Topic: Setup

Adam Curry and John C. Dvorak open the show on Canada Day, noting a stable Bitcoin price of $33,188. The hosts discuss technical difficulties in the new studio, including a malfunctioning touchscreen and an echo, which forces a reliance on a mouse for playing jingles.

A series of technical audio failures during previous broadcasts was traced to a specific light dimmer switch located in a kitchen below the studio. The electrical interference from the slider caused significant buzzing and treble distortion in the microphones. After troubleshooting the hardware, the setup was upgraded to two Electro-Voice microphones, while an older faulty unit was discarded.

John Dvorak discusses the persistent creaking of his vintage fiberglass chair, which he discovered is a collectible item worth $350. The hosts joke about the lack of "professional" gear compared to corporate networks like Gimlet Media, emphasizing their independent, "closet-based" production style.

Adam Curry broadcasts live from a hotel in Gary, Indiana, the hometown of the Jackson 5. He is in the region to attend a memorial service for his wife Tina's sister, Angie, which featured pizza, tacos, and Miller Lite. Curry describes his mobile podcasting rig, including the challenges of clamping a microphone stand to hotel desks.

A discussion of technical frustrations highlights the complexity of calibrating touchscreens on modern Windows systems, which still utilize legacy menus reminiscent of the Windows NT era. The conversation touches on the interdependency of hardware ports and the "microservices architecture" of modern devices that complicates simple plug-and-play functionality.

Technical adjustments were made to the studio setup following a transition to a Windows-based environment. A routing error was discovered where the recorded signal differed from the headphone monitor, necessitating post-show compression to fix previous episodes. The current broadcast implements these corrections to improve overall sound quality.

A recent video experiment for the podcast resulted in lower audience numbers, leading to the conclusion that a visual broadcast is unnecessary for the listeners. Despite a sophisticated multi-camera mixer setup, the data suggests the audience prefers the traditional audio format.

The program opens with a discussion regarding technical audio issues as one host inadvertently spoke into the back of an Audio Technica AT2020U microphone. They address the challenges of routing USB microphones through Skype and the necessity of replacing failed audio hardware. The hosts joke about their "award-winning" sound quality despite the initial tunnel-like acoustics.

Adam Curry describes his preference for a "dark, dingy cave" studio atmosphere, using heavy moving blankets to deaden room echo. Dvorak discusses his use of a CAD 3000 microphone from China, which was recommended by a professional microphone "modder." They compare their different recording environments, with Curry seeking a "night disc jockey" vibe and Dvorak allowing for more natural room ambience.

A description of the current podcast production environment reveals the challenges of using a MacBook Air with limited Thunderbolt outputs. The setup requires a secondary keyboard and monitor, leading to frequent input errors during the live recording process. These hardware limitations are discussed as temporary hurdles in maintaining the show's technical quality.

The hosts examine reports that the White House was caught off guard by the negative backlash to the Bergdahl release. They play clips of Jay Carney and Susan Rice framing Bergdahl as the "last man standing" of the war. A theory is proposed that the military or intelligence community may have set up the administration by encouraging a "mission accomplished" moment that they knew would backfire.

Congressman Peter King reacts to statements from the suspects' mother, who claimed her sons were set up by the FBI. King dismisses her claims as "offensive," citing the asylum and opportunities provided to the family by the United States. The hosts discuss the mother's insistence that her sons were under FBI control for years and King's refusal to acknowledge prior surveillance.

Adam Curry proposes a new business venture called "Manuals on Tape" featuring John C. Dvorak reading technical instruction manuals. The concept involves Dvorak providing step-by-step audio guidance for tasks like printer network configuration to replace traditional reading. Curry suggests branding the service with Dvorak wearing a spandex superhero suit.

The hosts analyze the Quran burning incident in Afghanistan, suggesting it was not a deliberate act of desecration but a result of soldiers burning trash that included religious texts. They speculate the event may have been a "setup" facilitated by local workers to incite protests.

The hosts discuss the relocation to Austin, Texas, and the ongoing technical challenges of setting up the Camp MoFo studio. Efforts to improve audio quality include ordering professional acoustic tiles to replace temporary solutions. The studio now features functional green screens and improved lighting for future broadcasts.