Abdullah Yahya

A lot of people don’t really understand the difference between stereo and surround sound and usually just assume that surround sound is better. Based on my research, here’s a summary of the differences.

Surround Sound

• Intended to hear some sounds at different places around you, e.g. an ambulance zooming by in which case you’d hear the siren begin from one side of a room and end on the other
• Most surround sound systems involve 5 speakers and 1 subwoofer (5.1 system). For long rooms, there may be 7 speakers and 1 subwoofer (7.1 system).
• Surround sound is most often noticeable in action movies, e.g. you can hear explosions behind you. Surround sound is subtle in drama movies, e.g. you might hear the leaves moving in the background and some traffic in the distance.

Stereo Sound

• Very little music is recorded in surround sound.
• Stereo systems require a front left and front right speaker.
• Stereo creates a sound-field that, more or less, is shaped like a performance stage that is situated in front of you–as if you’re sitting in a theater. Surround sound does too but adds sound at the top, back and sides of you.

Continue reading Stereo vs Surround Sound

I hate texturing walls. Not because I don’t like how most textured walls look (knockdown texture), but because I can never texture a wall to look close enough to how the pros do it and I don’t like having to wait some period of time and trying to knock down the texture compound using a trowel or knockdown tool. After researching various ways to texture a wall, I conducted an experiment and came up with a process and set of tools that I think make it really easily to texture a wall and have it look nice and close enough to professional knockdown-textured walls.

Materials:

• 2 gal. White Sand Roll-On Texture Decorative Wall Finish ($30)
• Paint brush
• 3/8″ nap roller
• 3/4″ nap roller
• Specialty Goop Loop Texture Roller ($7)
• 2’x2′ drywall

Experiment:

I used a drill attachment to mix the texture compound until it became creamy. Then, I painted the texture compound on the test 2’x2′ drywall using each type of applicator.

Continue reading Easy Way to Texture Walls and Hide Imperfections

Here are some detailed steps for rigging an MP3 player and connecting it to your lights that are powered by a light switch so that whenever you turn the lights on or off, music will play or stop.

Features:

• Ability to play music (mp3 files) from a USB stick or SD card
• Ability to play music from where it last played (This particular system will play from the beginning of the last song played. If you turn off the lights in the middle of a song and then turn the lights back on, the mp3 player will play from the beginning of that song. Fortunately, it will not start over and play from the beginning of the first mp3 file on the USB stick or SD card.)
• No need to push a play or stop button to control music. As soon as there is power to the mp3 player, the device will scan for mp3 files and start playing from the beginning of the last song played.
• Ability for set volume and remember the volume setting
• Wired power. No need to replace batteries.

Parts:

• NiZHi TT-028 MP3 Mini Digital Portable Music Player Micro SD USB FM Radio ($11)
• Extension cord ($2)
• 5V, 1A USB Power Adapter (you probably have some from old cell phones or USB devices laying around the house)

Tools:

• Wire stripper
• Scissors
• Utility knife
• Small screwdriver

Instructions:

Read all instructions at least once before proceeding.

The instructions below show how I installed this in a bathroom.

1. Using a utility knife, pry open the face of the player.

   UPDATE: Apparently you can just use a utility knife and peel off the plastic LCD cover as it’s just glued on. This is easier and doesn’t cause damage to the device.

Continue reading Auto-Play/Stop Music (MP3) When You Turn Lights On/Off

Picture of house before any work done. No one liked the purple color and the weeds in the front yard quickly got out of control. Continue reading Home Remodel