Unutterably Silly Corrupt-A-Topic (anymore off-topic and it would be on-topic)

[Dylrob]

Originally Posted by WT Sharpe

Some of the computer speech programs are getting pretty sophisticated. That function will also be capable of being performed by silicone in the near future.

*sigh*

My grandmother will be rolling in her grave.

[WT Sharpe]

Originally Posted by red_pheonix

If all actors are replaced by CGI characters what will happen to the paparazzi?

They'll all be replaced by computer viruses that look for flaws in the CGI actors to ridicule on the Internet.

[Solitaire1]

Could a significant factor in the woes of the music industry be the result of two factors: "good enough" and "lasts a lifetime"?

Good Enough:

In the past, the music industry could release music in newer and better formats that prompted many to replace the music they had already bought in a newer and better format. Wax cylinder was replaced by shallac disc, which was replaced by the LP and 45, which were then rivaled and then existed alongside the 8-track tape and the cassette, and then finally the CD which replaced them all. This resulted in repeated sales for the same music and recurring money stream for the record industry. I have re-bought some musical albums a number of times because wear and tear through regular use (with one album I bought it once on cassette which I wore out, two times on LP [one for playing and the other as a backup and eventual replacement], and then once on CD).

Then, CD was introduced and it was good enough for majority of listeners, who felt no need to upgrade to a better format. Considering that for many people the lower sound quality of lossy compressed musical formats (including, but not limited to, MP3, AAC, WMA, and Ogg Vorbis) are fine for day to day use, I think it works against the introduction of a successor to CD.

Lasts Of Lifetime:

This goes hand in hand with the above. Until CD was introduced, each music format wore out over time as you used it, prompting you to replace your worn-out copy with a new copy. I remember reading/hearing that one of the reasons that Pink Floyd's "Dark Side Of The Moon" stayed on the Billboard Chart so long (per Wikipedia it stayed on the Billboard Chart for 741 weeks) is that people regularly rebought the album as their copies wore out.

Now, you buy the album one time and that's it. I still have my original CDs (the ones I bought with my first CD player over 25 years ago) and they still play as well today as they did the day I bought them. In addition, the non-physical formats don't need replacement since there is nothing to wear out.

To sum it up, I think the days of people buying same music over and over again are over for a majority of people. Overall, it seems that CD is good enough.

[HomeInMyShoes]

Originally Posted by WT Sharpe

They'll all be replaced by computer viruses that look for flaws in the CGI actors to ridicule on the Internet.

Human nature is wonderful.

[Solitaire1]

Originally Posted by Dylrob

And keep in mind that a CGI character still needs a voice actor.

It's likely that the cost of hiring a voice actor is significantly lower than that of an on-screen actor. Plus, many voice actors perform multiple roles in the same television program. As an example:

Dragonball Z Kai
Sean Schemmel: Goku and King Kai
Christopher R. Sabat: Piccolo, Vegeta and Yamcha

Also, some voice actors perform on many different series, such as:

Spike Spencer
Shinji Ikari on "Neon Genesis Evangelion"
Hanataro Yamada on "Bleach"
Akito Tenkawa on "Martian Successor Nadesico"

Cathy Weseluck
Shampoo on "Ranma 1/2"
Spike on "My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic"

Monica Rial
Bulma on "Dragonball Z Kai"
Hyatt on "Excel Saga"
Shii on "Puni Puni Poemi"
Ao on "Grrlpower!"

With a CGI character, it should just be a matter of getting the right voice actor.

[badgoodDeb]

Originally Posted by Solitaire1

It's likely that the cost of hiring a voice actor is significantly lower than that of an on-screen actor. Plus, many voice actors perform multiple roles in the same television program. As an example:

Dragonball Z Kai
Sean Schemmel: Goku and King Kai
Christopher R. Sabat: Piccolo, Vegeta and Yamcha

Also, some voice actors perform on many different series, such as:

Spike Spencer
Shinji Ikari on "Neon Genesis Evangelion"
Hanataro Yamada on "Bleach"
Akito Tenkawa on "Martian Successor Nadesico"

Cathy Weseluck
Shampoo on "Ranma 1/2"
Spike on "My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic"

Monica Rial
Bulma on "Dragonball Z Kai"
Hyatt on "Excel Saga"
Shii on "Puni Puni Poemi"
Ao on "Grrlpower!"

With a CGI character, it should just be a matter of getting the right voice actor.

Yeah, but Mel Blanc is gone!!! When the best is gone, who's left?

[HomeInMyShoes]

Carl Stalling! Just listen to the music and you see the action.

[WT Sharpe]

Originally Posted by HomeInMyShoes

Carl Stalling! Just listen to the music and you see the action.

How did he get that name? Did his parent's car break down on the way to the hospital?

[Javed]

Red Bull Stratos, a mission to the edge of space, will attempt to transcend human limits that have existed for 50 years. Supported by a team of experts Felix Baumgartner plans to ascend to 120,000 feet in a stratospheric balloon and make a freefall jump rushing toward earth at supersonic speeds before parachuting to the ground. His attempt to dare atmospheric limits holds the potential to provide valuable medical and scientific research data for future pioneers.

Just over two hours before the launch into the stratosphere for the jump. Can't wait to see if he breaks the sound barrier. More details here.

Can be seen live here soon. Good luck Felix and team.

[orlok]

I see they've just delayed the launch time by an hour and a half. Presumably weather related?

[qlob]

Originally Posted by Javed

Just over two hours before the launch into the stratosphere for the jump. Can't wait to see if he breaks the sound barrier. More details here.
Can be seen live here soon. Good luck Felix and team.

I saw this on slashdot... I thoughthe was going to launch earlier..

[PainMike]

Effectively cleaned my coffeemaker to lose the good taste.

[WT Sharpe]

Originally Posted by Javed

Just over two hours before the launch into the stratosphere for the jump. Can't wait to see if he breaks the sound barrier. More details here.

Can be seen live here soon. Good luck Felix and team.

He did. And lived. First Superman, and now Felix. Amazing.

[Solitaire1]

Originally Posted by HomeInMyShoes

Carl Stalling! Just listen to the music and you see the action.

Carl Stalling, one of the key persons in the development of sound in cartoons!
Another one to mention is Scott Brady, what Stalling was for Warner Brothers, Brady was for MGM.

[Solitaire1]

Originally Posted by badgoodDeb

Yeah, but Mel Blanc is gone!!! When the best is gone, who's left?

Mel Blanc was truly great. After his passing, in many shows it has taken more than a half-dozen people to do all of the voices that he did himself. Although didn't do all of the voices for the Warner Brothers cartoons (as an example, Elmer Fudd was originally voiced by Arthur Q. Bryant who actually talked that way, Granny was voiced by June Foray, and Pete Puma was voiced by Stan Freberg) he did so many great voices. Not only for Warner Brothers, but for others as well (Jack Benny's car, Woody Woodpecker for the Walter Lantz Studio, Barney Rubble on "The Flintstones," Mr. Spacely on "The Jetsons," Heathcliff on the series of the same name, and the Cat in Disney's "Pinocchio"). Although there are many great voice actors around (including but not limited to: Corey Burton, Jeff Bennett, Grey DeLisle, Tara Strong, Wendee Lee, Steve Blum, Nicole Oliver, Kyle Hebert, Michelle Ruff, Debbie Derryberry, and Tom Kenny), Mel Blanc was a master.