DIY Life

MP3 file sound normalizing done easy

Brian White — 2008-01-24T17:00:00 00:00

Living in the year 2008 probably means you have quite a bit of your music collection in digital form instead of a huge rack of CDs taking up wall space. If that's the case, you might have noticed that the volume level between all those digital MP3 files can be unnerving when you're trying to listen to music when you throw a party or even when jogging with that small player on your arm.

Although Apple iTunes features automatic noise leveling, some of us prefer to use a non-Apple solution to really make our entire collection of MPs music sound all decent at the same volume -- without constantly fiddling with volume controls. If you've purchased CDs to rip those MP3 files from, and you've downloaded other music from the web, and you've collected MP3 files from friends, you probably have wildly fluctuating volume levels on all those music files.

A tool I recently used -- and can't recommend enough -- is the freely available MP3Gain. The smart little program will shuffle through all your music files (hopefully, they are all in MP3 format) and will set them all to a specific volume level that you set. In other words, it will "normalize" your MP3 collection. The software is self explanatory once you download it and use it. You'll be glad you did -- I sure was.

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The $10 super wireless internet antenna

Brian White — 2008-01-24T15:00:00 00:00

Filed under: computers and internet, geek it yourself

Sometimes, many of us need a wireless internet connection that works far, far away. Or, we're sitting on the cusp of a wireless internet signal in the far reaches of our home or apartment and just need that last bit of signal. Before you head out to buy one of those pricey Pringles cans, check this out - -the $10 WiFi antenna you can make yourself.

Items needed: some 35mm foam (like the kind desktop and laptop PCs usually come with), some solid-core copper wire, a small brass plate, and multiple BNC connectors. Following the directions in the above video, the amount of gain you'll get for that wireless internet connection to your PC should easily outpace the gain from any OEM antenna you're using.

Feel like sucking from that huge WiFi firehose across the block from where you are? This project will most likely allow that. Careful aiming is all that will be required once you build this strange-looking but very functional WiFi antenna.

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Make a four-layer drink

Brian White — 2008-01-24T13:00:00 00:00

Filed under: food, entertaining

This is a cool trick to keep handy the next time you entertain a bunch of pre-teens or you really want to spruce up your next adult party. Now, keep in mind that your guests may ingest a huge amount of sugar by drinking these things. Calories be damned though, as these are too cool to just sit on the bar or kitchen counter.

You'll need a decent amount of sugar, four glasses of your choice, several colors of food coloring, a tablespoon measuring device, and a small funnel for pouring the different colors on top of each other without mixing them. Mixing these different-colors-in-a-single-glass drinks really won't take very long once you assemble the right items just listed.

After watching the video, try this yourself and see what results you get. You can even have four different "flavors" in each glass you prepare due to the varying sugar levels in the "color bands" along with adding some possible flavoring in with some of the colors (vanilla, anyone?).

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Camcorder viewfinder turned into night vision camera

Brian White — 2008-01-23T15:00:00 00:00

Filed under: electronics

If you've used camcorders as far back as 1997 (a decade ago), you're remember the small black and white (or, gasp, color!) viewfinders many consumer-level camcorders featured back then. These small viewfinders are a far second to huge LCD screens on current camcorders, but if you're just itching to use that old, clunky camcorder for something, here's your chance.

All you'll need is an older camcorder viewfinder, about a dozen infrared LEDs, a 9-volt battery, some resistors and assorted electronics items, a black box to house all this stuff (sans the actual viewfinder) and there you have it -- a full-featured night vision device with video output capability should you wish to create a video recording to that pocket-size camcorder lurking on your person.

This should really come in handy next Halloween when you visit that darkened haunted house since you'll be able to see those creepy, scary ghoul-tastic figures and actors way before you get scared. While that may take the fun out of it, I'm sure you'll find many neat uses for this cheaper-than-cheap night vision setup. Even if you have to pick up a used VHS camcorder on eBay for a Jackson or two, it'll be worth it.

[Via Engadget]

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Make your own Nintendo Wii gun

Brian White — 2008-01-22T17:00:00 00:00

Filed under: geek it yourself

Although the Nintendo Wii Zapper accessory has been for sale for quite some time now, sometimes spending the estimated $20 or so for a piece of molded plastic is just not doable to many of us. Maybe it's out of principle or funds being used for higher priorities, but if you haven't bought a zapper, here's a solution for you.

This quite inventive DIY'er made a Wii "holster" out of standard plastic acrylate sheets using a design he made in Adobe Illustrator. Plastic acrylate is the material you often seen used for those see-through boxes on the shelves of many retailers (not blister packs, though).

If you have a Wii game that requires the Wiimote to be held in a specific way and you haven't bought a Zapper to hold it, this is probably your solution. This won't hold the nunchuk that you may need as well (as in, The Legend of Zelda), but it does allow for the nunchuk to be connected. If you want the template to cut out your own Zapper apparatus, see this (PDF download). You'll need some small elastic bands and, of course, a sheet or two of plastic acrylate.

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Create scrumptious beef florentine pinwheels

Brian White — 2008-01-22T15:00:00 00:00

Filed under: food, entertaining

Most of us have had the opportunity to throw some kind of shindig -- a New Year's Eve party, a birthday party, or just...a party. On an equal footing, I'd surmise that a trip to the local grocery store deli made for easy preparation of finger foods and the like for those parties.

On occasion, though, it's nice to venture out in the food world and create something yourself. Since finger foods are party mainstay, why not fix something between that category and an actual meal serving? As in, beef florentine pinwheels. These things look yummy.

You'll be amazed at how easy creating these things from scratch really is. If you're wanting to leave a lasting food impression on that next round of guests, try these on for show and see what compliments you receive. Requirements: beef (eye of round) , your choice of cheese and your choice of vegetable leaf (spinach, perhaps?). Add some zesty seasonings after cooking and watch those mouths water.

[Via Daily DIY]

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Bluetooth headset capability for your Sony PSP/PS2

Brian White — 2008-01-22T13:00:00 00:00

Filed under: geek it yourself

With all the portable gadgets on the market that play high-resolution games, it's unnerving to many fans that out-of-the-box Bluetooth voice capability doesn't come standard on many of them. Even on products with Bluetooth onboard, its functionality can be limited. By now, you probably already have your soldering iron out, so let's proceed.

Wirelessly chatting with multi-player games on that aging PlayStation 2 and using Bluetooth voice capability on the Sony PSP is possible with this rather ingenious but somewhat convoluted modification. It will not only require a USB interface to your PS2 or PSP, but then an audio connection from that USB interface to the Bluetooth box you'll use from that disassembled Cardo Bluetooth dongle.

Needed: Sony PSP (of course), Bluetooth adapter for non-Bluetooth phones (the Cardo unit is used in this example), some electronics and soldering expertise (and steady hands), and the USB box from that PS2 you have sitting around (if not, you'll need to go buy this). If you're ready for this one, look here and engage the project carefully. The end result will be some more wires (argh!), but none attached to anything hooked on your ear at the very end.

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Create a semi-pro lighting system from scratch

Brian White — 2008-01-21T18:00:00 00:00

Filed under: photography, lighting

A short trip to your local Wal-Mart and The Home Depot could turn your back bedroom or attic into a professionally-lit photography studio. That is, if you have camera equipment to take pretty pictures once you have several lighting equipment environments at your disposal.

Start with some outside tripod-style floodlights and add some foil-covered windshield heat protectors and standard light bulbs and you have the makings of a makeshift and workable lighting studio. Total cost? About $75. Results? Well, they will probably produce 90% of the quality (if done right) for less than a fifth of the price of professional lighting equipment. That ought to do well for us budding amateur photographers, right?

Consult the entire breakdown here to get a rundown on assembly of these items into your very own photography lighting arrangement: some hot-lights (a few tripods required), some light diffusers and portable reflectors and some camera flash diffusers as well. For professional-looking photo results with little monetary investment, you can't beat this.

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DIY taxes for the small business owner

Brian White — 2008-01-21T08:00:00 00:00

Filed under: money

It's that time again -- time for many of us to start considering when and how we'll prepare our taxes for 2007. If you have a small business that you run out of your home -- like babysitting, writing or even a cleaning franchise, you should know about all the tax breaks and deductions you are entitled to. that is, if you prepare your own taxes with the help of software like Intuit's TurboTax.

Taking every legal deduction you can is standard practice for those that own a small business or are self-employed. Expenses, home office deductions and receipt tracking are just the minimum requirements for really getting the most benefit from taxation procedures in the U.S. Do you know about these deductions, for example?

The home office -- if you have dedicated space in your home for running your business, you can deduct the footage and most items used in that space for various purposes.
Office supplies -- this is where it really gets hairy. Keep a huge file for all receipts -- from inkjet paper to staples to pens.
Office furniture -- bought a desk or chair this past year? You can deduct these items as well.
Deduct mileage -- if you drive from home to client locations or for other business purposes, you get a decent deduction for mileage spent. Keep a pad and pen in the car for tracking these miles.
Travel and entertainment expenses -- take a client out for lunch? Deduct it, and the mileage to get to the restaurant.
Social Security 50% deduction -- yes, small business owners must pay 100% of their own Social Security taxes. You can claim 50% of that amount as a deduction, however.

You can deduct all the above expense types if they are used for your business. Get used to finding plenty of IRS forms as well (such as Form 1040 Schedule C, Form 1040 Schedule F, Form 1065 - a US tax return for partnership income, Form 1120 - forms for US corporation income tax returns, Form 1120S - used for income tax preparation for an S corporation, Form 4562 - used for amortization and depreciation, Form 8829 - used for expenses for business use of your home). All of these forms are included in the TurboTax Small Business Edition as well as other software packages that help you self-prepare your taxes.

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Make a telephoto lens from binoculars

Brian White — 2008-01-20T10:00:00 00:00

Filed under: photography

For all of us that own small, pocket-sized digital cameras, sometimes the wish for having a high-dollar telephoto lens can get pretty intense. Current multi-megapixel micro-digicams have a plethora of neat features to choose from, along with a decent optical zoom lens for most models.

Yet, that 3X zoom just won't cut it in cases when you really need to get closer to that rare bird or sports action. While it may seem odd, you may be able to produce a decent result by just sitting a pair of high-power binoculars in front of your camera's lens and let it become a surrogate telephoto lens for the time being.

Using some cardboard, tape and hopefully a binocular eyecup that fits perfectly over the end of your digicam's zoom lens, you can have a makeshift telephoto lens that will probably produce very passable zoomed-in shots if your camera doesn't have a threaded lens to add more specialized lenses (most small digicams don't). Plus, think of the savings you'll see by re-purposing those binoculars!

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Light up the floor for that slick product shot

Brian White — 2008-01-18T12:00:00 00:00

Filed under: photography

To those aspiring photography professionals: are you up to snuff on bottom-lit photography? Keep an eye on that image to the right. That mirror effect and many like it require some "floor photography." The good news: no expensive equipment needed except a table with a glass top.

Your kitchen table, coffee table or even just a small sofa table will suffice for lighting that object from below to ensure you really have some of the neatest (and professional) effects from that camera shutter button press. If you have gotten into (or want to) the food photography business (glass containers, especially), having a glass tabletop, some slave flashes and smaller lights are going to be your friends. Even if you don't have a table you can use, a makeshift cardboard box with a piece of spare glass on top of is all it takes.

Basically, shooting objects using lighting from below sounds pretty easy, although getting the formula right for your particular shoot may take some work. The results, though, may come from an amateur but look wholly professional. Like the Corona image here, talk about an enticing image to pitch to a new client for a magazine layout (if that's your thing). It may take a high megapixel count to ensure you get that 300dpi, but wouldn't it be worth it?

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Flat-pack home furniture makes moving a cinch

Brian White — 2008-01-17T09:00:00 00:00

Filed under: home decor

If you've ever wondered about trying to move from an apartment to another apartment, or from condo to house (or from anywhere to anywhere, heh), you probably loathe all the packing and moving that's required. Unless you hire a moving service, packing and moving can be exhausting from start to finish. If you move often, aren't you tired of all that effort, all the time?

After all, you're probably into moving yourself if you're reading DIY Life. Can you imagine furniture like tables and chairs and swings (oh my) being packed like pancakes in the back of that SUV or even in the trunk of your car? If you choose flat-packed types of furniture, this is entirely possible. For those twenty-something new career jobsters in the Bay Area, getting a decent amount of flat-pack furniture for your first apartment gig makes quite a bit of sense. Doesn't it?

Not only do these types of furniture allow you to pack your furniture up into incredibly small spaces, the pieces look great when assembled and easily fit an older apartment to a newer condo alike. Just call them pieces of "transforming furniture" for those oft-cramped and frequently-moved living spaces.

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Aging iPods turned retro

Brian White — 2008-01-16T12:00:00 00:00

Filed under: geek it yourself, electronics

Now that you can add internal Bluetooth to that aging iPod, what if you're into something more retro? Making a miniature Ms. Pac-Man game that incorporates your old iPod screen (from a last-generation iPod video, perhaps) while not subjecting that former love to prying objects may be the way to go.

If you have an original Nintendo Game Boy and and older iPod mini laying around, and want to feel only semi-retro, you can stuff that mini into the Game Boy's case and even have the GB's buttons mapped to the iPod's control wheel.

Sometimes we all want to feel all country and everything -- so there's nothing quite like stuffing your older iPod into a hollowed-out log (a small one, of course) and making all the controls accessible ala knots and wooden controls. Yes, that would look charming on the fireplace mantle.

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Conjure great balls of fire in your hot little hands

Brian White — 2008-01-16T08:00:00 00:00

Filed under: backyard science, entertaining

Okay, I'll admit that this may not have much appeal outside of the pure entertainment realm, but if you're a guy and really wanting to impress your friends or family in pure jack-ass style, grab some Courvoisier, sit back and listen to the trippy music accompanying the above video and be prepared to be wowed.

All that is required for this fire act is some cotton (like from a cotton t-shirt), some string like you'd find in a garment repair set, and some Ronson lighter fluid (or equivalent). Once you soak the large marble-sized cloth ball in the lighter fluid (hint: don't get any on your fingers), light it up and amaze your friends.

Although this video does state that the hot part of the flame is at the top of the flame -- as in, you can hold the ball while on fire -- we don't suggest this without gloves of some sort. If you try this bare-handed, do so at your own risk.

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Hunting knife made from a dull butter knife

Brian White — 2008-01-15T13:00:00 00:00

Filed under: in the kitchen, Tools

Once you read this post, pack it away into your camping subconscious so you'll be able to reference it when possible. Yes, we generally don't take a bland butter knife and turn it into a deadly weapon, but should you have the need, you'll now have the means.

All that is required to take a survivalist stance with those flatware cabinets would be some wet concrete (not too rocky, mind you) and some kind of cord to wrap on the handle for a decent grip. I suggest the kind of cord that keeps window screens in place since it's cheap and easily available. Wet cement -- like what a rainy road can provide -- acts as a nice stand-in for a whetstone, letting you carve your butter knife into one sharp blade.

Choose a butter knife that you can bend, but won't stay bent once you release your grip (those are the best). Yes, that grip won't stay there easily without you drilling some pilot holes to bind it to the handle, so you may even want to prepare this beforehand instead of trying to drill, umm, in the wilderness. Do, collect some old butter knives, drill a few holes in each, and get that backpack filled with the sharpest butter knives you'll ever see.

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Portable drive-in theater coming soon to somewhere near you

Brian White — 2008-01-14T14:00:00 00:00

Filed under: electronics, entertaining

I'll admit it: I've seen this project in the flesh and the experience was something straight out of the 70s, with cool and clean tech feel about it. What am I talking about? A portable drive-in movie experience, that's what.

Imagine this: a cheaper projector can now be had for under $1,000. You'll give up some resolution at that price, but it's all about the experience of movie watching outside -- not tech specs, right? Anyway, get your favorite DVD or DiVX file on your laptop as an output source, an old stereo or even an input-accepting car stereo to blast the audio from your laptop and some cables to connect it all.

Voila -- you're ready to project that movie from your laptop (or even just a portable DVD player) to that external mall or warehouse wall complete with sound and probably 100 inches of diagonal screen to please your audience with. These setups are commonly known as 'Guerrilla Drive-ins,' and the concept is wonderful. That is, if you prefer the open-air experience of a movie instead of that climate-controlled media room.

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Spy sunglasses for only $40

Brian White — 2008-01-11T18:00:00 00:00

Filed under: geek it yourself, electronics

Should you want to emulate James Bond any day soon, you'll be glad to know that with a little electronic elbow grease, you too can have sunglasses with -- gasp -- camera recording technology onboard. so, dig out your soldering iron, hot glue gun, heat shrink tubing, and some tools from the backyard shed and let's roll.

First, have that newly-opened Christmas camcorder handy or even a video-capable digital camera. Whatever you choose to do the recording, it will need video and audio inputs. One of the smaller DV camcorders from the last few years will suffice nicely, as these things aren't much bigger than a clinched fist.

You'll be able to stash the camcorder in your pocket while the camera (about the size of a large marble) sits behind one of the lenses in your chosen sunglasses. It will stay there via a little hot glue and the wires can be concealed down the arm of the sunglasses and then disappear behind your ear and down your bag. Feelin' all Secret Service yet? Good.

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Want some heat under those ceramic tiles?

Brian White — 2008-01-11T14:00:00 00:00

Filed under: bathroom

For those that require a home shower that is 1) easily accessible without some kind of 'bump,' 2) treats your feet like a warm pair of houseshoes, and 3) can be done over time if you have an alternative shower to use, you might be interested in this project. I had a neighbor recently that had to move his mother in due to health reasons, but grew tired of lifting his mom and her shower chair into position every single day.

The solution was a shower remodel complete with grippy-material entry ramp and heated floors. Yes, there are such things as heated shower floors. Basically, these are heated mats that heat the ceramic tiles up on the floor of your shower (if it's tile and not polycarbonate or something). Prefab units are easy to find at specialty plumbing stores or contractor supply locations. Want to heat other ceramic tile areas? Go for it.

If you're about to remodel your guest or master bathroom, installing heated floors may be an investment you'd like to make -- I know I would. According to instructables.com, heating kits can be had for $600 or so, although I'm not sure eBay would be a preferred transaction venue for this type of material -- your mileage may vary.

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Perfect studio lighting for under $100

Brian White — 2008-01-10T16:00:00 00:00

Filed under: photography, lighting

If you like taking professional-style photos of your kids, pets or even for that eBay listing, one thing many aspiring photogs have discovered is that lighting is the single largest key to taking a great, well-exposed picture.

Yet, many of us don't have photography studios in our homes. What to do? How about carve out a bedroom corner when you need it and fancy up some on-the-cheap lighting companions to help you? Yes, there is a way to emulate a decent lighting environment similar to what you'd find in a pro studio -- and it'll cost ya not that much in greenbacks.

This lighting example uses three specific lights to create an excellent lighting arrangement that you'll find very useful if you're tired of those grainy point-n-shoot images your digital camera usually serves up. Needed: some used slave flash assemblies (look for these at pawn shops and photography stores), some taping ingenuity and a few miniature tripods that cost just a few bucks at a local electronics retailer.

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DIY Finance: Get rich slowly starting this year

Brian White — 2008-01-10T09:45:00 00:00

Filed under: money

If you want to take control of your personal financial situation, you probably set some of your New Year's resolutions to the tune of 1) saving more money, 2) investing more wisely or 3) creating a household budget that tracks every penny in and out of your household. After taking a survey of some relatives this past Christmas, I was amazed to find that many consider balancing their checkbook to be keeping up with a 'budget.' Wrong, oh so wrong.

If you really have the will to take control of your finances, and have written your financial resolutions down somewhere, how are you going to start? How are you going to measure success? What will be your milestones, and will they happen every month or quarter? Things like these are requirements for succeeding in being rich over time.

As in, liquid (plenty of assets and little to no debt). So, here's a few things to noodle with as you form your plan. It's almost mid-January, you know.

Track every penny you spend -- this is a requirement. If you're not detailed with every aspect of your finances, get that way or seek help from somewhere to do it.
Develop a budget -- very easy to do on paper or in Excel on that family PC. List out income and expenses and see where to cut if cuts are needed. Too many Starbuck's visits? This will tell you.
Get out of debt -- map out your debt and starting paying off the "worst" debt (highest interest) as soon as you can. This will take years for many of you. No worries -- just start now.
Open a retirement account -- fund it with the minimum required if needed; just start it and send in $25 a month until you can contribute more.
Spend less than you earn -- this goes without saying. A budget (referenced above) will set you straight on this one.
Last but not least -- get educated. The internet is a free and readily available resource for most of us. Use it wisely. Even a few simple Google searches could lead you into a wealth of excellent financial planning information.

A couple of places to start:
AOL's Money and Finance has a wealth of resources for investment planning
WalletPop is our newest sister blog, and it's all about saving and making money

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