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BBC Virtual Session

BBC Virtual Session

Hi guys, quick question for all you computer type people out there,(you know who you are ;) ). Is there anyway of saving the BBC V. Session onto cd? or is that just a big no no? Cant really get away with playing the pipes in my office while pretending to work....... any help will be appreciated!
Oh Athbhliain faoi mhaise daoibh :) Pol.

# Posted on January 4th 2005 by macfion

Re: BBC Virtual Session

You would be able to record the "streaming" ie the tunes and these could be saved on disc, tape, cd etc. I'm not sure if there's a facility to print out the sets of sheet music but I suppose you could do it by hand, if necessary.
So while you wouldn't be able to download the program as such, you could get most of what you need but it might be a bit cumbersome.

# Posted on January 4th 2005 by Johannes J

Re: BBC Virtual Session

I'd be happy to have a look to see if I can help.

To save me a job, please post the url. I remember seeing the page once and writing a couple of e-mails to them but I didn't save the url.

# Posted on January 4th 2005 by Gael Force

Re: BBC Virtual Session

In what format are the streamed files? There is software that can download streamed files and save them to your hard-drive. Post the url and I'll test it.

# Posted on January 4th 2005 by Gael Force

Re: BBC Virtual Session

The URL is http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio2/r2music/folk/sessions/
There is a print button when you open a session so you can print each tune.

# Posted on January 4th 2005 by Lurcherjohn

Re: BBC Virtual Session

I've visited the site many times. When I first started playing the mandolin just over a year ago I couldn't keep up to speed with any of the tunes . . doh! But returned to it last night after 6 months of practice and . . . I was filled with joy and plumptiosness, yes I can now keep up with most of the tunes . . smart!

# Posted on January 4th 2005 by Justintime

Re: BBC Virtual Session

Especially the hornpipes.

# Posted on January 4th 2005 by Justintime

Re: BBC Virtual Session

Except that /Maggie in the Woods/ is misnamed and mis-notated as a Hornpipe, oh dear.

Change the time sig to 2/4, halve the value of each note and play it like it should be played, as a Polka. I remember why I wrote to them now, and that's not all...

Here's a can of worms (apologies to this site but it is the same here)... do you really think reels should be notated in 4/4? Maybe it's a hard truth to swallow but the answer is no.

*GF sits back and awaits the flack (but beware for I'm fully prepared for it)*

# Posted on January 4th 2005 by Gael Force

Re: BBC Virtual Session

Oh yeah, before I forget... the same goes for Hornpipes. :-)

The music is played by means of Flash player. I'm sorry but the software I referred to above doesn't download Flash files. I'm trying another approach. I'll let you know.

# Posted on January 4th 2005 by Gael Force

Re: BBC Virtual Session

mmm . . . just come off the Radio 2 site and tried some more tunes out . . . seems like I was a bit over the top earlier on . . there are still quite a few I'm struggling with . . the first 3 in the book . . Masons Apron , Silver Spear,and Maid Behind the Bar. It got me thinking though . . I might have got cloth ears, but I can only hear mainly whistles blowing . . . is it realistic for a mandolin player to play as fast as a whistle blower ?
I know the answer is probably yes . . I realise it takes years of practice to achieve this though.
Also , if anyone has visited the site would you say the tempo of the tunes were set at a average pace? I think they are a little fast . . . well I would say that wouldn't I !!

# Posted on January 4th 2005 by Justintime

Re: BBC Virtual Session

I'd say the pace was average-not too fast. However, I have the advantage of knowing most of them already. Those I haven't played before still require a bit of work.

# Posted on January 4th 2005 by Johannes J

Re: BBC Virtual Session

Thanks John J . . . if I practice as much as I have done this year (last year), this time NEXT year I hopefully may say the tunes are too slow . ! !

# Posted on January 4th 2005 by Justintime

Re: BBC Virtual Session

By the way John I see from your description you also play mandolin . . . well is it possible for a mandolin player to keep up with a whistle as I enquired earlier?

# Posted on January 4th 2005 by Justintime

Re: BBC Virtual Session

Sussed it (I'm good, me *heh heh*).

Open the page and then go your Start menu. Go to Programs/Accessories/System Tools/Disk Cleanup.
Chose drive C.
When the box pops up, highlight Tempopary Internet Files,.Click on Show Files and then Cancel the Clean Up box.
You'll open a window with lots of funnily named folders. Leave this window open.
Delete them all. remember to keep this window open.
It's better to delete the folders first to make it easier to find the files, you'll have fewer folders to look through; just the one's generated by opening the Flash player.
Now click on the tunes on the Webpage/Flash player.
Play the tunes.
New, funnily named folders will appear in the Temporary Internet Files/Content IE* window (which you kept open).
Inside one of these new folders is the swf file. Copy it and paste it where you want it.
Voila! You have the file. You might want to rename it.

Stewpot, you might find the discussion on Mandolins in sessions interesting.
http://thesession.org/discussions/display.php/5395

# Posted on January 4th 2005 by Gael Force

Re: BBC Virtual Session

I'd say it was probably easier for a good flute/whistle player and also fiddlers to play at really fast speeds. However, I emphasise the word *good*. I think picking out tunes on the mandolin is probably much easier to do during the learning stages. However, to play at speed and get all the notes in without faltering(especially reels) can take a lot of effort and practice. I'd say it was probably easier on the flute or fiddle, once you've mastered the instrument.

However, as I mentioned on the other thread, I can still play the mandolin better than the fiddle at this stage. Also, if I know the tunes really well on the mandolin, I can usually keep up to speed in an average session--though not necessarily with the "big boys". :-)

# Posted on January 4th 2005 by Johannes J

Re: BBC Virtual Session

And if I remember correctly, some of the tunes are played in one key, and notated in another. Blind one!

It's a pity the compression is so heavy - I'd love to get hold of those tracks at a higher sample rate; anyone know if the Beeb offers the recordings for sale as CDs or what-have-you? Great players, sessioning at a lovely pace to play along to.

# Posted on January 4th 2005 by Q

Re: BBC Virtual Session

I wouldn't say they were fast, Stew. They're moderately paced to help learners to play along. On average, reels are played more quickly than this in Manchester, especially by the younger players, but despair not, just enjoy yourself.

Listen out for the rhythm too. Is the amount of swing you're hearing the same as that of your favourite players on your CD's? Is it the same amount that you hear in your local session? Is it the same amount that you like for your own style? Try to be flexible. I play mainly with two different groups of people. One group predominently plays with even-quavers ala Clare style. The other group (Manchester) swings 'em good style (I prefer them swung or, as some people call it "dotted").

How's the weather in Barnsley, today? :-) It's sunny here, for a change.

# Posted on January 4th 2005 by Gael Force

Re: BBC Virtual Session

You can record the music with Total Recorder.

# Posted on March 1st 2003 by dafydd

Re: BBC Virtual Session

Programs like Total Recorder (very cheap!) can capture whatever goes to your speakers and save it in virtually any common format.

Bob

# Posted on January 4th 2005 by Bob himself

Re: BBC Virtual Session

Its nearly always nice in Barnsley ,but we are expecting gale force winds . . Gael Force . .

# Posted on January 4th 2005 by Justintime

Re: BBC Virtual Session

Ah ha ha... I must be sure to eat me peas before venturing out round those parts. Get peg on't nose, here comes a Gael Force wind...

Hey, I like that suggestion about using Total Recorder. It's a lot less involved than my idea, innit?

# Posted on January 5th 2005 by Gael Force

Re: BBC Virtual Session

You can save the .swf (Flash) files on to your hard dirve, and have the all the musical notation to print, etc. at your convenience.
I used Audio Hijack Pro on Mac OSX to rip the audio and then slow down in Transcribe! for learning some of the tunes.
I think its a great site.

# Posted on January 5th 2005 by Laughtonb

Re: BBC Virtual Session

You can use Screen Rip,(also very cheap) to copy the music and then print it.

# Posted on March 1st 2003 by dafydd

Re: BBC Virtual Session

Does anyody else find those flash people in the background kinda creepy?

# Posted on January 5th 2005 by CaliforniaPiper

Re: BBC Virtual Session

Hey, California, they're my friends!

Actually, they're a pretty good representation of what people look like after you've had eight or more pints - at least, as far as I remember.

# Posted on January 6th 2005 by grego

Re: BBC Virtual Session

Hehe, no offense meant Grego. Funny, you're expanlation made it all make sense. 8 pints can do that to one's vision. Perhaps if i try to play along after doing the same, they'll appear normal.

Cheers,
Mike

# Posted on January 6th 2005 by CaliforniaPiper

Re: BBC Virtual Session

I've wondered about the pace of the Virtual Session sets for quite awhile myself, not having the luxury of even attending any 'real' sessions - other that those I can attempt with some budding whistlers here in Mali. And, like stewpot, after about a year I too returned to the site and was very pleased with my progress on mandolin. Those reels CAN be played to tempo, but forget the written music (old wisdom, no doubt). Get it in you head and heart, close your eyes and trust your fingers - all the practicing is there to pay off. The human brain is an amazing thing!

# Posted on January 6th 2005 by Mande-Mando

Re: BBC Virtual Session

Oh yeah. As to the original question: I captured and burnt to CD with n-track studio - a very fine program at $45. Can do multi-layered recording - fun for the multi-instrumentalist.

# Posted on January 6th 2005 by Mande-Mando

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