Brutkey

Raul
@raulinbonn@social.treehouse.systems

Vistiendo vino tinto, franelita tricolor y zapatos no se ven pero blancos:)
#Nobel #Venezuela

Raul
@raulinbonn@social.treehouse.systems

Advantage of having a sore throat: I can temporarily reach a low D/Re. This is pretty much impossible for my voice normally, can barely manage a low F/Fa. I can now sing Koyaanisqatsi kind of :P Will upload a recording

Raul
@raulinbonn@social.treehouse.systems

Lost it while recording, feel free to laugh 😂​ I'm pretty surprised and happy that at least temporarily can reach this low D/Re note, even if so poorly :)

Raul
@raulinbonn@social.treehouse.systems

#Introduction
Computer scientist (BSc + MSc.)
In chronological order, I've worked since adolescent days first as a photographer, but then soon as a programmer/developer, teaching assistant, systems administrator, research associate (really another software dev job though,) Spanish-English technical translator, telecom consultant, IT project coordinator, and then again research associate, which was really a software dev + sys admin + devops engineer job.

Love technology and anything related to accuracy and high precision. So computers, and coffee ;) But also audio, optics (photography, paintings, illustrations,) well told stories (books, movies,) puzzles, chess, and music. Used to sing in a choir first as tenor, then as baritone. That was only during undergraduate times though, haven't done that in decades. But still always loving great music for sure, as well as high-quality audio, and acoustics.

A more recent "hobby" applies to the sense of smell. I like to smell a lot and attempt to identify spices and fragrances/perfumes. This got triggered not because I love good coffee, but mostly during the early days of the pandemic, and the fear of not being able to smell anything if catching the virus. Watching the movie "Perfect Sense" precisely during that time might have played a role as well. Corona did eventually get to me in 2022, even after two vaccinations. But it was just like a minor flu, and fortunately never lost any sense of smell whatsoever.

I enjoy doing some physical activity. At least walking 8-10k steps every single day no exceptions, plus some stretch/strength-training, as well as eating healthy to maintain my ideal weight.

Raul
@raulinbonn@social.treehouse.systems

PSA for #audio quality and music enjoyment, after seeing some desktop setups with very poorly placed desktop #speakers.

Try these "mods." They are either completely free, or ridiculously cheap. Might improve your sound quality and enjoyment in some cases not only noticeably but significantly!

1) Speaker #tweeters ought to be placed exactly on the vertices of a 3D equilateral triangle, the third vertex being the center of your head. That means, if center of tweeters are at about arm's length from each other (~70 cm, or 2.3') then each of them should be at that very same distance from your head/ears. #Symmetry here is most important. So if not equilateral, an isosceles triangle would be next best, but preserve that symmetry.

2) Tweeters should aim directly towards your ears, and needless to say, with direct line-of-sight between those tweeters and your ears; no obstacles in front of them whatsoever. If needed, either tilt your speakers, or raise them a bit, or do both. Below a photo of my own little desktop speakers as example (ignore the dust and spots :P). Those bases under the little speakers are simple bean cans filled with sand + stones (each one weighs almost 0.7 kg,) covered with the cheapest self-adhesive carpet tiles from the hardware store. That short additional height makes the angled position of the drivers on these speakers laser-aim directly at my ears. Photo is taken from where my head would be. If raising the speakers, use something solid and heavy like that under them, nothing hollow, and nothing prone to wobbling or vibrating. I used those cans because couldn't find cylindrical stone bricks of the right height, although cubic ones were somewhat close.

The above two tips will already improve #stereo imaging to better fool your ears into believing voices and sound overall (specially from good stereo recordings) magically come from a "sound wall" floating in empty space in front of you, and not from the speakers themselves.

If you also have a #subwoofer, regardless of its size:

3) Try different positions for that little sub under your desk, to get better and more even bass response. In particular, try placing it neither so close to the back wall, nor to any side walls/flat solid surfaces, also not at the same distance from back and side walls.

4) Also raise the sub from the floor a bit using suitable bricks, and immobilize it for good against its own vibrations using more bricks on top. This will make the bass more precise and controlled within the normal capabilities of that sub. Changing its height will also alter the position of cancelling nodes for the low frequencies between floor and ceiling. Use isolation cushioning pads under the sub's feet, and under all those bricks. If yours is a carpeted floor, and you have a down-firing sub, get a large enough garden brick tile and place the sub or lower bricks on that. A down-firing sub should fire its sound against a hard surface, not a carpet.

Those last two tips aim to improve #bass reproduction, increasing accuracy and removing the typical boomyness of desktop speaker sets that have a sub. Bass should be as clean and "normal" as possible from the sub in question, in any case not boomy or bloated, yet also not weak/muffled. Bass is always the trickiest thing because of room acoustics, but those changes alone can make major improvements.

To check bass response and sound reproduction in general, I suggest tracks like those listed near the end of this post here:
https://fluviolabenti.blogspot.com/2023/11/get-most-out-of-your-desktop-speakers.html

Bonus:
5) Improve the source. This is the only costly mod. To further improve sound reproduction, ignore all your PC's analog audio outs (PC's are electrically very noisy) and connect your speakers to an external USB DAC. I use an iFi Zen DAC shown in the photo below and behind the monitor. It's in fact a DAC and headphone amplifier. To listen with headphones, unplug your speaker set from the DAC/Amp and connect the headphones directly to that DAC/Amp (e.g. neither to the PC nor to a headphone out of the speaker set if there is any.)

Raul
@raulinbonn@social.treehouse.systems

Using the #Yazio app for several months now, helps you achieve an accurate intake of recommended #protein, #carbs, #fats, and #calories everyday for your ideal weight. Can highly recommend.

This milkshake (updated 01/01/2024) might look ugly and boring, but it is quite a fully balanced #breakfast treat, and it's delicious!!! This together with a cup of coffee and milk (150ml + 150ml) has been my highly tuned breakfast for a few months now. Amounts below are recommended for an 82 kg (~180 lb) person:

Oatmeal: 60 gr
1 Apple: ~170 gr
Grapes: 60 gr
Blueberries: 60 gr
Greek yogurt 0% fat: 50 gr
Peanut butter: 20 gr
Your favorite protein powder (but avoid the ones with sucralose): 16 gr
Whole Milk 3.5% fat lactose-free: 150 ml
Water: at least 200 ml
Salt: just a pinch
Cinnamon, Nutmeg, and/or Cardamom: add to your taste (I actually add the three of them :)

You can choose alternative fruits, but avoid mixing bananas and berries to get the full health-benefits of those berries.

The protein powder I use: switching between Erdschwalbe's Mandelproteinpulver, Bio Reisproteinpulver, and Natureletics Natural Chocolate Whey or Vanilla Whey.
#Health #meal #food #eating #wellbeing

Raul
@raulinbonn@social.treehouse.systems

Vistiendo vino tinto, franelita tricolor y zapatos no se ven pero blancos:)
#Nobel #Venezuela

Raul
@raulinbonn@social.treehouse.systems

Advantage of having a sore throat: I can temporarily reach a low D/Re. This is pretty much impossible for my voice normally, can barely manage a low F/Fa. I can now sing Koyaanisqatsi kind of :P Will upload a recording

Raul
@raulinbonn@social.treehouse.systems

Lost it while recording, feel free to laugh 😂​ I'm pretty surprised and happy that at least temporarily can reach this low D/Re note, even if so poorly :)

Raul
@raulinbonn@social.treehouse.systems

Advantage of having a sore throat: I can temporarily reach a low D/Re. This is pretty much impossible for my voice normally, can barely manage a low F/Fa. I can now sing Koyaanisqatsi kind of :P Will upload a recording

Raul
@raulinbonn@social.treehouse.systems

#Introduction
Computer scientist (BSc + MSc.)
In chronological order, I've worked since adolescent days first as a photographer, but then soon as a programmer/developer, teaching assistant, systems administrator, research associate (really another software dev job though,) Spanish-English technical translator, telecom consultant, IT project coordinator, and then again research associate, which was really a software dev + sys admin + devops engineer job.

Love technology and anything related to accuracy and high precision. So computers, and coffee ;) But also audio, optics (photography, paintings, illustrations,) well told stories (books, movies,) puzzles, chess, and music. Used to sing in a choir first as tenor, then as baritone. That was only during undergraduate times though, haven't done that in decades. But still always loving great music for sure, as well as high-quality audio, and acoustics.

A more recent "hobby" applies to the sense of smell. I like to smell a lot and attempt to identify spices and fragrances/perfumes. This got triggered not because I love good coffee, but mostly during the early days of the pandemic, and the fear of not being able to smell anything if catching the virus. Watching the movie "Perfect Sense" precisely during that time might have played a role as well. Corona did eventually get to me in 2022, even after two vaccinations. But it was just like a minor flu, and fortunately never lost any sense of smell whatsoever.

I enjoy doing some physical activity. At least walking 8-10k steps every single day no exceptions, plus some stretch/strength-training, as well as eating healthy to maintain my ideal weight.

Raul
@raulinbonn@social.treehouse.systems

PSA for #audio quality and music enjoyment, after seeing some desktop setups with very poorly placed desktop #speakers.

Try these "mods." They are either completely free, or ridiculously cheap. Might improve your sound quality and enjoyment in some cases not only noticeably but significantly!

1) Speaker #tweeters ought to be placed exactly on the vertices of a 3D equilateral triangle, the third vertex being the center of your head. That means, if center of tweeters are at about arm's length from each other (~70 cm, or 2.3') then each of them should be at that very same distance from your head/ears. #Symmetry here is most important. So if not equilateral, an isosceles triangle would be next best, but preserve that symmetry.

2) Tweeters should aim directly towards your ears, and needless to say, with direct line-of-sight between those tweeters and your ears; no obstacles in front of them whatsoever. If needed, either tilt your speakers, or raise them a bit, or do both. Below a photo of my own little desktop speakers as example (ignore the dust and spots :P). Those bases under the little speakers are simple bean cans filled with sand + stones (each one weighs almost 0.7 kg,) covered with the cheapest self-adhesive carpet tiles from the hardware store. That short additional height makes the angled position of the drivers on these speakers laser-aim directly at my ears. Photo is taken from where my head would be. If raising the speakers, use something solid and heavy like that under them, nothing hollow, and nothing prone to wobbling or vibrating. I used those cans because couldn't find cylindrical stone bricks of the right height, although cubic ones were somewhat close.

The above two tips will already improve #stereo imaging to better fool your ears into believing voices and sound overall (specially from good stereo recordings) magically come from a "sound wall" floating in empty space in front of you, and not from the speakers themselves.

If you also have a #subwoofer, regardless of its size:

3) Try different positions for that little sub under your desk, to get better and more even bass response. In particular, try placing it neither so close to the back wall, nor to any side walls/flat solid surfaces, also not at the same distance from back and side walls.

4) Also raise the sub from the floor a bit using suitable bricks, and immobilize it for good against its own vibrations using more bricks on top. This will make the bass more precise and controlled within the normal capabilities of that sub. Changing its height will also alter the position of cancelling nodes for the low frequencies between floor and ceiling. Use isolation cushioning pads under the sub's feet, and under all those bricks. If yours is a carpeted floor, and you have a down-firing sub, get a large enough garden brick tile and place the sub or lower bricks on that. A down-firing sub should fire its sound against a hard surface, not a carpet.

Those last two tips aim to improve #bass reproduction, increasing accuracy and removing the typical boomyness of desktop speaker sets that have a sub. Bass should be as clean and "normal" as possible from the sub in question, in any case not boomy or bloated, yet also not weak/muffled. Bass is always the trickiest thing because of room acoustics, but those changes alone can make major improvements.

To check bass response and sound reproduction in general, I suggest tracks like those listed near the end of this post here:
https://fluviolabenti.blogspot.com/2023/11/get-most-out-of-your-desktop-speakers.html

Bonus:
5) Improve the source. This is the only costly mod. To further improve sound reproduction, ignore all your PC's analog audio outs (PC's are electrically very noisy) and connect your speakers to an external USB DAC. I use an iFi Zen DAC shown in the photo below and behind the monitor. It's in fact a DAC and headphone amplifier. To listen with headphones, unplug your speaker set from the DAC/Amp and connect the headphones directly to that DAC/Amp (e.g. neither to the PC nor to a headphone out of the speaker set if there is any.)

Raul
@raulinbonn@social.treehouse.systems

Using the #Yazio app for several months now, helps you achieve an accurate intake of recommended #protein, #carbs, #fats, and #calories everyday for your ideal weight. Can highly recommend.

This milkshake (updated 01/01/2024) might look ugly and boring, but it is quite a fully balanced #breakfast treat, and it's delicious!!! This together with a cup of coffee and milk (150ml + 150ml) has been my highly tuned breakfast for a few months now. Amounts below are recommended for an 82 kg (~180 lb) person:

Oatmeal: 60 gr
1 Apple: ~170 gr
Grapes: 60 gr
Blueberries: 60 gr
Greek yogurt 0% fat: 50 gr
Peanut butter: 20 gr
Your favorite protein powder (but avoid the ones with sucralose): 16 gr
Whole Milk 3.5% fat lactose-free: 150 ml
Water: at least 200 ml
Salt: just a pinch
Cinnamon, Nutmeg, and/or Cardamom: add to your taste (I actually add the three of them :)

You can choose alternative fruits, but avoid mixing bananas and berries to get the full health-benefits of those berries.

The protein powder I use: switching between Erdschwalbe's Mandelproteinpulver, Bio Reisproteinpulver, and Natureletics Natural Chocolate Whey or Vanilla Whey.
#Health #meal #food #eating #wellbeing