Q: Before you transfer your entire tape collection over to your hard drive, make sure you're getting a good recording. Record what you did, then give it a listen. If you set up everything correctly, you should have a fairly clean digital copy of your old analog tapes. If the recording is too quiet or too noisy (the music is quiet but there's lots "fuzzy" noise), the output was too low and the recording did not have enough signal to offset the noise. If the recorded sound sounds like it's being played through a broken speaker or a meat grinder, your recording was too loud, and the sound's distorted. You can adjust your computer's sound settings to help offset the above issues. You may not need to do any editing, but if you want to cut out silences, erase some tracks, or change the volume, for example, most sound recording programs will allow you to do so. Programs such as Audacity (available on both Windows and Mac computers) can perform basic editing, while more advanced paid programs may be able to clean up your recording. When editing, it is a good idea to keep the original file as a backup and change the names of edited files when you save them in case you find you made a mistake. When you're sure you like the edited file, you can delete the original to save drive space on your computer. Once you have a basically good recording, you can improve it by using audio tools, chief among which is a process called "normalization". Normalizing your audio will ensure that the loudest peaks are at or near 100% of full scale (e.g, when all the meters are lit, or 0dB, depending on your metering). Most audio-editing programs offer some form of normalization. This is not something you will use for every recording you make, as it can render a lot of music lifeless. It works by keeping the loudest sounds about where they started while bringing up the level of the quieter passages. You lose the difference between the highs and lowsor dynamicsand in return, you get an apparently louder recording. When listening at home, this isn't necessarily desirable, but if you're making a CD for your car, it can be very useful. Depending on your speakers, how they're set up, and the quality of your overall playback system, adjusting the EQ to taste can be helpful. A word of caution, though: like compression, "good" EQ is subjective. While you may adjust the EQ so it sounds great on your system, the same music may sound distorted or off on another system. Once you've gone through the trouble of converting your old cassettes, make saving a copy of your recording the first thing you do before you start any reconstructive (or just destructive) edits (normalization, EQ, compression, etc.)
A: Record a small amount at first. Edit your recording. Normalize the audio if needed. Apply compression. Equalize (EQ) the audio. Always work with a copy.

Q: You may be super nervous on your first date--that's 100% normal. However, by keeping your body language relaxed, you can project confidence and make your date feel more at ease. Keep your back straight and your shoulders back, hold your head up, make eye contact, and smile. Too little eye contact can make it seem like you're bored, but too much can look really intense or even a little crazy. Look into their eyes, but take breaks periodically to look elsewhere, too. A date is all about getting to know someone, so there's going to be a decent amount of talking involved. If you're feeling nervous or just want to give your conversation skills a boost, think of a few conversation topics before the date starts. Consider the things the two of you have in common. School is a great place to start. Think about your date's interests. Are they a huge fan of volleyball? Ask them how their most recent tournament went and share a few sports stories of your own. There are tons of conversation topics out there. You could talk about movies, music, your favorite foods, or that one annoying teacher you both have. Don't try to be someone you're not. If you date likes you for you, that's great. If not, don't sweat it, and go find someone that does. Pretending to be someone you're not may work for a little while, but it'll come back to bite you later. Asking questions can make other people like you more. Making yourself look good might seem like the logical thing to do here, but it could actually backfire by making you seem cocky or boring. Instead of bragging about your latest victory on the soccer field, ask your date about their debate team's recent win. Chances are, your date will think you're nicer and more interesting. Ask follow up questions, too. If your date just told you how they love to ride horses, you could say something like, "I've never ridden a horse. What's it like?" . This may sound cliche, but manners go a long way. Hold the door for your date, listen to them when they're talking, and eat politely if you're going out to dinner. Be polite to the waiters, too--it'll show you've got good character. Unwanted touching or groping is a big no-no. Always ask before engaging in any sort of physical contact. You should be focused on you date, not your Instagram feed. Put down your phone and give your date your full, undivided attention. Your phone can wait. It's a good idea to turn your phone on silent to avoid annoying interruptions. Nothing brings down the mood like a phone call in the middle of an intimate conversation. You may find it helpful to put your phone facedown on the other end of the table or in your pocket or backpack.
A: Keep your body language relaxed. Think of possible conversation topics before the date. Be yourself. Ask questions. Mind your manners Put down your phone.

Q: Often something you see or hear later in the day will trigger a memory of a dream from the night before. Note these recollections without delay, and think about them to see if you can remember how they fit into the rest of the dream. It also helps to continually think about your dreams throughout the day. Sometimes the memory can be jogged when you assume the same physical position you had while dreaming. Try to put your head in the same place on the pillow, arrange your body the same way, and close your eyes. If the dream comes into your head, think it through before getting up to write it down. It might help to open your eyes and look at the object you first saw when you woke up. Remembering your dreams takes effort and practice. The more you become conscious of your dreams, the more likely you are to remember them. Get into the habit of committing to remembering your dreams and night and writing them down first thing when you wake up. The process will become easier over time. Eventually you'll figure out what factors help you remember your dreams. Try to notice patterns pertaining to the time you go to bed and wake up in the morning, the temperature of the room, what you ate for dinner. Do any of these variables seem to influence your ability to remember your dreams?
A:
Keep a notepad or voice recorder with you throughout the day. Go back to your bed and lie down. Practice again the next night. Notice patterns.