A website idea Jeremy doesn't have to bother with.
A website idea Jeremy doesn't have to bother with.
After listening to and enjoying the personal playing of a couple of members in recent threads it occurred to me there might be a way to enhance the comments section in the tune database and get to know each other as musicians at the same time. We already add ABCs of our particular settings for tunes, and references are made to commercial recordings, YouTube and Comhaltas videos etc., but since there's so much ease to record ourselves and posting mp3s these days -- why not add links to mp3s of ourselves actually playing the tunes if we're so inclined.
For example, when Will submits a tune he might also include an mp3 of him playing it. I would find it very interesting to hear him and others doing this. There would be no copyright infringement for Jeremy to worry about, and it would be a lot like how it is if we lived in the same town when we teach each other tunes.
People might also submit links to mp3s of their session playing a given tune. This would add much more insight and enhance our musical sharing. Even the likes of Michael Gill, (Llig) Mr. Anti-Dot himself might appreciate this feature... or idea as it were.
Re: A website idea Jeremy doesn't have to bother with.
Jack, now that I've actually taken the time to suss out how to record on my laptop, and how to upload on Sound Lanter, I plan on using it more. Though I was mostly thinking of posting clips to help people who've asked me for bowing tips, etc., on specific tunes or phrases. E.g., someone recently asked me for the Roscommon Reel. I was thinking it would be handy to record slow versions of each of the three parts, demonstrating some variations, and then three times through at tempo.
It's certainly easy enough to post a Sound Lantern or YouTube link in the comments section of a tune, or in your member profile. And the results would be so much better than the midi file.
Re: A website idea Jeremy doesn't have to bother with.
I think that's a great idea. My rolls are nothing to brag about, but I recently heard a young violinist/aspiring fiddler play some in obvious imitation of a midi file's version of a roll! Yikes!
Re: A website idea Jeremy doesn't have to bother with.
One of the things I hate about the tunes database is the midis, (all though I understand why it needs to be included,) but this would begin to build an useful and more reasonable alternative. Also, we could have something else to refer people to who seem to depend on the midis.
As soon as I get my setup in order I plan to start contributing in this way, unless I hear any objections to the idea. I would certainly update the tunes I composed off the top, but there are some tunes that I have no commercially recorded version to refer people to. Also, some of the tunes I play are amalgamations that blend with the local repertoire, and this is one aspect I would find interesting to compare what versions are played in other member’s local sessions.
Re: A website idea Jeremy doesn't have to bother with.
A word of caution here: This concept was adopted on the Chiff and Fipple Flute Forum some time ago and has been used (abused?) to intimidate members who frequently post advice, but have not posted clips. The idea seems to be that if you are going to "talk" like you know what you're doing, you need to post clips of your playing so that all may assess your ability level in order to decide just how much your advice is worth. I'm not saying that this is a bad thing, but it has created a degree of rancor on that forum.
Re: A website idea Jeremy doesn't have to bother with.
I think this is a great idea http://www.thesession.org/discussions/display/18141/comments#comment377766
I think this will link through to where I already sort of suggested this in Benhall's thread.
Once we have joined Soundlantern how do we get each other linked so it is easier to go trawling for tunes.
I like the idea of hearing how tunes are played differently in the various sessions in different parts of the world.
Re: A website idea Jeremy doesn't have to bother with.
We'll get some decent mikes maybe moving forward, but here's our contribution, some snippets I finally figgered out how to hack up from a recent session recorded on someone's PDA. No amazingly revolutionary material here, just craic.
Re: A website idea Jeremy doesn't have to bother with.
My take on the matter is that posting clips in your profile potentially gives you further credibility (or less, depending). I don't see us degenerating into a two-tiered culture where people who have posted clips are treated differently than people who haven't.
As has been mentioned, people can generally tell when someone knows what they're talking about. The firestorm of the last few days that led to somewhat of a flurry of posted recordings held no surprises for me as to how much weight I should put into people's opinions - from the bad to the good. There are numerous people here whose opinions I value, but have never heard them play. Likewise, there are a few eejits here whose opinions I don't value, even without having heard them play. (And my opinions have generally been validated when I did hear clips, both positive and negative).
But posting clips gives people a clearer idea of who you are and where you're coming from. I'm not crazy about any of the clips that I've posted, but I also don't shy away from reality. And I've posted them willingly, without anyone goading me into doing it. Although, my reasons for posting have never been to impress, but rather to share, and inform.
And since this is primarily an aural tradition, I think the more posted clips, the better!
Re: A website idea Jeremy doesn't have to bother with.
I really don't like the exercise of recording myself. I don't like the mic staring at me, I don't like freezing my playing in amber, like some 30 million year old mosquito, and I don't like *trying* to play at the top of my game, which typically only impairs any ability I might have to play at all.
But I love sharing tunes and focusing on the aural nature of this music, rather than dry heaving words and abcs at it. Given that we're all scattered around the globe yet connected here, recordings are likely the next best thing (and far less expensive and carbon costly) to actual travel and face-to-face sessions.
At the same time, I don't see any reason to pressure anyone into recording if they don't want to. It's really not much different than posting or lurking, and there shouldn't be any stigma attached to posting comments but not posting recordings, assuming that Jeremy's "be civil" rule is enforced and people participate (in whatever mode they chose) in good faith, out of love for the music.
This may be the best way for us to swap tunes, share different settings of tunes, explore variations, explain technique and style, and get back to the tunes (rather than all the blather we spout ).
One easy way to track people on Sound Lantern would be to use your same screen name. Mine is willcpt (no space) on Sound Lantern. I assume that makes it easy to find my page. Another option would be to include "thesession.org" as a keyword when you upload a recording. And of course provide a link here, either in the tune comments, and/or in your profile.
With links in our profiles, it will become easy for each of us to find the links of the people we want to listen to--whether good players, or friends, or people at a session we want to attend (to learn the local settings).
Re: A website idea Jeremy doesn't have to bother with.
Maybe we could come up with some mechanism to provide a list of tunes that people would like a recording for. Also is the idea of the recording to play slowly as you would when teaching a tune or just play at normal session speed and let people work their own magic on the mp3.
Maybe the comment section would be a reasonable way to go for requesting/offering link to a recording but this would really only work well on the new submissions.
Re: A website idea Jeremy doesn't have to bother with.
Whether you play slow, break a tune into call and response, or just play the tune at tempo is up to you. No reason you can't do it several different ways, too.
Re: A website idea Jeremy doesn't have to bother with.
I'm all for people linking to recordings of themselves playing tunes. If you record yourself playing a tune and upload it to Sound Lantern or anywhere else, just take a few moments to seek out that same tune on The Session and, in the comments section of the tune, add a link directly to the MP3 (and of course, feel free to add a few words about what you think of the tune, etc.).
You can go ahead and add MP3 links in your profile too but I think the recordings will be more valuable if they are directly associated with the tune listing.
Re: A website idea Jeremy doesn't have to bother with.
Oh, and on a related note, if you find a video on YouTube of someone playing a tune, please add that link in the relevant tune listing here too (rather than submitting a discussion).
Re: A website idea Jeremy doesn't have to bother with.
There's two separate ideas here:
1) when submitting a tune to the tune database- the playing of it to assist others in learning it.
2) submitting a recording to establish one's 'street cred'.
In relation to (1) not everyone submitting a tune would be able to play it competently!! - so you might argue reasonably that they shouldn't submit it that case. But this would lead to others posting multiple links - 'here's a better job/ my version/ flute/ fiddle/ box version' etc. - delete as appropriate.
I guess all would be better that the MIDI file but at least that is standardised - you can't argue about it.
Re: A website idea Jeremy doesn't have to bother with.
Jeremy writes: "Oh, and on a related note, if you find a video on YouTube of someone playing a tune, please add that link in the relevant tune listing here too (rather than submitting a discussion)."
~~~
Many times I have been inspired by videos on YouTube and Comaltas to transcribe and submit tunes to the database linking to the video. If the tune already has been submitted I'll add my transcription and link to the video in the comments section.
I just thought the added personal touch of members recording themselves playing their settings of tunes would enhance the musical dialogue in the tunes section even more.
Re: A website idea Jeremy doesn't have to bother with.
...I do not like the idea of someone posting links to their tunes because they feel they deserve credibility or vindication...
I do like the idea of sharing and learning tunes from others...especially those who's opinion I already respect (not that it matters to anyone but myself)
Re: A website idea Jeremy doesn't have to bother with.
I'm all for it, and have signed up for Sound Lantern- but I'm a cassette tape/rotary telephone/ball point pen low-tech Luddite being dragged kicking and screaming into a digital world. I have to figure it all out.
Re: A website idea Jeremy doesn't have to bother with.
Sugarfoot Jack, you might be pleasantly surprised ? Some people do actually like to help and encourage others, and to be considerate of their feelings.
Re: A website idea Jeremy doesn't have to bother with.
I'm like Greg the Piano Tuner - very low tech. Anyone have any suggestions for where to look to find out how to do this and what a good recording device is? I don't have any children at home to help me through the digital process.
Re: A website idea Jeremy doesn't have to bother with.
The one good thing about posting the links in your profile, as opposed to in the tune discussion is that you can edit your profile in the future, whereas posts in the tune comments are "frozen in amber" (or mustard, as the case may be...)
And without knowing much about it, Iwould have some concern about SoundLantern disappearing someday, and we'd all be stuck with dead links...
But anyway, I'm all for it. I have various recordings that I will post in tune discussions when I get a chance
2. Plug a microphone into your computer, if it doesn't already have one built in.
3. Click the red Record button and play something. You should see waveforms (they like seismograph readings) created in the window as you play.
4. Click File and select "Export as WAV" (you have to do an extra download to make an mp3--but WAV will work fine, for a short recording) and save the file to your desktop.
5. Upload that WAV file to Sound Lantern (follow their directions).
Re: A website idea Jeremy doesn't have to bother with.
I recommend actually doing the extra download of the LAME mp3 encoding library, so that you can export as mp3. It's easy enough to do, you download the appropriate file, and then just tell Audacity where to find the library (in Preferences->File Formats->Find Library), because mp3 files are smaller and easier to deal with. Instructions can be found here: http://audacity.sourceforge.net/help/faq?s=install&i=lame-mp3
Re: A website idea Jeremy doesn't have to bother with.
Well, I got my Sound Lantern account set up, and actually recorded myself playing The Haunted House jig on my flute- but the upload didn't work and I don't know why. Oh well, I guess I need to find a 10-year old to show me how.
Re: A website idea Jeremy doesn't have to bother with.
Greg, I loved your description of those of us still in the foothills of the great learning curve of technology.
Can I join your club ? I´ve got all the qualifications
Re: A website idea Jeremy doesn't have to bother with.
I've been on Sound Lantern since 'Jim-Fiddle4' put the link up on here, and enjoy listening to all the different bits and pieces, particulary the traditional music. I think the ideas muted on here are great, but is there a chance that we will swamp the site with ITM. It would be interesting to see if ''Basil' has any objection. I hope not because we need something like that.
Re: A website idea Jeremy doesn't have to bother with.
I think this is a great Idea that could bring us all forward - and help us all learn from each other.
Another Idea that has struck my mind is if we could provide links from session pages to podcasts/mp3 recordings of sessions. All it really takes is to allow someone leave an MP3 - recorder on the table for an hour or so - and preferably have someone screen to make sure it has reasonable quality before submitting it.
Sitting at my loft with few tune sessions in the vincinity I would happily surf my way to Will´s session in Montana and spend a few hours having a go at the session and tunes played there.
Of course, it the tunes were somewhat representative of what goes on in each place this would add value, but I would much more enjoy an authentic recording than a polished studio recording.
Re: A website idea Jeremy doesn't have to bother with.
Greg Piano Tuner, I use Mac, although I don't use Garage Band, but if you've used it to get an mp3 file onto your desktop ok, then I assume the problem must be with the procedure at Soundlantern.
You have to log into your account, go to the 'sounds' section, do 'upload sound', fill in the details, browse for the desk top file, and click 'upload'. It'll then take a few minutes to complete the task. Maybe quite a long time, or even fail, if there's a slow connection or heavy traffic.
Re: A website idea Jeremy doesn't have to bother with.
Free reed,
I don't think Basil will be too worried about us swamping Soundlantern with ITM, as far as I know he's just pleased to see the site expanding with so many new members.
Re: A website idea Jeremy doesn't have to bother with.
If Basil bails, there's always YouTube. You don't need an actual "movie" of yourself playing--it can be a photo slideshow, or even just one still shot, with a "soundtrack."
Windows XP has a feature called Movie Maker, and the Mac has iMovie. Drag and drop your jpeg file(s) and mp3 or wav file(s), save your "movie," and upload the whole mess to YouTube. Our tunes would be a tiny drop in that giant bucket.
Re: A website idea Jeremy doesn't have to bother with.
This is advice for people recording stuff with Macs on Garageband.
Garageband automatically records stuff as an AAC file. If you are uploading stuff (on email, which I;ve done, or Soundlantern, which I haven't as I am way too rubbish to post anything here) you will find that your computer gets very grumpy if your uploads are AAC. But here is what you do. You go to "share" on the top bar thingy on Garageband and click "export to iTunes." Once the track is uploaded into iTunes, you have the option, when you click on the "advanced" tab in iTubes, to convert it into an mp3. After it is converted into an mp3, it should be no problem uploading it onto whatever.
A website idea Jeremy doesn't have to bother with.
A website idea Jeremy doesn't have to bother with.
After listening to and enjoying the personal playing of a couple of members in recent threads it occurred to me there might be a way to enhance the comments section in the tune database and get to know each other as musicians at the same time. We already add ABCs of our particular settings for tunes, and references are made to commercial recordings, YouTube and Comhaltas videos etc., but since there's so much ease to record ourselves and posting mp3s these days -- why not add links to mp3s of ourselves actually playing the tunes if we're so inclined.
For example, when Will submits a tune he might also include an mp3 of him playing it. I would find it very interesting to hear him and others doing this. There would be no copyright infringement for Jeremy to worry about, and it would be a lot like how it is if we lived in the same town when we teach each other tunes.
People might also submit links to mp3s of their session playing a given tune. This would add much more insight and enhance our musical sharing. Even the likes of Michael Gill, (Llig) Mr. Anti-Dot himself might appreciate this feature... or idea as it were.
# Posted on June 19th 2008 by Phantom Button
Re: A website idea Jeremy doesn't have to bother with.
Jack, now that I've actually taken the time to suss out how to record on my laptop, and how to upload on Sound Lanter, I plan on using it more. Though I was mostly thinking of posting clips to help people who've asked me for bowing tips, etc., on specific tunes or phrases. E.g., someone recently asked me for the Roscommon Reel. I was thinking it would be handy to record slow versions of each of the three parts, demonstrating some variations, and then three times through at tempo.
It's certainly easy enough to post a Sound Lantern or YouTube link in the comments section of a tune, or in your member profile. And the results would be so much better than the midi file.
# Posted on June 19th 2008 by Will CPT
Re: A website idea Jeremy doesn't have to bother with.
Also, I suspect 99.9% of the people here would participate in the spirit of simply sharing the tunes, as you would playing down at your local.
Great idea.
# Posted on June 19th 2008 by Will CPT
Re: A website idea Jeremy doesn't have to bother with.
I think that's a great idea. My rolls are nothing to brag about, but I recently heard a young violinist/aspiring fiddler play some in obvious imitation of a midi file's version of a roll! Yikes!
# Posted on June 19th 2008 by mickray
Re: A website idea Jeremy doesn't have to bother with.
99.9% of the 27,000 people here is 26,973 people. If they all provided two mp3's, would the internet explode?
(Actually, I think it's a great idea. I hope SoundLantern is ready for this!)
# Posted on June 19th 2008 by grego
Re: A website idea Jeremy doesn't have to bother with.
One of the things I hate about the tunes database is the midis, (all though I understand why it needs to be included,) but this would begin to build an useful and more reasonable alternative. Also, we could have something else to refer people to who seem to depend on the midis.
As soon as I get my setup in order I plan to start contributing in this way, unless I hear any objections to the idea. I would certainly update the tunes I composed off the top, but there are some tunes that I have no commercially recorded version to refer people to. Also, some of the tunes I play are amalgamations that blend with the local repertoire, and this is one aspect I would find interesting to compare what versions are played in other member’s local sessions.
# Posted on June 19th 2008 by Phantom Button
Re: A website idea Jeremy doesn't have to bother with.
It would explode, grego. In fact, they'd have to add another two wires to every phone line. Let's do it. Let's upload!
# Posted on June 19th 2008 by Mark Harmer
Re: A website idea Jeremy doesn't have to bother with.
will, I think some slow tunes to learn from would be awesome...listened to your clips and think that I could stand to learn a lot from your playing
# Posted on June 20th 2008 by Sunnybear
Re: A website idea Jeremy doesn't have to bother with.
Hear hear Phantom.
# Posted on June 20th 2008 by Whiddler
Re: A website idea Jeremy doesn't have to bother with.
A word of caution here: This concept was adopted on the Chiff and Fipple Flute Forum some time ago and has been used (abused?) to intimidate members who frequently post advice, but have not posted clips. The idea seems to be that if you are going to "talk" like you know what you're doing, you need to post clips of your playing so that all may assess your ability level in order to decide just how much your advice is worth. I'm not saying that this is a bad thing, but it has created a degree of rancor on that forum.
# Posted on June 20th 2008 by jtrout
Re: A website idea Jeremy doesn't have to bother with.
Can you direct us to a thread that exemplifies the hazard?
# Posted on June 20th 2008 by Phantom Button
Re: A website idea Jeremy doesn't have to bother with.
I think this is a great idea
http://www.thesession.org/discussions/display/18141/comments#comment377766
I think this will link through to where I already sort of suggested this in Benhall's thread.
Once we have joined Soundlantern how do we get each other linked so it is easier to go trawling for tunes.
I like the idea of hearing how tunes are played differently in the various sessions in different parts of the world.
# Posted on June 20th 2008 by Donough
Re: A website idea Jeremy doesn't have to bother with.
funny how I was a 'tard for suggesting the same thing a year ago....
# Posted on June 20th 2008 by silver bow
Re: A website idea Jeremy doesn't have to bother with.
silver bow, that's because it was you and me posting tunes a year ago, not Will and Ben
# Posted on June 20th 2008 by Reverend
Re: A website idea Jeremy doesn't have to bother with.
We'll get some decent mikes maybe moving forward, but here's our contribution, some snippets I finally figgered out how to hack up from a recent session recorded on someone's PDA. No amazingly revolutionary material here, just craic.
http://www.soundlantern.com/UpdatedUser.do?UsName=SWFLFiddler&UsId=1148
We do need to a find a way to get everyone connected with the Lantern, sure would be cool.
# Posted on June 20th 2008 by SWFL Fiddler
Re: A website idea Jeremy doesn't have to bother with.
Phantom: Re: "Posting Clips':
http://chiffboard.mati.ca/viewtopic.php?t=57440&highlight=posting+clips
# Posted on June 20th 2008 by jtrout
Re: A website idea Jeremy doesn't have to bother with.
My take on the matter is that posting clips in your profile potentially gives you further credibility (or less, depending). I don't see us degenerating into a two-tiered culture where people who have posted clips are treated differently than people who haven't.
As has been mentioned, people can generally tell when someone knows what they're talking about. The firestorm of the last few days that led to somewhat of a flurry of posted recordings held no surprises for me as to how much weight I should put into people's opinions - from the bad to the good. There are numerous people here whose opinions I value, but have never heard them play. Likewise, there are a few eejits here whose opinions I don't value, even without having heard them play. (And my opinions have generally been validated when I did hear clips, both positive and negative).
But posting clips gives people a clearer idea of who you are and where you're coming from. I'm not crazy about any of the clips that I've posted, but I also don't shy away from reality. And I've posted them willingly, without anyone goading me into doing it. Although, my reasons for posting have never been to impress, but rather to share, and inform.
And since this is primarily an aural tradition, I think the more posted clips, the better!
# Posted on June 20th 2008 by Reverend
Re: A website idea Jeremy doesn't have to bother with.
I really don't like the exercise of recording myself. I don't like the mic staring at me, I don't like freezing my playing in amber, like some 30 million year old mosquito, and I don't like *trying* to play at the top of my game, which typically only impairs any ability I might have to play at all.
But I love sharing tunes and focusing on the aural nature of this music, rather than dry heaving words and abcs at it. Given that we're all scattered around the globe yet connected here, recordings are likely the next best thing (and far less expensive and carbon costly) to actual travel and face-to-face sessions.
At the same time, I don't see any reason to pressure anyone into recording if they don't want to. It's really not much different than posting or lurking, and there shouldn't be any stigma attached to posting comments but not posting recordings, assuming that Jeremy's "be civil" rule is enforced and people participate (in whatever mode they chose) in good faith, out of love for the music.
This may be the best way for us to swap tunes, share different settings of tunes, explore variations, explain technique and style, and get back to the tunes (rather than all the blather we spout
).
One easy way to track people on Sound Lantern would be to use your same screen name. Mine is willcpt (no space) on Sound Lantern. I assume that makes it easy to find my page. Another option would be to include "thesession.org" as a keyword when you upload a recording. And of course provide a link here, either in the tune comments, and/or in your profile.
With links in our profiles, it will become easy for each of us to find the links of the people we want to listen to--whether good players, or friends, or people at a session we want to attend (to learn the local settings).
Yay!
# Posted on June 20th 2008 by Will CPT
Re: A website idea Jeremy doesn't have to bother with.
I've now done that Will, but there are no tunes in it yet. I might put
a couple up next week.
# Posted on June 20th 2008 by Hup
Re: A website idea Jeremy doesn't have to bother with.
Maybe we could come up with some mechanism to provide a list of tunes that people would like a recording for. Also is the idea of the recording to play slowly as you would when teaching a tune or just play at normal session speed and let people work their own magic on the mp3.
Maybe the comment section would be a reasonable way to go for requesting/offering link to a recording but this would really only work well on the new submissions.
# Posted on June 20th 2008 by Donough
Re: A website idea Jeremy doesn't have to bother with.
Whether you play slow, break a tune into call and response, or just play the tune at tempo is up to you. No reason you can't do it several different ways, too.
# Posted on June 20th 2008 by Will CPT
Re: A website idea Jeremy doesn't have to bother with.
I'm all for people linking to recordings of themselves playing tunes. If you record yourself playing a tune and upload it to Sound Lantern or anywhere else, just take a few moments to seek out that same tune on The Session and, in the comments section of the tune, add a link directly to the MP3 (and of course, feel free to add a few words about what you think of the tune, etc.).
You can go ahead and add MP3 links in your profile too but I think the recordings will be more valuable if they are directly associated with the tune listing.
Will CPT, do you want to get the ball rolling by adding a link in the comments to Sergeant Early's Dream?
http://www.thesession.org/tunes/display/1651
G'wan, g'wan, g'wan...
# Posted on June 20th 2008 by Jeremy
Re: A website idea Jeremy doesn't have to bother with.
Oh, and on a related note, if you find a video on YouTube of someone playing a tune, please add that link in the relevant tune listing here too (rather than submitting a discussion).
# Posted on June 20th 2008 by Jeremy
Re: A website idea Jeremy doesn't have to bother with.
There's two separate ideas here:
1) when submitting a tune to the tune database- the playing of it to assist others in learning it.
2) submitting a recording to establish one's 'street cred'.
In relation to (1) not everyone submitting a tune would be able to play it competently!! - so you might argue reasonably that they shouldn't submit it that case. But this would lead to others posting multiple links - 'here's a better job/ my version/ flute/ fiddle/ box version' etc. - delete as appropriate.
I guess all would be better that the MIDI file but at least that is standardised - you can't argue about it.
# Posted on June 20th 2008 by the wounded hussar
Re: A website idea Jeremy doesn't have to bother with.
Right hussar. and then we get into ratings with stars--this can be good or not so good. seems to work on youtube,
# Posted on June 20th 2008 by leoj
Re: A website idea Jeremy doesn't have to bother with.
Jeremy writes: "Oh, and on a related note, if you find a video on YouTube of someone playing a tune, please add that link in the relevant tune listing here too (rather than submitting a discussion)."
~~~
Many times I have been inspired by videos on YouTube and Comaltas to transcribe and submit tunes to the database linking to the video. If the tune already has been submitted I'll add my transcription and link to the video in the comments section.
I just thought the added personal touch of members recording themselves playing their settings of tunes would enhance the musical dialogue in the tunes section even more.
# Posted on June 20th 2008 by Phantom Button
Re: A website idea Jeremy doesn't have to bother with.
Now you've ruined it, Phantom. Are you in league with jig by any chance?
(Really a long overdue addition!)
# Posted on June 20th 2008 by leoj
Re: A website idea Jeremy doesn't have to bother with.
...I do not like the idea of someone posting links to their tunes because they feel they deserve credibility or vindication...
I do like the idea of sharing and learning tunes from others...especially those who's opinion I already respect (not that it matters to anyone but myself)
# Posted on June 20th 2008 by Sunnybear
Re: A website idea Jeremy doesn't have to bother with.
I'm all for it, and have signed up for Sound Lantern- but I'm a cassette tape/rotary telephone/ball point pen low-tech Luddite being dragged kicking and screaming into a digital world. I have to figure it all out.
# Posted on June 20th 2008 by Greg the Piano Tuner
Re: A website idea Jeremy doesn't have to bother with.
I'm reminded of a T-shirt a friend once had, on which was written "Nobody is completely useless: they can always serve as a bad example".
# Posted on June 20th 2008 by de Selby
Re: A website idea Jeremy doesn't have to bother with.
I don't have any cred here, but if I submitted an mp3 of playing I'd have a great deal less after.
Waaayyyy too intimidating.
# Posted on June 20th 2008 by Sugarfoot Jack
Re: A website idea Jeremy doesn't have to bother with.
Sugarfoot Jack, you might be pleasantly surprised ? Some people do actually like to help and encourage others, and to be considerate of their feelings.
# Posted on June 20th 2008 by wolfbird
Re: A website idea Jeremy doesn't have to bother with.
Oh yeah Jack. I mean, I posted my shabby nonsense and no one's eviscerated me yet. It's all good!
# Posted on June 20th 2008 by SWFL Fiddler
Re: A website idea Jeremy doesn't have to bother with.
I'm like Greg the Piano Tuner - very low tech. Anyone have any suggestions for where to look to find out how to do this and what a good recording device is? I don't have any children at home to help me through the digital process.
# Posted on June 20th 2008 by John Culhane
Re: A website idea Jeremy doesn't have to bother with.
The one good thing about posting the links in your profile, as opposed to in the tune discussion is that you can edit your profile in the future, whereas posts in the tune comments are "frozen in amber" (or mustard, as the case may be...)
And without knowing much about it, Iwould have some concern about SoundLantern disappearing someday, and we'd all be stuck with dead links...
But anyway, I'm all for it. I have various recordings that I will post in tune discussions when I get a chance
# Posted on June 20th 2008 by Reverend
Re: A website idea Jeremy doesn't have to bother with.
Here's one way to make recordings for Sound Lantern:
1. Download Audacity (free, works great)
http://audacity.sourceforge.net/ and set the input to "Microphone"
2. Plug a microphone into your computer, if it doesn't already have one built in.
3. Click the red Record button and play something. You should see waveforms (they like seismograph readings) created in the window as you play.
4. Click File and select "Export as WAV" (you have to do an extra download to make an mp3--but WAV will work fine, for a short recording) and save the file to your desktop.
5. Upload that WAV file to Sound Lantern (follow their directions).
# Posted on June 20th 2008 by mickray
Re: A website idea Jeremy doesn't have to bother with.
I recommend actually doing the extra download of the LAME mp3 encoding library, so that you can export as mp3. It's easy enough to do, you download the appropriate file, and then just tell Audacity where to find the library (in Preferences->File Formats->Find Library), because mp3 files are smaller and easier to deal with. Instructions can be found here: http://audacity.sourceforge.net/help/faq?s=install&i=lame-mp3
# Posted on June 20th 2008 by Reverend
Re: A website idea Jeremy doesn't have to bother with.
I've been waiting for this snowball to grow for so long. Thanks to all who are going to get into this. Maybe one day I'll post my own versions
# Posted on June 21st 2008 by Brown Creeper
Re: A website idea Jeremy doesn't have to bother with.
Well, I got my Sound Lantern account set up, and actually recorded myself playing The Haunted House jig on my flute- but the upload didn't work and I don't know why. Oh well, I guess I need to find a 10-year old to show me how.
# Posted on June 21st 2008 by Greg the Piano Tuner
Re: A website idea Jeremy doesn't have to bother with.
PS- I'm using Garage Band with a MacBook
# Posted on June 21st 2008 by Greg the Piano Tuner
Re: A website idea Jeremy doesn't have to bother with.
"I recommend actually doing the extra download of the LAME mp3 encoding library"
Or even better, export to ogg/vorbis, a free alternative.
# Posted on June 21st 2008 by Ramiro
Re: A website idea Jeremy doesn't have to bother with.
Greg, I loved your description of those of us still in the foothills of the great learning curve of technology.
Can I join your club ? I´ve got all the qualifications
# Posted on June 21st 2008 by murfbox
Re: A website idea Jeremy doesn't have to bother with.
I've been on Sound Lantern since 'Jim-Fiddle4' put the link up on here, and enjoy listening to all the different bits and pieces, particulary the traditional music. I think the ideas muted on here are great, but is there a chance that we will swamp the site with ITM. It would be interesting to see if ''Basil' has any objection. I hope not because we need something like that.
# Posted on June 21st 2008 by Free Reed
Re: A website idea Jeremy doesn't have to bother with.
I think this is a great Idea that could bring us all forward - and help us all learn from each other.
Another Idea that has struck my mind is if we could provide links from session pages to podcasts/mp3 recordings of sessions. All it really takes is to allow someone leave an MP3 - recorder on the table for an hour or so - and preferably have someone screen to make sure it has reasonable quality before submitting it.
Sitting at my loft with few tune sessions in the vincinity I would happily surf my way to Will´s session in Montana and spend a few hours having a go at the session and tunes played there.
Of course, it the tunes were somewhat representative of what goes on in each place this would add value, but I would much more enjoy an authentic recording than a polished studio recording.
# Posted on June 21st 2008 by MrGanAinm
Re: A website idea Jeremy doesn't have to bother with.
Greg Piano Tuner, I use Mac, although I don't use Garage Band, but if you've used it to get an mp3 file onto your desktop ok, then I assume the problem must be with the procedure at Soundlantern.
You have to log into your account, go to the 'sounds' section, do 'upload sound', fill in the details, browse for the desk top file, and click 'upload'. It'll then take a few minutes to complete the task. Maybe quite a long time, or even fail, if there's a slow connection or heavy traffic.
Any help ?
# Posted on June 21st 2008 by wolfbird
Re: A website idea Jeremy doesn't have to bother with.
I thought I knew what brainstorming was, but this seems to me more of a typhoon! And technologically way over my head.
It all sounds positive. What a team, and my hats off to all of you.
Now, Greg --- what is a cassette player?
Rook
(also trying to catch up with the third millenium)
# Posted on June 21st 2008 by Rook
Re: A website idea Jeremy doesn't have to bother with.
"Nobody is completely useless: they can always serve as a bad example".
lol ... good one "de selby". that would be me... posting my playing of a tune as a counter-example of how *NOT* to play a tune!
I did, however, open up an account on Soundlantern, so maybe if I can figure out this blackmagic of digital recording, etc... ???
Cheers!
# Posted on June 21st 2008 by browndog
Re: A website idea Jeremy doesn't have to bother with.
Free reed,
I don't think Basil will be too worried about us swamping Soundlantern with ITM, as far as I know he's just pleased to see the site expanding with so many new members.
# Posted on June 21st 2008 by cathycook
Re: A website idea Jeremy doesn't have to bother with.
If Basil bails, there's always YouTube. You don't need an actual "movie" of yourself playing--it can be a photo slideshow, or even just one still shot, with a "soundtrack."
Windows XP has a feature called Movie Maker, and the Mac has iMovie. Drag and drop your jpeg file(s) and mp3 or wav file(s), save your "movie," and upload the whole mess to YouTube. Our tunes would be a tiny drop in that giant bucket.
# Posted on June 21st 2008 by mickray
Re: A website idea Jeremy doesn't have to bother with.
This is advice for people recording stuff with Macs on Garageband.
Garageband automatically records stuff as an AAC file. If you are uploading stuff (on email, which I;ve done, or Soundlantern, which I haven't as I am way too rubbish to post anything here) you will find that your computer gets very grumpy if your uploads are AAC. But here is what you do. You go to "share" on the top bar thingy on Garageband and click "export to iTunes." Once the track is uploaded into iTunes, you have the option, when you click on the "advanced" tab in iTubes, to convert it into an mp3. After it is converted into an mp3, it should be no problem uploading it onto whatever.
# Posted on June 21st 2008 by TheSilverSpear