How Does a CD Player Work?

Today there is a wide range of CD players available for the consumer and choosing the right CD player can feel like an arduous task. Style, quality, design och technical solutions vary greatly between the different players. Some players are portable; others are included in larger sound systems. Some players can only handle one disc at the time; others can easily skip between 50 discs or more. Some CD players are very cheap, others are highly expensive. The list goes on and on. Regardless of which CD player you choose it will however consist of three basic parts that are found in all moderns CD players: a drive motor, a tracking device and a laser and lens system. Another thing that all CD players have in common is that they interpret data that has been stored in the form of elongated bumps on a CD (compact disc).

How Does a CD Player Work?

Audiovox D8000IP Portable DVD Player

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Audiovox D8000IP Portable DVD Player

The new Audiovox D8000IP 8-inch portable player delivers outstanding picture quality, plus it has built-in iPod video docking capability. This handsome, compact player boasts 16:9 aspect ratio, stereo speakers, and plays a variety of media including DVD, CD, MP2, CDR, CDRW and picture CD. Convenient features include built-in 3-way card reader and USB port. The Audiovox D8000IP also features rechargeable battery, two headphone jacks, a wireless remote that's about the size of a credit card, complete cabling and a car adapter. The D8000IP's iPod video dock does not work with the new iPod Classic but is compatible with the older 30, 60 and 80GB iPods. The Audiovox D8000IP -- a convenient, compact player that delivers great picture quality and gives you the added advantage of a handy, built-in iPod video dock.

Audiovox D8000IP Portable DVD Player

Audiovox D8000IP Portable DVD Player

Audiovox D8000IP Portable DVD Player

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Hook Up A Receiver For Your Home Theater

What is a Receiver?

Hook Up A Receiver For Your Home Theater

Audiovox D8000IP Portable DVD Player

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Audiovox D8000IP Portable DVD Player

Guide How to Upload Music Files to Your MP3 Player

The people ask me one question frequently: How can I upload music to my brand new mp3 player?

Guide How to Upload Music Files to Your MP3 Player

Audiovox D8000IP Portable DVD Player

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Audiovox D8000IP Portable DVD Player

10 Solutions For a Guitar Player's Sore Finger

"You can use my daughter's guitar. She tried to learn how to play a few years ago, but quit because her fingers hurt too much." Saroun had invited me to join them for a Barbeque at her home, after church. There were requests for me to lead them in some worship songs, but I didn't have a guitar with me.

10 Solutions For a Guitar Player's Sore Finger

Audiovox D8000IP Portable DVD Player

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Audiovox D8000IP Portable DVD Player

Guide How to Upload Music Files to Your MP3 Player

The people ask me one question frequently: How can I upload music to my brand new mp3 player?

Guide How to Upload Music Files to Your MP3 Player

Audiovox D8000IP Portable DVD Player

Tube. Duration : 4.35 Mins.

Audiovox D8000IP Portable DVD Player

Guide How to Upload Music Files to Your MP3 Player

The people ask me one question frequently: How can I upload music to my brand new mp3 player?

Guide How to Upload Music Files to Your MP3 Player

Audiovox D8000IP Portable DVD Player

Tube. Duration : 4.35 Mins.

Audiovox D8000IP Portable DVD Player

Mini DV Players

Mini DV players are available with many different features. Sometimes the technical terminology becomes a little confusing for the layperson. You may have doubts regarding the compatibility of Mini DV cassettes with certain players, or what kind of editing features are available with a particular player. It is best to research extensively before purchasing a Mini DV player, and if you have doubts, you can always get them clarified at the DV player retail store. Also, many websites offer advise on what is the best Mini DV player to suit to your needs.

Mini DV Players

Audiovox D8000IP Portable DVD Player

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Audiovox D8000IP Portable DVD Player

7 Tips for Becoming a Better Basketball Player

Secret #1 Develop Skill Synergy
The fastest way to get better is to learn and practice the fundamental skills. Fundamental skills like passing, catching, shooting, dribbling and basic footwork are as much responsible for basketball success as any cross-over move or behind-the-back dribble.

7 Tips for Becoming a Better Basketball Player

Audiovox D8000IP Portable DVD Player

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Audiovox D8000IP Portable DVD Player

33 Tips For Becoming a Great Piano Player!

Are there really secrets to becoming a really good piano player? Or is it just a matter of practice, practice, practice?

33 Tips For Becoming a Great Piano Player!

Audiovox D8000IP Portable DVD Player

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Audiovox D8000IP Portable DVD Player

How Does Roku Work?

The Roku player is a small black box. Physically speaking, it will most likely be the smallest device sitting on your entertainment center. It measures one inch in height, and less than five inches wide and deep. It is comparable to the size of a few CD cases stacked on top of each other. Despite its small size, Roku is a very powerful device for streaming online video to your television.

How Does Roku Work?

Audiovox D8000IP Portable DVD Player

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Audiovox D8000IP Portable DVD Player

Mini DV Players

Audiovox D8000IP Portable DVD Player

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Audiovox D8000IP Portable DVD Player

7 Tips for Becoming a Better Basketball Player

Audiovox D8000IP Portable DVD Player

Tube. Duration : 4.35 Mins.

Audiovox D8000IP Portable DVD Player

33 Tips For Becoming a Great Piano Player!

Are there really secrets to becoming a really good piano player? Or is it just a matter of practice, practice, practice?

33 Tips For Becoming a Great Piano Player!

Audiovox D8000IP Portable DVD Player

Video Clips. Duration : 4.35 Mins.

Audiovox D8000IP Portable DVD Player

Hook Up A Receiver For Your Home Theater

What is a Receiver?

Hook Up A Receiver For Your Home Theater

Audiovox D8000IP Portable DVD Player

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Audiovox D8000IP Portable DVD Player

Do You Need a 3D DVD Player to Enjoy the Full Cinematic Effects of a 3D Movie?

If you are into cinematic-enhanced movies, you might be wondering if you will need a 3D DVD player to enjoy a 3D movie. Since most of the movies now are turning 3D, movie-goers are encouraged to watch them in the theaters! But, you might not need a DVD player just to watch 3D movies. How is this possible? You just needed the right gadgets to help you enjoy the movie at home.

Do You Need a 3D DVD Player to Enjoy the Full Cinematic Effects of a 3D Movie?

Audiovox D8000IP Portable DVD Player

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Audiovox D8000IP Portable DVD Player

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How does 3D work?

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Do You Need a 3D DVD Player to Enjoy the Full Cinematic Effects of a 3D Movie?

Traditionally it works by emitting light from the screen. This is best appreciated using red and blue glasses to maximize the effects. Conventional 3D movies work by using SD or Standard Definition methods.

Do You Need a 3D DVD Player to Enjoy the Full Cinematic Effects of a 3D Movie?

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Fast forward to the present, 3D movies now uses stereoscopic filming. Movies like Avatar and My Bloody Valentine use Digital 3D that is more detailed than conventional three dimensional movies.

You will appreciate a Digital 3D movie through High Definition TV due to its clarity.

Is it required to watch 3D movies using a 3D DVD player?

The answer is no. You can still watch 3D movies using your standard TV at home. Just get a pair of red and blue glasses and you are all set!

If you own a HDTV or a 3D DVD player, you get to enjoy a movie in 3D better. Instead of wearing colored glasses, 3D movies in HDTV is best watched using clear glasses to make the scenes 'pop-out'. It gives better results and the satisfaction might be closer to that in a cinema!

Here are some tricks to maximize your viewing pleasure:

* Heighten the brightness in your TV. If you are using standard television to watch a 3D animation, wearing those colored glasses might make the images dim. To avoid this, increase the brightness to compensate the dark shades from your glasses. This might improve the quality a bit.

* Switch off the lights: You get to experience the full cinematic effects by dimming the room. This enhances the images and projects other bright-colored scenery from the screen. It also lessens the double-vision, halo effects and improves the brightness of the effects.

* Sit closer to the television: You will get a better view and focus if you sit in front -- not on the sides. If you must, you can sit a little closer to appreciate the visuals.

So grab a good pair of red and blue glasses, pop-corn, some soda and company and enjoy a three dimensional movie today!

Do You Need a 3D DVD Player to Enjoy the Full Cinematic Effects of a 3D Movie?

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A receiver is that big, heavy thing that you plug your speakers and other components into (like a DVD player, TV, CD player, Xbox, PlayStation, iPod, and etc.). Its the "brain" of the show, really. The idea of connecting all your components to a receiver is the concept of audio/video switching, allowing you to switch to different video sources (like TV, DVD, camcorder) on your TV
and thus changing the audio source accordingly - all without touching anything but the receiver.

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Hook Up A Receiver For Your Home Theater

Of course, the main purpose behind audio/video switching with a receiver is to drive audio to external speakers, like surround sound or stereo speakers.

Hook Up A Receiver For Your Home Theater

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Most receivers have a plethora of inputs; up to 8 speakers and a subwoofer (more commonly, 5.1, or five speakers and a subwoofer), several video inputs, and even HDMI inputs. You could plug your Xbox, Plasma, and DVD player into the receiver and use one remote to switch between all the different video sources (games, TV, DVD video) and have your speakers pump out surround-sound. Let's start with inputs and outputs. If you don't understand something, read through the entire How-To as most of it will be explained in detail.

Keep in mind that a receiver is the hub of your entire home theatre, so this How-To will actually guide you through the basics of connecting your complete home theater.

So what the heck is all this 'stuff' on the back of your receiver?

I'm going to go over just about anything that you would find on the back of your receiver. The one I'm basing this guide off of is a Harman Kardon AVR-247 I'm going to start from the top left of the unit and work my way to the right, then I'll start at the left of the next row and so on.

The first three inputs are for antennas. An FM antenna cable would slide on to the first jack while two speaker wires would plug into the remaining slots for AM. Of course, you don't have to plug your antennas in, but if you'd like AM/FM reception through your speakers, you'll want to go ahead and do that. These are standard connections, so if you lose one of your antennas, just go buy another for a few bucks.

You've probably heard of composite video. Its a very basic video connection used by most any component (TV, DVD, VCR especially). Its common and its cheap. As such, its very low quality.
Composite uses an RCA cable for video (yellow) and two more RCA cables for audio (red and white, stereo). The problem is that a composite video cable combines luminance and chrominance in the same cable, reducing the quality of the picture. You lose a lot of sharpness, and the color begins to degrade from the original source. Its useful when you need the extra input or the device you're connecting only has composite video. Otherwise, use something else, like component video. Sounds similar; very different.

S-Video is next in line after composite. It uses a different type of connector (five pins in a circle) and gives you marginally better video quality. It is also a video-only cable, so you'll need to plug in audio separately. In this case, you'll probably use a pair of red and white RCA cables for your audio inputs.

Next up: a ton of composite audio inputs. These inputs use left channel and right channel RCA cables, typically red and white. They look just like the yellow composite video cable, and you could even use them for video and the yellow for audio, but let's keep the color scheme how it is ;) Composite audio is the bottom-of-the-barrel in audio. Its perfectly fine for most use, but if you're looking for high quality surround sound, you don't want composite. Game systems, like the Wii or Xbox, and very basic DVD players are a perfect match for composite audio.

The same goes to VCRs, CD players, and anything that only has a composite audio output. Plus, if you don't have surround sound, or your receiver is only two channels (2.1, stereo sound), you won't be able to use anything but composite audio. Note that there is a composite audio input under each composite video input so that it is easy to match them up. Plug them in the wrong inputs and you won't get sound when you're on that particular video input.

Here we have one of the least-used features of a modern receiver: 6 (or 8) channel direct input. This is only used for two purposes: SACD or DVD Audio. SACD is an acronym for Super Audio CD. It is a proprietary audio format developed by Sony for special CDs that are recorded in 5.1 surround sound. That means you need a CD or DVD/CD player that supports SACDs, a receiver with SACD support (as in the picture), and of course Super Audio CD's. DVD Audio is the same idea, different brand, different media (its a DVD, not a CD!).

DVD Audio discs are special DVDs that are recorded in 5.1 surround sound and can only be played by devices with support for them. These CDs go all the way up to 7.1 surround sound, meaning you would need to have two front, two rear, two side speakers and a subwoofer to enjoy full 7.1 surround sound. Most receivers support up to 7.1 now but you won't find DVDs with that kind of capability for movies. 5.1 surround is still the defacto standard, so don't run out and buy more speakers any time soon.

You could skip this next little item because it is unique to this brand of receiver (Harman Kardon). The Bridge" is a proprietary connection they developed for you to connect
an iPod. You need to buy a separate component that includes a docking station and special cables to connect the iPod. It fully integrates with the receiver, displaying
menus and songs on the front LCD screen of the receiver. This allows you to easily pump your tunes through your speakers, whether it be stereo sound or full surround sound.

Of course, the music on your iPod is stereo sound, so the best you can get is simulated surround sound or stereo surround; the same music playing in the front two channels
is put through the rear and center channels. Some receivers do this more intelligently than others, but more on that later.

Here we have our high-end sound inputs/outputs. Basically the same performance wise, you have fiber optic connections (with the square shape) and digital coaxial (just like an RCA cable).
Both of these are 100% digital, whereas composite is analog. The only way you can get true surround sound from any source is by using one of these connections (or the SACD/DVD Audio option)

Almost all DVD players these days have either optical or digital coaxial outputs (sometimes, both). Many high definition cable and satellite boxes also come with these
connections so you can enjoy 5.1 surround sound on high definition channels. Choosing between the two, there's really no different in audio quality, so feel free to use
what you'd like (or what you're forced to).

I don't think I need an image for the next plug. Its a pair of power inputs. One is for powering the receiver, the other for whatever you'd like. This way, when you turn
on the receiver, you give power to the other device (be it a DVD player, CD player, cable box, whatever). I don't necessarily recommend this unless it specifically suits
your needs. It is useful if you're running low on outlets, of course.

Something else you'll never use: D-bus RC-5 input/output. This is used for infrared remote controls to take over your home theater system. Honestly, its not something any of us will ever use. Some of the real high-end junkies might be using something for it, but I've never even come across a device that uses this technology. Stick to the remote that came with your unit, or buy a quality universal remote control. There's no need for this option. An alternate use for this may be a bit more common: if your receiver's front panel is blocked (like inside a cabinet), you could get an infrared transmitter to latch on to the front of it. This transmitter would hook up to another device somewhere in your room that will accept signals from your remote control. The receiving device then transmits the remote's commands to your receiver (via the transmitter you've attached to the front over the regular infrared transmitter).

Pre-outs , located right under the Remote in/out. Pre-outs are used when you'd like to add an amplifier to your system to boost the power (and hence volume/audio quality). Average
users will not use this for anything but the subwoofer preout. You'll want to run a subwoofer cable from your subwoofer to the subwoofer pre-out to provide it with
the right frequencies. This is the proper way to connect your subwoofer to your surround sound system. The other inputs won't be used unless you plan on adding
an amplifier. This is highly unnecessary for home use. You might add an amp if you're trying to fill a room the size of a small house with enough sound, but you're not, right?

Here we finally get to the meat of the system: the speaker inputs! Harman Kardon receivers use bind posts for connecting speakers, as seen in the picture. They
work by being loosened up as your turn them counter-clockwise, then you sneak the speaker wire in underneath the caps and tighten them back up by turning clockwise. This'll
give your speaker wire a nice tug fit that probably won't loosen up on itself over time. Other brands may use other types of connectors, but bind posts are very common.
You might have been able to tell this is a 7.1 channel receiver because of the speaker inputs.

You've got room for 2 front left and right speakers, 2 rear left and right speakers,
a center channel, and two left and right "surround" channels which are placed somewhere in between your front and rear speakers ("side surround", or 7.1). If you have enough
speakers, you can go ahead and plug in those extra 2 side ones, but they won't play any sound at all on a 5.1 DVD. You would need a DVD that supports 7.1
surround sound, and at this time, there just isn't a market for it. CDs will gladly blast stereo surround through all 7 speakers, though, so for some larger rooms, that's an
advantage.

Our final set of connectors for this receiver: component video . The best video you can get next to composite or s-video. You'll notice its a set of three cables (all for video),
usually Red, Green and Blue. Don't think that's what the cable does, though - it separates the video signal by luminance and two separate color channels. In the past, component
did it in fact represent R, G, B (splitting the primary colors in transmit and recombining them at the destination device), but that is not used in current component video
connections. Component video can carry high definition signals, all the way up to 1080p, so it is the most cost effective and readily available high definition input.
Not seen on this receiver are DVI and HDMI, the two all-digital video connections.

HDMI is the newest, fastest, sharpest video and audio connection available today. Its the only cable that can carry audio and video in one - not to mention, in high definition.
HDMI must be supported by the source and the display you're connecting it to to use all of its features. Not all DVD players, cable boxes, or receivers support both
audio and video in HDMI. Its becoming more and more of a standard now to support both. The advantage is clear: less cable clutter, higher quality audio and video. You can get up
to 1080p high definition video and 7.1 surround sound through an HDMI cable. Newer cable and satellite boxes, DVD players, high definition DVD players, and more expensive receivers
support the full capability of HDMI. Its the best you can get as all-digital goes.

The last connection for this article is DVI. DVI is also all digital like HDMI, but it cannot process audio signals. HDMI may provide a technically superior image,
but I don't think anyone could tell the difference. DVI supports high definition video all the way up to 1080p, just like HDMI. Its being used less frequently now,
but if you've bought a new computer or video card for your PC recently, it probably has a DVI (or two) port on it. Most computer monitors use DVI now and video cards
have followed suit. HDMI is edging its way into the PC market, but its dominance is seen in the home theater arena.

Now that you've familiarized yourself with common connections, let's plug it all together.

This part of the receiver How-To is going to guide you through hooking a 5.1 surround sound system(5 speakers and a subwoofer) with a high-definition TV, a high-definition cable or satellite box, a DVD player, and a 5.1 receiver.

Your TV & Components

Where you put your TV is dependent on how large it is, how large your room is, and where you will be sitting. If its 50 inches, don't sit more than 10-15 feet away; but no less, either.
A 60" set is perfect for 12-20 feet. If you have a 32 inch set, try to sit no farther than 8-12 feet away. Your receiver, DVD player, cable box, and other components should obviously be close together, but don't place them physically on top of each other. They all get hot, especially your receiver. If you have no other choice, slide a thin piece of plywood between the components to help dispense the heat.

Lay Out of Speakers

The first step is to lay out your setup. Different rooms call for different locations for your speakers and subwoofer. If your room is a typical rectangle, go ahead and place your two front left and right speakers somewhere flush with the television on that side of the room. Your left speaker goes toward the left corner, right speaker toward the right corner. Don't bother with speaker wire yet (unless your speakers come with speaker wire attached already; in that case, just let them dangle for now). Note that which speaker is left or right is solely dependent on how you connect them to your receiver. Your speakers aren't actually designated "left" or "right".

Depending on how you acquired your speakers, your front speakers could be larger than your rear speakers. That's how you know they're for the front. Otherwise, all your speakers are the same shape and size, and you can use each for any purpose.

One exception: the center channel. Usually, a center channel is much shorter and wider than your other speakers. It should only be used for the center channel. Sometimes, all 5 of your speakers could be the same, usually on a very inexpensive setup. You can use any of these speakers for any purpose.

Your center channel should always go either directly on top or under your television set. However you have to do this, get it done! It's not called the center channel for nothing, you know. Any movie will pump out almost 90% of the voices you hear and a majority of the rest of the sounds through the center channel. It is a vitally important component to your surround sound setup.

Your subwoofer should always be on the floor. If it is impossible to place it on the floor, get it as close to the floor as possible. Placing it behind objections or in closets will diminish its effects. In a perfect setup, the subwoofer would be on the floor close to the TV (perhaps off to the left or right) in your line of sight. Nothing should block the side of the subwoofer that air will come out of (usually covered by a grill protecting the subwoofer speaker itself).

When it comes to finding a good spot for your speakers, you might want to mount them. You can usually buy compatible speaker mounts online or in stores. You can also
use existing shelving, buy some shelving, or place them on tables or other objects. No matter how you do it, try to keep the speakers as close to ear level as possible. A speaker mounted at the ceiling of your room isn't going to give you the optimal aural experience.

The last thing to keep in mind about layout is speaker wire. You'll probably need at least 100ft of speaker wire, but you'll often find yourself using much more if you
try running wire through your ceiling, under carpeting, up through the basement, or around objects to conceal it. Take measurements and buy at least 10% more wire than
you think you need. You'll probably use it!

Cabling

You need to know the different kind of speaker wire available to you before setting up your home theatre. If you bought an HTIB (home theater in a box), it probably came with 100ft of horribly cheap speaker wire. You don't want that! Do yourself a favor: buy some high-quality, 14-gauge speaker wire. Anything higher than 14-gauge is just to thin and will be susceptible to interence, quality loss, and poor quality over longer distances. Fourteen gauge is a good thickness and suitable for most home theatres. Make sure its also not too thick - some speaker wire simply will not fit in to the speaker wire jacks on some receivers.

Some receivers use proprietary speaker inputs. Sony is one example. Many Sony receivers have special connectors for speaker wire and will not accept a standard speaker wire. You'll need to use either the Sony-provided speaker wire, take the ends off of Sony speaker wire and put it on your own, or buy some of these special connectors from Sony directly to place on your speaker wire. My recommendation? Avoid any receivers with non-standard speaker wire posts/jacks/connectors. Look for bind posts or other jacks that allow you to slide in and clamp down on a typical speaker wire.

Once you've got your speaker wire sorted out, you'll have to do some cutting and stripping if you opted to purchase your own. This is way easier than it sounds, so don't worry!

Measure out each length one at a time, cutting the speaker wire with either really great scissors or a sharp blade. Now you need to strip the ends of the wire. Use either a stripping tool or plain old scissors. You can place the scissors on the cable and gently apply some pressure as you twist the scissors around the cable, carefully slicing into the plastic coating. Eventually, it'll get weak enough that you can just slide it off by tugging on it with your fingers. You need at least 1/4" of exposed wire.

Now you can connect your speakers. Note on your speaker wire the difference between the two ends. You'll need to use one as your positive and one as your negative. Sometimes the coating is a different color between the two or there is text on one and not on the other. Keep track of this - whichever side you use for positive on your speaker, use it for positive on your receiver. Crossing the two can cause damage, either immediately or sometime in the future. It might work this way but you don't want it to!

Connecting the speakers is easy enough. Front left to front left on your receiver, center speaker to center on your receiver, etc... Your rear speakers may be referred to as "Surround" or "Rear Surround" instead of just "Rear", but keep in mind, if you have a 7.1 or 8.1 channel receiver, "Surround" may indicate side surround speakers, not rear speakers.

Subwoofers

Your subwoofer is going to be a little more complicated. There are a few different ways to do it and many variations of inputs/ouputs on the back side of subwoofers. I'm going to go with the most standard and efficient method first.

You will need a subwoofer cable for connecting your sub. If you don't have one or don't want to buy one, you can substitute it for a standard red or white RCA cable (or a pair, since they are usually connected; just let the other cable dangle). It will work, but its really not the best way to do it. You'll also need whats called a Y adapter. On the back of your sub, there should be a left/right input (red and white). You plug the Y adapter in to these connections and then your subwoofer cable (or RCA cable) in the other end of the Y (note: if you don't have a Y adapter, just choose the left or right input to plug into).

Now, take the other end of your cable and plug it into your receiver's
subwoofer preout. Hopefully you have a powered sub, meaning it gets plugged into an AC power outlet. All you need to do now is plug that in and your subwoofer is good to.

If you don't have RCA jacks on your subwoofer, or it only has speaker wire jacks (and its most likely not powered), you'll need to connect it the old fashioned way. Your front left and right speakers will plug into your subwoofer's ouput jacks instead of your receiver. You'll then run speaker wire from the left and right inputs on the subwoofer to your left and right speaker outputs on your receiver. This way, the subwoofer is powered by the receiver and will not work as well as a powered sub. You also take some power away from your front speakers with this method. A good idea is to buy a new, powered subwoofer with line in RCA jacks.

Connecting the Dots

You've got the hard stuff out of the way. Now finish it up by connecting your TV, DVD, and cable/satellite box. Always try using the best options first. If your DVD
has HDMI and so does your receiver, use it. If your DVD only has composite, s-video, and component, use component video cable. When it comes to audio, you absolutely need
to use digital coaxial (jacks are usually orange) or fiber optic (usually the jack is recessed into the unit and has a door on it; when the door is open, a red light is visible). If you do not use either of these two, you won't get true surround sound! When all else fails, resort to composite (red and white) audio connectors.

Note: Look closely at the connections on your receiver. Everything is labeled, like the first set of red, green, and blue component video inputs might be labeled "Comp 1". If you're using composite audio cablesfor your sound, you'll need to plug them into the jacks that coordinate with "Comp 1". This might not be clear by looking at the receiver, so refer to your receiver's manual to figure out which video inputs use which audio inputs. Most often, you'll be able to configure them from the receiver's internal menu using the remote control.

On some receivers, all the component video inputs, for example, are linked to a single composite audio input (usually "DVD"), so if you connect more than one of the component inputs, you will be competing for sound when more than one device is active. This is why you'd want to configure the component inputs to use different audio inputs.

Your manual is the only way to figure out how to go about it. Composite video will usually match up to composite audio inputs with naming conventions like Video 1 -> Video 1, Video 2 -> Video 2, etc., but cables like component and DVI may not. You should also configure digital audio inputs to match up with the video inputs you're planning on using. For example, if you're using a digital coaxial input (possibly "Digital 1"), and you use component video, you'll want to match "Digital 1" with "Comp 1". Again, refer to your users manual for how to do this.

Hook Up A Receiver For Your Home Theater

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Practice is necessary, of course, but you could practice until the cows come home without understanding what you're doing at the piano, and all you would end up with is fingers that behave obediently to whatever the sheet music or score tells them to do.

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33 Tips For Becoming a Great Piano Player!

Understanding how music works in terms of form and content is the key to productive practice. Then you are not just playing mechanically by rote like a machine, but you can get "inside" the music and eventually let it flow out of your brain and heart as well as your hands.

33 Tips For Becoming a Great Piano Player!

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"There are at least 33 elements that contribute to becoming a good pianist," says Duane Shinn, pianist and owner of Keyboard Workshop in Medford, Oregon. "There are probably more, but without these 33 principles a pianist cannot hope to rise to the level of his ability."

So yes - there really are secrets to becoming the piano player of your dreams. It's not that anyone is purposefully trying to keep a secret from you, but it's a rare teacher who has the ability to not only play well but to be able to explain music theory - chords, melody, rhythm, dynamics, and all the other elements that contribute to playing the piano well and with feeling.

In our piano teaching studio at Piano University we have identified 33 distinct skill that must be developed if a person wants to play up to the limit of her or his potential. Here they are:

1 - Hand & Body Position -- Should you look down at your hands? How to use "eye flips"

2 - The key to productive practice -- Spaced repetition

3 - Attitude -- how it affects your learning

4 - How & when to pedal. Using explosive dynamics

5 - Exposure: why it's critically important

6 - Ear Training -- Intervals from 2nds to 13ths

7 - Fingering -- which finger do you use when?

8 - Chord substitutions that create fantastic sounds

9 - Chord recognition -- how to recognize what chord is being used

10 - Musical vocabulary: tempo words, form words

11- Arranging: how is your "bag of tricks" coming along? "Head arrangements"

12 - Melodic sense: how does the melody relate to the chords?

13 - Sight-reading: 7 fundamentals you just cannot ignore

14 - Key orientation: Can you think in the key you're playing in?

15 - Scanning the score before you start playing

16 - Mental practice -- how to learn music in bed

17 - Repertoire: Why you need one to be prepared for any opportunity

18 - Goal setting: How good can you get? Is there a limit?

19 - Rhythm awareness -- samba, bossa nova, bolero, etc.

20 - Why knowing music history is important to you

21 - Idea stealing -- how and where & from who

22 - 12-bar blues; creating a motif; "blue notes"

23 - Extended chords: 6th, 7th, 9th, 11th, 13th, suspensions

24 - Technique acquisition: rubber balls, fingering drills

25 - Harmonization: Using I, IV & V to harmonize

26 - Key identification: Recognizing key signatures

27 - Voicing: Open, closed, registers, color tones

28 - Improvisation: Making music right out of your head

29 - Harmony & theory: How much should you know?

30 - Stylistic devices: Western, boogie, jazz, etc.

31 - Analysis: How to understand what you're hearing

32 - Riffs & runs & fills: How to develop them

33 - Cross-pollination: The best of all worlds!

While reading music is important, the individual who develops these 33 basic skills will be light years ahead of the person who simply plays sheet music the way it is written. There is no longer any reason to be "tied to the written music" when you can master these techniques that allow you to play from the heart.

33 Tips For Becoming a Great Piano Player!

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When you work on and advance your fundamental skill levels, you can develop what I call "Skill Synergy". Skill Synergy is based on the idea that the better you become at any one particular skill, the better and more developed you will become at each and every other skill. Then with the development of each skill, your entire game becomes almost twice as effective as it was before. Each skill doesn't just work alone it "stacks" or builds on every other skill. This "synergy" then catapults your game into more advanced levels and makes success in basketball much easier.

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7 Tips for Becoming a Better Basketball Player

For example, if you become better at dribbling, it will automatically make you a better shooter. The dribbling will help you get a better feel for the ball and make you feel more comfortable with the ball. That will automatically help you become a better shooter. But the "synergy" doesn't stop there. The result is you don't just become a better dribbler or a better shooter, instead you become a more effective all-around player. The synergy starts filtering out to all phases of your game.

7 Tips for Becoming a Better Basketball Player

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Your entire game will expand quickly because you can expand on each skill learned. That will flow into other areas of skill development. Soon you will be able to do more moves, make more shoots and play more effectively than ever before.

Take Michael Jordan for example. All of his high-flying acrobatic moves and game winning shots were not practiced or planned. Instead, they just happened "naturally" because he had become a master of the simple fundamental skills and applied Skill Synergy to make all those spectacular shots. Remember, however that most of his 32,292 points were compromised mainly of basic fundamental jump shots and lay-ins. Not the SportsCenter highlights he is remembered for. He mastered the basics first, then all those "fancy" moves developed from there.

If you want to become better, learn the fundamentals and practice them. Every skill you learn and develop will help you expand your game to new levels.

Secret #2 Practice The Right Way
One day I was "practicing" and my coach at the time walked by the gym and asked what I was doing. I said I was "practicing". Then I added, "you know coach, because practice makes perfect".

Then he said something very powerful to me. He said "No. Perfect practice, makes perfect."

Him telling me this gave me tremendous insight into what it takes to become a better player. I quickly learned that how you practice and how you perform are directly linked.

By developing Perfect Practice habits and mentality, you can take your game to new levels at a rapid pace.

The wonderful thing about the Perfect Practice mentality is that you can use it at anytime. It doesn't matter if you are just shooting around with friends or are doing a grueling individual workout. The principles can and should be applied at all times.

Here are my Perfect Practice Principles:

Use Maximum Effort and Focus On Every Play.

Perfect Repetition, Leads To Perfect Execution.

Repetition Is The Key To Skill Improvement.

Practice Must Simulate Games.

Constantly Analyze Your Results.

Study and use these principles. These principles will save you hours of unnecessary frustration and wasted practice time. Your game will develop at a significantly faster pace and help you reach your maximum potential.

Secret #3 Add Variety
The great thing about basketball is that you can either play on your own or with other people. Basketball can be played in so many ways. Each can help you develop your skills in different ways.

To become the best basketball player you can be, it is important that you practice the game in a variety of ways. Your skills will enhance and you will see faster development.

Here are some ways to add variety to your game:

Practice By Yourself
This is the best way to learn the fundamentals of the game and to develop individual skills. You should spend lots of time by yourself working on different fundamental skills. Get in all the repetitive learning and practice you can with just you and the ball.

1-on-1
Playing 1-on-1 will help you learn how to both score on and defend against a single player. 1-on-1 is a great way to get in lots of repetitions and practice. It is also a great place to use both Skill Synergy and Perfect Practice techniques.

3-on-3
Lots of outdoor or "street" ball tournaments are played using the 3-on-3 format. This provides you with great opportunity to get in even more work on your game. 3-on-3 probably gives you the closet thing to real game simulation without having to run the full length of the floor. You can develop both 1-on-1 moves and learn to play in a team concept while still getting in a good number of personal repetitions.

5-on-5 Full Court
Obviously this is what most "real" games consist of. I recommend that you play as much 5-on-5 as possible. This is the best way to learn the game and develop your total skill package. It is also the best measure of telling you what you need to work on and what areas you need to improve in. If you don't feel that you are able to score very often then maybe you should do some more 1-on-1 drills or learn to score off the pass in games of 2-on-2.
Playing 5-on-5 will also help your conditioning. Most 5-on-5 games are played using the full court, the others are usually in a half-court setting. Having to run the full length of the court will challenge your skill development because you add in the element of fatigue. The better conditioned you are and the less fatigue you encounter, the more successful your skills will be. Be sure to learn the skills you need by practicing in half-court games. Remember, that you need to develop your conditioning to achieve maximum results when playing in full-court games.

Secret #4 Seek Out Mentors and Be Coach-able
One of the biggest secrets to becoming more successful is to seek out mentors and be willing to learn from them.

Many times people are reluctant to seek out mentors and coaches, because it opens them up to being criticized. However, you can learn a lot from that criticism if you are willing to accept it. If you want to be more successful at anything, then you must find the right teachers and be willing to learn from them and be coached.

This is especially true in the game of basketball. There are lots of great coaches and players out there that you can learn from.

Another key to success is, don't wait for theses coaches to find you. Instead, be assertive and go out and find them on your own. No matter what level of play you are at, there are lots of people out there that can make you better. It can be a coach, a personal trainer, even a nutritionist; all of these people have valuable information that can make you a better player and a better athlete.

To get the maximum results from this instruction, you must be willing to learn and be coached. I can tell you that virtually every big time basketball coach I have ever talked to says that the one trait that all their "star" players possess is their willingness to learn and listen.

The ability of the human mind and body to learn and process new information is remarkable. If you want to develop your skills to maximum level, then you find people to coach you and listen to them!

Secret #5 Watch All The Video You Can
Watching video is one of the best ways that I know of to get better and learn more about the game. With today's modern technology, video is easy to get and use. I highly recommended that you get your hands on as much video you can and learn from it.

There are lots of different types of video that you can learn from. First of all, there are all kinds of games broadcast on television. It is easy to tape these games and watch them over and over again. I personally have over 400 games on tape. This has become one of my most valuable resources. I have learned, used, and taught thousands of moves that I have gotten from re-watching games.

Another great resource is instructional videos. There are a lot of different tapes that have been made through the years. Many have much of the same information, but it is important to learn those key fundamentals. Plus, even if you watch 10 videos and only learn one new move, that move could lift you from being an average player to superstar status. (For more information on instructional videos, be sure to check out my personal Dominate The Game instructional DVD video and basketball improvement program at [http://www.basketballpro.com/dominatethegame].)

There is one other video secret that I am almost reluctant to reveal. I find this technique so powerful and helpful that it is just too good to keep secret. It is very simple, but rarely used.

It's called Self Video Analysis. Many times coaches or parents will make tapes of games and watch them to critique the teams performance or to relive a personal sports moment. This is very useful for this purpose, but it isn't the kind of video analysis that I am talking about. I am talking about taping yourself when you practice by yourself.

When you are alone working on your game by yourself, tape it. Tape it and watch it. It doesn't take long to see what you need to work on. This also allows you to start seeing little tiny adjustments in your game and start correcting them. Even little errors can lead to bad habits which can negatively effect your performance.

I especially like to use this technique when working on shooting. Shooting is almost a fine art. Any minor problem can lead to a drop in the amount of shots you make. Tape your shooting practice and then analyzing it. Watch to see if you are using proper form and technique on every shot. Watch and see what is working for you and what isn't. Watch and you will soon see a dramatic improvement in your shooting performance.

Secret #6 Learn From Different Sources
Basketball is a very popular sport. There are all kinds of books, videos, magazines and newspaper articles out there for you to learn from.

I recommended that you start finding and studying as many as these resources that you can. You will be amazed at all the useful information that you can learn from these sources. I find some "piece" of useful information in almost everything I read, watch, or hear about the game.

The most successful basketball players and coaches I know are constantly reading books on basketball. They read autobiographies on famous players. They read instructional books. They read books on training, books on motivation, books on other sports to see if they can learn something to apply to basketball and make them more successful. These high level coaches and players know that learning from all these different sources is a key to staying on top.

I also know of players that have made entire scrapbooks from newspaper articles that they collected about other teams and players. Then before they would play against them, they would read to be better prepared and to gain an "edge" against them.

I recommended that you start your own "basketball file" and collect or write down all the things you find useful. You can then look at them over and over again and apply them to your game. (Note: Printing out and saving this newsletter is a good place to start you new "basketball file".)

Secret #7 Become A Better Athlete
I am a firm believer that skill development goes hand-in-hand with athletic development. The better trained you are as an athlete the easier it is for you to develop your basketball skills.

Most athletes struggle not because they lack proper skill, but because they lack the strength, conditioning, and speed that it requires to perform those skills at a higher level. Many times pro athletes aren't any better shooters or players than some junior high players, but their athletic ability separates them from the rest.

One of the great benefits of training to become a better athlete is that you can often make significant jumps in skill development very quickly. The better trained you are, the faster you will be able to learn new skills. When you're well trained you can perform skill repetition at maximum speed, strength and conditioning. When you do this, it naturally allows you to develop your game quickly, because your body isn't holding you back with fatigue. In fact, having a well-trained body is helping you succeed because it just makes every thing easier and allows you to learn faster.

Let me give you a good example. Say that you were in good enough shape to shoot around for 1 hour. In this time, let's say you could shoot 200 shots. Now if you were in even better shape you could probably shoot around 300 shots. That's 100 shots more in the same amount of time. This would undoubtedly make you better! Plus, out of those 300 shots, you will make more of them because you are better trained!

Do you see how your game can grow on multiple levels just by training your body? It can have a positive impact in each phase of your game and your development.

I highly recommended that you start training to become a better athlete immediately. There are lots of different programs and training routines out there. Give it a try and watch your results soar!

I hope that these tips were helpful. I am sure that if you start applying these strategies to your game, you will see the results you want very quickly.

7 Tips for Becoming a Better Basketball Player

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The Mini DV players mostly double as recorders. They are available for both amateur and professional use. For professionals like wedding videographers and filmmakers, JVC has come up with many innovative players. The JVC HR DVS 3U, for example, is a player as well as recording system. It is very convenient to use, since the Mini DV cassette can be directly inserted into and played by the DV player. There is no need for connecting the camcorder to a VCR using a jumble of confusing wires. It has good editing features, and is capable of converting analog signals to digital. JVC's HR DV S 3, on the other hand, is a double deck Mini DV VCR which also converts Mini DV to S-VHS format after editing, apart from being a player and recorder compatible with almost all Mini DV cassettes.

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Mini DV Players

For amateur use, the Panasonic Professional DV Proline offers many features like a high sound to noise ratio, four video heads, timer programming, and a clear image quality. This device is meant simply for playing and not for recording purposes. Many users have mentioned problems like the absence of remote control or parental locking mechanism, as well as the lack of built in monitors, which means the player needs to be connected to a VCR, but this player is good for amateur or home use.

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With many brands of Mini DV players flooding the market, there is always one out there suited to your needs. With a little patient research, you will be able to locate the best Mini DV player in terms of features, size, recording/playback quality, and price.

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How Does Roku Work?
When most people think about a device which plays video, they assume there is a physical storage required for the video. For example, to watch a movie on a DVD player, you need a DVD to insert into the DVD player. Similarly, to watch a video you have downloaded, you will need the video to be stored on your computer's hard drive. Roku has broken the mold in this regard. Since Roku players stream video, they do not need a disc, hard drive, or anything to store the video. This is what keeps the device so small and simple. As long as you have an internet connection and a TV, you can be watching thousands of titles in a matter of minutes.

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Roku Streaming Technology
The technology is similar to YouTube. If you're familiar with YouTube, you know that YouTube videos are not saved to your computer. That would take up entirely too much space. Instead, the video is streamed in small compressed "chunks" of video data so there is minimal loading time. Roku downloads videos from various sources and plays them on the television screen using the same technology.

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Roku Models
There are currently 3 Roku models: Roku HD, Roku XD and Roku XD S. The models vary in terms of features, so make sure to compare the Roku models first. Consider the features offered by each model and which features fit your needs before making your purchase decision. There are no recurring fees for owning a Roku player. Purchasing a Roku player is a one-time payment, and the rest is up to you. There is plenty of free videos available for viewing, or you may be interested in paying a small subscription fee for more video than you could ever watch in a lifetime! For example, Netflix and Hulu Plus, which are both available on Roku, offer thousands of movie and television titles which are available on demand.

Roku: What's Included?
Every Roku player model comes with the following:

1 Remote control 2 "triple A" batteries (for the remote) 1 Composite (red/white/yellow) A/V cable 1 power adapter 1 "Getting started guide" 1 year warranty