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April 27, 2017April 27, 2017

New Desk HiFi Audio Setup (Audiophile)

HiFi Desk Audio Setup Audiophile - Hack Your Productivity

(Infographic picture at bottom of post)

When I really need to focus on getting work done, I have to turn the music in my headphones up really loud. My headphones are Sennheiser HD600, which have an impedance of 300 ohms. This means they are a bit harder to drive than other ‘normal’ headphones.

When I listen straight out of the headphone jack from my MacBook Pro – even at max volume – they don’t get as loud as they are capable of getting. This is where my headphone amp comes in handy.

So now, I want a way to get digital audio out of my MacBook Pro, then send a fresh analog signal into the O2 headphone amp, to be amplified into my headphones. However, I also want to be able to easily switch between headphones and desk stereo speakers.

The downside with using optical out from my MacBook is that it’s a fixed level, so I can’t adjust the volume with my keyboard knob any more. So now I’ll have to use the knob on the desk speakers and the knob on my headphone amplifier – but that’s a small price to pay for high quality – very amplified sound.

Here’s an infographic to display how my setup will function when I get the remaining parts.

April 19, 2017

Microsoft To-Do is Replacing Wunderlist

Microsoft To-Do - Maximize Your Productivity

I do indeed use Wunderlist quite a bit to help with my Productivity, but I also rely heavily on Office365, so I’m thinking although it’s scary to think Wunderlist will be gone, it’ll be cool to see what extra features Microsoft can add / come up with to make it even better!

Original Story

April 17, 2017

I Hate Gimme Putts (When Not Hit)

I’ve been playing golf a lot more, and as with most things I do, I LOVE to track all the data behind the game, so I can more effectively practice to improve my game. I probably love golf more than all other sports because of the variation in scenery and pretty views.

My least favorite thing, though, is when people take gimme putts. When you look at my handicap graph in the above photo, that is exact. I want to know EXACTLY how much I’m improving, so I count every single shot. Every shot into the woods, every mishit driver shot, and every. single. putt.

If gimme putts were acceptable to skip in the PGA Tour, The Masters might have had a different outcome! In fact, all tournaments would have a different outcome. And as you might know from reading my content, there’s something else I really like: Slick Deals.

If I skip putts on the golf course, I’m not getting my money’s worth for the round.

I enjoy putting just as much as I enjoy hitting with irons, so why would I skip that part of the game? Especially when I paid to be there?

Rant over.

April 14, 2017April 13, 2017

Awesome Headphone Hanger – Organize My Desk

Aluminum Headphone Desk Hanger - Organize My Desk

I usually store my headphones on my desk somewhere, but it’s always annoying having them taking up valuable space that could either be housing something else, or just adding visual clutter to my workspace.

My Sennheiser HD600 cans came with a desk clamp / mount, but I donated it while we lived in the trailer thinking I’d never need it. This new aluminum headphone hanger is even nicer than the Sennheiser one I got, and it works great! It comes with two screws, if you want some added stability / security, but I’ve had it attached to my desk with only the 3M double sided tape for three days now, and it’s held up great. Feels super sturdy!

This is a great way to clean up your workspace and make you feel like a badass at the same time!

The little rubber half sphere you see is also a great way to route and organize the cables on your desk. I got a pack of 6, and still have 4 left to add somewhere on my desk!

April 13, 2017

Truck Storage = Awesome

Seriously, I’ve always hated trucks. I always thought they were so pointless. So much space that you’re not using the majority of the time.

However, after keeping our truck post-travel-trailer life, we both absolutely love having this truck. I still want to line the front doors with Dynamat, but it’s so comfortable, super reliable, and just look at this grocery storage! Not a single thing in the cab with me!

April 12, 2017

Lapel Mic for iPhone 7 Plus (Lightning to 3.5mm)

iPhone Lapel Mic Adapter Setup - Productivity Hacks

I’ve been doing more editing on my iPhone lately, so naturally I wanted a way to get higher quality audio during videos than the iPhone’s built-in microphone allows. I thought it might also be handy to record podcasts directly on my iPhone, when I didn’t feel like sitting at my work desk.

I have used a Sony ECMCS3 Lapel mic for a couple videos I’ve recently uploaded to YouTube, and I really like the way it sounds. I want to use this mic on with my iPhone, but this mic has a ‘TRS’ (Tip, Ring, Sleeve) input; whereas the iPhone needs to accept a ‘TRRS’ (Tip, Ring, Ring, Sleeve) input.

This is because the iPhone wants to have access to 1) left audio, 2) right audio, 3) microphone, and 4) ground.

How I Hooked it all Up

I plugged my lapel mic into the TRS to TRRS adapter, and then plugged that into the Apple Lightning to 3.5mm dongle. I then opened up the Voice Memos app to test it out.

Phantom Power

It didn’t work. *Frown face* From what I’ve read on multiple Amazon product reviews and other websites, the audio recorder that I normally use with my lapel mic (the Olympus LS-10) must be providing phantom power to the Sony mic, and the iPhone is not providing that power.

There are other options for adding microphones to the iPhone via lightning, but I really wanted to continue using this lapel mic that I already enjoy. Sadly, it appears that won’t be possible.

Perhaps if I get a splitter for headphone and microphone inputs, and have a pair of headphones plugged in at the same time, the iPhone will see the proper load and use the microphone. I’ll try that next, but for now I’m upset that the adapter I already bought won’t do the trick.