Tiago D'Herbe :: Musician, I.T. Engineer, Skydiver

Using MPEG-4 Videos in Windows Movie Maker

Tiago D'Herbe — Wed, 28 Jul 2010 10:32:00 GMT

Most cameras record in MPEG-4 format (an .MP4 or .MOV file) and one really annoying thing when videoblogging is that Windows Movie Maker can't open the source footage. One solution would be to use Quicktime Pro for basic editing or use it to convert the source footage to uncompressed AVI. This took up a lot of time and space on my computer and it took forever to convert the video clips back and forth.

Blogging

Div based columns made simple

Tiago D'Herbe — Tue, 27 Jul 2010 15:54:00 GMT

For a long time me and some co-workers felt the need to use DIV element instead of the good-old TABLE element, since it is so DAMN easy to achieve the desirable results with TABLE elements. On a second note and for a while now we use our own CMS platform thus the need to create full W3C pages that maintain the defined layout whatever content it holds is a constant requirement. So I have been looking for a nice DIV-based alternative for column-based designs easy to implement.

Projects - Open Source Programming

Search content with jQuery in a live fashion

Tiago D'Herbe — Tue, 20 Jul 2010 11:19:00 GMT

Recently I had to enhance the way how content is placed in web pages when using our CMS. A list of content modules is presented to be selected by the user but in some scenarios this list can be huge so a searching/filtering on the client functionality was required. The solution presented is based on word count and ranking and content is filtered in a lively manner as the search input box is changed.

Programming

NI Kompletely Insane Sale

Tiago D'Herbe — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 10:47:00 GMT

Native Instruments has gone Kompletely Insane!
And it’s not because they built their new website almost entirely in Flash. It’s because they are offering Komplete 5 for the month of July for $399 / 399€, what a bargain!!!

Tech Articles - Music

Free Novation V-Station Presets

Tiago D'Herbe — Wed, 08 Apr 2009 10:43:00 GMT

This presets pack contains 893 presets for Novation V-Station. It’s some kind of tribute to the authors of those presets - some of the banks are not available any more, some are forgotten. But, Of course, there are some new presets too.

Misc Resources

Quinta dos Carvalhais Reserva 2002

Tiago D'Herbe — Wed, 08 Apr 2009 09:54:00 GMT

Quinta dos Carvalhais Reserva 2002 from the year unanimously considered doomed and cursed, of every imaginable misfortune, the torrential floods, the "annus horribilis" for the Portuguese viticulture and wine making.

Gourmet

Incredible Aerial Photos One Should See

Tiago D'Herbe — Tue, 07 Apr 2009 08:59:00 GMT

A compilation of 60 Incredible Pictures, all taken by the very talented photographer, Yann Arthus Bertrand. Each and every one of these pictures are truly incredible, and the selection of pictures includes spectacular aerial views from various countries around the world.

Fun Blogging

Video of my #37 and #38 skydiving jumps.

Tiago D'Herbe — Sun, 05 Apr 2009 15:15:00 GMT

Suddenly and after s*** loads of adrenaline and plains I've reached my #39 jump. Last friday I've made my first low altitude jumps from 3500ft and ended the rad weekend with lots more. Here are the videos of my #37 and #38 jumps respectively recorded on Sunday at DZ Évora.

Fun Videos

7 Underwater Wonders

Tiago D'Herbe — Fri, 03 Apr 2009 10:49:00 GMT

Here's a listing of the 7 underwater wonders of the World and their fascinating watery residents.

Fun

World’s Weirdest Animals And Creatures

Tiago D'Herbe — Fri, 03 Apr 2009 09:48:00 GMT

Here's a listing of the world’s weirdest and most peculiar creatures known to mankind.

Fun

Casa Ferreirinha Reserva Especial 1997

Tiago D'Herbe — Wed, 01 Apr 2009 14:52:00 GMT

This is the second big surprise of the year, Ferreirinha Special Reserve 1997. Wine that in fact is so well made that it was almost to be Barca Velha... Much has been written about this wine on its potential, its musculature, its sumptuousness and opulence.

Gourmet

Why We do Dumb or Irrational Things: 10 Brilliant Social Psychology Studies

Tiago D'Herbe — Mon, 30 Mar 2009 23:51:00 GMT

"I have been primarily interested in how and why ordinary people do unusual things, things that seem alien to their natures. Why do good people sometimes act evil? Why do smart people sometimes do dumb or irrational things?" --Philip Zimbardo

Citations, 3rd Party

Barca Velha 2000

Tiago D'Herbe — Mon, 30 Mar 2009 10:43:00 GMT

More than 50 years and only 16 vintages were bottled are the best foundation for the legend of Barca Velha. It is a wine of balance and coolness, in defiance of fashions and trends, a red classic and timeless, one of the rare classic Portuguese wines.

Gourmet

Why the 'sex chip' may not be such a good idea.

Tiago D'Herbe — Tue, 10 Mar 2009 14:48:00 GMT

Neuroscientists Morten Kringelbach and Tipu Aziz recently announced that they were able to stimulate the pleasure centers of the brain by implanting a chip that sends tiny shocks to the orbitofrontal cortex. This is the same area that is responsible for feelings of pleasure induced by such things as eating and sex.

Blogging Citations, 3rd Party

SIGNS

Tiago D'Herbe — Tue, 10 Mar 2009 02:25:00 GMT

Simple short film about love and communication in the cold, harsh world that is the life of a single, friendless office geek. My guess is that the ladies among you will particularly appreciate this. It’s a great way to start the week with a smile on your face and a tear in your eye.

Fun Videos

Everything You Need to Know About Writing Successfully

Tiago D'Herbe — Wed, 04 Mar 2009 17:04:00 GMT

"Everything You Need to Know About Writing Successfully - in Ten Minutes" by Stephen King (reprinted in Sylvia K. Burack, ed. The Writer's Handbook. Boston, MA: Writer, Inc., 1988: 3-9)

Education Citations, 3rd Party

9 Brain Habits You Didn’t Realize You Had

Tiago D'Herbe — Wed, 04 Mar 2009 16:00:00 GMT

Brain is certainly the most amazing part of human body. It becomes more interesting when it does not work the way you expect it should. Psychology frequently establishes our intuitions about how human mind works, but it reveals a number of surprises as well.

Fun

12 Most Amazing Pools in the World

Tiago D'Herbe — Wed, 04 Mar 2009 13:57:00 GMT

Here's a listing of 12 amazing pools in the world.

Fun

10 amazing buildings made of dirt and straw.

Tiago D'Herbe — Tue, 03 Mar 2009 14:48:00 GMT

Here's a listing of 10 buildings made only of dirt and saw.

Fun

Syntovox SPX-216 Vocoder rare Vintage

Tiago D'Herbe — Wed, 25 Feb 2009 00:05:00 GMT

SYNTON's last and arguably best vocoder. Ask Wendy Carlos or Bob Moog. Big Briar imported these in the 80's. Auction includes SPX-216, manual and connector for C/V Input/ Output. Unit works great, fair cosmetic condition, scratches and marks on the painted face. Via this auction.

Music Gear

Making Music From The Fibonacci Sequence

Tiago D'Herbe — Tue, 24 Feb 2009 23:46:00 GMT

Some mathematicians, who listen to music (almost all of them), believe that the Fibonacci sequence occurs in music. Can you believe that? The use of the Fibonacci system can be seen in Mozart's music, and modern day compositions. The most widely used instrument in music, the piano, displays the use of Fibonacci numbers. For instance, there are 13 notes that separate each octave of 8 notes in a scale. The foundation of a scale is based around the 3rd and the 5th tones. Both pitches are whole tones, which are 2 steps from the 1st note of the scale, also called the root.

Tech Articles - Music Fun Videos Blogging

Yamaha CS-40M Vintage Analog Synth

Tiago D'Herbe — Sun, 22 Feb 2009 23:04:00 GMT

A duophonic (2-voice) analog synthesizer that was introduced in 1980. Although Yamaha had already conquered polyphony with their legendary 8-voice CS-80, the CS-40m offered a more affordable approach to something other than a mono-synth. Via this action

Music Gear

Arp Solus 2353 Analog Synthesizer

Tiago D'Herbe — Thu, 19 Feb 2009 18:27:00 GMT

The Solus has a complete four-function envelope generator so you get total control over articulation it has also a full three octave keyboard. You can control vibrato, adjust pitch sharp or flat, and add portamento slurs to your music via this auction.

Music Gear

Roland JX-3P Vintage Synthesizer

Tiago D'Herbe — Thu, 19 Feb 2009 18:21:00 GMT

The JX-3P series has been used by The Future Sound of London, Astral Projection, Vince Clarke, Orbital, Luke Vibert, Stevie Nicks Thomas Dolby between others. Via this auction.

Music Gear

Vintage ARP Omni-2 2473 Analog Synthesizer Keyboard

Tiago D'Herbe — Wed, 18 Feb 2009 15:00:00 GMT

This ARP analog synthesizer is in good working condition, the unit turns on and all of the functions work properly. The signal comes through loud and clear! All of the keys are responsive to the touch.

Music Gear