Stand for Sonos Play:1
Sonos Play: 5
Focal Chorus 705
Our next tracks:
Grateful Dead: Dave's Picks Vol. 26
Cake: B-Sides and Rarities
Support The Next Track
2018-06-2234 minThe Next TrackEpisode #108 - Buying RecordsDoug and Kirk wax nostalgic about buying records: what was so nice about browsing record stores, and what are we missing.
Show notes:
Andy Doe shows how to open any kind of CD.
Episode #89 – Too Much Music; James Jackson Toth’s Failed Experiment
Delete Tracks Never Played AppleScript
MusicWeb International
E. J. Korvette (Wikipedia)
Sam Goody (Wikipedia)
Collecting Music in an Analog Age
Morris Levy (Wikipedia)
PhotoActive: a podcast about photography and the Apple ecosystem
Franz Schubert: The Complete Songs, Hyperion Records
Newbury Comics
Musical Heritage Society (Wikipedia)
Our next tracks:
John Foxx: Metamatic (3CD v...
2018-06-0837 minThe Next TrackEpisode #106 - Music in Your Head: Listening to Music on HeadphonesDoug and Kirk discuss headphones: the pros and cons of listening to music on headphones, and the different types of headphones you can use to listen to music.
Show notes:
RadioShack
Grado
The Headphones I Use (Updated)
Grado Prestige Series SR325e Headphones
Binaural recording (Wikipedia)
Awesome binaural albums (thread on the Head-Fi forum)
Head-Fi forum
Our Headphones:
The headphones that Doug and Kirk use when recording podcasts:
Doug: Beyerdynamic DT 770 Pro Studio Headphones
Kirk: AKG K702 Reference Open-Back Over-Ear Studio Headphones
Our next tracks:
Railroad Earth: Elko
Bob Marley...
2018-05-2534 minThe Next TrackEpisode #104 - The Future of iTunesDoug and Kirk discuss the future of iTunes. What effect will streaming and Apple's forthcoming video service have on iTunes? Will it split into several apps? Will it still be called iTunes?
Show notes:
The Great Disappointment (Wikipedia)
Less or fewer
One space between each sentence, they said. Science just proved them wrong.
Focal
Sony's "high-resolution capable" Bluetooth speaker
The big music labels are selling big chunks of their Spotify stakes
Will Music Streaming Ever Be Profitable?
Our next tracks:
Frank Sinatra: Standing Room Only
Rank and File: Sundown
If you like the sh...
2018-05-1132 minThe Next TrackEpisode #102 - SilenceDoug and Kirk discuss silence: how it is important in music, between pieces of music, around music, and on its own.
Show notes:
Listen Different: Add Silence to your iTunes and iPod Playlists
High-Resolution Silence
A Space Between AppleScript
Robert J. Lertsema (Wikipedia)
Bis Records
John Cage: 4'33" (Wikipedia)
John Cage: 4'33" score
Episode #80 – John Cage
John Cage and the Anechoic Chamber
Einojuhani Rautavaara: Cantus Arcticus (Apple Music)
Jackson Browne: Solo Acoustic Vol. 1 & 2
Bruce Springsteen; 3/19/96, Belfast, Northern Ireland
Bob Dylan: Like a Rolling Stone (Judas)
Side Splitter AppleScript
Miles Davis: Kind of Blue
Our next tr...
2018-04-2733 minThe Next TrackEpisode #100 - How We Listen to Music TodayFor the 100th episode, Doug and Kirk discuss how they listen to music today, and how their music listening has changed in the two years they've been producing this podcast.
Show notes:
Episode #90 – Liz Pelly on Streaming Muzak and Playlists
Episode #85 – How Much Music Is Too Much?
Episode #89 – Too Much Music; James Jackson Toth’s Failed Experiment
Record Labels Splitting Long Tracks into Multiple Tracks to Maximize Streaming Income
Episode #69 – Brian Brandt of Mode Records on John Cage, Morton Feldman, and the Music Business
Episode #1 – Songs to Albums to Songs
Episode #2 – To Stream or to Own Music?
Our...
2018-04-1332 minThe Next TrackEpisode #94 – Do Classical Record Labels Make Money?People often wonder if classical record labels make money. We asked Andy Doe, who has a lot of experience in the classical record business, and he explains how the business works.
This week’s guest:
Andy Doe
Proper Discord
Show notes:
Naxos Records
Colin Currie Groupharmonia mundi
Artists and repertoire (A&R) – Wikipedia
The Philharmonia Orchestra
Berlioz: Les Troyens
Many of the Karajan albums with “interesting” covers can be seen on this page on Amazon UK.
♫ Episode #46 – Percussionist Colin Currie on Performing and Recording Steve Reich’s Drumming
Our next tracks:
Kirk: Steve Reich: P...
2018-03-0241 minThe Next TrackEpisode #93 – Simon Vance on Narrating AudiobooksIf you’re an audiobook listener, you will probably recognize this voice. We welcome Simon Vance, one of the most widely appreciated narrator of audiobooks. He discusses what it involves to record audiobooks, and how the audiobook industry works.
This week’s guest:
Simon Vance
Show notes:
Audiofile Magazine
Simon Vance’s award winning audiobooks (Audiofile)
Audies
Audible.com (Try Audible and get two free audiobooks)
Audible UK (Free trial)
Anthony Powell: A Dance to the Music of Time (first of four volumes)
A Dance to the Music of Time (DVD)
Alan Moore: Jerusalem
Willia...
2018-02-2344 minThe Next TrackEpisode #92 – How They Listen to Music: Chuck Joiner, PodcasterPodcaster Chuck Joiner talks to us about how he listens to music: which sources he uses, how he chooses what to listen to, and what equipment he uses.
This week’s guest:
Chuck Joiner, the MacVoices podcast
Show notes:
Audion
Sonos speakersApple AirPods
JBL Flip 4 waterproof speakerBrian Eno: Nerve Net
Episode #89 – Too Much Music; James Jackson Toth’s Failed Experiment
View Cached Music AppleScript
Apple HomePod
https://www.kirkville.com/how-to-use-apple-musics-personal-dj-feature-to-create-you-own-personal-radio-station/
Our next tracks:
Kirk: Creedence Clearwater Revival: Chronicle: The 20 Greatest Hits
Doug: Dread Zeppelin: Bar Coda
If you like the show...
2018-02-1633 minThe Next TrackEpisode #91 – The Apple HomePod Sounds Great, Except When it Doesn’tKirk got his HomePod. He spent a couple of hours listening to music to judge the sound quality. In short, it sounds great at times, but at others it doesn’t.
Sponsor: ChronoSync, by Econ Technologies. Whatever your backup or sync scenario, ChronoSync has got you covered! Download a free 15-day trial version, and get 25% off ChronoSync on the Econ Technologies website.
Show notes:
Wrapping it right: In praise of Apple’s packaging
Sonos PLAY:5Cambridge Audio Minx Air 100Coldplay: The Scientist
Bob Dylan: Cold Irons BoundTalking Heads: I ZimbraBrian Eno: Just Another Day
...
2018-02-0932 minThe Next TrackEpisode #90 – Liz Pelly on Streaming Muzak and PlaylistsJournalist Liz Pelly talks about streaming muzak, Spotify, playlists, and the future of streaming.
This week’s guest:
Liz Pelly
Liz Pelly’s newsletter
Show notes:
The Problem with Muzak
The Secret Lives of Playlists
Future of Music Coalition
Episode #89 – Too Much Music; James Jackson Toth’s Failed Experiment
U.S. Copyright Authorities to Make Subscription Music Services Increase Payout Rate to Publishers and Musicians
Topsify
Filtr
Digster
Hands On: iTunes 10’s Ping feature
MerlinMusic fans bought a lot of cassettes last year
Our next tracks:
Kirk: Nils Frahm: All Melody
Doug: Ten Years...
2018-02-0243 minThe Next TrackEpisode #89 – Too Much Music; James Jackson Toth’s Failed ExperimentMusician and journalist James Jackson Toth launched an experiment in dedicated listening; sitting and listening attentively to just one album a week. He failed. He tells us why, and how we may have too much music to listen to.
You stop hearing music at a certain point and you start hearing decisions.
This week’s guest:
James Jackson Toth, Wooden Wand
Show notes:
Too Much Music: A Failed Experiment In Dedicated Listening
Episode #85 – How Much Music Is Too Much?
Brian Eno: Nerve Net (Expanded Edition)
The Cure: Pornography
Jeffrey Lewis
Douglas Rushkoff: Pres...
2018-01-2637 minThe Next TrackEpisode #88 – Buying and Selling Hi-Fi EquipmentBuying and selling hi-fi equipment can be fraught with problems. Chris Connaker joins us to talk about the situation, and to present his new venture, Superphonica, a platform for buying and selling audio goods.
Sponsor: ChronoSync, by Econ Technologies. Whatever your backup or sync scenario, ChronoSync has got you covered! Download a free 15-day trial version, and get 25% off ChronoSync on the Econ Technologies website.
This week’s guest:
Chris Connaker, of the Computer Audiophile website
Superphonica
Show notes:
@NextTrackCast
Audiophilia Forever: An Expensive New Year’s Shopping Guide
Readly
Schitt Audio
Epis...
2018-01-1936 minThe Next TrackEpisode #87 – Pitch, Tuning, and TemperamentWhat is pitch? How do instruments play in tune with each other? How do instruments tune, and what is temperament? Andy Doe explains all this.
Show notes:
Pitch (Wikipedia)Bach: 6 Suites for Cello Solo, Peter WispelweyMusic tuning (Wikipedia)Musical temperament (Wikipedia)
Pythagoras (Wikipedia)Pythagorean tuning (Wikipedia)
Meantone temperament (Wikipedia)
Online recordings with unequal temperaments
Britten: Saint Nicolas, King’s College Choir1615, Gabrieli in Venice, King’s College Choir
Our next tracks:
Kirk: Bach: Well-Tempered Clavier, Ralph Kirkpatrick, clavichord
Doug: David Bowie: Let’s Dance (Demo Single)
If you like the show, please...
2018-01-1234 minThe Next TrackEpisode #86 – New Year’s ResolutionsAs the new year rings in, we take a look at our music listening habits and think about how we may want to change them.
Show notes:
SwinsianRoon
PlexTidalQobuzEssential Bollywood playlistThe A-List: K-PopOur next tracks:
Kirk: Daniel Lanois: For the Beauty of Wynona Doug: The Bryan Ferry Orchestra: The Jazz Age
If you like the show, please subscribe in iTunes or your favorite podcast app, and please rate the podcast.Support The Next Track
2018-01-0532 minThe Next TrackEpisode #85 – How Much Music Is Too Much?As we amass music in our physical or digital libraries, it can reach a point where it doesn’t make sense to keep adding more music. How much really is too much?
Sponsor: ChronoSync, by Econ Technologies. Whatever your backup or sync scenario, ChronoSync has got you covered! Download a free 15-day trial version, and get 25% off ChronoSync on the Econ Technologies website.
Show notes:
Play Random Albums AppleScript
Collecting Music in an Analog AgeHigh FidelityThe Deadhead’s Taping Compendium, Volume 1: An In-Depth Guide to the Music of the Grateful Dead on Tape, 1959-1974
The...
2017-12-2937 minThe Next TrackEpisode #84 – Ask Doug and Kirk: AirPods, Ripping Optical Discs, and Moving iTunes LibrariesWe answer a few listener questions about Apple’s AirPods, how to rip optical discs (other than CDs), and moving and merging iTunes libraries.
Sponsor: ChronoSync, by Econ Technologies. Whatever your backup or sync scenario, ChronoSync has got you covered! Download a free 15-day trial version, and get 25% off ChronoSync on the Econ Technologies website.
Show notes:
Apple AirPods
Sennheiser PX 100-II i headphones
Episode #57 – Everything You Ever Wanted to Know about Optical Discs
iTunes Now Hides CD Action Settings if No Optical Drive Is Detected
Rip audio tracks from your DVDs
How to rip...
2017-12-2234 minThe Next TrackEpisode #83 – Daniel Spreadbury on Music Notation SoftwareWe welcome Daniel Spreadbury to discuss the software that composers use to put their notes onto virtual paper.
This week’s guest:
Daniel Spreadbury, Dorico
Dorico
Show notes:
Sibelius
ARM processor
An original score of a fugue by Johann Sebastian Bach
A score by William Byrd
German organ tablature
French-style lute tablature
Bach’s unfinished fugue
Real book
Newzik
A shakuhachi score
Our next tracks:
Kirk: Stan Richardson: Shakuhachi Meditation Music
Doug: 10cc: Sheet Music
If you like the show, please subscribe in iTunes or your favorite podcast app, and please rate...
2017-12-1536 minThe Next TrackEpisode #81 – Ask Andy: Ohms and DecibelsWe bring back our regular guest Andy Doe to discuss some of the technical terms we read about with audio equipment: Ω and dB, also known as ohms and decibels.
This week’s guest:
Andy Doe
Proper Discord
Show notes:
Ohm (Wikipedia)
Resistor color code chart
Episode #73 – Kirk Wants to Buy an Amplifier
Decibel (Wikipedia)
Comparative Examples Of Noise Levels
dB SPL
dBFS (Wikipedia)
Episode #35 – Musician and Developer Peter Chilvers on Brian Eno’s Album and App Reflection
Our next tracks:
Kirk: Brian Eno: Another Green World
Doug: Dixie Dregs: What If
If you lik...
2017-12-0129 minThe Next TrackEpisode #77 – How to Get the Most out of Apple MusicDoug and Kirk discuss Apple Music, how it’s changed the way they listen to music, and how to get the most out of the service.
Show notes:
Chris Breen
Bach: French Suites, by Murray Perahia
Our next tracks:
Kirk: Cage / Lutoslawski: String Quartets, Lasalle Quartet
Doug: Greta Van Fleet: Black Smoke Rising
If you like the show, please subscribe in iTunes or your favorite podcast app, and please rate the podcast.Support The Next Track
2017-11-0331 minThe Next TrackEpisode #76 – Mirror Balls and Polyester: Looking Back at Disco MusicDoug and Kirk were teenagers when disco hit. They didn’t care for it then, but has their opinion change after 40 years? Is it time to reevaluate disco music?
Show notes:
Chic: Good Times (12″ version)
The Joy of Disco – BBC Documentary
Marvin Gaye: What’s Going On
Saturday Night Fever
New York City blackout, July 13, 1977
Son of Sam
Jumping the shark
Why ‘Disco sucks!’ sucked
Disco Demolition Night
Saturday Night Fever soundtrack
Readers’ Poll: The Best Disco Songs of All Time
Apple Music: Essential Disco Hits
Our next tracks:
Kirk: Lounge Lizards: The Lounge Lizards
Doug...
2017-10-2732 minThe Next TrackEpisode #75 – Movies about Music, Part 2: DocumentariesDoug and Kirk discuss their favorite music documentaries.
Show notes:
Synth Britannia (YouTube)
Synth Britannia (BBC)
Rock Family Trees (BBC)
Episode #58 – David Weigel on the History of Progressive Rock
Rock Family Trees (book)
Sinatra: All or Nothing at All
Long Strange Trip
History of the Eagles
No Direction Home: Bob Dylan
Bob Dylan: No Direction Home, The Bootleg Series Vol. 7
The Wrecking Crew
Gimme Shelter
Sam Cutler: You Can’t Always Get What You Want: My Life with the Rolling Stones, the Grateful Dead and Other Wonderful Reprobates
Bach: A Passionate Life
Thelonious Monk: Straight, No Chas...
2017-10-2035 minThe Next TrackEpisode #74 – Jeffrey Norman on Restoring, Mixing, and Mastering the Grateful DeadWe welcome Jeffrey Norman, who has been mixing, mastering, and restoring Grateful Dead recordings for more than 35 years.
This week’s guest:
Jeffrey Norman: Mockingbird Mastering
Jeffrey Norman’s project list
Show notes:
Mid-side (MS) recording technique
Owsley Stanley (Bear)
What’s Become of the Bettys? The Fate of the Long-Lost Grateful Dead Soundboards
Episode #67 – The Grateful Dead’s Legendary 5/8/77 Cornell Concert, with Author Peter Conners
Plangent Process
The Grateful Dead’s Europe ’72 box set
Long Strange Trip
Kirk’s Next Track pick of the Doc & Merle Watson release – Episode #70 – Movies about Music, Part 1: Fiction
Owsley Stan...
2017-10-1337 minThe Next TrackEpisode #73 – Kirk Wants to Buy an AmplifierAndy Doe helps Kirk and Doug understand “make louder boxes.”
This week’s guest:
Andy Doe
Proper Discord
“You are experiencing audio ennui.”
Show notes:
Yamaha R-N301 network receiver
Recommended Components: Fall 2017 Edition Integrated Amps & Receivers
Richer Sounds
Grado headphones
Episode #71 – Hi-Fi Separates, Part 1: Network Streamers
Bentley Continental
One note about the musical Girl From the North Country. Between the recording and release of this podcast, the show will transfer to the Noel Coward Theatre in London for 12 weeks, from December 29. See it if you can.
Our next tracks:
Kirk: Gi...
2017-10-0633 minThe Next TrackEpisode #72 – What’s New in iTunes 12.7Doug and Kirk take a close look at changes Apple has made to iTunes in its latest version, 12.7.
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:
This Is Where iTunes Is Bloated
What’s New in iTunes 12.7
Here’s Why Removing Apps from iTunes Is Stupid
How to Copy Apps, Ringtones, and Files to Your iOS Devices with iTunes 12.7
Script...
2017-09-2932 minThe Next TrackEpisode #70 – Movies about Music, Part 1: FictionDoug and Kirk chat about their favorite movies about music, and some that they don’t like. This is the first of three parts; the other parts will be released in the next couple of months.
Show notes:
Almost Famous (The Bootleg Cut)
The Almost Famous Stairway to Heaven scene
Almost Famous: the Tiny Dancer scene
24 Hour Party People
Control
High Fidelity
Still Crazy
Amadeus (I said I saw the play Monday; that was a mistake, I saw it last January.)
A Late Quartet
Episode #20 – You Think You Know about the Blues? Eliah Wald on the Hist...
2017-09-1533 minThe Next Track♫ Episode #65 – Pass the Remote ControlDoug and Kirk express frustration about the number of complexity of remote controls they use.
Show notes:
All 165 Pink Floyd Songs Ranked, From Worst to Best – Bill Wyman
Episode #64 – Album Artwork in Digital Files
Logitech Harmony Ultimate Remote
Philips Hue lights
The Clash – Remote Control
Our next tracks:
Kirk: Theatre of Hate: The Live Albums
Doug: John Lee Hooker & Canned Heat: Hooker ‘n Heat
If you like the show, please subscribe in iTunes or your favorite podcast app, and please rate the podcast.Support The Next Track
2017-08-1130 minThe Next Track♫ Episode #64 – Album Artwork in Digital FilesDoug and Kirk tell you everything you ever wanted to know about album artwork in digital files.
Sponsor: Rogue Ameoba’s Loopback. For cable-free audio routing when recording and playing audio on your Mac, use Loopback. Download the free trial from Rogue Amoeba, then save 20% with coupon code NEXTTRACK.
Check out Loopback now.
Show notes:
Doug’s AppleScripts for iTunes
Size of Artwork
Sort by Artwork Size
iTunes Artwork Finder
ImageOptim
Deleting the iTunes Album Artwork Cache Folder May Resolve Problems with Album Art Displaying
Is Artwork Embedded
Tracks Without Embe...
2017-08-0430 minThe Next Track♫ Episode #50 – Streaming Music in Your HomeDeveloper 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 Lindley: El Rayo-X
If you like the show, please subscribe in iTunes or your favorite podcast app, and please rate the podcast.Special Guest: Paul Kafasis.Support The Next T
2017-04-2834 minThe Next Track♫ Episode #49 – Common Misconceptions about iTunesDoug 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 Were The Days
If you like the show, please subscribe in iTunes or your favorite podcast app, and please rate the podcast.Su...
2017-04-2129 minThe Next Track♫ Episode #45 – Ask Andy, Hi-Fi Equipment and Speaker PlacementWe 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 the Cutting Edge of Recorded Music
Doug: Rolling Stones: 12 x 5
If you like the show, please subscribe in iTunes or your favorite podcast ap...
2017-03-2433 minThe Next Track♫ Episode #39 – Storing Media on a Network-Attached Storage DeviceDoug 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 Explosion: Jukebox Explosion
If you like the show, please subscribe in iTunes or your favorite podcast app, and please rate the podc...
2017-02-1027 minThe Next Track♫ Episode #35 – Musician and Developer Peter Chilvers on Brian Eno’s Album and App ReflectionMusician and developer Peter Chilvers discusses making apps with Brian Eno, including the new generative music composition Reflection.
“Imagine lots and lots of theremins looping back at you…”
Show notes:
Peter Chilvers’ website
Ten years working with Brian Eno
Generative Music website with Peter’s apps Scape, Bloom, Trope, and Air
Kirk’s review of the Reflection CD and app
Kirk’s 2013 review of Four apps for making ambient music on your iOS device
Note: Peter Chilvers’ explanation of the Reflection app’s pricing, which comes in around the 23-minute mark, is a brief recording he...
2017-01-1332 minThe Next Track♫ Episode #32 – Everything You Ever Wanted to Know about DACs (Digital-Analog Converters)Chris Connaker of the Computer Audiophile website explains what a DAC is, how it works, and a whether you need one. (And how you already have lots of them.)
Sponsor: Waltr 2: transfer virtually any media files to your iPhone, iPad, or iPod, without using iTunes. Safe 15% on Waltr 2 with the discount code THENEXTTRACK. Check out Waltr 2.
Show notes:
The Computer Audiophile website
DACs – digital-analog converters:
Digital-to-Analog Convertor, Wikipedia
Schiit Audio
Explanation of 44.1 kHz CD sampling rate
Kirk’s Macworld review of the Cambridge Audio DacMagic (it wasn’t ten years ago, a...
2016-12-2334 minThe Next Track♫ Episode #29 – Tagging Audio FilesDoug and Kirk explain everything you need to know about tagging your digital audio files.
Sponsor: Drobo, simple to use storage arrays designed to protect your important data forever. Listen to the podcast for a discount code to save 20% on a new Drobo. Visit Drobo.com.
Show notes:
The ID3 version 2.3.0 specifications
Take Control of iTunes 12: The FAQ
How to better organize your classical music in iTunes 12.5 (using Work and Movement tags)
Smarts, Doug’s app for managing smart playlists
Re-Embed Artwork AppleScript
Save Artwork as folder.jpg AppleScript
Scripts Recommended by Task
Ou...
2016-12-0232 minThe Next Track♫ Episode #24 – Composer Timo Andres on Contemporary Classical MusicDoug and Kirk welcome Timo Andres, composer and performer of contemporary classical music. This is the first part of a two-part interview.
One of the ways that […] any type of musician finds their style is by setting out to imitate something and failing.
This week’s guest:
Timo Andres’s website
Timo Andres on Nonesuch Records
Show notes:
Alex Ross of the New Yorker on Timo Andres and other “student composers” in 2004
Russell Platt of the New Yorker on Timo Andres in 2016
Timo Andres: Shy and Mighty
Timo Andres: Home Stretch
Lou Reed: Meta...
2016-10-2831 minThe Next Track♫ Episode #23 – David Browne on the History of the Grateful DeadDoug and Kirk welcome David Browne, author of So Many Roads: The Life and Times of the Grateful Dead to discuss the history of this iconic band.
Sponsor: Drobo, simple to use storage arrays designed to keep your data safe forever. Visit Drobo.com.
This week’s guest:
David Browne’s website
So Many Roads: The Life and Times of the Grateful Dead
Show notes:
Kirk’s review of So Many Roads
The Grateful Dead’s Wall of Sound
Our next tracks:
Kirk: The Grateful Dead Movie Soundtrack
Doug: The Grateful...
2016-10-2134 minThe Next Track♫ Episode #22 – In Praise of the iPod ClassicDoug and Kirk wax nostalgic about the iPod classic, and other one trick pony music players. And Bob Dylan.
Sponsor: Doug’s AppleScripts for iTunes. Make sure your iTunes management tools are updated for latest version of iTunes and for macOS Sierra at Doug’s AppleScripts for iTunes.
Reader email:
A question about earbuds and low frequencies; see the reply to a question on last week’s episode page.
News:
Bob Dylan wins the Nobel Prize in literature! Check out these Dylan albums to appreciate his poetry:
Highway 61 Revisi...
2016-10-1430 minThe Next Track♫ Episode #21 – Everything You Ever Wanted to Know about SubwoofersDoug and Kirk had some questions about subwoofers. So they invited Andy Doe to explain how they work, how to set them up, and why we might want to use them.
Sponsor: Drobo, simple to use storage arrays designed to keep your data safe forever. Visit Drobo.com.
You’re listening to this at home for your own pleasure, it doesn’t actually matter if it’s accurate. What matters is that you like it.
This week’s guest:
Andy Doe, Proper Discord
Show notes:
Polk Audio PSW10 10-Inch Po...
2016-10-0733 minThe Next Track♫ Episode #20 – You Think You Know about the Blues? Eliah Wald on the History of the BluesWe welcome musician, historian, and author Elijah Wald to discuss the history of the blues.
Sponsor: Master iTunes with Kirk’s ebook and save 30% on Take Control of iTunes 12: The FAQ, the indispensable guide to iTunes.
Show notes:
Elijah Wald’s website
Elijah Wald’s Songobiography
Escaping the Delta: Robert Johnson and the Invention of the Blues
Dylan Goes Electric!: Newport, Seeger, Dylan, and the Night That Split the Sixties
Inside Llewyn Davis
The Mayor of McDougal Street
Inside Dave van Ronk (the album with the cat on the cover)
Robert Johnson, The Complete Record...
2016-09-3030 minThe Next Track♫ Episode #19 – Live Recordings and Studio RecordingsDoug and Kirk discuss the pros and cons of live recordings vs. studio recordings. And, are live recordings really live?
“Bravo!”
Sponsor: Doug’s AppleScripts for iTunes. Make sure your iTunes management tools are updated for latest version of iTunes and for macOS Sierra at Doug’s AppleScripts for iTunes.
Show notes:
Grateful Dead: Dave’s Picks Vol. 19, Honolulu, HI, January 23, 1970
The Who: Live at Leeds, Super Deluxe Edition
Humble Pie: Performance – Rockin’ The Fillmore: The Complete Recordings
ZZ Top: Live – Greatest Hits From Around The World
Hot Tuna: Hot Tuna
Peter Frampton: Frampt...
2016-09-2328 minThe Next Track♫ Episode #18 – New Yorker Music Critic Alex Ross Discusses Listening to Classical MusicWe welcome New Yorker music critic Alex Ross for a long discussion about listening to classical music today. This episode runs a bit longer than usual, but we think you’ll enjoy the whole show.
“I mix the familiar and the obscure.”
Sponsor: Master iTunes with Kirk’s ebook and save 30% on Take Control of iTunes 12: The FAQ, the indispensable guide to iTunes.
Show notes:
Alex Ross’s website, The Rest is Noise
Alex Ross’s writings on The New Yorker
Alex Ross’s books: The Rest is Noise, Listen to This
The Composers...
2016-09-1641 minThe Next Track♫ Episode #17 – Jacks, Pods, and MusicDoug and Kirk look at the audio-related elements of this week’s Apple product announcement. The headphone jack, AirPods, and Apple Music.
“Frankly, I don’t listen to a lot of new music. I’m still trying to catch up on a lot of old music.”
Sponsor: Master iTunes with Kirk’s ebook and save 30% on Take Control of iTunes 12: The FAQ, the indispensable guide to iTunes.
Show notes:
Correction: When discussing AirPods, we said that they cannot be used with devices other than a Mac, iOS device, or Apple Watch. Since we rec...
2016-09-0929 minThe Next Track♫ Episode #16 – Managing and Storing Digital Media FilesDoug and Kirk discuss some news and some music and audio technology history, then examine the best ways to manage and store a digital media collection.
Show notes:
News:
Rudy Van Gelder, Renowned ‘A Love Supreme’ Engineer, Dead at 91 – Rolling Stone
Music Technology of the 1970s: A Timeline – Pitchfork
Managing and Storing Digital Media Files:
TuneSpan
Drobo
WD My Cloud 4 TB
Synology
Our next tracks:
Kirk: Harold Budd: Children on the Hill
Doug: Bis: Social Dancing
If you like the show, please subscribe in iTunes or your favorite...
2016-09-0230 minThe Next Track♫ Episode #15 – What is Mastering and Remastering?Doug and Kirk welcome Sangwook “Sunny” Nam, two-time Grammy nominated mastering engineer. He explains what mastering and remastering are, and we learn a lot about the magic that mastering engineers perform.
“All the processing I’m doing is done on the analog side.”
Show notes:
Jacob’s Well Mastering
Sunny Nam’s recordings on Discogs
Doug Sax
The Doors on vinyl
Sunny Nam’s mastering studio.
Our next tracks:
Kirk: Blind Gary Davis: Harlem Street Singer
Doug: Frank Zappa & The Mothers: Roxy & Elsewhere
If you like the show, please...
2016-08-2635 minThe Next Track♫ Episode #14 – Audiophile Utility Poles and Other NewsDoug and Kirk take a look at recent news in the music and audio world. From audiophile utility poles to iTunes news, from record stores to car radios, this news and views episode keeps you up to date on what matters in music listening. And Kirk gives an update on his first Pearl Jam listening experience.
“For $10,000 there better be a powerful placebo effect.”
Show notes:
News:
Pearl Jam: Ten
A Gift for Music Lovers Who Have It All: A Personal Utility Pole
Records’ rebirth fueled by older music obsessives, not young hipste...
2016-08-1928 minThe Next Track♫ Episode #13 – Which Streaming Service Is Right for You?Doug and Kirk welcome back Chris Connaker to discuss music streaming services. Apple Music, Spotify, Tidal, or another; which is right for you? What are the pros and cons of the various streaming services?
“I have never heard a song by Pearl Jam.”
Show notes:
News:
Apple Is Finally Making iTunes Better for Classical Music
Dislike is a New iTunes 12.5 Track Property
Streaming music services:
Pearl Jam
Qobuz
Apple Music
Spotify
Tidal
Pandora
Roon
Pearl Jam: Ten
Our next tracks:
Kirk: Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark: Organisation
Doug: Dary...
2016-08-1232 minThe Next Track♫ Episode #12 – iTunes & AppleScriptDoug and Kirk discuss iTunes and AppleScript. This was bound to come sooner or later, since Doug is the AppleScript ninja. We look at what AppleScript does, and discuss more than a dozen of the most useful AppleScripts to use to manage your iTunes library.
“AppleScript does not run on Windows, and Windows does not run in my house.”
Show notes:
News:
New Pink Floyd box set covers the early years: 1965 – 1972
Pink Floyd copyright release: 1965: Their First Recordings
Everything you need to know about playing music with AirPlay
Classical Music Needs More Silenc...
2016-08-0528 minThe Next Track♫ Episode #11 – Audio Myths & SuperstitionsDoug and Kirk welcome back Andy Doe, digital music consultant, to discuss myths and superstitions around audio: cables, breaking in hardware, digital audio, and more. But first we discuss classical music playlists on streaming services.
“Hooray, good for you, you have magical bat ears.” Andy Doe.
Show notes:
Andy Doe
Proper Discord
Classical music playlists:
Here’s What’s Wrong with Classical Music on Streaming Services (Part Whatever)
Audio myths & superstitions:
Articles on Kirk’s website about hi-fi magazines writing about audio equipment
How Hi-Fi Magazines Write about Cables, Part 7: An Audioph...
2016-07-2932 minThe Next Track♫ Episode #10 – Setting Up a Home Media ServerHave you ever wanted to set up your own home media server? Doug and Kirk discuss the pros and cons of doing this, and explain how to set up a Mac mini as a media server.
Show notes:
Discovering new music:
Apple’s Mac mini
OS X Server
I wish there was an iTunes Server
WD My Passport 4 TB portable hard drive
Carbon Copy Cloner
Change Screen Resolution on Headless OS X ServerSonos
Plex
The Merchant of Venice, by the Royal Shakespeare Company
Apple improves iCloud Music Library matching, ditches copy-protected matched files for Ap...
2016-07-2227 minThe Next Track♫ Episode #9 – Will Hermes on Discovering New MusicIn the latest episode of The Next Track, Doug Adams and Kirk McElhearn welcome NPR and Rolling Stone music critic Will Hermes. We take a brief stroll down memory lane, then discuss music discovery: how does a music critic, overwhelmed with choice, discover new music.
“For me to just become a nostalgia merchant; as a writer, and as a music fan, not interested.”
Show notes:
Discovering new music:
Will Hermes’ website; his writing on Rolling Stone; his reviews on WNYC; All Things Considered
Love Goes to Buildings on Fire, by Will Hermes
NPR Mu...
2016-07-1530 minThe Next Track♫ Episode #8 – Listening to Words: Audiobooks and Spoken Word RecordingsIn the latest episode of The Next Track, Doug Adams and Kirk McElhearn discuss spoken word recordings. How to get them, how to manage them, and how to listen to them. And we discuss how the history of recording started with recordings of spoken word content.
“Like a Victorian call center.”
Show notes:
Spoken word and audiobook recordings:
Key dates in the history of audiobooks
Walt Whitman reading four lines of America
James Joyce reading from Ulysses and Finnegans Wake
JRR Tolkien reads from The Lord of the Rings
Audible.com, Audible UK...
2016-07-0830 minThe Next Track♫ Episode #7 – Music and GenresIn the latest episode of The Next Track, Doug Adams and Kirk McElhearn analyze the rumor that Apple is planning to remove the headphone jack from the iPhone, and then discuss how people organize music by genre.
“No matter where we steer this thing, we always end up driving down inelegant boulevard.”
Show notes:
The headphone jack rumor:
An iPhone without a headphone jack? No way!
On the Recurring Rumor that Apple Is Getting Rid of the iPhone Headphone Jack
What’s the Logic Behind Apple’s New Headphone Jack?
Apple USB-C Digital...
2016-07-0129 minThe Next Track♫ Episode #6 – What Is High-Resolution Audio?In the latest episode of The Next Track, Doug Adams and Kirk McElhearn welcome special guest Chris Connaker who runs the Computer Audiophile website to discuss high-resolution audio. What are the pros? The cons? Is high-res for you?
“Is high-resolution worth it? There really is no definitive answer to that…”
Show notes:
The Computer Audiophile website
High-resolution audio:
Episode #3 – Everything You’ve Ever Wanted to Know about Audio File Formats
Gimell Records, John Taverner – Missa Corona spinea
Why do CDs use a sampling rate of 44.1 kHz?
Hdtracks
JRiver Media Center
Fiio X7 port...
2016-06-2431 minThe Next Track♫ Episode #5 – Headphones or Speakers?In the latest episode of The Next Track, Doug Adams and Kirk McElhearn take a quick look at the new features coming to Apple Music, and then discuss how we listen to music with headphones and speakers. What’s the best kind of headphones? When should you use speakers? Why not use both (not at the same time, of course)?
Show notes:
News:
A Brief Overview of New Features Coming to Apple Music
Headphones and speakers:
Beyerdynamic DT 770 Pro Studio Headphones
Sennheiser HD 280 Pro Headphones
AKG K 240 Semi-Open Studio Headphones
Sony MDRV6 he...
2016-06-1729 minThe Next Track♫ Episode #4 – Streaming Shenanigans and MetadataIn episode #4 of The Next Track, Doug Adams and Kirk McElhearn welcome special guest Andy Doe, digital music consultant and classical record label head, to discuss some streaming music shenanigans, and audio file metadata, the information that tells you who a track is by, its name, its album, and more.
“This is the kind of mass-production of music that Henry Ford would have appreciated.” Andy Doe.
Show notes:
Andy Doe
Proper Discord
Streaming music shenanigans:
Albums are getting unbearably long and sh*tty streaming rules are to blame
Metadata:
Metametadata: almo...
2016-06-1032 minThe Next Track♫ Episode #3 – Everything You’ve Ever Wanted to Know about Audio File FormatsIn episode #3 of The Next Track, Doug Adams and Kirk McElhearn examine the various audio file formats that you may encounter when you listen to music. You’re familiar with MP3, AAC, and, perhaps, Apple Lossless, but do you know your FLAC from your AIFF, or your WAV from your Ogg Vorbis?
Show notes:
Audio file formats:
Here’s a selection of links about audio file formats, working with lossless audio, etc.
An Overview of Audio File Formats Supported By iTunes
Everything you need to know about digital audio files
The ABCs of L...
2016-06-0328 minThe Next Track♫ Episode #2 – To Stream or to Own Music?In episode #2 of The Next Track, Doug Adams and Kirk McElhearn take a brief look at the iTunes 12.4 update, and then discuss streaming music versus owning it. Do you want to have access to most of the recorded music available or do you want to own your music, listen to it when you want, even if labels or artists decide they don’t want to play with streaming services?
Show notes:
News and Updates:
Kirk’s review of iTunes 12.4 on Macworld
Some Minor Changes in iTunes – Kirkville
Main topic, streaming versus owning music:
A...
2016-05-2730 minThe Next Track♫ Episode #1 – Songs to Albums to SongsIn episode #1 of The Next Track, Doug Adams and Kirk McElhearn introduce the podcast, and explain the topics they plan to cover. They discuss streaming music and downloads, and spend some time looking at the history of music listening, from songs to albums to songs, with some tapes along the way. Then they discuss their next tracks, the music they’re planning to listen to next.
Show notes:
Introduction to The Next Track, and what the podcast is going to cover.
Doug Adams’ website, Doug’s AppleScripts for iTunes.
Kirk McElhearn’s website, Kirkville.
Songs to albums t...
2016-05-2128 min