The Vent and Rant Thread

[Stitchawl]

Originally Posted by WT Sharpe

You need some software now that's worthy of all that power. Have you considered a nice DAW?

I've been playing with Sony Acid, Steinberg's Cubase, and Fl Studio (my favorite) with my old machine. It was powerful enough to get the job done. This machine will really do it justice. My son sends me a music file that he records, I'll lay down another track beside it and send it back, he'll add in another and return it to me, I'll put down another... We've turned out some really horrible stuff this way...

But every once in a while, something nice pokes through. He takes it to his band and they work it into their act. In Japan I had an Appalachian dulcimer and an autoharp that I'd add in, but I sold them before we moved back to Thailand.

I'm going to have to load Fl Studio into this machine and see what it does!


Stitchawl

[Hitch]

Originally Posted by Stitchawl

I've been playing with Sony Acid, Steinberg's Cubase, and Fl Studio (my favorite) with my old machine. It was powerful enough to get the job done. This machine will really do it justice. My son sends me a music file that he records, I'll lay down another track beside it and send it back, he'll add in another and return it to me, I'll put down another... We've turned out some really horrible stuff this way...

But every once in a while, something nice pokes through. He takes it to his band and they work it into their act. In Japan I had an Appalachian dulcimer and an autoharp that I'd add in, but I sold them before we moved back to Thailand.

I'm going to have to load Fl Studio into this machine and see what it does!


Stitchawl

Are you running all of your programs, everything, on that 16gig solid-state drive? Or do you have anything on that terabyte?

Hitch

[Stitchawl]

Originally Posted by Hitch

Are you running all of your programs, everything, on that 16gig solid-state drive? Or do you have anything on that terabyte?

Hitch

The 16gig is the RAM memory of the machine. The SS drive is 256G. The only things that go on that solid state drive are the operating system and applications with their related plug-ins. It always seemed to me that the drive that failed the most was the main 'C' drive, so I keep nothing of importance on that that can't be replaced quickly with either installation CDs or Images/Clones. I also keep a spare hard drive pre-loaded with the operating system and applications, so if the main drive does crap out, it only takes me 5 minutes to swap drives and be back up and running. Nothing worse, professionally, than trying to tell a magazine editor that you aren't going to meet his deadline because your computer died...

All data is saved on external drives, usually in triplicate. I also have one back-up drive of just 'super critical' folders that are stored in a different location away from the house. Having just picked up another 4-terabyte external drive yesterday, I now have 8 terabytes of storage memory connected. That 4-terebyte drive cost less than I paid for a 500gig drive a few years ago... ? USB-3 transfer speeds make it all worthwhile.


Stitchawl

[Jessica Lares]

Oh man, you're going to have a lot of fun with that new machine. Makes my i5 look puny in comparison. I only have 4GB of RAM in mine too, really want to max it out to 16GB, but am not sure if it really is worth it.

FL Studio has always flown on any computer I've thrown it on.

[Hitch]

Originally Posted by Stitchawl

The 16gig is the RAM memory of the machine. The SS drive is 256G. The only things that go on that solid state drive are the operating system and applications with their related plug-ins. It always seemed to me that the drive that failed the most was the main 'C' drive, so I keep nothing of importance on that that can't be replaced quickly with either installation CDs or Images/Clones. I also keep a spare hard drive pre-loaded with the operating system and applications, so if the main drive does crap out, it only takes me 5 minutes to swap drives and be back up and running. Nothing worse, professionally, than trying to tell a magazine editor that you aren't going to meet his deadline because your computer died...

DUH. I mis-read your post. I was gobsmacked--programs on 16 gigs! I can't believe I just didn't give it a second thought to realize how dumb that was. I'm in the process of having to swap my 128gig SS for a 256SS HD on Sunday, so naturally, I was curious. But really, I should have thought before I typed.

All data is saved on external drives, usually in triplicate. I also have one back-up drive of just 'super critical' folders that are stored in a different location away from the house. Having just picked up another 4-terabyte external drive yesterday, I now have 8 terabytes of storage memory connected. That 4-terebyte drive cost less than I paid for a 500gig drive a few years ago... ? USB-3 transfer speeds make it all worthwhile.


Stitchawl

Yes, me too. I actually have a multiplicity of backups; I run dual RAIDS for all the data and program files; all my data files are on Dropbox; all our books and production materials are not only in each client's dropbox folder, but in the PM system as well, which is on an external server in addition to our internal folders; we do a weekly incremental backup to swappable drives; full backup monthly, and I put all the files, AGAIN, on my S-3 Amazon cloud storage on an ongoing basis. (I know--it's crazy. But...I get antsy if I don't have them backed up everywhere about...what, 5 times? Psycho, I know.).

So, sorry. Just...utter brain fart. {sigh}. I guess I'm more stressed about this weekend SSHD swap than I thought.

Thx.
Hitch

[Stitchawl]

WARNING PLEASE READ - I don't usually re-post these but...if someone comes to your front door and asks you to remove your clothes and dance with your arms in the air DO NOT do this, it is a SCAM, they just want to see you naked. Please copy and paste this to your status "WE NEED TO CREATE AWARENESS" -- I wish I had received this yesterday, I feel so stupid now...


Stitchawl

[kindlekitten]

Originally Posted by Stitchawl

WARNING PLEASE READ - I don't usually re-post these but...if someone comes to your front door and asks you to remove your clothes and dance with your arms in the air DO NOT do this, it is a SCAM, they just want to see you naked. Please copy and paste this to your status "WE NEED TO CREATE AWARENESS" -- I wish I had received this yesterday, I feel so stupid now...


Stitchawl

*giggle*

[Hitch]

Originally Posted by Stitchawl

WARNING PLEASE READ - I don't usually re-post these but...if someone comes to your front door and asks you to remove your clothes and dance with your arms in the air DO NOT do this, it is a SCAM, they just want to see you naked. Please copy and paste this to your status "WE NEED TO CREATE AWARENESS" -- I wish I had received this yesterday, I feel so stupid now...


Stitchawl

BWAHAHAHAHA. Lemme tell ya, if somebody does that here, boy, are they in for a day-late Halloween scare! (Did you give that guy my address?)

Hitch

[5thWiggle]

So I'm out re-tarping my lawn furniture for winter after a rabbit chewed the ropes (continued in part 2 of the rant) and we almost lost the tarp in the lastest high winds, when the stupid ropes tangle for the umpteenth time. I know over thirty different knots, have taken courses in rigging and hoisting and I still can't discern exactly what maligant force enters a inert piece of rope (or garden hose) the second your back is turned, causing it to twist itself into the Gordian Knot. I swear the thing is snickering evilly at me as well.

And...

What sort of stupid rabbit keeps living in a backyard that has a dog regularly in it??? There are dozens of yards around mine that have better grass, more hiding places and no dogs! But no, this thing has to take up residence under my deck, drive my dog into a barking frenzy, and chew on my ropes. I am now officially cheering on the dog's efforts to catch and eat the darn thing.

[poohbear_nc]

The corollary to your observation on ropes is: After you install new electronic equipment, carefully aligning all cords, cables, etc. -- when you have to remove or service a component the cords have become magically tangled as if the mice have taken up macrame ...

[5thWiggleWife]

I like this idea. Let's blame everything on the mouse.

[dreams]

I really, really, really, hate that some TV programs play loud music for extended periods while the program has no dialog.

I had just finally got use to the beautiful regulation that commercials were at the same volume as the program I was watching. Now it seems like there are more and more periods of no dialog in TV programs just so the music can be played loudly. It's beginning to feel like advertising for the music track. Plus, the higher volume of the music requires a quick grab for the remote to turn it down. Then, when the music is over, you have to turn the volume back up to be able to hear the dialog once again!

Although commercials have had to lower their volume, I am starting to note that some commercials have started to be louder again. Has anyone else noted this in the US?

[Rumpelteazer]

Originally Posted by dreams

I really, really, really, hate that some TV programs play loud music for extended periods while the program has no dialog.

I had just finally got use to the beautiful regulation that commercials were at the same volume as the program I was watching. Now it seems like there are more and more periods of no dialog in TV programs just so the music can be played loudly. It's beginning to feel like advertising for the music track. Plus, the higher volume of the music requires a quick grab for the remote to turn it down. Then, when the music is over, you have to turn the volume back up to be able to hear the dialog once again!

Although commercials have had to lower their volume, I am starting to note that some commercials have started to be louder again. Has anyone else noted this in the US?

It's not just the US, I've noticed it with English series, too, like Broadchurch. I put on headphones so I don't have to constantly adjust the volume. In the past, when watching something on my own, I only had to put on my headphones when watching a film, because the music and sound effects otherwise drown out the dialogue. It's happening more and more often I have to put them on when watching tv series. Even with the "silent environment" setting on my tv switched on, which should lower the volume of sound effects and music, it's necessary.

[Hitch]

Originally Posted by dreams

I really, really, really, hate that some TV programs play loud music for extended periods while the program has no dialog.

I had just finally got use to the beautiful regulation that commercials were at the same volume as the program I was watching. Now it seems like there are more and more periods of no dialog in TV programs just so the music can be played loudly. It's beginning to feel like advertising for the music track. Plus, the higher volume of the music requires a quick grab for the remote to turn it down. Then, when the music is over, you have to turn the volume back up to be able to hear the dialog once again!

Although commercials have had to lower their volume, I am starting to note that some commercials have started to be louder again. Has anyone else noted this in the US?

+1. I'd +1,000 it if I could.

I'm just sick to death of the whole "let's play uber-loud music so that we can distract from the issue that we have a crappy, tired, retread plot with dialogue a 4th-grader would find trite" mindset. I posted here on MR some time ago that I actually had to turn Inspector Lewis' last season OFF, because Barrington Pheloung's music was so incredibly loud I just couldn't have it playing and hear dialogue at the same time--to hear the dialogue, we had to blast ourselves out of the room; to not get blasted, we couldn't hear the dialogue. We tried everything--rebalancing the speakers, the system, you-name-it...just couldn't get it to be workable, and we couldn't just turn it up/down for dialogue, because the damned music was over/under the dialogue.

We don't have some el-cheapo system; we have a very good TV/receiver/amp/surround-sound system, with better-than-good quality speakers and the like. I mean, do we have 100K USD audiophile type setups? No, but we've got quite a bit invested in our sound system, put together carefully over time, not counting the TV, the Roku and the DVR's. I know that there are some conversion issues between UK shows/movies and US shows/movies--I'm no expert on this, but, man, they really need to pay more attention when converting shows for across the pond, in both directions. Tweak it and get it right--don't just put "auto-convert" on and leave it while you go have a snack.

I admire a good score as much as the next person, but truth be told, I'm rather fond of movies from the 30's-40's, in which they didn't actually feel the need to fill every single second with NOISE. The type of normal silences in conversations, or during bits or action were okay, and allowed to be silent. It's extremely aggravating, all-round, IMHO, that my ears feel like I need a break when I'm done watching almost anything.

BTW, for those of you that don't know this bit of trivia, good, adult (I mean, grown-up, not "adult" in terms of erotica) filmmaking can actually earn QUITE good numbers--The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel was made for a pittance (seriously--something like $10M), and in terms of percentages, has been a runaway hit, earning back oodles for its producers and backers. (Over $130M, if memory serves, before being released to DVD, PPV, etc.) I'm hoping that this makes other filmmakers think about stories with substance. Not necessarily all made with 'crones,'--that's not what I'm saying, but stories that don't have to have an explosion every 10 seconds, or some ungodly trite and ridiculous formulaic comedy, etc. Just good old-fashioned, creative, remotely original storytelling. With dialogue you can hear, too, over the soundtrack, if that's not too much to ask.

I know, I know...I'm a hopeless, foolish dreamer. Anyone here who wants to slap me with a "slap" emoty, feel free. Obviously, I must be out of my mind tonight/this morning. ;-)

Hitch

[Lady Blue]

Originally Posted by dreams

I really, really, really, hate that some TV programs play loud music for extended periods while the program has no dialog.

I had just finally got use to the beautiful regulation that commercials were at the same volume as the program I was watching. Now it seems like there are more and more periods of no dialog in TV programs just so the music can be played loudly. It's beginning to feel like advertising for the music track. Plus, the higher volume of the music requires a quick grab for the remote to turn it down. Then, when the music is over, you have to turn the volume back up to be able to hear the dialog once again!

Although commercials have had to lower their volume, I am starting to note that some commercials have started to be louder again. Has anyone else noted this in the US?

I posted this very same rant a couple weeks ago. I agree completely. I've had this complaint for years because it's been going on for years, and seems it just keeps getting worse. I guess nobody reviews/audits the edits/mix/scores whatever you call the total stitching together of all the parts, because the final result is atrocious. There's really not much need for dialog at all since you can't hear any of it. You may as well switch on the subtitles and read whatever storyline there's supposed to be. I have the same complaint about music. If the song has lyrics, would it not make sense to assure that the listener can actually HEAR those lyrics? I could rant all day long about this.