New ipod accessories

: With the ever-increasing popularity of the iPod and all its various forms, it follows that more and more accessories will become both important and appealing to iPod owners. Here are three new accessories that iPod owners may want to consider purchasing. Podolock The Podolock is a hard acrylic case for the iPod mini that helps to secure it from theft or unauthorized use. Along with the case is a cable that goes through the top of the case that enables the user to dock the iPod to a table, steering wheel, or other stable base. With the increasing numbers of iPods being stolen, cases like these may become handy for iPod owners. Podolocks will begin shipping next month and will be available for about $20, with the cables ranging from about $10 to $20. TuffWrap Accent TuffWrap Accents are new cases for iPod Video that will protect the devices from scratches and bumps. Optional inserts protect the screen and click wheel. There are three options for these two-tone silicone cases: blue and gray, yellow and black, red and black. The cases also feature ribbed sides for a more secure grip, and the texture of the overall case prevents the iPod from sliding unnecessarily. TuffWrap Accents sell for about $29.95. Iconz Iconz are stylish and fun durable cases that feature a logo, icons, or images that cover the face of the iPod Video. The backs of the cases are translucent, and the Iconz feature play-through control for the click wheel and integrated screen protection. Available images include cartoon and/or movie icons such as the Superman or Batman logo, your favorite MLB team, or your NBA team. Iconz with NBA images including a team and, in some cases, a player are available for the iPod Nano. Iconz for the iPod Video are available for about $29.95, while the Iconz for the iPod Nano are available for about $24.95.

Tuning intonation and the saxophone

Playing your saxophone in tune with others in your band requires much more than simply playing a reference note into a tuner and adjusting the mouthpiece on the instrument. In order to really understand the tuning process and how best to tune your saxophone it helps to know the physics behind the sound that you produce while playing. When we are talking about physics and the saxophone we are dealing in the realm of invisible vibrations called sound waves. To better understand these sound waves it helps to think about a guitar string. When you pluck a note on a guitar the string vibrates at a specific rate or “frequency.” The length of this string dictates what frequency the string will vibrate at. By moving your finger up and down the fretboard you can change the pitch to any of a dozen or so pitches. Now think about a fretless guitar. Instead of a dozen pitches you could potentially have hundreds of pitches, each very slightly different that the other. Saxphones behave in this same way but use a vibrating column of air instead of a vibrating string. When you add or subtract fingers on the saxophone you are changing the overall length of the tube, creating shorter or longer sound waves in the process. Many things can affect this resultant wave. A key that is not adjusted properly can partially close over an open hole causing all notes above that key to be slightly flat. Likewise a key that is left open when it should be closed can make other notes out of tune or at the very least sound less focused. Two saxophones that are not perfectly tuned to each other will always vibrate at different frequencies even when playing the same note. When two sound waves of the exact same frequency are played together they reinforce each other creating a stronger, more pleasing overall sound. When two pitches are slightly out of tune they occasionally collide with each other causing a disturbance in the combined wave form. This phenomena creates audible “beats” or bumps in what the listener hears. Each bump in the combined sound is literally the two sound waves slamming into each other. It is often easier to understand this process by seeing it visually. Take a look at the examples shown at library. thinkquest. org/19537/Physics. html. As a saxophone player it should be your goal to learn how to play your instrument in perfect tune. Unfortunately this requires more than simply tuning your concert A or B-flat. Now that you know a little about the physics of sound however, you can begin to understand the inherent pitch problems of your saxophone and relate this to your overall performance and study routine.